GOD’S ETERNAL PURPOSE AND PREDESTINATION

Photo taken by B Smith from the patio

308 - GOD’S ETERNAL PURPOSE AND PREDESTINATION

 May 23, 1965

Henry F. Kulp

 

Romans 8: 28, 29  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

God’s eternal purpose is that we have all things work together for good to them that love God. God’s eternal purpose is centered in Jesus Christ and part of God’s eternal purpose is called the mystery, the Church which is the Body of Christ. And this part of God’s eternal purpose, has been a secret—it’s been hid from ages past; but, has now been revealed to us by the Apostle Paul. 

1/  Now we come to verse 29, and we find the word predestinate. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Right away some folks become frightened. Many people worry about the teaching of predestination. For some folks it is the end of the line. To others, it becomes a doctrine, whereby God saves certain people and He condemns certain people to Hell. But, predestination should not be hard for us to understand.

2/  The first thing we have to ascertain about predestination is, it has absolutely nothing to do with salvation. 

Romans 8: 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

It does not say for whom He foreknew He predestinated to be saved that is not what it says. But rather, predestinated to be conformed to the image of His Son.  

3/  I can remember quite a few years ago, I was holding a Bible Conference in Dunbar, Pa., when a young man came to me and he started talking to me about the Gospel; and, as I normally do, I asked him if he was saved. “Oh,” he said, “there’s no use speaking to me about being saved, because God has predestinated me to Hell—He has not predestinated me to go to Heaven.” No matter how hard I talked to him, he was convinced of this, he could not be saved. 

What a diabolical, satanic teaching. It has no foundation in the Word of God! You are NOT predestinated to be saved, but according to the Scripture, predestinated to be conformed to the image of His Son.

4/  Let us just for a few seconds, study the Word itself. I am not interested in the many interpretations of predestination; nor am I bothered by the way others handle the subject. I am only interested in what the Bible teaches. I have no denominational ‘ax to grind’.   

5/  When you look into the meaning of the word itself, you’ll find the word predestination is made up of two words. The first part is, pre, which means before, or beforehand. The last part of the word destination, which means the climax, the end. The little word pre has to do with something beforehand—the word destination has to do with the end. 

So, the precise meaning of the word has to do with something beforehand and something at the end. Predestination has nothing, whatsoever, to do with anything in between. The time is designated by the word pre and by the word destination.     

6/  So predestination takes us into eternity. It takes us into eternity past and into eternity future. In eternity past, God determined to do something and in eternity future, it will come to pass. 

Before we can go any further in our study, we must see that predestination and God’s eternal purpose are all tied up together. 

Ephesians 1: 11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according—that word, according, is important, according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the council of His own will. Predestination is according to the purpose of God. What’s the purpose of God? That He might have a Church that is the Body of Christ, which is a Heavenly Body.

7/ Notice! We have obtained an inheritance. Predestination has to do with the end. The final climax—what’s the final climax? We will have an inheritance. Inheritance and predestination go hand in hand. He has predestinated us to an inheritance.

8/  None of this has to do with us individually, as such, for Ephesians is about the Church, which is the Body of Christ. It is a collective thing—the whole Church has an inheritance—the whole Church is predestinated. Predestinated to what? Let’s see the final climax, let’s see eternity future. 

9/ Romans 8: 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

We will be conformed to the image of God’s Son. God decided this in eternity past and in eternity future, it will be a reality. We will be like the Lord Jesus Christ. The whole   Church, not just some of the Church, but the whole Church, the complete Church will be like the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Any time the word predestination is used, in your presence, or anybody mentions it, you should say Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! I have a destination. I am going to be like the Lord Jesus Christ. What more can God do for you than this? Can you think of anything better that God can do for you? Not one thing! Certainly this is nothing you can do for yourself—God is going to have to do it for you.    

10/  Let us notice something else about the future of those who have predestination.

Ephesians 1: 4, 5 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ—notice, according to the pleasure of His will—according to His purpose, again. And, you remember what His purpose happens to be, that He has predestinated us unto the adoption of children. 

We told you the word, adoption, is not the word we know today, where a family takes a child of another blood and adopts him or her into their family. There’s nothing wrong with this adoption, but that is not what is being talked about here. 

