PAUL'S GIFT TO SATAN

128-1 PAUL'S GIFT TO SATAN

May 26, 1974

Henry F. Kulp 

I Timothy 1: 18 - 20 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

Paul has left Timothy in Ephesus as a trouble shooter. The Pauline team had come through Ephesus and found that this assembly was in deep trouble. And Paul had to go to Macedonia, so he left Timothy behind to straighten the situation.

1/ Paul first talked to him about the divine truth of the Pauline message. He gave him a re-statement of doctrine. This doctrine goes all the way to the fourth chapter. 

I  Timothy 4: 1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

Here, as Paul concludes the doctrinal part of this book, he talks of the doctrine of demons, and then I Tim. 4:16 he tells him to give heed to thyself and to the doctrine and to continue in them. This 4^th chapter is the climax of the doctrinal teaching. 

2/ But here in I Timothy 1: 18 - 20 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.

Paul is talking about a right mental attitude. One can know all the doctrine in the world, but if he has the wrong mental attitude he is whipped before he starts. A tremendous emphasis on doctrine demands the right mental attitude.

3/ This is true in all of life. It is true in sports, it is true in everyday life. It is true in the Christian life. In sports in a football game, two teams can be equal in talent, size, and preparation. But the one with the right mental attitude will win. In the Christian life you must know doctrine, but you must also have the right mental attitude with that knowledge.

4/ This was Timothy’s whole trouble. Timothy had all gifts that were needed. He had great ability, he had been chosen by God to be pastor-teacher, and he knew doctrine, but he had the wrong mental attitude. Word got back to Paul in Macedonia that Timothy was failing miserably, he was having practically a nervous breakdown. 

5/ TIMOTHY WAS TIMID, SHY, BACKWARD, HE WAS NOT AGGRESSIVE. He knew the doctrine, had the ability but his timid attitude destroyed his usefulness. He could not get the job done.

6/ Verse 18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;

The word, charge means a command or order, committed means to make a deposit that which was deposited with Timothy. And the key to the whole thought is that thou mightiest by them war a good warfare. You say right away, wasn’t that a bad usage of words, warfare? Paul should never have used warfare. 

We are living in a day in which pacifism is very strong. And pacifism is of the devil, certainly not of God. We as a nation, have come to the conclusion that one of the greatest things we can do is to stay out of wars. And this is satanic. 

IF WE DO NOT COME TO THE CONCLUSION THERE ARE SOME THINGS WORTH FIGHTING FOR, WE ARE DOOMED AS A NATION. 

Surely and gradually, wherever socialism rears its ugly head, they have a principle. Teach people no matter what the price you have to pay, even if it means slavery, it is better to avoid war and bloodshed at all costs. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The nation that refuses to fight will soon be in slavery. These folks who tell us we should cut the military budget to solve other social problems are mistaken. 

7/ We are not to fight for ourselves as believers. We don’t have to defend ourselves, and this is a very hard thing to put into practice. 

Romans 12: 17 - 21 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

We are not to fight for ourselves, for vengeance belongs to the Lord. But Paul is saying, we are to fight, wage a good warfare, for doctrine, the truth that God has presented. There is the thought going around today, be lovey-dovey—all the cults, the evil teaching, we are not to confront them, but we are to love them, and through our love they will not be able to resist Christ. Then many say, let us find a mutual ground for agreement, and get along no matter what doctrines we disagree on—this is called the ecumenical movement, but again this is not correct. We must stand up for the Pauline truth.

8/ Mightest war is in the middle voice. This means that the subject of the sentence, Timothy, is benefited by fighting for doctrine, the truth of God. Then it is subjunctive mood that means it is the mood of potentiality. Maybe Timothy will and maybe he won’t defend the faith, war for the faith, be aggressive for the faith. 

9/ What God has commanded Timothy here is also our command. We don’t fight believers, but we war and fight for the truth that God has given to us. We don’t set aside for the sake of peace, the virgin birth, or the vicarious suffering of Christ, Nor the unique distinctive ministry of Paul. 

10/ Timothy is fighting legalism. This is what God hates above all else—human works, human good, and legalism is opposed to grace. We can never compromise with it for one second.

11/  Verse 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

How are you going to fight? Holding faith and a good  conscience. What does it mean, a good conscience? Notice faith and a good conscience go hand in hand. Faith speaks for the embodiment of the truth which God has revealed to us. So faith and good conscience, or doctrine and a good conscience go hand in hand. You must have a good conscience as well as doctrine. So we have to find out what a good conscience means.

