In Times Past

In times Past

by MRav. Patrick J. McDonaldWith commentaries by Clarence H. Wagner Mozark Publications

Eph. 2:11-12 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 bade by hands;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 inthe world.

(HRV)

11; Because of this, remember that you from before were Goyim pertaining tothe flesh, and you were called the uncircumcision by that which is called theCircumcision and is the work of the hands in the flesh.12; And you were at that time without Messiah, and you were aliens from the customsof Israel, and you were strangers to the covenant of the promise, and you were withouthope and without El in the world.As we see here Paul was speaking to the Church at Ephesus, calling themGoyim/Gentiles “in times past” before they had Y'shua haMoshiach. It supports thegrafted in theory.

ROMANS 11

13

For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnifymine office:

14

If by any means I may provoke to emulation [them which are] my flesh, and mightsave some of them.

15

For if the casting away of them [be] the reconciling of the world, what [shall] thereceiving [of them be], but life from the dead?

16

For if the firstfruit [be] holy, the lump [is] also [holy]: and if the root [be] holy, so[are] the branches.

17

And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wertgrafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;

18

Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the rootthee.

19

Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.

20

Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be nothighminded, but fear:

21

For if God spared not the natural branches, [take heed] lest he also spare not thee.

22

Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; buttoward thee, goodness, if thou continue in [his] goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cutoff.

23

And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able tograft them in again.

24

For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted1

contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural[branches], be grafted into their own olive tree?

25

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

(HRV)13

But I speak to you Goyim, I who am the emissary of the Goyim. I amglorifying my service.

14

That perhaps I might provoke my kinsmen to jealousy and give life [to] some of them.

15

For if their reprobation was reconciliation to the world, how much more thereforetheir return, but life that is from among the dead?

16

And if the first is holy, the lump of dough is also. And if the root is holy, the branches [are] also.

17

And if some branches were broken off, and you who are a wild olive [tree] weregrafted into their place and became partakers of the root and of the oil of the olive [tree],

18

Do not boast against the [natural] branches; but if you boast, you are not bearingthe root, but the root bears you.

19

And perhaps you should say of the branches that were broken off, I will be graftedin their place.

20

These are right. They were broken off because they did not trust, but you stand by trust. Do not be exalted in your mind, but fear,

21

For if Eloah did not spare the natural branches, perhaps he will also not spare you.

22

See then the gentleness and the harshness of Eloah. Upon those who fell,harshness. But upon you, gentleness, if you remain in the gentleness, and if not, you willalso be broken off.

23

And those, if they do not remain in their lack of trust, also will be grafted in, for Eloah is able to graft them in again.

24

For if you who are from the olive [tree] that was wild by your nature, were cut off and were grafted contrary to your nature in the good olive [tree], how much more then,those, if they be grafted in their natural olive [tree]?

25

For I want you to know this mystery, my brothers, so that you will not be wise inthe the thought of your nefesh, that blindness of the heart in part has happened to Yisra'eluntil the fullness of the Goyim should come.We all to often look at the commandments as “laws for the Jews” when in fact theyare our laws as well. We who are grafted into the Olive Tree have the right andresponsibility to observe Eloah's ordnances. We often describe the the Feasts of our Lordas the Feasts of the Jews or Yisra'el. When they are truly the “Feasts of the Lord”.I want to share with you the Feast of Sabbath. This is a blessing that the Body of Christ or “Christians” if you will have been missing since around 300 CE (AD).No I am not going to discuss or debate the controversy of which Sabbath is correct.Some one else can debate that issue. Since it will consist of doctrines of man. (And I2

don't want to.)

Origins of the Sabbath

In the beginning...”the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.By the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so on the seventh dayHe rested from all His work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, becauseon it He rested from all the work of creating that He had done”(Gen. 2:1-3).This was the first Sabbath ever observed. On the seventh day God RESTED. Eloahgave us the model for the sabbath long before He gave Moshe the Ten Commandments.Eloah commanded the children of Yisra'el and their decedents to observe the Sabbathand keep it Holy or sacred.LEVITICUS 232 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, [Concerning] the feasts of theLORD, which ye shall proclaim [to be] holy convocations, [even] these [are] my feasts.3 Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day [is] the sabbath of rest, an holyconvocation; ye shall do no work [therein]: it [is] the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.As you can see in Leviticus Eloah tells his people to keep the Feasts of the Lord.[even these are my feasts]. These include the Sabbath. Please note that Eloah Himself considered the Sabbath to be one of the Feasts of the Lord. This includes Pesach[Passover], and Succoth [Tabernacles]. Today many like to call these the Feasts of theJews, but this in because the Jewish people who have been faithful to keep Eloah'scommandments to celebrate His feasts. These are truly biblical feasts, even in Scripturethey are not called Jewish Feasts. They are called the “Feasts of the Lord” for all of Eloah's people to learn about Eloah's love and care for His people.As Believers we need to understand the new covenant [Brit Chadasha] as it hold thetruth that we often can not see. According to the Brit Chadasha we are connected to andgrafted into the covenant of redemption through Y'shua HaMoshiach.Connected to:EPHESIANS 211 Wherefore remember, that ye [being] in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are calledUncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;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 inthe world:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.Grafted in:ROMANS 1113 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify3