The Revelation of the Mystery (part 2)

As we continue this series of postings dedicated to looking at the 6 aspects of the revelation of the mystery, we can agree can we not that there is information in the Bible which everybody had access to, and not only that, there is a body of data that nobody had access to and that according to the mystery information given to one man, one apostle, that being Paul. So as we continue, I would like to keep this at an entry level for those that may not be familiar with this concept of rightly dividing the word of truth and how it effects the way you understand every scripture in the Bible.

Most people, and I was one of that number , see the Bible as having but only two sections or divisions within its pages, the Old and the New Testament. We can all agree that does indeed constitute a division in the scriptures, but the most important detail is almost always overlooked and that being to whom is it written. Let's take a look at to whom the Old Testament is given, and then, let's also look at to whom the New Testament is directed.

The Old Testament begins not in Genesis 1:1, but in Exodus 19 and the giving of the law to Moses as we read in the following....
Exodus 19:3 And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel;
Exodus 19:4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself.
Exodus 19:5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
Exodus 19:6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

Allow the words say what they say to whom they say them. Clearly, according to this passage, the covenant or Old Testament was made solely with one group of people, Israel. This becomes so easy once you grasp the concept of allowing the scripture to identify the audience instead of attempting to fit yourself into that audience. Think of it as a letter written and addressed to a particular person then ask your self, "does this have my address written on it?" Keep that in mind as we continue on to the passage which contains the promise given for a "New Testament" and notice the address on the letter which was written.

Jeremiah 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
Jeremiah 31:32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:
Jeremiah 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Isn't that beautiful? Do you see the dots connecting? Not only does this passage confirm what was previously demonstrated from Exodus 19 as being the beginning of the Old Testament, but we can also see the promise of a New Testament. The point I need you to see is the audience to whom both the Old and the New Testament are directed. The address on these letters read : To The House of Israel. If that isn't enough, we can see this statement repeated almost word for word in Hebrews chapter 8.

Hebrews 8:8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
Hebrews 8:9 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 the Lord.
Hebrews 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

Now, where are we at in our understanding so far?..Israel received the Old Testament in Exodus 19, Israel received the promise of a New Testament in Jeremiah 31, and now let's see when the New Testament was put in force according to Hebrews 9.

Hebrews 9:15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
Hebrews 9:16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
Hebrews 9:17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

If the Bible is correct, and it absolutely is, the New Testament could not be in force until after the death of the testator. Do you understand what that means? The New Testament could NOT begin in Mathew 1:1 for as much as it points to the birth of the testator. The New Testament can only be in force after His death and that would be after Mathew 27, Mark 15 Luke 23 and John 19.

In conclusion, we now know when the Old Testament began, when the New Testament was promised and when the New Testament could be available. Not only that, we can see to whom these letters are addressed, and that being the nation Israel. The biggest mistake practically everyone in the church today falls into is that believing in some way or another they are Israel. Either spiritual Israel, replacement Israel, even to the point of believing they are physical Israel. This one mistake makes your Bible impossible to understand, impractical for application and can even result in a shipwrecking of one's faith. The Next post will clear up all the confusion on this matter and allow you to fully understand what is going on in your Bible, will clearly show your position in respect to Israel's position and will deliver to you a Bible you can believe. That would be a good thing. Having a Bible you can believe and the result being a Bible believer. What a concept!!