12/ What is conscience? It is that which tells us which is right and wrong. A little girl was asked, Do you know what a conscience is? She replied, Oh yes, it is something in me that always tells me when my little brother is doing wrong.

13/ Most of us believe, conscience is something in us that tells us when other people are wrong, but it is not at all.

14/ Genesis 2: 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Here we are told that conscience is knowing right from wrong, and we received this through the fall of Adam. Adam in his created state before the fall, didn’t need to know the difference between evil and good, sin and righteousness. He only knew that which was good until he partook of the forbidden fruit. Then he knew good and evil.

15/ CONSCIENCE NEEDS TO BE INSTRUCTED. 

Acts 23: 1 And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.

When the Apostle Paul was making his defense in Jerusalem, he said, Men and brethren, I lived in all good conscience toward God until this day. When he said that, he was reviewing his whole life—before he was saved as well as afterward. Even before he knew Christ, he sought to have a good conscience. In other words, when he persecuted the believers, he did it with good conscience. He thought it was an evil teaching they had embraced and that Christians were enemies of God, and he was obeying the Old Testament Scriptures. 

BUT HIS CONSCIENCE WAS NOT PROPERLY INSTRUCTED.

Act 26: 9, 10  I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.

So it is not enough for a person to say he lives according to his conscience. The conscience needs to be instructed by the Word of God.

16/ Romans 2: 14, 15 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

Here we find the Gentiles who have not the law have a conscience that is not instructed. They are in great trouble.

17/ Titus 1: 15,16 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Here we read of a defiled conscience. They professed that they knew God, but they did not. Therefore, their conscience is defiled, and it is no longer a safe guide.

AMEN

Ref: 05/26/1974 / 128-1 “PAUL’S GIFT TO SATAN” / 01/15/2021

THE SUBJECT CHURCH GOERS HATE MOST

 

11 – THE SUBJECT CHURCH GOERS HATE MOST

January 13, 1974 

PASTOR HENRY KULP

 

I Corinthians 16: 1 - 3  Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.

NOW CONCERNING THE COLLECTION

What a contrast we have here. In Chapter 15 we have been in the heavenlies, and we have been transported into the future. We have been taken to the Rapture, and the believer will be with Christ and like Christ. Now, suddenly, we come crashing back down to earth and into the present. 

1/  Sooner or later money gets into every picture. Just take marriage. It causes a great deal of problems in marriage. Or, just in every day life—you can’t exist without money. And neither can the local assembly. How many people hate the thought of the preacher asking for money—how many cry, All he ever does is preach money. Yet to show you how inconsistent people can be, look at the United Fund, Cancer, Heart Fund, March of Dimes, or we can have a walk for some good purpose, and people will go many miles to raise money and think nothing of it. But let the church say anything about money, and immediately they are accused of only being interested in money.

2/  The collection here was for a special purpose. Verse 1 says it is for the saints, that means, believers, and remember there is not an earthly organization that can make anyone a saint—it is belief in Christ. Then in verse 3 we are told it was for the saints at Jerusalem.

3/  Romans 15: 26  For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.  

These saints, which are at Jerusalem are poverty-stricken. The adjective indicates ABSOLUTE POVERTY.  They were a penniless crowd at Jerusalem. As far as the world’s goods are concerned there wasn’t a rich man among them.

4/  The reason for their poverty was two-fold. 

#1 There had been a famine about that time. 

#2  Persecution. So believers in Jerusalem were the poorest folks living there, and they needed help from other believers.

5/  In verse 1 we have a principle that is the same for all local assemblies, large or small, no matter what problems they have. All are to operate under this principle.

6/  The word, collections, is a Greek word, a Koina word. It used to be used mean to take a collection in the heathen temple for their idols, but God uses it here. 

7/  He says He had given orders to the church of Galatia and they were to have the same instructions. The instructions are given in Galatians 2: 10 Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do. 

We are to remember the poor—that is poor believers. It does not mean that the church is responsible for all the poor people in the area. How many times I get calls from folks who are destitute and they think the Altoona Bible Church should meet their needs, this is not true. We are responsible to believers and those who are part of our ministry. 

Galatians 6: 10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. 

