THE BODY BEAUTIFUL

209 - The Body Beautiful

Pastor Henry Kulp

January 10, 1960 

Ephesians 2: 17- 22 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. ¹⁸For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.  ¹⁹Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; ²⁰And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; ²¹In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: ²²In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

We have been showing you in days gone by the difference between Jew and Gentile, when God erected a middle wall of partition, the conditions and requirements were entirely different when this wall was standing, there was a pet nation, a favorite nation. They had all the advantage – that nation was the nation Israel. The Gentiles had no advantages at all, they did not have the law, they did not have the promise of the coming Messiah, they had nothing. They were afar off, while Israel was nigh.

1. God has broken this middle wall down through Jesus Christ and now there is neither Jew nor Gentile, and one of the great benefits we have is when we believe in Jesus Christ we are part of this new man with old requirements and old conditions gone, and one of the most wonderful conditions we can arrive at today is in verse 18 which says Jew and Gentile have access by one Spirit unto the Father. This is something brand new. We realize that of old there was no immediate access to God, even the Jew with all his profit did not have this privilege.

2. You will notice that the Guide is the Holy Spirit. He is the one who ushers us into the presence of God, the word, access is a strange word – it is pros – ag’ – o. Pros means face to face, and ag-o means to lead – he leads face to face, and it is used for someone who is sovereign, being led into the presence of the sovereign through Jesus Christ. Before the middle wall of partition was broken down this was not known. 

3. Verse 19 Here we come to this wonderful truth. This verse starts out, Now therefore. Now is important, at this present time we have something that no one else has ever had before, and the word, "therefore", refers back to what had taken place. Because both Jew and Gentile by Jesus Christ have access unto the father, are guided into the presence of the Father by the Holy Spirit, we are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow- citizens with the saints. What does that mean? Aren’t we a saint? Everyone who is saved is a saint. The King James Version here is not too clear. We a fellow citizens with the saints is TONE – HOG – GEE’ – OWN. Now what does Tone-hog-gee-own mean? What does it mean to be fellow citizens with the tone-hog-gee-own? We can go to Hebrews 9:8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: where it says the holiest of all, is translated by this same Greek word. What is the most holy place in the whole universe? It is the place that is not marred and stained and blighted by sin, the immediate presence of God the Father. The only place that is to stand throughout all eternity. All the rest betwixt the second heaven and this earth are to be done away with, but this place will stand forever and ever, for it means heaven. Therefore, we are no more strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens in the holiest place of all – in Heaven. 

4. Folks may say that we cannot be sure that we are going to Heaven, but we can be sure because we are citizens of Heaven, that is our home. This should be in the opening of the service. What a wonderful thing it is for us who were once dead in trespasses and sins and afar off from God, without God in this world, to be able to look into the face of the God of this universe, and address Him as Father. This beautiful picture is given to us in Romans 8: 15. There it says BY THE SPIRIT WE CRY ABBA FATHER. “Abba” some scholars tell us is synonymous with the English word, Father.  It is the lisping of a little Hebrew child--much like our own child crying "Dada". It is a term of closest intimacy, it is not the Jewish cry of Creator, nor the distance cry of religion. 

5. When we contemplate all this, we realize when we actually enter into the presence of God, we shall not be embarrassed, we shall not be afraid, we shall not be ill at ease, for we are the sons of God.

6. Let us think of the thought fellow-citizen and the holiest of all. This thought is not new in the Bible, for in Philippians 3: 20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: we read, our citizenship is in Heaven, so Paul knew he was a citizen of Heaven. Philippi was what the Romans called a colony. They used the term in a different sense than we use it today. A Roman colony was a city that had been characterized by some special devotedness to the Roman Imperial Government, and in order to reward the citizens of that place for their loyalty and faithfulness, the title “Colony” was conferred upon that city. That meant that from that time on every free-born person living in that place was a Roman citizen, had exactly the same rights and privileges as though he were free-born in Rome. 

