STUDIES IN LAW: Part I

Photo by B Smith from patio

 

003 - STUDIES IN LAW: Part I

 (1976)


Pastor Henry F. Kulp

 

Romans 5: 12, 13 “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the World, and death by sin; and so, death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.”

Now notice this verse with me. That’s why I’m going to spend the next few weeks with you. Now, did you hear that statement: “Where there is no law sin is not imputed.”

Now I’ll tell you something, I struggled with that verse for many, many years. What’s that mean?

Now there is a period of time, 2,500 years from the time of Adam up till Moses. This time is divided into two sections: one from Adam to Noah, then the Flood came, then from Noah to Moses; one on one side of the Flood and the other on the other side of the Flood. Now, God says in this period of time there was no Law; no Law at all. There was the law of sin and death but not the Ten Commandments; not the Mosaic Law. And God says here, “Where there is no Law, sin is not imputed.” Now, listen, look at me. You see, God has a period of time and I’ll tell you another problem I’ve had with this period of time, Adam to Noah from Noah to Moses; where does it fit in.

The Bible is mainly divided into two periods: Law and Grace. The earthly program and the Heavenly program; where does this area fit in? They’re not under Law. They’re not members of the Church the Body of Christ. Where do they fit in? And I’ll be honest with you, I have wrestled and wrestled and wrestled. This is a period of time that is very difficult and if you were to go out to find some books, you would find very, very few answers for these questions.

I bought many commentaries but I’ve given up on commentaries. People keep coming up to me, especially when I hold Bible Conferences, and say, “Pastor, what do you think is a good commentary?” You can’t find any. All the commentaries I know have reached a point when there is a hard problem, you know what they do? Close their eyes and pretend it isn’t there at all. It’s very difficult. Very few commentaries ever face the difficult problems of the Bible.

Now, what’s this mean, I’m going to burn it into your mind: “But sin is not imputed when there is no law.” Does that mean that all the people who lived from Adam to Moses that they didn’t have to answer for their sins? What does it mean, that the folks who lived in that time are all saved; that they are all in Heaven? Was there Universal Reconciliation for those folks? Didn’t they have to answer for their sins? What about a criminal who lived during that period of time? We have Cain, who became the first murderer, he didn’t forfeit his life.

Well, let’s look at this passage. I want to look at it carefully and I hope and pray I can keep you coming for about three or four weeks, because I would like you to see this period of time before I’m finished. I’m positive most people have just overlooked it.

Let’s go back to Romans 5: 12. “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin;” Now what’s that mean? You know we’re living in a day that the average person does not even realize. The average fundamentalist says, “It’s getting worse; it’s horrible,” but what he fails to see is what is happening in the Bible-believing, fundamental church right now.

Two things are happening: Number one: we have neo- evangelism. Many men who stood firm for the Bible truth have now deviated and discarded many of them. I read a book by a man, who was a giant in fundamentalism in days gone by (if I mentioned his name I’m sure 95% of you would know who I’m talking about) I read a book in which he took a staunch stand for creation and then I read a book before he died, in which he felt perhaps God did mean evolution. You see, we have in the fundamental church today the problem of those who are deviating; still calling themselves fundamentalists, still calling themselves Bible-believers, but they have deviated from some of the basic truths. Now why? One of the reasons happens to be because they were looked down upon by the Liberals and college people, who said, “They are nothing, why they don’t even have any education.” These fellows didn’t like that, so they decided they were going to change that image. Let me say something, when the world speaks highly of you and me, we better watch—better watch out.

If we want the esteem and the honor and the glory of this world, we’re in trouble. And it’s led a large segment of believers into this neo-evangelicalism, whereby, they have gone down the road of ecumenicalism to get along with everybody.

Then, secondly, the problem has been as our brother prayed tonight, the charismatic movement. How many people are being swayed by that. I met a man yesterday, he and his wife stopped me and he said, “You’re Pastor Kulp aren’t you?” He said, “I’ve watched you on T.V. for about 20 years.” He said, “Were you down to Huntington last week?” (Where you down? Did you see it on T.V., lately? About 35,000 people. That’s a lot of folks in any man’s language--making inroads.)

What’s the answer? The answer happens to be that we must be Bible-believing, Bible- teaching churches. I’m convinced that we’ve had too much evangelism, which is fine, but that’s not the purpose of the church. We need more Bible teachers. People who are saved need to be grounded in the doctrine of the Word. Now we need evangelism all right, but not to the point that we forsake Bible teaching--Bible teaching.

Now, let’s go back with that in mind. “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world,”: now what does that mean? Does that mean that all of us are born from one man by the name of Adam? Does that mean that we have one man, who is the head of this race, and all of the rest come from him? Is that what it means? That’s exactly what it means. “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world,” Adam created by the hand of God; brought into existence and became a living soul.