Let us remember that Church is not an agency that has been organized to get rid of poverty. We would spend all our time at this and never accomplish our end. But we do have a responsibility to our own. 

8/  Now the principle that is important here and throughout Paul’s writings is that there is to be no pressure. We are to have no gimmicks. A preacher should never get up and say Mr. Brown has given $50, wouldn’t you like to raise your hand and give $100. Nor does God approve that someone with money would say, “I’ll give a dollar for every dollar the church raises.” This is contrary for God loves a cheerful giver. He doesn’t want your money if you must be talked into it.

9/  Let me show you another principle that I am sure God despises. These folks who say they have tithed, and since they have tithed God has blessed them financially and materially. And these divine healers who say God will never be in debt to you—you give them money and God will bless you financially. Never give money to God to get money.

10/  THIS ATTITUDE IS A GENIE SYSTEM 

If you give 10% of your income, you can get whatever you want from God. His going price is 10% of your income. I’ve heard many, many glowing testimonies by folks who said, “I started to give 10%, now I’m rich, I have need of nothing.” This is fake, a phony. 

11/  So to clean up this mess, let us understand the doctrine of Jewish giving.

12/  Tithing under the Mosaic Law was a system of income tax. It was for the entire nation, not just believers. Actually, every Jew gave two tithes every year out of their income. This was for maintenance. 

Numbers 18: 21, 24 And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation. Neither must the children of Israel henceforth come nigh the tabernacle of the congregation, lest they bear sin, and die. But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they shall bear their iniquity: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations, that among the children of Israel they have no inheritance. But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as an heave offering unto the Lord, I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.

Leviticus 27: 30 - 33  And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord's: it is holy unto the Lord. And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof. And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord. We shall not search whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change it: and if he change it at all, then both it and the change thereof shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.

Secondly, they gave a tithe for all the feasts and sacrifices. The expense was tremendous. 

Deuteronomy 14: 22 - 24  Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year. And thou shalt eat before the Lord thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always. And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from thee, which the Lord thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the Lord thy God hath blessed thee:

Deuteronomy 12: 18 But thou must eat them before the Lord thy God in the place which the Lord thy God shall choose, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates: and thou shalt rejoice before the Lord thy God in all that thou puttest thine hands unto.

Then every third year they paid another tenth. This was for the poor, the destitute.

Deuteronomy 14: 28, 29 At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates:  And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest.

I WANT TO STRESS A PRINCIPLE HERE—THIS WAS INCOME TAX—NOT SPIRITUAL GIVING

You will notice that all pay the same amount. It is not a graduated income tax. The Bible recognizes one who uses his ability and works hard deserves to be successful. The way we are doing things in the United States, we take initiative away from our people.

13/  SPIRITUAL GIVING IS FOR THE BELIEVER ONLY

Malachi 3: 8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings? 

That is why here in the Old Testament, we have the phrase, tithes and offerings. Tithes are for all who are citizens of the nation, offerings for believers only. Under the law, there was a principle.

Proverbs 11: 24 - 25  There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself. 

Here there is not one word as to the amount, because this is above the tithe. And God promises to reward the giver materially. He will make the Jew rich who gives in spiritual giving.

14/  I Corinthians 16: 2  Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

UPON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK

This is Sunday so they must have met for worship and Bible Study on Sunday, not Saturday. This also suggests THEY WERE SYSTEMATIC IN THEIR GIVING. Giving was a part of their worship service. But, of course, no pressure, no gimmicks. 

15/  LAY BY HIM IN STORE  

This means, that which you have saved to give. In other words, setting aside a certain amount to give to the Lord. This means they were not HAPHAZARD IN THEIR GIVING. They thought out the amount. And it was as God had prospered him. The exact amount was not stated—it was left between the believer and his Lord, so the amount you give will indicate what you think of God’s prospering you. Many tip God, and how dreadful that is. God doesn’t want your tips, He wants you to give as you recognize He has prospered you. You must recognize you have nothing without Him.

16/  That, introduces the result clause. There will be no collecting of money when Paul is there. I am convinced that most evangelistic services are run contrary to God’s will. We have what we call evangelistic services, invite the unsaved, and then harangue them for money. We don’t need their money, we have something to give them.

17/  I Corinthians 16: 3 And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.

THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE GIVING

Who should handle the money? Not the preacher—not because he is crooked, or a thief, or not because he doesn’t have the ability to handle it—but he has been called to study and teach. The administration should be in the hands of others. Whomsoever ye shall approve. These are men with ability—administrative ability. And by letters, means they are highly recommended. We must always be careful of the ones we select to handle the money.

18/  Then will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem. 

This committee that well be chosen will take the money to Jerusalem to see that it is given to those who are in need.

God loves a cheerful giver.

AMEN

Ref: 01/13/1974 / 11 – THE SUBJECT CHURCH GOERS HATE MOST / 01/15/2021

WHERE THERE IS NO LAW

Photo by B Smith from the patio

21-2 WHERE THERE IS NO LAW

December 29, 1963

Henry F. Kulp

 

Romans 2: 12 - 16 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

Here in the book of Romans, Paul in the second chapter is talking about judgement for sinners. He is proving here that all Gentiles are sinners, who live in sin, relish sin. They may try to suppress sin, and judge those who live in open sin, but God is bringing out through Paul that there is absolutely no difference. The Gentiles are sinners, and then he proves that they are going to be judged. In verse 12 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.

He says this judgment will be according to truth, and then he tells us it will be in proportion to the mercy that has been flaunted. Then he says the judgement will be according to deeds, and then the judgement will not be in respect of persons, because God does not have respect of persons, He is completely an impartial God.

1/ Now he comes into the 12^th verse of those who have sinned without the law. In other words, there are folks who do not have the law—never had the law. How are they going to be judged? I think it is necessary, this morning, that we understand the law. By the law, we mean the Ten Commandments, and also the Mosaic law, the ceremonial law. God gave the law to only one people—He gave it only to the nation Israel, the Jew.

2/ I want you to notice that phrase, For as many as have sinned without the law. There are folks who have never had the law. 

You say, is that possible? Yes, it is, Galatians 3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

It says the law was added unto them because of transgression until the seed should come. 

Notice, the law was added that means there was a time when there was no law. The Ten Commandments were not known to man. Notice that Adam, Abel, Seth, Enoch, and Noah lived without the law. They knew nothing about the law. Then you can say, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph knew nothing about the law. As a matter of fact there were 2,500 years when there was no law. From Adam to Moses there was no law. As a matter of fact, Moses was 80 years old when the Lord gave the law to Israel at Sinai. These folks, up to the 80^th year of Moses lived without the law about 2,500 years.

3/ In case you want more proof that the law did not exist before Moses, let’s go to 

John 1: 17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. The law had a beginning. 

Romans 5: 12 - 14 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: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

Here is another proof, for it says until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed where there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses. Notice, he said there was no law from Adam to Moses—this is a clear point.

4/  But you will remember God judged sin in that 2,500 years. Remember what happened to Cain? God judged him. Remember what happened to the people of Noah’s day when their sin came up to God—He sent the flood. They knew right from wrong—they didn’t need the law to know this. The Scripture says, they are a law unto themselves. 

Let us for just a second go to Genesis 5: 22 And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:

Enoch walked with God. He lived in a wicked day—he lived in a day without law. But he was a law unto himself. He lived by the law which he understood, which was right and wrong. He didn’t go into the sin of the day. He became a preacher, according to Jude, and you will notice, he became a preacher of judgement, and he preached against sinners, ungodly sinners, Jude 14,15  And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

He didn’t live under the law, but he knew right from wrong. And he knew that God was going to judge sin.    

5/  I always like to think of that man by the name of Joseph Genesis 39: 7 - 9 And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

Joseph was a law unto himself. There was no law in that day—there was not law, no Ten Commandments that said, thou shall not commit adultery, thou shall not steal thy neighbor’s wife. But yet, he refused to do this sin. In most cases the man would have fallen into the trap, not just because the woman was enticing, not just because his flesh lusteth for this sin, but because of her position that she could cause him great harm, which she did and had him cast into prison. But he refrained from this sin. He was a law unto himself. He said how can I do this great wickedness and sin against God? He was able to resist. No law, but he realized he couldn’t commit this sin.   

6/  We are using the phrase in Romans 5: 13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 

We know there was no law for 2,500 years, but man will still being judged according to their sins. But now let us notice what it tells us in Romans 2: 14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:

Now we see, when the law came, He gave it only to the nation Israel. He never gave it to the Gentiles. They still remained without the law. You say I never heard that. 

