Q&A – WHAT IS THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL? Part 6

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Q&A – WHAT IS THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL?   Part 6

Psalm 102:18 This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise IAUE.

One of the dilemmas IAUE had in restoring the lost sheep of the House of Israel was that they were so diffused by mixed-marriages among the non-Hebrew nations over 700+ years that many of them no longer knew they were descended from the tribes of Jacob/Israel.  How could IAUE restore mercy to those from whom He had withdrawn His mercy; and once again call them whom He said were no longer His people, the children of the living Elohim?  Of course, we speak of it as a dilemma because we can see it as a problem.  IAUE had already factored it in before the patriarchs were ever born.

Genesis 22:18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

Galatians 3:6 Even as Abraham believed IAUE, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

8 And the scripture, foreseeing that IAUE would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Messiah.

It was clearly, always the intention of IAUE to redeem not just the physical offspring of Abraham, but all the nations (gentiles) of the earth who would become the children of Abraham by faith.  There was a particularly powerful illustration that IAUE used to help burn this realization into the consciousness of the children of Israel.  He arranged for the patriarchs to raise their children in Egypt, and for their generations to reside in Egypt 430 years.  Over and over again, IAUE referred to His people as having been “sojourners” and “strangers” in the land of Egypt.  By this experience, they were to have cultivated a compassion for those who are sojourners and strangers in the land.

Leviticus 19:34  But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am IAUE your Elohim.

Deuteronomy 10:14 Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the IAUE’s thy Elohim, the earth also, with all that therein is.

15 Only IAUE had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all people, as it is this day.

16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.

17 For the IAUE your Elohim is Elohim of elohim, and Master of masters, a great El, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:

18 He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.

19 Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

To the Jews who were contemporary with Paul, the term “Gentiles” referred as much to their lost brethren of the House of Israel as it did to the heathen nations around them.  Only the context of the usage of the term in the New Testament can help to distinguish if they are speaking of the paganized Hebrews or the completely non-Hebrew peoples.  The term “the Greek” seemed to be a special reference to the House of Israel, presumably because once their nation had been destroyed by Assyria, they were either deposed to or migrated northward to Greece and beyond.  The House of Israel was definitely identified as the “scattered” people of IAUE.  Moses had prophesied that IAUE would scatter them throughout the nations of the earth if they departed from their faithfulness to Him.  They were unfaithful.  IAUE divorced them; and they were scattered across the face of the earth; however, it was because they were scattered that made it possible got the covenant IAUE made with Abraham to be fulfilled: “in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.”

As the gospel began to be taken to the lost sheep of the House of Israel to announce the “new covenant” cut in the blood of the Messiah, it was not a message that was restricted to those of Hebrew descent.  In order to capture and circumcise the hearts of the House of Israel, the message had to be inclusive of all peoples. 

Romans 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before Elohim.

20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

The Law concluded the Jews (the tribes of Judah and Benjamin and some of the tribe of Levi) to be in the same spiritual condition as the lost sheep of the House of Israel…which is the same spiritual condition as the heathen nations of the world.  The inability of the Jews to keep the Law made them no different than any other people on Earth.  It was the keeping of the Law that was intended to separate them and make them different from all peoples on Earth; but the Law convinced them of their own sinfulness.  Righteousness was never going to come from keeping the Law.  The Law was its own proof of that.

Romans 11:32  For Elohim hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

Galatians 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Yahushua Messiah might be given to them that believe.

The Jews rejection of Yahushua as their Messiah unwittingly brought salvation to all nations.

21 But now the righteousness of IAUE without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

22 Even the righteousness of IAUE which is by faith of Yahushua Messiah unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of IAUE;

Romans 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Messiah: for it is the power of Elohim unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

17 For therein is the righteousness of Elohim revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

You will remember in reading the book of Acts that Paul always went first to the synagogues to preach to the Jews.  Most of them rejected his gospel from city to city; until finally he said he would take the gospel to the gentiles.  Later, Paul explained to the Romans that there was a blindness from IAUE that had come over most of the Jews.

Romans 11:7 What then? Israel (the House of Judah) 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.

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.

12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?

