QUESTION:
In Eph.2:7-13, Paul uses phrases like 'Time Past', 'But Now', and 'Ages to Come'. What I don't understand is time past. How could anyone say The Gospels are time past when most people are saying the Old Testament is time past. What I've been taught for years is that the Old Testament is for learning, the New Testament was the history of our One and true God, because of what He did on the cross, and through this I have hope. The only thing I'm waiting for is to be comforted in His arms when he returns. If I'm wrong please enlighten me. We all are here to learn.
ANSWER:
Thank you for your comment. I like the way you ended your paragraph above. I agree that we are all here to learn. When I publish these posts of mine, I trust that they will trigger the interest of some readers to ask questions and learn something new, but I also am open to learn from their comments. The Word says that we all know in part. I honestly believe that our edification comes from our mutual fellowship around the written Word and an open heart to allow the truth of the Word to change our minds and draw us closer to our Lord Jesus Christ.
First, and most importantly, let me assure you that the cross is ABSOLUTELY our hope and our salvation. The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus is the power of our salvation, and placing our trust in Jesus is all that is needed for us to be justified and saved, Rom.3:21–22; Rom.5:1–2.
Concerning the article and the concept of “Time Past”, I interpret it from studying the Bible according to prophecy and mystery. The banner image on my primary blog will clarify the timing and divide between prophecy and mystery. To keep this short, everything that is within the prophetic period is ‘Time Past’ and everything in the mystery period is ‘But Now’ and applicable to us today. This is not my theory but is what the Bible teaches.
I’ll end with a few confirming scriptures below. The key is to note the timings of the prophecy and mystery periods in these passages.
- Prophecy was spoken since the world began…
- Mystery was kept secret since the world began…
These are two separate doctrines which are divided by the words, 'but now'. If something kept secret (since the world began) is now revealed (by Paul), then everything up until ‘but now’ is prophecy, and specific to Israel, and everything after ‘but now’ is mystery, and specific to the Body of Christ under grace today.
There is so much more to say and prove concerning this, but if you are willing and interested to dig into this deeper, I am more than happy to chat and provide you with additional scriptural details to help you learn this important context of understanding the Bible. Feel free to contact me. Click here and scroll to the bottom of the page to find the contact form.
The Bible says this about prophecy (for Israel):
Luk 1:68-70 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, 69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; 70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:
Act 3:20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: 21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
The Bible says this about Paul’s mystery doctrine (for us today):
Rom 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, 26 But now is made manifest,
Eph 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
Col 1:25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; 26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
Trust this provides some insights to stir up your interest and learn more.
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