Let me show you something. Will you turn with me to John 5: 45. I want to show you an amazing verse: I was showing this to a seminary student just the other week. He was talking to me and he wasn’t too sure that the Bible did teach everybody did come from Adam.

John 5: 45. “Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, (what are the next two words?) even Moses, in whom ye trust.”

Now, the Jewish people, they based everything they believed on Moses. They were sure Moses was God’s man. But wait a minute! Listen to the next verse.

John 5: 46 “For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.” Now, what’s he saying? Jesus Christ is saying to these Jews, “If you believe Moses, whom you put so much stock in, then you would believe me.”

You see, it’s one thing to say, I believe the Bible and it’s another thing to believe it. There are people who will say, “I believe the Bible is the Word of God,” but they don’t know what’s in it. How you believe something you don’t even know. It’s nothing but a superstitious belief. You say, “I believe the Bible is the Word of God”, but you don’t know what’s in it. You can’t believe it. That’s what God is saying to these Jews. “You say you are of Moses, Moses is of great importance, but if you believe Moses you would believe me.” Now notice the next verse the 47th. Here is a principal that is so important.

John 5: 47 “But (notice this conjunctive contact) “But if ye believed not his writing (who’s writing? Moses. What are Moses writings? Matthew, Mark, Luke, are they Moses writings? No, of course not. What are his writings? Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, five books. What are they called? The Pentateuch. Now, notice the verse.) “But if ye believe not his writings; (Moses writings, the Pentateuch) how shall ye believe my words?” Now, listen to me. Anyone who discards Genesis 1 & 2 and says it’s a fable and that it doesn’t mean what it says; they can’t be saved.

God clearly says that. You say that God had another way, other than the one-man Adam to be the federal head of the race; Jesus said, You don’t believe Moses, and that included Genesis 1 & 2, you can’t believe on Him. Do you see, anyone who tells you, I don’t believe the creation story in Genesis 1 thru 5 up to the Flood, that means they are not saved; they are not trusting Jesus Christ. It’s just that clear. Let me read it again, so that there will be no mistaking it. “But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?”

May I digress for a second to give you a little background. We have so many young folks who have been coming to me about evolution. You know, evolution, young folks, is absolutely the most ridiculous thing in the world. I wouldn’t be afraid to meet any of your teachers in school on evolution; I wouldn’t be afraid for one second. In fact, I challenged one or two of them. Now, here is the reason; there are three gaps that absolutely prove evolution to be ridiculous. Here’s number one: (Do you know what it is?) the gap between nothing and material.

There’s not a scientific theory in the world that ever attempts to explain that gap. How do you go from nothing to material? There’s not a scientific theory in the world that ever attempts to explain that gap. How do you go from nothing to something? How do you go from nothing to material? What’s the second gap? The second gap is between embryo and life. How do you go from an inanimate object to an animate object? How do you go from a stone to an animal? What’s the third gap? The third gap is: How do you go from an animal to a man? There’s not a scientific theory in the world that will cover anyone of these gaps. All right, we have nothing and anyone in his common sense knows this world hasn’t been here always.

There is not a scientist in the world who doesn’t try to tell you how long it’s been here. They try to use carbon dating and all the other ideas to see how has this earth been in existence. Well, what if it’s been here 10 billion years; what was here before it? How did it start? And everything you ask a scientist who believes in evolution, he just stammers and stumbles around it.

How did it come into being? All right, they talk about an explosion; well; where did that come from that it exploded? Then the second gap: how do you go from an inanimate object to life. How do you do it? How do you take something that doesn’t have life and give it life? How does the evolutionist really solve this problem? Let me show you something.

Go with me to Genesis 1: 24. Let’s look at this second gap. “And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind and everything that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.”

“And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature...” (Now if you have a Scofield Bible, right away you know what that word “Creature” should be. What is it? Soul, soul. Do you realize that every living animal has a soul? The Jehovah’s witness try to convince folks on their teaching on the soul. And they say, “Do you know that animals have soul?” and the average fundamentalist puts his hand in his mouth and his foot in his mouth and is all excited. Of course, animals have a soul. What’s the soul mean? The soul means self-consciousness. That’s the difference between inanimate objects and animals. You uproot a tree and what happens to it? It dies.

Turn with me to Matthew 8: 20. “And Jesus saith unto him, the foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.”


Now, notice, what’s the difference? You uproot a tree or a bush and it dies. You take a fox from its hole and a bird from its nest, and what will it do? It will try to return. You see animals have self-consciousness; they have consciousness of a hole; they have consciousness of a mate. Now here is a difference. Listen to this gap: Between material and animals. Material doesn’t have a soul; it doesn’t have self-consciousness but animals do. But now what’s the difference bridging animals to man? We have a soul, but what else do we have? We have God-consciousness. We have the consciousness of right and wrong given to us by the Fall.