The Jews’ rejection of the gospel is what released it to be taken to the lost sheep of the House of Israel; but the lost sheep of the House of Israel had become in essence no different than any gentile; and many, if not most, no longer had any idea that they were even of Hebrew descent.  Hence, a wide net had to be cast to bring in what IAUE refers to as “the elect.”  The elect has only one meaning in all of Scripture; and that is the redeemed remnant of the House of Israel. To redeem the elect, the door had to be opened to all nations.

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.

When IAUE revealed the mystery of the gospel to Paul, he was made to realize that the new covenant was indeed a NEW covenant.  It was not just a whitewashing of the failures of the old.  Many people attribute the book of Hebrews to Paul’s authorship.  In it, he explains:

Hebrews 8:7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.

8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith IAUE, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:

9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith IAUE.

10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith IAUE; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them an Elohim, and they shall be to me a people:

11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know IAUE: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

Paul realized that the gospel was not going to succeed long-term with the House of Judah.  It was to the House of Israel that IAUE had covenanted to give them a new heart; and the House of Israel was diffused throughout the gentile nations of the world.

Romans 11:15 For if the casting away of them (the Jews) be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

The Scriptures prophesy the redemption of the House of Judah; but during their period of blindness, the gospel is released to the nations of the world, principally seeking the lost sheep of the House of Israel; but of necessity making salvation available to all.  We who are the true gentile and not the descendants of Israel are the “collateral benefit” (as opposed to collateral damage) of the gospel.  Because the House of Israel had become “gentiles,” all gentiles are able to respond to the redemption in Messiah. We become like the sojourners who benefitted from all the blessings that were bestowed upon the Hebrew people; but with one truly significant distinction.

Romans 9:6 Not as though the word of IAUE 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.

Paul goes on to explain in this passage the supernatural nature of the seed of Abraham; showing that even though Ishmael was the son of Abraham, he was not heir to the covenant.  Even though Esau was born to Isaac, he was not heir to the covenant.  The children of Abraham were never going to be just his physical descendants. Even before there was an Israel, there was the promise of blessing to all who would believe IAUE.

Galatians 3:6 Even as Abraham believed IAUE, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

8 And the scripture, foreseeing that IAUE would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

Romans 2:28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of Elohim.

Colossians 3:9  Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Messiah is all, and in all.

All of Adam’s race has never left the eye of His creator.  Yes, He separated unto Himself the bloodline of Abraham; but His “children” were always going to include those who trusted in His Son, the Messiah, by faith.  His love is not diminished to any who believe.  His redemption is not withheld from any who believe. He has made of all peoples of the earth, one new man, who is a new creature.

Psalm 102:18 This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise IAUE.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Messiah, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Q&A – WHAT IS THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL? Part 5

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Q&A – WHAT IS THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL?   Part 5

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:

Over the past four posts we have identified the existence of the mystery, the nature of the mystery, the promise of the mystery and the dilemma of the mystery.  We have all the requisite pieces; so now, let’s put the puzzle together.

In the Torah, we see the history of Adam’s race beginning in the Garden of Eden.  We see the fall of man, and the corruption of man bringing us to the flood of Noah.  All of humanity is destroyed except Noah, his wife, his three sons and their wives.  A very basic covenant is made between IAUE and Noah after the flood; but not one cut in blood.  Finally, IAUE selected Abram in Ur of the Chaldees with whom to establish a unique relationship among all the peoples of the earth.  With Abram, IAUE cut a covenant in blood and changed Abram’s name to Abraham, promising him to be the father of many nations.

To Abraham, IAUE promised a supernatural birth to produce his heir of the covenant; and Isaac was so born to him and Sarah.  Unto Isaac was born twins, Jacob and Esau; but the younger of the two was selected by IAUE to be the heir of the covenant (Romans 10:9-13). IAUE changed Jacob’s name to Israel; and unto him were born the twelve patriarchs of the Hebrew race…the covenant people of IAUE.  The rest of the Scriptures is devoted to IAUE’s promise to Abraham to bless his descendants, to be their Elohim and for them to be His people.

At no time does the narrative of the Scriptures change its focus on the family of Israel; though at the point of the divided kingdom where ten tribes moved north to establish the Kingdom of Israel, having forsaken the promise of the Messiah who would come from the tribe of Judah, the focus is splintered to follow the movements of the House of Israel and the House of Judah in order to keep an eye on all twelve tribes of Israel. This is a necessity in order to fulfill IAUE’s promise to Abraham.

