The BIG Picture (Q&A)

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 edific...

QUESTION: If we look at the bible through the “three-fold division” of Ephesians 2, the Old Testament is the time past. However, I’m not sure if all the Gospels <Matthew, Mark, Luke and John> also fall under this time past. Can you please clarify? ANSWER: To answer this statement, one must bear in mind that when Paul wrote the passage, he used the words, “But now”, to indicate his current time. This means that everything before his writing “but now”, is in times past. Since Paul wrote his epistles long after Jesus had ascended to heaven, it effectively means that “time past” includes the content of gospels of Matthew to John, since their contents is all about Jesus’ earthly ministry. To take this further, the “but now” is currently still in operation. Why? Well, Paul’s writings introduce the mystery doctrine which is applicable for us as the grace believers in the Body of Christ. All of Paul’s writings is still valid today and will remain valid until we are caught up to h...

In times past (before the cross), God was forming Israel to be the light and salvation to the Gentiles. God was going to use Israel to reach the Gentiles with His presence and His Word. This is why they are called a royal priesthood and holy nation in Exodus 19:5-6. The verse in Eph 2:12 is speaking of this time (before the cross) where Israel was still the center of God’s focus. God was not showing Himself to any Gentile nations as this would be the role of Israel after their Messiah came. This is why Paul says the following, Eph 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. Verse 13 however tells of a radical change in events. Due to Israel’s unbelief, God suspended His dealings with them (temporarily), and converted Paul and sent him with a new gospel an...