So, beloved, you see there are gaps here that are just not to be bridged. And any self- respecting scientist will back away because he has no answer. The gap between nothing and material, the gap between material and life, the gap between lower forms of life and man cannot be answered. Now, “By one man, sin entered into the world,”: here again we have a problem. Man says, Ah, we don’t believe that Adam sinned and because of this we are all sinners.

How many times have I told you, you are a sinner because you got it from Adam. All in Adam sin. You sin because you are a sinner. Right away religion says what? Religion says, “You know that doesn’t make sense. That’s not fair, why should I be a sinner because a man, 6,000 years ago sinned. Why should God hold me responsible for that; that doesn’t make sense at all.” And here again it’s a matter of believing what God tells us. Did Adam eat of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, or didn’t he? Now, some even go so far as to say that Adam’s sin was sexual. That’s ridiculous also. What did God say to Adam in the Garden? “Be fruitful and replenish the earth.” How? Sexually. Then we have those who say, “Adam’s sin was the fruit he partook of was grapes, that it was fermented, and that it was drunkenness.” That, of course, is ridiculous for there was no fermentation even after the Fall. There was no fermentation until after the Flood. And then, we have the folks who say that Adam ate of an apple. “By one man sin entered into the world” and what was it? This one man, Adam is the federal head of the whole race and when he sinned by partaking of the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, he plunged the whole human race into sin. And how do I know this is true?

Go back to Romans 5. How do I know this; how can I be sure? Romans 5: 12. “Wherefore, by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin”.

Do all men die? They most certainly do. All men die. The fruit of sin is death. Everywhere. It’s in nature; it’s among human beings. Wherever you go death is still the prevalent one. We all die. Now, wait a minute. When we say, “By one man sin entered into the world and so death passed upon all men for all have sinned: (for until the Law sin was in the world:” but sin was not imputed where there is no law: well, how are we going to go to the second part: “...where there is no Law sin is not imputed...”? Well, now there is another thing I want you to see before we go. There are four basic institutions in the Bible and you have to understand this to understand this verse. What are the four institutions? They are there for the protection of man. They are there for believer and unbeliever.

Number one: is volition.


God gave to every man volition and this is why I hate Ultra-Calvinism with a great hatred: because it robs man. This idea that people have no choice: there is nothing they can do. This idea that tomorrow I’m going to do something and no matter what happens, I’m going to do it. Not true. God gave every man volition. When he placed Adam in the Garden, he said, “Do not partake of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil for in the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die.” He had a choice or it did not mean anything and you and I have the right to make choices all day long. From the day you’re born, till the day you die, you make choices. So, volition is the first institution and the whole Bible is built on volition.

Number two: Marriage.

Marriage is very important. Outside of salvation, the most important decision any person makes is to choose a life partner. Marriage. Now, why marriage? Some folks say, today, “Well, what difference does it make, marriage is just a scrap of paper.” No, it isn’t. It’s not just a scrap of paper. It’s commitment. Young folks say, “Well, we live together. We love one another, what difference does it make?” It makes all the difference in the world. Do you realize marriages were before the Fall? Now, why marriage? Because, God said, “It’s not good for man to live alone.” God has ordained this is the way we continue the human race.

Number three: the family

And what’s the third one? The third one is the family. Now, the family is for protection. Now, why did God have the family? Well, a little child is born, it’s helpless. It needs to be fed, it needs to be clothed, it needs to be cleaned, it needs to be watched over. And that child does not stop needing its parents even when it’s 25 years of age as far as I’m concerned. I praise God I had parents who were loving and who were interested in me until the day they died. I was in the habit when I was 40 and 50 of asking my father his advice and I valued his advice. The family is important. Now, what is the fourth institution? This is the one I want you to see because this is the one we will be studying for the next couple weeks.

Nationalism.

Turn with me if you will to Genesis the 10th chapter. Genesis 10: 32. Right here we have the beginning of the Tower of Babel. “These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the Flood.”

Now, go to Acts 17: 26. “And have made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation.”

God has decided where every nation will live. He made nations; one world is not God’s program. One world is the devil’s program. The UN is not God’s; he never had anything to do with it. And just the evidence of what’s happened is proof of that. Why did God have nations? Now, I’m only giving you two Scriptures, I could give you many more. Why did God have this fourth institution called Nations, or Naturalism? You see, Communism isn’t Nationalism. Socialism says, “Let’s get rid of nations; let’s just be one people with one language.” God said, “NO”.

Now, why did God have nations? It’s important to see why God has nations. God said, “Germany is going to be here, Russia is going to be here, Italy will be here and Australia is going to be here”, why? Well, turn with me to Romans the 13th Chapter. I’ve only gotten about one third through what I wanted to give you tonight.

Romans 13: 1 “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.” Everyone who’s in authority has been raised up by God. You’ll have to see this if you are going to understand this. “Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.” (Or judgement; don’t you dare resist the powers that be.)

All right, the 3rd verse. “For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: for he is the minister (notice this) of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.”

Now, there are many different types of government in history. Where do you get the most efficient government of all? The most efficient government is one ruler, supreme authority, that’s the efficient one. What do you think is the worst government of all to live under? Democracy is the most evil of all governments. A Republic is a representative form of government. You see democracy says that everybody is equal and that’s not true. There’s not a greater fallacy in this world; we’re not equal. You have some talents I don’t have. Some people have talent in ruling and others do not. Some have talent to work with their hands, be creative and do marvelous things; be creative as man calls it. Others do not. You can give me a saw, hammer, a plane and I hate for you to see what I’d make. My mother, till the day she died, had a little foot stool that I had made in grammar school. You should see it, beautiful, slopes down, rocks this way; I don’t know if my wife still has it or not, but I have never been a carpenter. My dad was great; my dad could make anything. You see, we have different gifts and not all are meant to be rulers. All democracy is, is mob rule.

Under a Republic, we recognize that some people are more equip to be rulers, so we have a representative government. But what has happened with the news media, we now have part democracy, part republic and we have a catastrophe.

You’ve heard about the Son of Sam in New York. Have you read some of the articles about him now? These leading Liberals, “He’s insane, he’s insane.” He’s insane all right, he could plot like few people could plot. But the Liberals say, (the governor of New York State says he’ll not have any capital punishment.) But God has government (Now, I want you to listen to this, because we’re going to be studying this next week, Romans 5: 13) government is for your protection and my protection. It’s for the protection of the family. Above all, it’s for the protection of that first ingredient called volition. Government has been raised up by God; naturalism has been raised up by God for the protection of man and his family and in his marriage. But what happens when man becomes exceedingly sinful? Then the whole thing breaks down.

Lord willing, next week I want to take Romans 5: 13 “Where there is no law sin is not imputed unto them,”: I want to show you one thing that I want you to think about all week. I want you to think about it: I want you to digest it.

Romans 5: 13 “(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law”.

Now, do you know what that word “imputed” is here? Well, let me tell you something, the Greek word “imputed” is only used one other time in the New Testament. Do you know what it is? Turn with me to the Book of Philemon. Don’t miss this, because if I’m going to foul you up, I’m going to do it right here. Philemon has one chapter.

Philemon 1: 18 “If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account.”

You know that’s the same Greek word translated “imputed”. Here’s what it means. “Where there is no law there was sin, but where there is law the sinner does not have his sin put on his account, or charged to him.”

Did that foul you up? It did me and I won’t say it was just a few days. It took me a long time and a lot of study to find out what God meant here. I want to share it with you, Lord willing, next Wednesday night. “Where there is no law sin is not charged to the account of the sinner, just put that on my account.”

This is the same Greek word; you can check me out and you’ll see that I’m right.

AMEN

Ref: 1976 / 003 - STUDIES IN LAW: Part I / 10/10/2020

THE DIMENSIONS OF THE MYSTERY - PART 3 of 3

Photo taken by B Smith from the kitchen door

 

215 – THE DIMENSIONS OF THE MYSTERY  # 3 of 3

February 28, 1960

Henry F. Kulp

 

Ephesians 3: 17 - 21 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Here we have Paul’s second prayer in the book of Ephesians, and as he prays this wonderful prayer, he prays that we may be able to comprehend with all saints, the dimensions of the mystery. But he says something is necessary before we can understand this truth and understand it the way we should, Verse 17, we should be Christians and have Christ enthroned in our hearts, and we should be thoroughly rooted and grounded in love. Now in the portion that we are rooted and grounded in love in that manner, understanding of the dimensions of the mystery will be ours.

1/  The believer will increase in ability and knowledge of the Word, if he has the proper foundation in love. You will notice, we are to be rooted, and then grounded in love.  

When I was a boy, the school teacher used to tell me that I should not mix my metaphors. For instance, I should not start with a figure of a ship, and end with that of a railroad in the same sentence. But the Holy Ghost is independent in His use of metaphors. Rooted like a tree, and grounded like a building which is raised upon a great foundation. Rooted and grounded in love. As we are rooted and grounded in love, we can go on to the next step. We can comprehend the dimensions of the mystery.

2/  First of all the breadth. How broad is the mystery? Broad enough to include men of every race, color and tongue. Before the mystery was made known, God dealt with only one nation. It is true that all nations were to be blessed through this nation but God gave all his direct dealing through this nation. He gave the covenant, He gave the ordinances, and the Messiah was coming unto them.  But now this was all changed.  

I Timothy 2: 4 - 7 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.

Romans 10: 12, 13 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

The length of it. How long is the mystery? And this astounds and thrills me.  