The Old Testament Scriptures ends with Judah and Benjamin returning from captivity in Babylon to reestablish the city of Jerusalem, to rebuild the temple and to resettle the promised land; while the House of Israel is lost to the nations. They cannot come home to their inheritance in the promised land because they have been divorced by IAUE, scattered throughout the nations of the world, now strangers and aliens to the covenants and promises of IAUE.  This is actually the stage upon which the New Testament Scriptures begins.  It is a story of how IAUE put in motion His plan to bring back the lost sheep of the House of Israel.  You will remember from our last post that Messiah himself said that he had come ONLY for the lost sheep of the House of Israel.  This is the mystery that was revealed to the apostle Paul. 

Even though our “Christian” heritage has taught us to understand that the New Testament was all about us, we have been misled into a wrong belief. It is all about the promise IAUE made to Abraham, and to Isaac and to Jacob. IAUE is still dealing with the original covenant He made with Abraham; but through a tweaked version of that covenant.  The original covenant said that IAUE would bless Abraham and his descendants, and that through his seed, all the nations of the world would be blessed (Genesis 22:17-18).  Paul explains to the Galatians that this seed was referring to Yahushua Messiah.

Galatians 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Messiah.

This latter half of the Abrahamic Covenant was not engaged until Yahushua cut the new covenant in his own blood.  By his death, Yahushua activated the second half of the Abrahamic covenant, removing its weaknesses and flaws and perfecting the relationship between IAUE and the children of Abraham forever.

Hebrews 8:7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.

8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith IAUE, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:

9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith IAUE.

10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith IAUE; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them an Elohim, and they shall be to me a people:

11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know IAUE: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

Notice, again, that the new covenant is made, not with the pagan peoples of the world, the gentile nations who are not of the lineage of Abraham; but it is made with the House of Israel and the House of Judah.  The New Testament is the revelation of how IAUE restores the House of Israel and brings the stick of Ephraim back together with the stick of Judah unto one NEW MAN (Ezekiel 37:6-19). IAUE has not cut a covenant with us who are gentiles.

Ephesians 2:11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

12 That at that time ye were without Messiah, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without Elohim in the world:

13 But now in Messiah Yahushua ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Messiah.

I would imagine that you have never read this passage of Scripture and thought it was referring exclusively to the lost sheep of the House of Israel; but that is exactly about whom Paul is speaking.  They had become like the Gentiles in the flesh by no longer circumcising their male children. Physically, you could not tell them apart from the Gentiles.  They were without Messiah, for their forefathers had said, “What promise have we in David?”  They had become aliens to the united Kingdom of Israel.  They had become strangers from the covenants of IAUE.  Then, we find a unique term that is used only of the lost sheep of the House of Israel…they are those “who were sometimes far off.”  The Gentiles had ALWAYS been far off; but the lost sheep of the House of Israel had not always been far off…they became far off when IAUE scattered them throughout the nations of the world.

Leviticus 26:33 And I will scatter you among the heathen…

Deuteronomy 4:27 And IAUE shall scatter you among the nations, and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither IAUE shall lead you.

Deuteronomy 28:64  And IAUE shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone.

When the Jews (the tribes of Judah and Benjamin) returned from captivity in Babylon, they remembered these words of Moses.

Nehemiah 1:8 Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations:

9 But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there.

The Jews did turn to IAUE and began to keep His commandments.  They remained in the land and did not follow after other gods from that point forward.  This is why the Scriptures, foretelling of the New Covenant says it will be made with the House of Israel and the House of Judah; but then speaks only to the House of Israel when it speaks of putting a new heart within them that will turn them from their faithlessness to know IAUE and obey His commandments.  The Jews had already made the decision to be faithful to IAUE and His commandments.

Paul unravels the mystery of the gospel to the Ephesians in the next two verses of chapter 2.

Ephesians 2:14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

He abolished in his flesh the enmity…the law of commandments.  What law in particular does he mean?

Romans 7:1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?

Paul is addressing the Jews in Rome, people whom he knew were aware of the law.

Romans 7:2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.

3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.

This was the dilemma.  This was the enmity set between the Jews and the House of Israel.  The ten tribes of Israel had left her husband, IAUE, to play the harlot with pagan gods; hence she is referred to as the adulterous House of Israel.  The law goes on to say (and because Paul knows they know the law, he knows they already have calculated this in to the discussion) that if the one she has married puts her away, SHE CANNOT COME BACK TO HER FIRST HUSBAND.  That is called “an abomination to the land.”  How to solve this problem was the mystery.