7. It was some years before Paul wrote that letter to the Philippians that the Romans were in conflict with the people to the north and east of Macedonia, and when the Roman legions reached Philippi they found the citizens of that place had already raised a great army to assist, and had provided great resources to meet the army. So delighted was the Roman general with their generosity and loyalty, that he sent back to Rome a splendid report. The senate met and conferred upon them the title of Colony, which means that every Philippian could say I am a Roman citizen. He had all the privileges of being a Roman. It is true that he was in Philippi, and Philippi was in Macedonia, and he had duties to the government, but Philippi was governed directly from Rome, and they had a representative there in the Roman government. So you can see what it means here. We are in this world of sin, but we are sinners saved by grace, and we are linked to our blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, even though He is rejected by this world. And now God so appreciates devotion to His blessed son in this day of rejection that He says, I am going to confer upon everyone who trusts Him, and upon every one that owns His Lordship at this time the title of citizen. They are heavenly citizens, they belong to Heaven, even though they are in the world they are fellow citizen of Heaven. How wonderful to be citizens of Heaven. I know I am saved, I know that I am redeemed, I know I am going to Heaven, because I’m a citizen of Heaven.

8. Here you have the wonderful picture of the Holy Spirit as a builder, and in this present age, we have another wonderful truth that was true before the middle wall of partition was broken down. vs. 21, 22 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: ²²In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

What is this truth? This truth is that God now has a habitation. God now has a building to dwell in. During this age of grace, the present time, this living temple is the house that God has. The temple of God is not a cathedral, it is not the magnificent Presbyterian church that costs thousands if dollars, nor is it any one of the Methodist churches, nor is it that large Baptist church, or that independent church. There is now no material building, which is God’s house, and His people recognize that fact. God, in the Old Testament times had a material house. In the Tabernacle, in the Temple where He manifested His glory, but now He lives in a living temple, not a material temple.

9. It is a habitation of God, a building of God made of individuals. Made of folks who are saved by believing in Jesus Christ. I Timothy 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. This verse tells us that we may know how we should behave ourselves in the house of God. That does mean a material building, but in this building that God is erecting, using living individuals as part of this building. That does not mean how you should behave yourself in the building that is called the First Methodist, or the First Presbyterian Church, or in some cathedral, but rather now that you are members of this church that is being erected, you should know how to behave yourself so as not to bring disrepute upon this building where God dwells. 

10. Let us notice the foundation of it in Vs. 20 And are built upon the foundation of the Apostle and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief Cornerstone. Notice the order of the words, Apostles and Prophets. Paul does not say build upon the foundation of Prophets and Apostle. He says Apostle and Prophets. It is very important that we notice this order, because there are people today who teach there is no distinction between the church and the Kingdom that the Old Testament saints are the same as those who are saved in this dispensation. That is foolishness. They make the Apostles here mean the 12 disciples and they make the Prophets to be the Old Testament prophets, and this is not true. Were that true, he would have said prophets and then Apostles, for that would be the true order.

11. Remember the Old Testament saints or believers are not in the Body of the Church, they are not in this building even though they where saved. 

12. Notice, if you will, II PETER 3: 2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: Where the Old Testament prophets were placed before the Apostles. Here he is about the earthly return of Jesus Christ and he speaks of how the prophets first mentioned it and then the Twelve Apostles did. The prophets and then the apostles, that is the true order.

13. But as you go through Ephesians, you will find THAT IS NOT the order here. Notice, Ephesians 4:11 where he talks about the spiritual gifts that He has given the church, and there he says He gave some Apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and some teachers. Notice the order there – Apostles and then prophets, that does not mean the Twelve Disciples, or the Old Testament prophets at all. Apostle, of course, we told you in days gone by means "sent one" – Paul was a prophet and he was a "sent one" -- and the word, "prophet" means New Testament prophets. The term means only "to tell forth", it means to "tell forth the Word of God". It is not the ability to predict future events (which is not given to the Church). Apostles and prophets are gifts to the church by God.