Ephesians 1: 3, 4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 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:

Ephesians 2: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

This truth was founded before the foundation of the world, and it will go on into eternity future—forever and ever. Folks may say to me—why has God created the earth? Why did He create the universe? I know why, God tells us here. He created it for this eternal eternal purpose, of having a Heavenly body from eternity past to eternity future. That’s how long it is—it staggers the mind, we cannot comprehend it.

3/  Notice, it was hid in God. It was decided before the foundation of the world, and hid in God, for it was to be revealed at this present time. Heaven is to be filled with a body, that is to be the halo of God.

4/  The depth of it? How deep is this mystery? As we think of it all—the depth of it, we must first of all think of how our Lord lowered Himself, to what He sank to in order to save us. We read in Paul’s letter, Philippians 2: 6, 7 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

This is the record of Christ’s self-humbling. And here we read about Jesus Christ, who thought it not robbery to be equal with God, made Himself of no reputation, and became, not just a servant, but a slave. He who never took orders, now takes orders.  He put Himself in the place of subjection that He might save us. Oh, the depth of this mystery of God putting Himself in this position that we all might be saved. 

Then let’s follow this stepping down of God the Son to another step, and that this, He not only became in the place of a slave, but finally He suffered the agony of being made sin for us—Oh, the humiliation and the shame that He suffered as He was made the propitiation for our sins. So you see, He not only suffered, He not only became a slave and became obedient, but here He became sin for us, and died on the cross of Calvary for us.

5/  Now, the fact that we can see, is that even though Israel refused to be the channel of blessing to the Gentiles, God shows them He did not need them, because He sets them aside and offers salvation full and free to the Gentiles through the death which Christ suffered for us.

6/  Then, as we consider the depth of the mystery, Ephesians 2: 1 - 3 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

God reached down to the sinner who had nothing, the Gentile who had no hope in this world and gave him hope if he would believe in Jesus Christ. He reached down to us without any covenants, without any oracles of the law, and freed us from the desires of the flesh and mind and the devil.

9/  Now we come to the height of this wonderful mystery. How high is the mystery?  

Ephesians 4: 9, 10 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

Here we read about the humility of Jesus Christ when he was made sin for us, when He lowered Himself. Then, it talks about His exaltation, and it tells us He ascended far above the Heavens, up into the super-heavens. This is not speaking of distance, but rather, it is speaking of position. Christ is seated far above everything, He Who lowered Himself now has the exalted position. And, of course, when we are in Jesus Christ, we share in the height of this glorious mystery.  

Ephesians 2: 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

We who were children of disobedience, and by nature the children of wrath are now seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. And then Ephesians 1: 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

He tells us that we are blessed with all spiritual blessings in Heavenly places. This is the height of this mystery. We are blessed from Heaven to Heaven—not on earth with heavenly things. Oh, that we might see this truth and see the height of this mystery.

10/  Then Paul prays that we might know the unknowable. That is a paradox, isn’t it?  But nevertheless that is Paul’s prayer. How can we know how He loves us, or how much He loves us. Certainly we are unlovable, there is nothing good in us, so how can He love us? But nevertheless, the Scripture tells us that He does love us. Then how can we understand this love that He has for us.

11/  Maybe we can use this illustration to show you. See that darling little baby in its mother’s arms? Looking up cooing and responding in its mother’s arms? You and I might say, “Let me hold that little one,” and we hold out our hands. I do that to quite a few folks as they go out the door, or they come in with their babies. The baby looks especially attractive and you hold out your hands and say come to me. But the baby looks at me and clings more tightly to the mother, it would probably cry out with a loud wail, and it would be saying, “I don’t know you, I don’t know if you like babies or not, but I do know that my mother loves me, and I know I can trust her.”  But you might say, what does that baby know about love? Can it understand the reason behind the mother’s love? Of course not, but it still enjoys it. And so the youngest saint in Christ knows about the love of Christ, and so does the oldest saint, the most mature saint. He knows it in a better way, of course, because he has lived longer with the Lord, and he has a deeper experience, so we may not be able to understand just with our minds this wonderful truth, but we can enjoy it and rest securely in it.

12/  Ephesians 3: 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

Here we have an astounding Bible verse. Notice, it does not say that God is able to do what we ask. It does not even say that He is able to do above all that we ask. Nor does it say He is able to do abundantly above all that we ask—nor does it say that He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask, but it does say that He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think as well.

13/  Oh, the tremendous ability of God. Anyone in his right mind would agree with this.  But we often have a God that is too small—He doesn’t have the power we think He needs. O, we wouldn’t say that in words, but our lives, and our thoughts and our actions prove it. This is the doxology of the benediction of this prayer.

14/  God has always been willing to do this for men. Take the Red Sea experience of the children of Israel. They passed through the Red Sea, but they passed through on dry land. It didn’t have to be dry, it could have been muddy, but God was making their journey across the Red Sea in a comfortable way. And then also He could have just kept the enemy on the other side, but He didn’t do that. He did more than that which was needed when He removed the enemy. How God does do more then we can ever comprehend.