We told you in the life of the Hebrew boy, there came a time appointed by the father when the adoption proceeding took place and the boy was declared to be a son and an heir of the father. Before that time, he had been a son indeed, but he had been under governors and tutors. He had been told what he must and what he must not do; and, what he may and may not do. Finally, the time appointed arrived. He was now a grown son and the adoption proceedings take place. 

One of these days, we are going to be in this glorious position, for, Romans 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Here we have received the Spirit of adoption whereby we cry, Abba, Father. We have it but it is not yet ours in reality. We just have the spirit of it. 

Romans 8: 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

We are groaning within ourselves doing what? Waiting! Waiting for what? The adoption to wit the redemption of our body! The adoption has to do with our body and our bodies, are going to be made like unto the Body of the Lord Jesus Christ. We do not have this at the present time, but we will have it in the future when we go to be with the Lord Jesus Christ. 

So, predestination has to do with our bodies. It has been beforehand decided that our bodies will be resurrected from the dead and changed like unto the body of the Lord Jesus Christ. At the present time, we have merely the Spirit of Adoption. But, one of these days the adoption is going to be a reality and we’ll be like the Lord Jesus Christ and our bodies will be like the Lord Jesus Christ’s glorious body. Certainly, predestination is not an evil thing, but a wonderful, marvelous, thing that should cause us to shout Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!!  

11/ Let me show you something in the Old Testament about God’s purpose. It has to do with us knowing that all things work together for good. 

Isaiah 14: 24, 25 The Lord of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand:That I will break the Assyrian in my land, and upon my mountains tread him under foot: then shall his yoke depart from off them, and his burden depart from off their shoulders.

Here are some verses you should study because they are marvelous. The Lord of hosts hath sworn, saying, surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; You see, the Lord doesn’t ask anyone what he’s going to do. You remember Moses, God said, I want you, Moses, to lead my people, because I am gong to deliver my people from the house of bondage in Egypt. Was there anyone powerful enough to stop God from getting Israel out of Egypt? NO! When God decided to do it that was all that was needed. God said, ‘I’m going to do it’ and it was done? Do you know something? Sometimes, I think we give the devil too much power. We think Satan is a mighty one almost with the might of the Lord: and, that is not true—it is not true at all. Satan was in a place of power and God has left him in that place of power, but he does not overrule the purposes of God.

Isaiah 14: 27 For the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?

HE DID WHAT? He hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? And His hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back? You see, the purposes of God are always that way, they always come to the conclusion that God wants them to.

12/  This has to do with predestination and salvation. God never predestinated anyone for heaven or predestinated anyone for hell. It doesn’t make it any better that some people say predestination has nothing to do with hell, only with heaven.

I Timothy 2: 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

II Peter 3: 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

For God says He wants all to come to repentance. In other words, all to be saved. God is not choosing some people and rejecting others. The only way you can be rejected, is if you do not trust the Lord Jesus Christ, as your Saviour. So, you can see, that predestination and salvation do not go hand in hand.

13/  It was not predestinated that I preach this sermon. It was not predestinated by God that I be pastor of this church. It was not predestinated that the musicians here, should play in this church. These things have nothing to do with the subject of predestination.

14/  Let us just sum up predestination. Predestination is a divine act of God, or by God, in eternity past God set the goal of the Church which is the Body of Christ. And the goal is adoption, which is being Son-Placed. When we’re Son-Placed, we shall be like HIM. We shall then be in the image of His Son. Predestination has nothing whatsoever to do with the events in between times. Whether you’re going to be a preacher or whether mechanic, an engineer, a bookkeeper—it has nothing to do with whether you’re going to be healthy or sick, whether you are going to be tall or short, it is God in ages past, linking the final climax, or the goal of the Church which is the Body of Christ, certain.

15/  Let us understand in the Book of Ephesians 1: 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Before we can get to this verse we must understand that in Ephesians God is talking about the mystery, the Church, which is the Body of Christ – how few really understand the Church, which is the Body of Christ. Christ is not talking about individual believers, but rather about the Church—the Body of Christ. 

In the first three chapters of Ephesians, we have the Church as God sees it. Accepted and resting in all the merits of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the last three chapters of this book, we see the Church as God desires the world to see it. So, the last three chapters has to do with the believer’s work, and walk. The word, Church, is found in Ephesians nine times and the word, body, is also found nine times. So this is the theme of the book. 