Let’s turn to Psalms 147: 19 - 20 He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel. He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the Lord.

Now notice what God tells us here—He hath shown His word unto Jacob—His statutes, His law, and his judgements unto Israel. He hath not dealt so with any nation, with any Gentiles—this is only the nation Israel, and as to His judgements, His law, they have not known them. The Gentiles have never had the law at any time. Exactly what Paul brings out in Romans 2: 14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:

7/ Let us go to the Scriptures that tells us of the giving of the law. 

Exodus 19: 25 So Moses went down unto the people, and spake unto them.

Exodus 20: 1 - 5 And God spake all these words, saying, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

Notice here, Moses went down unto his people. Here we have Galatians 3: 19 This is the beginning of the law. Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

This is when the law was added. Moses went down to the people. What people? The Egyptians? Of course not. Any Gentiles? Of course not. He went to the nation Israel, and God spake all these words saying, I am the Lord, Thy God, which has brought you out of the land Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 

Notice, I have brought thee. In other words, here is the separation that God made. He took the Jew, the Nation Israel, out of the Gentile nations. He separated them and said, Thou shalt have no other gods before Me, thou shalt not make unto me any graven image. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them or serve them. This law was given only to the nation Israel. It is clear right here.  

8/  But I want to show you something just for a few seconds here about the giving of the law. How thankful we can be that God did not give the law to us. Have you noticed the result of the people getting the law? 

Exodus 20: 18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.

Right here we have the result of people listening to God speak from Heaven, and this was the giving of the law. Notice they were not attracted, they were driven away. The law does not attract, they were afraid. It says here at the end of verse 18 They removed and stood afar off. The word, removed, could be translated by our English, they reeled backward. 

Have you ever seen a crowd of people standing along the street when a parade is passing, and I have noticed this in Philadelphia many times, the mounted police came along on a horse and the people are afraid of the horses, they don’t want to be trampled, so they all try to get back, and the people will reel back. That is the picture you have here. They are crowded around the mountain when they heard the voice of God, and saw the smoke, and heard the trumpet and heard the thundering, and saw the mountain shake, they just reeled back. They were afraid. That is the effect of the law. It brings fear. But God gave this law only to the nation Israel.   

9/  But it matters not. Man is a sinner, whether he lives under law, and whether he has no law, and God will judge man according to his sin, and all that can happen to a man that is a sinner and doesn’t have his sins removed, is that he must be judged by God and eternally separated from God. 

Romans 3: 1, 2 What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.

They had a blessing. God gave them a great advantage—there was advantage in being a Jew, but there was also a disadvantage—they lived under law, they sinned under the law, and their judgement will be greater because they had this added revelation. Now how can we explain this? I think it can be best be set forth in the following illustration. 

If I were a judge trying a case of two young men who were arrested and convicted of armed robbery. I think I could speak to them individually in the moment of passing sentence. I might say to one of them. This court will sentence you to five years in the penitentiary. We give you a light sentence, because we take into account your background. Your father had a prison record, your mother was a women of ill repute. As a child you were allowed to drift in the streets—your schooling was finished early, because you had to make your own living, and I believe that five years may well teach you that you have to reform and take your place in society as good citizen. 

But to the other young man I would say, this court gives you a sentence of ten years in prison. It is not that you are more guilty in this offense than your companion, but you have committed a greater crime because you have sinned against your background. You have fine parents, they were honored members of the community, you had a sheltered life, you were educated in the finest schools but you have left all this, cast it aside, and you went into sin, into crime. The wound in you is deeper, therefore, you need ten years to bring you to your senses. 

So will it be in the day of judgement. The Jews who rejected the grace of God will pay a far greater price than the Gentiles who had not the advantage of the Jew.

11/  Romans 2: 16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

Then we come to this verse that sets forth one more principle of man in his sinfulness. And here we find that God is going to judge man according to the secrets of man, and then we see that the judgement will be by Christ. Third, we see that it will take place on a certain day, and lastly, it will be in accordance with what is called here the Gospel of Paul. 

12/  Now when we speak of the secrets of men, we enter into a hidden world—hidden to all mankind, but of course, you have to recognize, hidden not to God. Reputation is what men think you are—character is what you are. Men know you by your reputation, but God knows you by your character. Man looks on the outward appearance, God looks upon the heart. This is a frightening thought. God knows the hearts of men. He knows your thoughts. 