15/  II Kings 4: 7  Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.

Here we read of a certain preacher’s widow, struggling along in the days of Elisha.  Doing her very best to make ends meet. Her husband had left many debts, and his creditors came and took her two boys to be slaves. She went to the man, Elisha.

16/  But Elisha told her to borrow vessels from all her neighbors. Then behind closed doors she was to pour out into the vessels from her little pot, and she was to keep pouring until all the vessels were full. Then the man of God said, go and sell the oil and pay thy debts, and live, thou and thy children with the rest. If she didn’t live in great abundance it was her fault, if she didn’t live in great wealth it was her fault, not God’s.  He not only said, pay the debt, but live as well. God always does exceeding, abundantly above all that we ask or think.

17/  Then I want you to notice the word, able, is in the present tense. He is able to do it right now. So the two important words are the words able, and do.

18/  Then take the word, ask—in the Greek it means to ask that something be given, and here it is in the middle voice—and it means to ask in one’s interest. So God is able to do exceeding, abundantly above that which we ask or think in our interest. Or even when just think in our own interest. There is a difference here, of course.  We may ask for something that our thinking goes way beyond our asking, we will think things that we never put into words, or actually never put into a prayer. Many times we think things that are utterly fantastic, and ridiculous. We would never frame them, or put them into words and say them. But God says He is able to do, not only what we ask, but what we think—and it means for ourselves.

19/  Notice, exceeding abundantly. These two words in the Greek are actually and literally thrilling. The first one, in the Greek is HOOP – ER, and it means beyond and above.  The word, abundantly, is PER – IS – SIGH – AH and means super-abound, or surplus. So it is just not a matter that God is able to do in super abundance or surplus for us, but even over and above that.  It is super-abundance for us. This last word, translated abundantly, can be found in Romans 5: 17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

Matthew 14: 20 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.

20/  How many Christians are faint hearted, how often we become weak-kneed, how often we fail to recognize that God is able to do, and is willing to do in over super-abundant fashion for us. No wonder we have Philippians 4: 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Here it says we are to make all requests known unto Him—notice, it is requests, not demands in this age—not a matter of ask whatsoever ye will, and I will do it. But that God is able to do, He is willing to do it, but He wants our requests to be made known, and we should be thankful to be able to present them to Him, knowing that he is able to take care of the situation.

21/  John 10: 9, 10  I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Here we have that same word used again. He said, it is possible for those folks to have an abundant life. Throughout the entire Bible, God has wanted His children to have an abundant life. You will notice the two propositions here. I am come that ye might have life. And it is possible to stop here. But it is also possible to go on to the second proposition—life more abundantly.  Jesus Christ says here, I am the door, if any man enter in, he shall be saved. Notice, you cannot have life without Jesus Christ, but He tells us there is a life far more abundant. The words, abundantly are from the same Greek word, Per-Is-Sigh-Ah that is used in Ephesians 3: 20.  In other words, I am come that ye might have life, and that ye might have it in super-abundant form. In surplus.  

Williams translates it in a way that I really love—TILL IT OVER FLOWS. And I believe this abundant life is wrapped up in knowing how to take your requests to the Lord Jesus Christ, as God the Father.

22/  Here in the Bible we have a warning that Jesus Christ gives us about the abundant life.  

Luke 12: 15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

Here He says, take heed—beware of covetousness, for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of things which he possesseth.  

Many folks think they can have the abundant life through things, and of course, there must be an abundance of things. And here it is the same Greek word, Per-is-sigh-ah, and it means to super-abound, and so the overflowing of things. God said it is not just that which brings the abundant life. Paul had many of these things but he didn’t have a home, he didn’t have a lot of clothing. He didn’t have money in the bank, he didn’t have many friends because they had all left him, but nevertheless he had the abundant life, because the abundant life does not consist of material things.

AMEN

Ref: 02/28/1960 / 215 - THE DIMENSIONS OF THE MYSTERY - PART 3 OF 3  / 10/06/2020

THE DIMENSION OF THE MYSTERY - PART 2 OF 3

Photo taken by B Smith from the patio

 

214 - THE DIMENSION OF THE MYSTERY - PART 2 OF 3

February 14, 1960

Henry F. Kulp

 

Ephesians 3: 14 - 19 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Here we have Paul’s second prayer in this letter to the church at Ephesus, and I believe these prison prayers of the Apostle Paul call for the deepest reverence and devoted study. I do not think we should hurry over these prayers, but we should analyze them and see what Paul is praying about.

1/  You will notice, first of all, that Paul says he bows his knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Notice the posture. He is bowing before God. In the study of the Bible, we know that standing was a common posture in prayer. Let us get a few Scriptures to prove this point. 

