Q&A – WHAT IS THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL? Part 7

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Q&A – WHAT IS THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL?   Part 7

Romans 9:6 Not as though the word of Elohim hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:

7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.

In the past six posts we have explained the mystery of the gospel.  We have shown IAUE’s covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; and we have shown how ten tribes of Israel were divorced by IAUE, making it seemingly impossible for IAUE to make good on His covenant promise. 

The apostle Paul explained (Romans 7) that the law of the marriage applied to the House of Israel (the lost ten tribes); that a divorced wife who remarried and was again divorced could not return to her original husband. He also explained that the law required the death of the first husband to free the divorced wife to be able to remarry without committing adultery.  The mystery revealed, however, showed that the wife, the House of Israel, died in Yahushua Messiah and is born again a new creature.  This new creature is a partaker of the covenants and promises of IAUE and is now espoused to Messiah Yahushua, IAUE’s son. The husband did not have to die. The wife died, rendering the law of the marriage irrelevant.

The coming of a Messiah was a promise to the Hebrew people.  He was to come and take the throne of David in Jerusalem with the Hebrews by His side and rule the world with a rod of iron.  This would be the manifestation of the Kingdom of Heaven; but it would be a united kingdom with all the children of Israel, not just the tribes of Judah and Benjamin.  The problem the Messiah faced, however, is that ten of the tribes of Jacob/Israel had said “What hope have we in David?” and they left their relationship with IAUE and with their brothers of Judah and Benjamin.  Consequently, Messiah’s coming had to be in two parts.  His first appearing was to put in place the mechanism for restoring the divorced House of Israel to the covenant of promise. His second coming would be to take his throne and rule.  His first coming was as the lamb of IAUE.  His second coming will be as the Lion of the tribe of Judah.  His first coming was as a prince who was killed by his own people.  He rose from the dead and became a priest (the High Priest after the order of Melchisedek).  His second coming will be as a King (the King of the Kingdom of Heaven).

We have seen that Messiah specifically stated that he came for the lost sheep of the House of Israel.  We also have seen that Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles was a deliberate pursuit of those lost sheep, much to the dissatisfaction of the Jews that could never forgive their brethren who departed from the covenants of IAUE to serve other gods.  We have also seen that in order for those lost sheep to be received by IAUE, the gospel message had to be broadcast to all the Gentiles regardless if they were or were not of Hebrew descent.  In a prior post, I referred to the Gentiles as the collateral “benefit” of the gospel to the lost sheep of the House of Israel; but is that really a correct identification?  It is time to examine the book of Romans to see what the scope of the gospel really is; and how does IAUE look upon the Gentiles who are not of Hebrew descent.

Romans 9:1 I say the truth in Messiah, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit,

2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.

3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Messiah for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of Elohim, and the promises;

5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Messiah came, who is over all, Elohim blessed for ever. Amen.

In this passage, Paul is grieving for his fellow Jews who have rejected Yahushua as their Messiah. Like Esau who sold his birthright for a bowl of stew, the Jews had forsaken their birthright when at the trial of Yahushua they said:

Matthew 27:25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

The rejection of the Messiah by the Jews on his first appearing was prophesied. 

Romans 11:7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.

8 (According as it is written, Elohim hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

9 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:

10 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.

There was a reason for this blindness.

Romans 11:11  I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? Elohim forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

Their rejection of the gospel is what opened the door to preach the gospel to the Gentiles.

Acts 13:46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of Elohim should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

Paul had received a revelation from IAUE that was an inseparable part of the mystery of the gospel.  Yahushua had not only come for the lost sheep of the House of Israel.  He had come for all of Adam’s race.  IAUE had indeed made a unique covenant with Abraham and his descendants according to the flesh, his natural bloodline; but that was NOT the children of Abraham that was the focus of the covenant.

Romans 9:6  It is not as though Elohim’s word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. 

7 Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”

8 In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are Elohim’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring. (NIV)

Long before there was a divided kingdom; long before IAUE divorced the House of Israel; long before Hosea had prophesied of the divorce of the House of Israel and of the promise of their restoration, IAUE told Moses:

Romans 9:15  For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

With Hosea, the comment about receiving mercy applied only to the House of Israel.  With IAUE speaking to Moses, the comment applied to whomever He chose to show mercy and compassion.

Romans 4:9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.

Romans 9:31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.

32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;

33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Romans 4:11  And he (Abraham) received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:

12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.

13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

The promise to Abraham was not expressly to his children who are descended from him in the flesh; but to all who have like faith in believing IAUE.  Abraham is our father by our having a like precious faith; and if we are the children of Abraham by faith, we are heirs of the covenant and joint heirs with Yahushua Messiah.

Now, as pertaining to the children of Abraham in the flesh, his natural descendants by his bloodline, the Scriptures say:

Romans 9:27 Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:

28 For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will IAUE make upon the earth.

29 And as Esaias said before, Except IAUE of Hosts had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.

30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.

31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.

32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;

Romans 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father's sakes.

29 For the gifts and calling of Elohim are without repentance.

30 For as ye in times past have not believed Elohim, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:

31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

32 For Elohim hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

Note, in verse 26, the focus of this verse is “all Israel” and “Jacob.”  These terms include the Jews.  You will recall that when the Scriptures prophesied of the “new covenant,” it was to be made with the House of Israel and the House of Judah;” but then the rest of the prophecy dealt exclusively with the House of Israel. It is as though the House of Judah would be an after-thought in the New Covenant.  Instead, it simply would not focus on the House of Judah until the fullness of the Gentiles had come in to the New Creation in Yahushua.  That would include the remnant of the lost sheep of the House of Israel as well as the pagan Gentiles of non-Hebrew descent.

Romans 11:1 I say then, Hath IAUE cast away his people? IAUE forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

2 IAUE hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to IAUE against Israel saying,

3 IAUE, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.

4 But what saith the answer of IAUE unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.

5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

IAUE has always sought a people who would believe Him, believe His words,trust in His goodness and therefore do His commandments.  The natural descendants of Abraham were a stiff-necked and rebellious people; nevertheless, IAUE has appointed unto them a remnant in honor of His friend, Abraham.  IAUE’s children will ALL be children of the faith of Abraham whether or not they be of his natural lineage.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to IAUE must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.