16/ Ephesians 1: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Notice clearly that the Holy Spirit is telling us through the Apostle Paul that God before the foundation of the world, decided to have a Church which would be called His Body. He decided that Church would have its foundation in HIM. He also decided what kind of Church it would be. It would be a Church without blame before Him in love. When God looks at that Church, He does not see a flaw. It is without blame before HIM. 

Ephesians 1: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

He decided the destination of the Church. In these two verses, we have the Divine blueprint for the Church which is the Body of Christ. He is dealing with the individuals in this book, but with the corporate body known as the Church.       

17/  God does not predestinate individuals, but, of course, there is one exception to that statement, in the Bible God has predestinated one outstanding individual. 

I Peter 1: 11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

The Lord Jesus Christ was predestinated in two things. He was predestinated to suffering and He was predestinated to the glory which should follow. 

18/  God has predestinated two groups. This one group is Israel to an outstanding place among the nations of the world. Then God has predestinated another group, known as the Church, The Body of Christ and we shall be like the Lord Jesus Christ and spend eternity in the Heavenlies. If you are a member of the Body of Christ, you are in a   predestinated company! 

AMEN

Ref: 05/23/1965 / 308 - GOD’S ETERNAL PURPOSE AND PREDESTINATION/ 08/26/2020 

THE QUALIFICATION OF THE SAVIOUR

Photo taken by B Smith from the Patio

 

77 - THE QUALIFICATION OF THE SAVIOUR

SEPTEMBER 22, 1963

Henry F. Kulp

 

Romans 1:  1- 5 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

We told you last week there are two verbs that are very important in verses 3, 4 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: 

The first verb is, made, and the second verb is, declared. He was made of the seed of David, according to the flesh. In other words, here we have the humanity of Jesus Christ proclaimed. Then in the 4^th verse we have declared to be the Son of God with power. This has to do with deity of Jesus Christ. To understand Jesus Christ, you must understand that He has to be God and He has to be man. True God, true man.

1/  He was a man, and we have some very beautiful proofs of this in the Bible. 

Mark 4: 35 - 41 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

Here we have the account of Christ in the storm. Is there anything more human than the picture of the Lord Jesus Christ, tired out and asleep in the boat? If you take time to read this portion of Scripture very carefully, you will find it is evening time and it was the time when He was tired and worn out from the day. He had a very busy day. It was the day when He pronounced woes upon the cities. It was the day when He really went after the Pharisees—it was the day when His family thought He had lost His mind, and they just couldn’t understand Him. So here He is as a true man—completely exhausted, asleep on the boat. 

Notice, Mark 4: 36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.

They took Him even as He was in the ship—even as He was. It was a phrase that shows us there was something about His conditions that drew the attention of the disciples. He was so tired that the wind and storm and the rush of the water into the boat did not awaken Him. Is there anything more human than a man tired, fast asleep, and not being conscious of what was going on about Him. But then the disciples awakened Him and the scene changes. He arises, rebuked the wind and says unto the sea, Peace be still. And you will notice that the disciples said unto Him—what manner of man is this that even the winds and waves obey Him? Here we have His humanity and His deity. In humanity, He was fast asleep, just like us, exhausted. In His deity, He was awakened and He stilled the winds and the waves and they became calm. Yes, He is true man, but He is true God.  

2/  I would like to set forth yet one more example of the two natures of the God-man—it is the story of tribute money. 

Matthew 17: 24 - 27  And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free. Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

The world tells us there is nothing more sure than death and taxes. The Romans, who controlled the land of promise, where Jesus Christ was living had a tax upon the people. It was actually a head-tax, and the day came when the head-tax was to be collected. The tax collector came and said to Peter—does your master pay taxes? The very fact that he asked this question of Peter shows that even the tax collector recognized there was something in Jesus Christ that was a little different then all the rest of the men with whom he came in contact. Actually, it was not Peter’s place to answer for the Lord Jesus Christ, but Peter, impetuous Peter, according to his reckless nature, agreed that the Lord would pay taxes. 

