THE GREAT APOSTASY

Photo by B Smith from the kitchen door

  247 - THE GREAT APOSTASY

  May 27, 1962

  Henry F. Kulp

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;

Remember, Paul is writing to a young minister and telling him the things that make a good servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, and he says that the spirit speaketh expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith.  The Bible has never prophesied that the world would grow better. The Bible has never prophesied that the church would have an easy time as it went alone. The Bible always prophesied that as the age proceeds things would become more difficult—sin would become more entrenched in the church, and in the world, and that the preaching of the word would become more difficult.

1/  You will notice that in verse 1 it says, the Spirit speaketh expressly. This is something that needs to be emphasized. The Spirit speaketh expressly. In all reverence, let me say this. The Holy Spirit does not speak just for the sake of speaking as people often do, and we are all guilty of this.  We talk just to hear ourselves talk, but not so with the Holy Spirit. The matter that the Holy Spirit taking up here is a very special point, and he wants us to pay special attention to it. We should recognize everything He says, but this is something we should pay close attention to.

2/  Let us look at II Timothy 3: 1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

And, here, Paul says, this also know at the last days, perilous times shall come. That word, perilous, we have told you means no way out—it means all hemmed in. But I want to show you this same word translated still another way in the Word of God.  

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 that same word is translated fierce. And it has the case of the man in the tombs who was so wild that no  man could tame him. They bound him but he broke the bounds. It says no man could tame him—he was exceeding fierce. That’s the word that is used here—so in the latter days, it means there will be a condition that cannot be met, that cannot be corrected, that cannot be overcome. It will be a condition that is too much for the world to rectify. The idea of building a new world out of this wreck is all together out of the question.Things have gone absolutely too far. Oh, things have been tried but what has been the result? They have fallen apart—they have come to an absolute end.

3/  Just as man could not tame the wild man in the tombs, just so men will not be able to bring order out of this chaotic condition. 

But now as we look at this portion in 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; This is to take place in the professing church.

4/  It is interesting as we look at the word, depart.  It means to stand off from, or fall away. Our word apostatize is the English spelling of a form of the Greek word. So folks ask me, is there going to be an apostasy. Does the Bible tell us there is going to be an apostasy in the last time?  It most certainly does—for right here it is. For in the latter times, some shall apostatize from the faith.

5/  Then there is a definite article before the word, faith, and it does not mean the act of faith—but rather, the faith—the body of doctrine which forms a basis of that which we as Christians believe.

6/  Now what causes all this? It is giving heed toto seducing spirits or doctrines and teaching of demons. It means that folks will pay attention to demons—hey will be influenced by demons and never forget that demons teach. They do not teach evil things, but good works.

7/  II Corinthians 11: 13 - 15  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

 

Here it tells us that the demons are deacons, or ministers or errand boys for the devil, and they proclaim righteousness that is human righteousness, by human works, and folks give heed to that. Let us ask you a question—isn’t that happening in the church today? The church that is called by the name of Jesus Christ? What is happening to it?  Rather than preaching the grace of God, it is preaching human works. Human activity to get righteousness.

8/  This should not shock us—it upsets some people and distresses them and they say why should this happen in the church, how can this be? All you have to do is go through the Old Testament and you will find the nation Israel that was chosen of God, was beset by apostasy, right from the very beginning. The true worshippers quite frequently found themselves separated from the main body of their people.  Take while Moses was on the mount receiving the tables of the law. The people demanded that Aaron make them a god.  Aaron, remember, was the very first high priest, and he led the people in making the Golden calf.  When Moses returned from the presence of God to find the people swept away in idolatry—that is apostasy here—and immoral play.  I wonder if you remember what the Lord said? He said He would not go in the midst of the people into the Promised Land. Following this declaration, we find Moses taking the tabernacle and pitching without the camp, afar off from the camp.  

Exodus 33: 7 And it came to pass, that everyone who sought the Lord went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation which was without the camp.  

Now, they were significant words—which was without the camp. So, Moses, the founding father of the Hebrew nation, had to carry the tabernacle afar off from the camp, and the true worshippers had to leave the camp and follow God. This is very significant act, and apostasy had set in right in the very beginning. Men had given heed to seducing spirits.  So I am not appalled when I see apostasy that has come into the professing church. The church that once proclaimed the truth—the church which has now turned aside to Liberalism, to modernism and to all the other isms that are in the world. I am not to be amazed.I am not to question why—it has ever been like this among the people that God has called forth to bear His name.