I Samuel 1: 26 And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD. 

Here we have Hannah bringing Samuel to Eli, and she says, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the Lord. She stood praying to God.

Matthew 6: 5  And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Here you have the words of Jesus Christ as He talks about the hypocrites, how they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets. That they might be seen of men. The thing I want you to see is that they were standing.

2/  Mark 11: 25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

Here Jesus Christ says, when you stand praying, forgive. We are not to have ought against anyone, but again it is a matter that they pray in a standing position.

3/  Luke 18: 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

There Jesus Christ tells about the Pharisee who stood and prayed thus with himself. So you can see, they used to stand and pray. But Paul talks about prayer, and he says I have gotten down on my knees before the Lord.

4/  I can remember a few years back when some folks argued with me, because they felt you should always kneel when you pray. Of course, I think it is an acceptable way to pray, and Paul is kneeling here before God.

5/  Paul is so overwhelmed with this prayer that he falls before the Majesty of God. And he fell upon his knees as he continued to dictate this letter. The Ephesians would know that this was no mere outburst of emotion, for the elders of that church were with him at the dock when he knelt down and prayed with them all.

Acts 20: 36 And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.

Prayer can be made to God, sitting or standing,  but when the Holy Spirit had gripped you and stirred you intensely, I am sure you will find yourself almost helplessly brought to your knees. It is not necessary to prayer, but kneeling definitely expresses adoration, and confidence to God the Father.

6/  And then as he is speaking of God the Father, Paul says, Ephesians 3: 15 He in whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.

Here we do not understand the whole family to mean the entire human race. We are definitely told in the Word of God, that only those who have Jesus Christ as their Saviour, have God as their Father. And certainly there is no basis to use this Scripture to the modernist contention of the Universal Fatherhood of God.

7/  In chapter two Paul reveals that both believing Jew and Gentile form one household of which God is the Father.

Ephesians 2: 19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

Notice, Galatians 3: 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

Here it tells us that we are all children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. So when we have faith in Jesus Christ, we become part of the family of God, and God is our Father.

8/  Then there is another thing for us to notice that is very important. The whole family is located in Heaven, and on earth. So therefore, this gives the lie to the statement that when we die we just sleep in the grave. Those who are dead to us are living to God above. Certainly they don’t just go to the grave and sleep as many would teach us. There is not a more demon possessed teaching then that. Here the whole family, part of it is Heaven, and part of it is on earth. Those who have died and passed away from the earthly scene are in Heaven, and therefore, not sleeping in the grave.

9/  Then we come to the prayer of Paul, the appeal of Paul. And you will find that it is three-fold, he has three different appeals, three different requests in this portion of Scripture.

10/  First of all that all believers may be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man.  Again it is necessary for us to see that the Bible makes a distinction between the outer man and the inner man. Man is made up of two main parts. The outward man which is the body that is seen, and the inward man which we do not see, which is the all-important one. This truth is also brought out in II Corinthians 4: 16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

11/  We do not need to fear to ask God for strength. We can never ask Him for too much, for He gives according to the riches of His glory. How often we feel limited, weak and powerless, accomplishing very little for the Lord, but the Christian needs to be made strong with a power outside himself, and the Holy Spirit indwelling him is present to strengthen him and to empower him with Divine energy. This power cannot be acquired or purchased. It is given us through the work of the Holy Spirit.

12/  It is necessary for us to notice in conjunction with II Corinthians 4: 16 that the outward man grows weaker, but the inward man should grow stronger. This is a definite rule, and those who put so much emphasis upon Divine healing miss the point completely. We have bodies that are still dominated by sin, we have bodies that are dead, and we can’t expect too much from them. Anyone who has been an athlete, anyone who has been connected with sports knows how the body grows weaker and weaker and weaker. We know it is the normal thing to be put on the shelf as far as doing things we were able to do when we were younger. But this should not be the case with the inner man, the most important one. This inner man should grow stronger day by day, and Paul prays here that we should be strengthened in the inner man by Divine energy.

13/  Then notice the second part, or the second petition—that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith, is this not the same thing as when he speaks in another epistle of Christ reigning. It is Christ sitting upon the throne of our heart, dominating and controlling us to the glory of God.

14/  He is not praying that the Ephesian Christians should accept Christ by faith. They had already done this—they could not rightly be called saints if they had not done this. But here he is talking about the indwelling presence of the Lord Jesus Christ dominating our every day life. 

15/  Then Paul talks about that we would have knowledge and to have this knowledge, he makes it very clear, Paul does, that the saints must be rooted and grounded in love to be able to comprehend a great truth. You will notice, he talked about being rooted and grounded in love. These two truths are very different. 

