Till

The word “till” is important in the understanding of many Scriptures. This study is designed to show the value of the word “till.”

Till All Be Fulfilled

As Jesus taught about the law of Moses, He said, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled” (Matt. 5:17-18). The word “till” limits. We are told by some that Jesus did not fulfil the law. He said he did. The passage does not say the law would not pass away.

It says “the law would not pass away till all be fulfilled.” The law did not go in parts, when it went, all of it went at the same time! In fact there is no “jot” or “tittle” of the law that Jesus did not fulfill.

Till My Change Come

Job wrote of the brevity of life when he said, “If a man die, shall he live again? All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come” (Job 14:14). Man’s waiting time there is limited. It is limited till a change comes. One of these days, we all will change worlds. The wise man said, “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it” (Eccl. 12:7). We are here till this takes place. James penned, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (Jas. 2:26). Man’s earth-life will continue till his spirit leaves his body. The coming of Christ will find that, “. . . that the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed” (1 Cor. 15:52). Those living on the earth when Christ returns will, “. . . all be changed . . . for this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality” (1 Cor. 15:51-52).

Till We All Come in the Unity of the Faith

As the apostle Paul discusses the giving of “gifts unto men” (Eph. 4:8-12); he mentions, “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some evangelists; and some pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, carried about by every wind of doctrine” (Eph. 4:11- 14). These gifts the Lord gave, designed to bring about unity as the truth demands. This enabled men to grow, become complete and be, as Paul wrote the Colossians, “. . . grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel” (Col. 1:23). Ephesians 4:3 urges, “ Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Paul then tells us that we can be united as we adhere to the seven ones of unity (Eph. 4:4-6). If you are thinking of the nine spiritual gifts of 1 Corinthians, they were given till“ that which is perfect is come”(1 Cor. 13:10). This has reference to the time that all of the faith would be completed, or until such time as, “. . . the faith which was once delivered” (Jude 3).

Till The Seed Should Come

In discussing the closing out of the law of Moses and the bringing in of the new covenant, Paul asked and answered the question. “Wherefore then serveth the law: It was added because of transgression till the seed should come to whom the promise was made . . .”  (Gal. 3:19). Just what is the limitation of this serving law? The word “till” holds the duration. “. . . till the seed should come.” Now who is the seed? Galatians 3:13 tells us, “. . . And to thy seed, which is Christ.” So the law of Moses was in effect till Christ came and died on the cross. The law then was “. . . took, out of the way, nailing it to his cross” (Col. 2:14). So, we today live under and are subject to the law of Christ (Gal. 6:2).