When a woman (the ten tribes) having married her first husband (IAUE), is put away by her first husband, she is not lawfully able to marry another; because to do so would violate the law of marriage.  If she marries another, she commits adultery.  The House of Israel was put away by IAUE and did marry another…all the pagan gods of the gentiles.  She can NEVER come back to marry IAUE.  IAUE is the one who made the law, so He is fully aware that these tribes are lost sheep, now.  However, he devised, in His majestic unsearchable wisdom, that He could create a scenario in which the woman can remarry without committing adultery and without needing to come back to her first husband.

THE MYSTERY UNFOLDED:

Romans 7:4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Messiah; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto Elohim.

5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.

6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

2 Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Messiah constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

The lost sheep of the House of Israel can never remarry IAUE because the law of the marriage endures as long as the husband is alive, and IAUE cannot die; so there is no way Israel can return to IAUE in marriage.  However, there is one way in which she can remarry without being an adulteress; and that is… if SHE DIES.  If she dies, and lives again, she is free from the law of the marriage and can marry another; and THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT IAUE ENABLED THROUGH THE SACRIFICE OF HIS SON.  Paul clearly declares that in Messiah, we all die, in order that we can be married to the one who died for us, that is, to Messiah Yahushua.  In this way, the House of Israel becomes the bride of Messiah, the son of IAUE; and IAUE becomes her father instead of her husband. In this way, IAUE can keep His promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It only requires the lost sheep of the House of Israel to become betrothed to the Messiah that their forefathers rejected.

Ephesians 2:16  And that he might reconcile both (the House of Judah and the House of Israel) unto IAUE in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of Elohim;

20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Yahushua Messiah himself being the chief corner stone;

21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in IAUE:

22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of Elohim through the Spirit.

Next:  How the Gentiles enter into this mystery.

Q&A – WHAT IS THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL? Part 4

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Hosea 1:2 The beginning of the word of IAUE by Hosea. And IAUE said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from IAUE.

3 So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim; which conceived, and bare him a son.

4 And IAUE said unto him, Call his name Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel.

5 And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will break the bow of Israel, in the valley of Jezreel.

6 And she conceived again, and bare a daughter. And Elohim said unto him, Call her name Loruhamah: for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel; but I will utterly take them away.

7 But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by IAUE their Elohim, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen.

8 Now when she had weaned Loruhamah, she conceived, and bare a son.

9 Then said Elohim, Call his name Loammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your Elohim.

(If you have not read the first three posts in this current Q&A, please go back to Part 1 and read the lessons in order.  You will need that foundation to understand this post properly.)

The life of Hosea was literally a physical manifestation of his prophecy to the House of Israel.  He was commanded to take a wife of harlotry which typified the relationship between IAUE and the ten tribes of the northern kingdom of Israel.  As we have seen from prior posts, IAUE divorced the House of Israel.  That putting away is exemplified in the children born to Hosea. 

Jezreel – I will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of Israel.

Loruhamah – I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel.

Loammi -  You are not my people; and I will not be your Elohim.

Do you remember where this idea is expressed in the New Testament?  These verses in Hosea 1 are quoted both by Paul and by Peter; but the contemporary Christian church does not seem to recognize its significance.

Romans 9:25 As he saith also in Osee (Hosea), I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.

26 And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living Elohim (Hosea 1:11).

1 Peter 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of Elohim: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

Of whom were Paul and Peter speaking?  Were they speaking of the pagan population of the world?  No.  They were addressing the lost ten tribes of the House of Israel.  It was the house of Israel that was declared to be not the people of IAUE, and not recipients of His mercy.  It was the lost ten tribes of the house of Israel who were told that in the place where they were told you are not my people, they shall be called the children of the living Elohim.  It was the lost ten tribes that were the primary focus of the New Covenant.  Messiah himself declared this and we didn’t even notice it.

Matthew 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:

6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Matthew 15:24  But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Even the Master was not yet ready to reveal the mystery to his disciples.  Notice, he instructed them to avoid the cities of the Gentiles (pagans); but to go to where the lost sheep of the house of Israel could be found.  In that day, there were millions of people who knew they were of the ten tribes that lived in Galilee and surrounding areas.  They lived as close to Jerusalem as they could; but knowing they could never come “home” as it were, to the center of Hebrew life. Yahushua came for the lost sheep of the house of Israel; but they were not just in the neighboring areas of the Jewish population; they were everywhere; and the farther they were away from Jerusalem, it would appear the less they knew or remembered from whence they came.  They were Gentiles for all they knew.  They knew no better.

Ephesians 2:11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

12 That at that time ye were without Messiah, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without Elohim in the world:

Here, Paul is reminding the descendants of the lost tribes that they have been living just like the Gentiles (pagans) and that they had rejected Messiah (“What portion have we in David?”); that they were ejected from the unified kingdom of Israel that was awaiting the rule of the Messiah.  They were estranged from the covenants of IAUE, hopeless, and not the people of Elohim.  They were the offspring of the divorced of IAUE.  However, IAUE found a way to reclaim them, to have mercy upon them once again; and once again for them to be called the children of the living Elohim.

The Scriptures clearly prophesied of the restoration of the house of Israel; but the Jews in the first century church could not comprehend it. There was great animosity directed to the dispersion. It was “a mystery” to them, hidden in Elohim awaiting the time of its revelation.  That revelation was given to Paul.  The ministry and mission of Paul was prophesied by Isaiah.

Isaiah 49:5 And now, saith IAUE that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of IAUE, and my Elohim shall be my strength.

6 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

7 Thus saith IAUE, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of IAUE that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee.

8 Thus saith IAUE, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;

9 That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness,(see 1 Peter 2:9 above) Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places.

10 They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.

11 And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted.

12 Behold, these shall come from far: and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim.

13 Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for IAUE hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.

Yahushua confirms this when he tells Ananias to go pray for Paul in Damascus.

Acts 9:15 But the Master said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

Paul confirms this again when he offers his defense to the Jews who tried to kill him in Jerusalem.

Acts 22:21 And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.

22 And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.

You can see from how they reacted to this notion of reclaiming their lost brethren who had been scattered throughout the nations that they had no comprehension of that prospect.  They were fiercely opposed to restoring mercy to the tribes from whom the mercy of IAUE had been stripped…their brethren who refused to worship IAUE or to keep the laws of IAUE.  We see this same abhorrence for extending the mercy of IAUE to the lost tribes of the house of Israel by the Pharisees that contended with the Master.

John 7:34 Ye shall seek me, and shall not find me: and where I am, thither ye cannot come.

35 Then said the Jews among themselves, Whither will he go, that we shall not find him? will he go unto the dispersed among the Gentiles, and teach the Gentiles?

They were so close to understanding the mystery of the gospel; but their prejudice against the dispersed tribes prevented them from seeing it even though they could quote the verses of Scripture that told of IAUE restoring His mercy to them and once again calling them His people.  Probably fueling this animosity were Isaiah’s words.

Isaiah 42:24  Who gave Jacob for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not IAUE, he against whom we have sinned? for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law.

THE GENTILES:

The first time the word “Gentiles” is used in Scripture, it refers to the offspring of Japheth, son of Noah. Japheth’s descendants spread out to the coastlands and to the isles of the earth.

Genesis 10:5  By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.

It is interesting to note that Isaiah’s prophecy of Paul’s ministry begins with verse 1 (not cited above).

Isaiah 49:1 Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; IAUE hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.

The word “gentiles” just means “a collective of people.”  In the Old Testament (gowy) is translated, “nations, heathen, Gentiles and people.”  In the New Testament (ethnos) means the same thing and is translated the same way. The term later came to refer specifically to all non-Hebrew peoples. Eventually, the term also included the dispersed Hebrews of the house of Israel; because there was little difference between the two. They lived among them. They were no longer circumcised. They worshipped their false gods.  They knew not IAUE.  One might say they were so connected and intermingled with the gentile races that you could not separate them without tearing them apart. This was the dilemma; and this was the basis of the mystery; and IAUE’s solution to this dilemma enabled Paul to discover the unsearchable wisdom of IAUE (Romans 11:33). How can IAUE restore mercy to the lost ten tribes of the House of Israel who had become inseparable from the uncovenanted heathen of the world?  How can He again make them His people?  This was the mystery.

Next week: The mystery solved.