Psalms 94: 11 The Lord knows the thoughts of man, that they are vanity. 

Then let us go to Psalms 44: 21 Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.

He knoweth the secrets of the heart—you haven’t hid a thing from God—He knows all about you.   

13/  Up until about fifty years ago, there were some folks that could have said—and they were probably honest in their thoughts—how can anyone understand the secrets of mind? How is it possible that God would know what we are thinking when our thoughts are not expressed? They are hidden to everybody. But today, with man’s inventions, it is easy to understand that God will know our secrets, for man has radar now, and with this apparatus, he can search into the distant clouds and see planes that are coming. As a matter of fact on many weather programs on TV they use radar. 

When I was down in Florida, every night they had the radarscope on TV, showing if there were are any storms within a 250 mile radius, and then this radar can go into the sea. Boats can use it to search out submarines that are hidden to the eye. Then you have Geiger counters that can find minerals beneath the surface of the ground. A man’s body can be probed by x-rays for broken bones and even find tumors in the body. Powerful rays can penetrate steel beams and detect flaws. Every year at the Indianapolis race, the 500 mile race, I understand that the frame of the cars are examined by x-ray to see if there is any metal fatigue in the automobile itself to make it dangerous. 

Yes, God knows your secrets, He knows all about you. You cannot escape, and you will be judged by secrets—something that your wife does not know, something that your husband doesn’t know, something that your father your mother, they do not know about, but God is going to bring them out.

14/ Then there is an important fact, that the judgement is to be in the hands of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

John 5: 21, 23  For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.

AMEN

Ref: 12/29/1961 / 21-2 WHERE THERE IS NO LAW / 01/14/2021

Are We Living in the Last Day?

Photo by B Smith from the patio

 

269 - 2 Are We Living in the Last Day?

January 18, 1976

Pastor Henry F. Kulp

II Timothy 3: 1 - 5 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

We have now arrived at a very fascinating portion of scripture. How few people understand this Scripture. There are two mistakes that are commonly made. We will deal with them this morning. We want you to keep in mind two mistakes.

1/ First of all, as we look at the first mistake, we see that Paul tells us, This know also. God wants us to be cognizant of this—we are not to be in ignorance concerning it. It is important.

2/  In the last days perilous times shall come. And this means shall set in, shall stand in. So first of all, let us look at perilous times. Let us look at the word, PERILOUS. It is the Greek word, KARL-LAY-POSS. In classical Greek the word meant, dangerous, wild animals and the raging sea. And it means fierce, furious, dangerous, hard, difficult, no way out. Let us look at the word as it is used in the New Testament.

Matthew 8: 28 And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.

Here we read about two men, possessed with demons, and they were exceedingly fierce. The word, fierce, is the same Greek word. How fierce were they? The rest of the verse tells us that no man might pass by that way. Everyone was afraid of them. They struck fear into the hearts of those who were in that area. Let’s see something about how fierce another portion of Scripture describes them.

Mark 5: 3 - 5 Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.

No man could bind him with chains, because when he had been bound, he just broke them, and no one was able to tame him. He was in the mountains and the tombs, crying and cutting himself with stones, so you get a picture of what this word means. You could translate it dangerous. No human way out.

3/  Was Paul talking about the day in which we live? Was he talking about society in general? I think not. For someone will immediately say, the characteristics that are mentioned starting with verse 2 have always been common to man. Notice in verse 2 For men shall be…who are these men? Most would say, all of society, for the Greek word that is used here does not mean men in general, but it means MANKIND, male and female. But again I must stress that this has always been true. Men have always been lovers of self—covetous, boasters, proud, etc. If you talk about the unsaved, the Bible describes them as heathen—they have always been like this. Let us look at what Paul says about men at the tower of Babel.

Romans 1: 29 - 32 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Here we read, That at that time men were filled with unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness. 

So Paul can’t say that in the last days society is going to be like this, for they have never been any different. When one studies the context of II Timothy, up to the 3rd chapter, we find that Paul has been talking about believers. Believers who fail to rightly divide the Word. They have wrong doctrine.