14. Now remember these Apostles and New Testament prophets were not the foundation of the church, Paul did not say, "I am the foundation", but he said he had "laid the foundation". I Corinthians 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  They were preaching and teaching Jesus Christ who is the foundation. The church is built upon a foundation that is unshakable.

15. Then notice, it is fitly framed together, growing. Growth, means progress, not completion. It is not that it is grown up, but it growth into a holy temple in the Lord. Isn’t it wonderful to think that you are a living stone, in this glorious building? Does it not bring your soul to the sense of importance of holy living of knowing how to behave in the building of God, the church of God, the habitation of God.

16. In the Old Testament when Solomon’s temple was erected on Mount Moriah, in order that there might be a level platform on which the great super-structure should stand, vast stones were brought and mortared into the solid rock, and these stones were fitted into the temple. At the end of the seven years it was the most wonderful sanctuary the world had ever known up to that time. But there was something rather peculiar about that construction, it went up without the sound of a hammer, because the stones were quarried out below – they were also cut, shaped, and polished down there, and then placed upon that platform and cemented together without the use of a workman’s hammer, so today no one can hear a sound if we are living stones, being fit into the temple of God, the habitation of God, the Holy Spirit quarrying living stones from the depth of sin, and is lifting them by His mighty power and putting them into the building that is upon the great foundation, Jesus Christ. Of course, these living stones come from Africa, India, China, the Islands of the sea, what a wonderful, glorious truth this is. 

17. If you should ask my opinion as to how near we are to a finished temple, I would say I think there are very few more stones to be put in. Just one here and one there on the roof, and then it will be complete. I am positive that we are at the point where the temple is just about finished. It might be that last living stone to be placed in the building will be placed there today, and then the work will be done. I pray that you are part of this glorious temple, the habitation of God. It may be completed today, and then it would be too late.

18. Then we come down to the very heart of the Epistle -- the 3rd chapter, and here Paul tells us how he came to the knowledge of this truth he has been revealing. He tells us that he received it by revelation. He never received it from Peter, James, John or anyone of the others of the Twelve. Now, he calls this truth that he reveals that was given to him by revelation a mystery.

19. Because of this truth, he was in prison at the time he wrote the Ephesian letter. He was not in prison because of his faults, because he disobeyed God. He was in prison for this truth, that Jew or Gentile are on the same plane and they are all going to be part of the same body, not a kingdom.

20. Notice, he says, I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles. You will remember that in his descent from the temple stairs in Jerusalem, it was when he announced that he had been commanded of the Lord to go to the Gentiles, that many of his Jewish hearers was stirred to the depths. And they cried “away with such a fellow from the earth, it is not fit for him to live.” Acts 22:22 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. We therefore, who are Gentiles by birth have special reason to be grateful to Paul for his faithfulness in proclaiming the purpose of God concerning out part in the divine program – the new program, not the Kingdom but the body program. Because of this he suffered shame and spent many weary months on prison, rather then surrender in the least degree the truth God committed unto him. 

21. Let us skip down a few verses to the 9th verse and we have a truth here that is very important. And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: That this had been hid in God. Observe, it was not simply hidden in the Bible – it was not that the Old Testament contained this message and we needed only to dig it out. Not so. But it was hidden in God and could not be apprehended by man until it was divinely revealed, and this message was revealed to Paul in a divine way by direct revelation. 

22. Even angels whether good or bad had no knowledge of this secret of the Body until it was given to Paul here upon earth, and revealed to others that they might reveal it. That is what Ephesians 3: 10 means, To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, This is a wonderful truth and is not comprehended by many today because it is not felt, it is not seen, it is not appreciated.

         AMEN

   Ref: 01/10/1960 / 209 - The Body Beautiful / 9/29/2019