When Peter arrived at the house where the Lord Jesus Christ was staying, the Lord took him aside and began to talk to him privately. He reminded Peter that kings exempted themselves from paying tax, but they took money from others and in so doing were free. And Peter agreed that all this was true. Then the Lord pointed out that since He Himself was a King, it would be only natural that He should be exempt from paying taxes. Yet so no offense might be given to the world, He told Peter to go out and pay taxes. But notice the method of securing the money. It is truly startling. He said to Peter, go down to the Sea of Galilee, which I, of course, created, and I will have one of my creatures lose a coin in the water. And there in the water will be a fish. He is going to take the money into his mouth. And you will go fishing and you will catch the fish on your hook, take the fish out of the water, take the coin out of his mouth and go and pay the taxes. Pay yours and mine. 

We said it was only human to pay taxes, but certainly it is divine to be able to pay your taxes this way. Humanity and the deity of Jesus Christ in the same portion of Scripture. Humanity is subject to the laws of the land, Deity knows the movement of the fish in the sea, and the whereabouts of a lost coin. 

3/  But now for a moment, let us consider verse 3 where it says, Jesus Christ made of the seed of David according to the flesh. What does that mean? Let us look at the humanity of Jesus Christ and thrill to a truth that is brought out to us in the genealogies in Mathew and in Luke. In the account of Mathew we have the name Jechoniah and by the insertion of this name in this genealogy—it proves that Joseph could not have been the physical father of Jesus Christ. If he had been, then Jesus Christ could not have been the Messiah. Jechoniah was accursed of God with a curse that took the throne away from any of his descendants including Joseph his son. 

Jeremiah 22: 30 Thus saith the Lord, Write ye this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days: for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah.

And not one of the seven sons of this man ever possessed the throne. No carnal son of this man could ever have been king, because of the curse of God. He would have been accursed and could never have been the Messiah. If Jesus Christ had been the son, the physical son of Joseph, He would have been accursed and could never have been the Messiah. He would have been unable to sit upon the throne.   

4/  But on the other hand, in the Gospel of Luke, we have the other lineage, and this is the line of Nathan. And it is not the royal line. Here we read that the grandson of Heli was Jesus Christ because Heli was the father of Mary, and from this line, He could not be a king, because it is not the royal line. Notice, this line does not have a curse on it. This is the line without the curse that produced Heli and his daughter, the virgin Mary, and his grandson, Jesus Christ. 

The line that had a curse upon it produced Joseph, and of course, Joseph legally adopted Jesus Christ, and by this adoption through Joseph, Jesus Christ became the royal heir. For we read, Joseph married Mary and took the unborn Child under his protecting care, he gave Him the title that would come to him through his ancestor, Solomon.  And the Lord Jesus became the legal Messiah, the royal Messiah, the uncursed Messiah, the true Messiah. 

Remember, in Christ, both the lines were exhausted. For the line that had a curse upon it, that produced Joseph, exhausted the line of Solomon. And after Mary married Joseph, the children she had to Joseph had the curse upon them, and so the two lines were completely washed out at this point. Christ is the only one who could be the Messiah. There could be no one else. Any man who could come into this world, professing to fulfill the conditions, will be a liar and a child of the devil. Because we have positive proof here that Christ, according to the flesh is the Messiah.

5/  Romans 1: 5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

Notice that Paul is preaching obedience to the faith. Folks constantly ask me, isn’t it necessary to obey God to be saved? Oh yes, you do. But what does God ask you to do? How does He ask you to obey Him? Your salvation does not depend upon obedience, but how does God ask you to be obedient? One thing God says is believe. When you have believed on the Lord Jesus, you have obeyed, you have exercised obedience. That is what He has here, for obedience to the faith of among all nations. 

6/  You haven’t obeyed God if you haven’t believed. Unbelief is the damning sin. God nowhere in His Bible promises to save unbelievers, no matter how good they are. God says to you, it is necessary for you to believe on My Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and if you haven’t done that, that is disobedience. 

If a man walks up to me and says, “Have you obeyed God?” I say, of course, I have. Than he says, you know you haven’t obeyed Him—look at some of the things you do. I say, yes, I know I am still a sinner, but what did God ask me to do? He asked me to believe in Christ, and that is obedience of faith. So faith is obeying God. 