4/  It is a serious error not to rightly divide the Word, for this is what it leads to. The greatest history the professing church has ever had, is when dispensationalism, through the Scofield Bible became popular. Bible Conferences, Bible churches sprung up all through the land. Missionary work flourished. Churches became missionary minded, and evangelistic. Storefront church sprang up everywhere and soon grew and built buildings. Bible camps sprang up throughout the country. And there was a great difference in morals between those who were Christians and those who were not. As a matter of fact, SEPARATION BECAME a byword—separation from the liberals, modernistic churches. Bible schools became dysfunctional.

5/  But all of this has changed. There is little difference between those who are saved and those who are unsaved—separation is no longer the battle cry, because dispensationalism has either been watered down or completely repudiated. And now church that are claiming to be Bible-believing are all wrapped up in emotionalism, aesthetics, knowing very little doctrine, and few Bible verses.

6/  Those who have caused a turn away from dispensationalism have brought out so-called new translations that are much easier to read, so they say, and now very few believers memorize the Bible—they run strictly on emotionalism.

7/  So perilous times have come upon the professing church. Those who are described starting with verse 2 are born again believers, but who know nothing about doctrine.

8/  Men shall be lovers of their own selves. I think you will admit that no matter where you go you hear about love. Love songs, love stories, modern psychology has been proclaiming, THE DOCTRINE OF ACCEPT YOURSELF AS YOU ARE—Love YOURSELF. And the love that is being proclaimed today is phony.

9/  THIS SIN STANDS AT THE HEAD OF A LONG LIST. IT IS THE SPRINGBOARD OF ALL THE OTHER SINS. It poisons all of life. It is the sin of being self-centered—only thinking of self. 

Isaiah 53: 6 God says, All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

So men has always been guilty of self-love, but a believer should never be guilty of this sin.

10/  Let us make a contrast. Galatians 5: 22, 23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

You will notice that the fruit of the Spirit is love, and when you have love it is the fountain-head of joy, peace, etc. But in II Timothy it is the fountain-head of all these other sins.

11/  God is love. I John 4: 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

When God gives us love, we will love God more than ourselves. It is true we are to love ourselves, but not the exclusion of loving God. We are not to love what we are in the flesh, our old natures. 

Romans 7: 18  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

12/  Believers who are guilty of self-love are legalistic, self-righteous. They always talk about love but they are always looking down on others. I say, always watch the person who is a believer, who constantly tells you he loves you. Their actions will prove it a lot more than their words. Always watch the one who says it is in love, but I would like to tell you about something that is wrong in your life. If you want to get along with these people, you tell them how great they are, and they will agree with you.

13/  Covetous. Actually the word means lovers of money, but it goes beyond this. it means lovers of the details fo life. They love money for what it can bring to men. Success, social life, friends, respect and position.

14/  Let’s put the two together. He loves himself, he loves the details of life.

15/  BOASTERS. BRAGGARTS. It is sad but many Christians boast. They are proud—proud of their accomplishments. These sins are the result again of wrong thinking. It is all a matter of self-righteousness and self-righteousness comes from legalism, and the only way to get rid of legalism is to be dispensational—truly dispensational.

Luke 18: 9 - 12 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 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. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

Here we can see what God is talking about. Here He tells of a man which trusted in himself. He was self-righteous. And notice the first result—despises others. Just notice verse 11, 12 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. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

Five times in these two verses we have the first personal pronoun, I. I I, I, I fast, I give tithes of all that I possess. He fasted twice in the week. By law he was required to fast once in the year—only on the day of Atonement. And he gave tithes of all that he possessed, and the law only expected him to tithe of certain possessions, but he did of all that he possessed. But it didn’t do him any good—God didn’t take any recognition of this.  He had already given himself the reward, so God didn’t need to.

16/  These folks in the church today must have their own way. They don’t mind splitting, destroying local assemblies to get their own way.

17/  Their whole problem is wrong thinking. 

Romans 12: 3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Here the sin is not thinking soberly of yourself. Being intoxicated with your won abilities, talents and work. This a believer should never experience. You are not to tear yourself down, but you are not to think more highly than you ought to think.

18/  The second error involves the last day. You must learn to rightly divide when it come to the phrase, last days.

Acts 2: 15 - 17 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

Here Peter on the Day of Pentecost quotes Joel and he says, in the last days God promised to pour out His Spirit upon all flesh. These last days are not the same as Paul talked about. These last days have to do with the nation Israel. 

II Peter 3: 3  Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

AMEN

Ref: 01/18/1976 / 269 - 2 Are We Living in the Last Day? / 01/14/2021