9/  Joshua and Caleb were the lone survivors of an apostasy that   sent a generation of Israelites to their grave in the wilderness.  Apostasy set in at that time, they departed from God’s way.  They turned aside from God’s way.

10/  Then you remember how the 10 tribes followed Jeroboam in idolatry.  Only two tribes remained loyal, and true to the worship of the temple—that, of course, was Judah. Finally in Isaiah’s day they were carried away in apostasy and he cried out in Isaiah 1: 9 Except the Lord of Hosts have left unto us a very small remnant we should have been as Sodom, we should have been like unto Gomorrah.  

This is pathetic. Only a very small remnant have been touched by the apostasy of the hour. We should not be startled or upset by the apostasy we see about us, the departing from the faith—people still calling themselves Christians—they still say they are followers of Jesus Christ, but they don’t talk about the basic doctrines nor do they believe in the basic doctrines of the Word of God.

11/  Actually, how does all this come about? It comes about because there are demons who  teach, there are demons who seduce, but how do they work? The second verse says speaking lies and hypocrisy. That means through the hypocrisy of men that speak lies. These indwell men, and these men speak lies as motivated, as they are directed by demons. Remember, all this comes from those who are the church. You say, how can  that be? Very easy—Acts 20: 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

 

Remember when Paul was talking to the elders of the church at Ephesus, that wonderful church, he warned them that they were overseers of the flock to feed the church of God, for he says, after my departing shall grievous wolves enter among you, not sparing the flock and speaking perverse things to draw disciples after them—from among you would come this apostasy. Men will arise from among you who claim to believe these things and then they will start speaking lies and  hypocrisy, drawing disciples after them, and possibly will turn the whole assembly, or the whole group after them.

12/  It might be well at this point if we tell you the difference between two words, apostasy and heresy. The two words are quite different in meaning, though they are often confused. Apostasy describes someone or someones who have embraced some creed or doctrine, and have later turned from it—a total departure from one faith, or religion. Now heresy is a belief held along with accepted doctrine. Let us give you some example of apostas

1) The angels  in Jude 6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. What does it say?  They kept not their first estate and they withdrew from it.

2)  Satan in John 8: 44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. He abode not in the truth—he was in the truth. He was God’s anointed cherub, but he turned his back upon it, he departed from it.

3)  That which is the nation Israel when they departed from the truth.  And now in our day those who rise up in the church and turn their back on the truth which they claim they believe and then depart to other doctrines……Do not be dismayed…It just means we are one day closer to the Rapture of the Church. 

 AMEN

 Ref: 05/27/1962 / 247 - THE GREAT APOSTASY / 05/18/2021

THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS

Photo by B Smith from the kitchen door

 

246 - THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS

May 20, 1962

Henry F. Kulp

 

I Timothy 3: 15, 16 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

Last week we talked about the true church, and how thou shalt behave thyself in the true church. And folks certainly made a mistake talking about the church. They think the church is a building or some visible organization. But a simple illustration will make clear the difference between the church as a visible society on earth and as a spiritual fellowship of believers united only by their common relationship to Jesus Christ. 

Take the case of John Smith. His friends know him as a tall, thin man with black hair, brown eyes and a good sense of humor. That is the popular way of describing a man. But let us take a closer look. Suppose John Smith dies. We go to the funeral home and we look at his body, and folks say my, doesn’t he look wonderful—he looks real good. At once we are aware of the fact we are viewing a corpse, not the real John Smith at all, for he is absent from this body, and then we understand that the real John Smith was not the body—John Smith was the invisible person who lived in that body.

Just so, we usually think of a church as a building, or an organization. Actually, a church is a spiritual house—it is composed of all those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and are saved. It is a spiritual house, and all who believe on Jesus Christ are taken by the Holy Spirit and are made a habitation of God, where God comes down and dwells in the lives of those who are saved. The church is visible only and in as much as the Holy Spirit comes and dwells in the physical bodies of those who believe. But they are not Baptist, they are not brethren, they are not Lutheran, they are not even independent.  Anyone who believes in the Lord Jesus is part of the called out assembly, which is the house or dwelling place of God.