7/  Now notice, Romans 1: 7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The words, to be, should be left out again.Those living in Rome where saints. Not all the saints are in Heaven. It is true that all who have died in Jesus Christ and are in Heaven are now saints, but we are saints right here upon this earth. There are saints in Heaven and saints on earth. Isn’t it wonderful to know that you do not have to wait until you die to become sainted. 

8/  Romans 1: 3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;

You will notice it says that the Lord Jesus Christ is the seed of David, and you talk about the two genealogies, one is Mathew and one is Luke, and do you know that Jesus Christ is the only Israelite that can trace His lineage back to David or to Abraham? Do you know there is not one Jew living in the world today who can tell you what tribe he came from? I say living in this world, because there is an Israelite living in Heaven who is of the seed of David. There are no genealogies to show the regular Jew or Israelite his relationship to David or Abraham, but this is not true of Jesus Christ.       

9/  When the nation of Israel, the Jewish nation is ready for its Messiah, for its King to sit upon the throne of David, there is only one person they can use, and this is the God-man living in Heaven, for they will not be able to produce anyone other than Jesus as He is the only one Who belongs on the throne, that He is of the seed of David.     

10/  Now notice what Paul says about this group in Rome. He outlines five of the divine things that are theirs because of their position in Jesus Christ.

#1, that they are the called of Jesus and Christ.

#2,  that they are beloved of God,

#3, that they are called saints,

#4 & 5 that they are objects of grace and recipients of the peace of God. 

First of all, called of Jesus Christ. What does that mean? Does that mean God only calls certain people, and those He calls are sure to come? The word, and it’s meaning, those who have listened and accepted and those who have acted upon a divine invitation. Those who have slighted the invitation are not reckoned among the called.

11/  Then we read, beloved of God. Someone will say, well, all men are beloved of God. This is true in one sense, and it is not true in another. God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, and the world is beloved of God as the creator of man, but when we are His children, children of His own household, we are the beloved of God, and unsaved men are never called the beloved. 

12/  Then called saints—the word, to be, are not in the original language, they have been added by translators—notice the slanting type, that means it is not in the original.

13/  In the church there has been a great confusion about the way of making saint. There is some who think that a saint is a term that is applied only to those who are saintly, that is they do good deeds. This is not what the Bible teaches. This is the new name of the one who was a sinner. His old name is sinner, his new name is, saint. And this difference between a saint and a sinner is the Saviour. 

14/  When you study about the different religions in the world, and you find out some religions make saint, you find it is quite different from the way God makes a saint. You will read that application has been made to ecclesiastical authority, the hierarchy of the church to make a saint out of one who lived upon this earth and has died in service of the church. The soul of that individual is supposed to still be in purgatory, suffering from the sins he has committed in this life. Then the church appoints a committee to bring charges against this person’s memory, and the head of this committee is known as the devil’s advocate, and this group finds every possible accusation of wrong doing that can be brought against the memory of this candidate. After the file is completed, another committee goes into the matter and presents a complete defense, and they search the pages of history for proofs on the saintliness of the candidate. And they try to secure evidence of supposed healing  or miracles performed at the grave of the candidate, or some relic in connection with him. All this evidence is collected, then there is a trial, when the trial is concluded and the defendant is found innocent, there comes a time, and sometimes it can be for years before the highest ecclesiastical authority in the church beautifies the candidate—he is now supposed to be in Heaven and no longer suffering for his sins. Then after a long wait again, perhaps many years, the beautified person passes through another ceremony called canonization and is declared to be a saint.

There wouldn’t be much hope for us, would there? I am sure the devil’s advocate could bring too many charges against us, but all of this quite apart from what the Bible calls a saint—if you read all the epistles, you will discover that they are all addressed to the saints—they are not dead, they are not in purgatory, there hasn’t been any trial, any devil’s advocation, any committees checking into their lives—they are called saints because they believe on the Lord Jesus. The word saint, means holy one. The saints are the holy ones. Our holiness is not in ourselves but it is found in Jesus Christ. 

II Corinthians 5: 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

15/  Romans 1: 8, 9 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;

If you would read all of Paul’s epistles I am sure you will find that he is praying for all the churches constantly. How much time the Apostle Paul spent in prayer, I really don’t know but he does say in one place, night and day, praying exceedingly, He said to these Romans, whom he had never seen, I am praying for you all the time, I love you, you are believers in Jesus Christ. I have heard of your faith and I love you in the Lord.   