When I was a boy the school  teacher used to tell me that I must not mix my metaphors. For instance, I should not start with the figure of a ship and end with that of a railroad, in the same sentence, but the Holy Ghost is independent in His use of metaphors. Rooted like a tree, and grounded like a building which is raised upon a great foundation. Rooted and grounded in love. 

16/  When we are rooted and grounded in love we should be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, the length, the depth and heights, of what? Some say of love. But let me ask you, what is he speaking about in this chapter? Why, God’s wonderful purpose of the ages. God’s great plan. Just notice what did Paul endeavor to do in this chapter?  

Ephesians 3: 8, 9 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; 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:

To make all men see what is the mystery that they may be able to comprehend it.

17/  Suppose we were to build a new Sunday School building, which we need and which we would like to have for our church. As we are talking to the architect about this building, and after many hours of discussing it with him and going over the plans, I say to the architect, “I trust we are settled now as to the breadth, the length, the depth and height.”  And the architect gets that puzzled expression upon his face and he says “Of what?”  “Well, you know what we have been talking about—we have been talking about a new Sunday school building.”  That is the same idea here. God is talking about the mystery.  God’s plan of the ages and He gives the dimensions of it.

18/  Now in school I was told that no solid could have more than three dimensions. Length, breadth and thickness. But in the dimensions of the mystery, we have four dimensions. Could you draw a picture of this? No, I don’t think you could. Some reason about a fourth dimension but we do not have it in every day life.

19/  Let us look at the dimensions of some of the other things that are brought out in the Bible.  First of all, take the earth—it is spoken of in two dimensions.  

Genesis 13: 17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.

Here God speaks to Abraham, and He says, arise, walk through the land in the length of it and the breadth of it, for I will give it to thee. Then you can go to the second sphere. That is New Jerusalem. Over in Revelations 21: 16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.

Here we have the city-foursquare. The length is as large as its breadth, and the length and breadth and height of it are equal. But now the dimensions of the mystery are four dimensions, and so this supercedes everything in the Bible.  This is the outstanding program of the Bible.

20/  First of all the breadth—how broad is the mystery? Broad enough to include men of every race, color, and tongue. Before this mystery was made known, God dealt with one nation. It is true that all the nations were to be blessed through this nation, but God gave all His direct dealings through this nation, but this is not true today.  

I Timothy 2: 4 - 7 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.

Romans 10: 12, 13 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

21/  The length of it. How long is the mystery? And this astounds and thrills me.  

Ephesians 1: 3, 4  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 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:

Ephesians 2: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

It was founded before the foundation of the world, and it will go into eternity future—forever and ever. No one can comprehend this with the human mind, but yet it is true, and God brings it out so clearly. The length of it—how long is it? From eternity past to eternity future.

22/  This was hid in God, but God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit made this plan up in ages past. Some folks have asked me, “Why did God create the earth?  Why did God create this universe?”  For one purpose, God in eternity past, wanted to have an earth filled with those who were in subjection to Him, and a Heaven filled with those who were in subjection to Him, and so everything was founded upon this eternal program, this eternal plan of God.

23/  The depth of it? How deep is the mystery? Just stop and think. 

Ephesians 2: 1 - 3 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

Think of the depth of sin, and this truth reaches right down to the depth of sin and takes the child of God who is shackled by the course of this age, by Satan and by his flesh, and draws him out and picks him up and saves him.

24/  How high is it? That certainly is not hard to find out.  

Ephesians 2: 6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Here we are seated in Heavenly places, in the super-heavens, far above all principalities and powers.

25/  Now we come to the doxology. In the following Scriptures, the Apostle Paul concludes this portion of his letter. You’ll notice here in Ephesians 3: 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

He is able to do all that we ask or think. And He is able to do above all that we ask or think. He is able to do exceeding above all that we ask or think. Think of it—this power and ability of God surpasses anything we can comprehend with our human mind.

26/  Here Paul prays that we may know the unknowable. Just look at a little baby in its mother’s arms. Looking up and cooing and responding to the mother’s smile and love. You and I might say, “Let me take the little one,” and we would hold out our hands. And it would look at us, and this has happened to me so often, and it would cling more tightly to the mother, and if we should insist upon taking it, it might start crying and screaming because it wants no part of us. We are not the mother, and  the child is actually saying, I do not know you.  I don’t know if you like babies or not, I do not know if I can trust you. And it is actually saying, I know I can trust my mother, I know my mother loves me. And yet what does the baby know of the love of a mother? Does it understand the reasons behind a mother’s love? No, of course not, but it enjoys it nevertheless. 

And so the youngest saint in Christ knows about how God can care for him and watch over him. And the oldest saint, the most mature saint is still not able to comprehend all this that God has put at his disposal, but still he enjoys it, he rests in it, he finds security in it. 

AMEN

Ref: 02/14/1960 / 214 - THE DIMENSIONS OF THE MYSTERY - PART 2 OF 3 / 10/06/2020