1/  And this house of God which is the assembly of God is the  one which is to propagate and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Then we come to the fact that God became a man is the mystery. Notice, our Lord was made manifest in the flesh—the word, manifest, is to make visible. Remember, Jesus Christ‘s aid o the Samaritan woman, God, as to His nature, is Spirit—that  is God is an incorporeal being—he, in other words, does not have a physical body, He therefore is invisible.  

John 4: 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

John 18 and 14

2/  Let us notice then, Matthew 11: 24  All things are delivered unto me of my Father, and no man knoweth the Son but the Father.  

This helps us understand the mystery of the incarnation. God and man in one person.  This is past human comprehension. Man can’t understand about God the Son becoming man and yet remaining God. He stumbles over it at all times. But man just as he believes the Bible, believes the mystery. How softly we should tread whenever we speak of the person of our Lord, for the full knowledge is only with the Father. This shows the nonsensical argument some say—well, you prove to us that Jesus Christ is God and man. Go ahead tell us how it can be. You can’t, only the Father can fully understand it—but we accept it by faith.

3/  You take, right at the beginning with His virgin birth—going on to the transfiguration, and all the miracles He did, and then His agony in the garden when He cried out—if it be possible let this cup pass from me. Then you go to the cross and you see Him die, and when you read about His dying, it says He gave up the ghost—He dismissed the Spirit. No one ever died that way before, no one ever came to an end like that, Then He rose from the dead and then he ascended on up into heaven, and is seated on the right hand of God the Father—no man has ever had a life like that.  Understand it you can’t, but believe, it, yes.

4/  Now let us notice another portion of scripture. 

II Thessalonians 2: 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

The  one mystery is the cause for great rejoicing—the other is a sinister and dark mystery. This is called the mystery lawlessness.  

In I Thessalonians, the return of the Lord Jesus Christ is the main theme—actually, not the second coming, but the rapture. Now Paul says, here, that this mystery is already working. It is in the world right now—and what is the mystery of lawlessness? Just compare it with the mystery of Godliness—it is Satan coming and dwelling in human flesh. You notice it talks about the man of sin, the son of perdition—it shows the duel nature of this man who will come upon this earth. You will notice in verse 8 he is called the wicked—and it should be the wicked one. The difference here is that Satan comes and indwells in the body of a man, but actually the mystery of Godliness is God becoming a man, which is different, but Satan is imitating God.

5/  Let us look at the relationship of this man and Satan.  

Ezekiel 28: 1 - 4 The word of the Lord came again unto me, saying, Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord God; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God: Behold, thou art wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that they can hide from thee: With thy wisdom and with thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures:

Here it talks about the Son of Man saying unto the Prince of Tyrus—if you go over to verse 12 you will read about  the King of Tyrus. So we have two different persons talked about in this Scripture—the King of Tyrus, and the Prince of Tyrus. What is the relationship between a King and a Prince? It is that of father and son. Everyone admits that the king of Tyrus in verse 12 is Satan. The prince of Tyrus is the anti-christ who is Satan’s son. You will notice that the sin of the son is that of the father, Satan. He says, I am God, I sit in the seat of God. In other words, he made himself out to be God, and Satan did.  

Isaiah 14 

6/  Then notice, John 8: 44  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Here we read that the devil is a liar, he was a murderer, and when he speaketh the lie, he speaks of his own, for he is a liar and the father of it—the father of what—why, the lie. What is the lie—that is his son is the anti-christ.

7/  Now notice in II Thessalonians 2: 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

It says that this mystery doth already work, only He that now letteth shall let until He be taken out of the way. When our English version was made, let, meant to hinder—it now means to permit. What the Apostle Paul was really saying was this—you know what restrains that he might be revealed at this time—it is that the Holy Spirit is hindering him from coming to set up his program at this present time—but that program of anti-christ, man of sin, is already in the world, and it is the program of religions.

8/  But let us make sure it is the Holy Spirit who hinders who now keeps the anti-christ from coming into the world. Well, who is it after all who restrains sin.The answer is found in the Bible, and God is the one who restrains sin.  

Genesis 6: 3 And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.  

It declares that the Spirit of God was restraining sin in the days of Noah.  

Then you go to Isaiah 59: 19 So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.