16/  The Lord may never use you in preaching. He may never use you in singing, He may never use you to be an authority in the church, such as a deacon or an elder, or a trustee, but He can use everyone in prayer—we do have the ministry of prayer committed to all of us.

AMEN

Ref: 09/22/1963 / 77 - QUALIFICATIONS OF THE SAVIOUR / 08/25/2020                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

THE KINGDOM AND THE BODY OF CHRIST

Photo taken by B Smith from patio

 

 

349 - THE KINGDOM AND THE BODY OF CHRIST

February 29, 1977

Henry F. Kulp

 

Colossians 1: 15 - 19 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

Here we read about the uniqueness of Jesus Christ. We read of His work and His hypostatic union, His deity and the humility of Jesus Christ. He is the Creator of the Universe, He is the Sustainer of the Universe, He is the Authority of the Universe. 

1/  He is Head of the Body, the Church. Remember, when you say this is the Church Age, you’ve got to say it is the Body Age. There are three churches in the Bible, but this is the Church, the Body, and Paul is the Author of this Body Truth. He is the One who reveals the Church, the Body of Christ.

2/  His program is different from that of Jesus Christ when He was upon earth. Christ was part of the Kingdom program, an early kingdom to the Nation Israel. I wonder if you notice something that is very important—very significant. That the Apostle Paul who wrote about one-half of the books of the so-called New Testament Scriptures—in all of his messages there is a pronounced silence concerning the earthly ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

II Corinthians 5:16 is very important. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.

We know Him no more after the flesh, and when we realize that in his oral and written ministry, the Apostle Paul said little or nothing about what Christ did on earth during the years He was under the law—the minister of circumcision, sent only to the house of Israel. 

Paul never once referred to the Sermon on the Mount, the Golden Rule, and he never referred to the Our Father prayer in Matthew 6, nor did he refer to any of the Kingdom parables spoken by our Lord Jesus in Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

3/ The difference between the two programs is very easy to see. We are not going to spend a lot of time on it, but we are going to look at it for just a second. When Jesus Christ was on earth, the program He presented had a Kingdom on earth. It had a legalistic setting, while the program that God gave Paul to reveal to us, is a Heavenly program, and it is pure grace plus nothing.  Take the expression—the Kingdom of Heaven. It is found more than 30 times in Matthew, and by way of contrast, notice that the word, grace, is not found once in the 28 chapters of Matthew.

4/  Let us compare Matthew 6: 10 Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Here the disciples were taught to pray, Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heaven. 

But now look at Colossians 1: 13 WHO HATH DELIVERED US FROM THE POWER OF DARKNESS AND HATH TRANSLATED US INTO THE KINGDOM OF HIS DEAR SON. 

Members of the Body of Christ are already in the spiritual Kingdom of Colossians 1: 13 where in Matthew 6 they are praying for the Kingdom to come.

5/  Matthew 8: 12 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Here the Lord Jesus Christ referred to Jews, saved and unsaved, as the children of the Kingdom. You cannot get into the Kingdom of the Son of His love by being unsaved—you are not children of it. It is only by faith in Jesus Christ.  

6/  Now notice the Kingdom of Heaven which the Lord Jesus Christ referred to in Our Father Prayer, will be established at the close of the Great Tribulation when the Son of Man shall come to deliver Israel. If we pray, Thy Kingdom come, while we remain on earth, that means we say we are going through the Great Tribulation, and, of course, this is not true.

7/  Let us compare, Matthew 5: 5, 9 Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are the peace makers: for they shall be called the children of God.

…with Colossians 1: 20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

Notice the, meek, of Matthew 5: 5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. and Matthew 5: 9 Blessed are the peace makers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Men are peace-makers and therefore children of God. 

But in Colossians 1: 20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

Jesus Christ is the peace-maker. And now because we are in Christ, we have identification with the Body of Christ. So the whole program is different and I think you will have to admit this as you see and study the Word of God.  

8/ Let us see the dispensational setting of the Sermon on the Mount and the Kingdom teaching of Jesus of Nazareth, Matthew 5: 5 - 8 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Notice a statement in Matthew 4: 17, 23 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

From that time forth Jesus began to preach and to say, Repent for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand. And Jesus went about all Galilee preaching in their synagogues and preaching the Gospel of the kingdom and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. 

Also notice, Matthew 10: 7, 8 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

What is the setting? The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand, and it has in it a program of physical healing and miracles. 

Then notice Matthew 8: 4 And Jesus put forth His hand and touched him saying, “I will, be thou clean” and immediately the leper was clean and Jesus said unto him, see you tell no man, but go thy way, show thyself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded for a testimony unto them. 

How can this be applied or appropriated under this present reign of the Grace of God? It cannot. It is not for us today. It is not in the Book of Colossians.  

9/  Matthew 6: 17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;

Please read this carefully and ask yourself if we obey this anointing our heads with oil, when we fast. If we do not, why not? A very important question. Why select a few of our Lord’s instruction and wholly ignore the others? This hit and miss, snatch-grab method must be very displeasing to the Lord Jesus Christ. I would like to ask you a very important question. By whose authority do believers today select a few instructions that may suit them and then let the others go, rejecting others that they consider not important.  

10/  Every believer is a member of the Body, and as a member of the Body he is an ambassador of Christ. (Ambassador, not of this world, but in a foreign country)

II Corinthians 5: 17 - 21 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Therefore every believer represents Christ on earth. Therefore every believer is in full-time Christian service, and every believer is living in a foreign land because Heaven is his home.

11/  Then we read, Who is the Beginning, and in the Greek it is He keeps on being the beginning. The beginning is a noun, R-KAY and it means the FIRST CAUSE. That is another title for Him. What does that mean? To the Jew it would be revolutionary. To say He is the beginning, is to transfer to Jesus Christ the glory that for many generations had been given to Abraham. It was not shared by Moses or anyone else. 

You see, the church, the kingdom began in the tent of Abraham. If you are of reformed doctrine or covenant theology, you say there is one church in the Bible, and that began in the tent of Abraham, and it is continuing today—the Church the Body is a continuation of the Church, and, of course, this is the Scripture that forever stands against this teaching. Covenant theology, reformed doctrine is not found in the Bible. Abraham is not the beginning of the Church the Body of Christ. Jesus Christ is—He is the first cause, so there are no members of that Body before the Apostle Paul.  

12/  Then He is called the First-Born from the dead. First-born, what does that mean? In the Greek it is PRO-DAH-KOUS and this again is a title for the Lord Jesus Christ, and He is the Pro-dah-kaus because He has been risen from the dead. From is the Greek word EK meaning out from, or exit, and then it is NECK-CROSS out from among the dead ones—or it could literally be OUT FROM THE SOURCE OF THE DEAD. He is the beginning because He rose again from the dead, and ascended into Heaven. No one else has ever been resurrected from the dead. He is the only one in all of history. Of course, all of this is speaking about His humanity. 

So remember, He is the only member of the human race to be resurrected. You say, what about the one who was raised from the dead by Elijah, the one by Elisha, and the three by Jesus Christ? They were not resurrected from the dead—they were brought back to life, not resurrected. Jesus Christ was not resuscitated. They were resuscitated. He is now in a resurrection body. These folks had to die again, but Jesus Christ will never die. 

Romans 6: 9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

13/  Colossians 1: 15 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 

Now notice the last statement here—that in all things, He might have the preeminence. That, of course, introduces the purpose clause. The purpose that He might have preeminence. The word, pre-eminence, in the Greek is PRO-TWO-O and it means TO HAVE THE HIGHEST RANK. 

He is to have the highest rank in the Church, and this is important for us to see. Don’t you see, we are to give the Lord Jesus Christ the pre-eminence, the highest rank. There is no man in the assembly who is to be honored  for himself. Or, for his position in the assembly. We are to respect authority, there is certain authority in the church that is given into the hands of men, and that is to be respected, but no man is to be honored, no man is to be respected, no man is to be praised for himself. All the honor and praise belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ, and Him alone, and in the church which is the Body, Christ is to be the Theme.      

14/  John 16: 13, 14 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

It is even more true today that Christ Jesus is to be the Theme of the Church, the Body of Christ.

AMEN

Ref: 05/29/1977/ 349 - THE KINGDOM AND THE BODY OF CHRIST / 08/24/2020