Here it says the enemy shall come in like a flood—the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him—or as it could best be translated—the Spirit of the Lord shall restrain him—down through the ages it has been the restrainer—the Hinderer of sin, and today the Holy Spirit dwells in the body of the believer, and He is the restrainer of sin.

9/  So you can see the mysteries here. One is of Godliness, the other is of lawlessness, one is God becoming man—the other is Satan indwelling man.

10/  Then notice, he was justified in the spirit—the word justified means vindicated—endorsed, proved. His humanity was clearly seen, but His deity was not seen—it was hidden under a cloak of humanity. Yet at times, momentary flashes of His deity were seen, and so this means that the Holy Spirit bore witness that Jesus Christ was God – He was not an imposter.  

John 1: 32 And John bear record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from Heaven like a dove and it abode upon Him—that is the testimony of the Holy Spirit, as to the Lord Jesus Christ as being God.

11/  Then notice, was seen of angels Our Lord was seen by angels.The incarnation was a spectacle to the angel world.They never saw God prior to this time, except when He took up an abode in a physical body in the theophanies, but here Jesus Christ comes to live in a physical body for all eternity. This is a spectacle to the angels.

12/  We find that the word, seen—seen of angels, is not the word usually used in the New Testament for looking at a thing, and this word here means to look at a thing intently—to look at a thing with interest—the angels were watching the Lord Jesus Christ in every move that He made.

13/  Then notice, preached unto the Gentiles. Perhaps you do not think that this is a very remarkable thing, and wonder why it should be in this verse—preached unto the Gentiles. But here is a remarkable thing for 4000 years God had not sent a Gentile.Think of that. For 4,000 years, God had not dealt with the Gentiles except through the nation of Israel. The Gentiles were on the wrong side of the middle wall of partition.

Ephesians 2: 11,12 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:  

They were without God In this world—they were as atheists.This was from the time of Abraham for the next 4,000 years.

14/  Then, you will notice, Christ was not received of His own—so then God, through the Apostle Paul who was the Apostle of the Gentiles—he carried the message of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles. If things had continued as they had for 4,000 years, as a Gentile this morning, we would have no hope—we would be without God in this world—there would be absolutely nothing for us to look forward to, but an endless eternity of fire and suffering in hell. But, praise God, the Apostle of the Gentiles has made Jesus Christ known to us. God has a message for the Gentiles.

15/  Acts 13: 44 - 46 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

Here we find that the Jews would not hear the Word of God, but the Gentiles asked to hear the word Of God and the Jews, jealous of there own position to seek to keep them from it. You will notice, on the next Sabbath, nearly the whole city gathered to hear Paul.  Here is Paul addressing a throng, overwhelmingly Gentile, and then the Jews sought to turn the Gentiles from the faith, contradicting those things which were spoken by Paul, and blaspheming. Here we have the story about Jesus in the first part of Acts 13, all over again.

16/  Their contradiction and blaspheming was a particularly serious matter. In the light of our Lord’s warning that whosoever should speak blasphemy against men is forgiven, but whosoever blasphemed or spoke against the Holy Spirit would never be forgiven, neither in that age, nor the age to come.  

Matthew 12: 31, 32  Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

Jesus Christ said in those days, beware—I have sent the Holy Spirit to you—if you contradict or blaspheme Him you will never be forgiven for it. So then Paul says, he would turn to the Gentiles. This is a wonderful thing, a marvelous thing. The Word is preached unto the Gentiles—the Gentiles are now the  object of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  And of course, this is only true through the fall of Israel.  

17/  Romans 11: 11, 12 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? 

Here God says, through their fall—the fall of Israel—salvation is come unto the Gentiles for to provoke them to jealousy. God says this word is being preached to the Gentiles to provoke the Jews to jealousy, and the fall of  them  be the riches of the world, the Gentiles and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles.  For Paul says, I speak to you Gentiles, in as much as I the apostle of the Gentiles.  Notice this word of this Christ who is God, being made in human flesh, is now sent abroad to the Gentiles.

18/  Then notice, believed on in the world. That is no small thing, either, is it? The glorious mystery of God in human flesh is believed. It is not believed everywhere, we know that—this world is still antagonistic and agnostic it is filled with religion rather than Christianity—all those who say, we don’t accept the Bible, we don’t believe that Jesus Christ has the truth.  But praise, God, there are some who do believe it. Can you praise God this morning, that you are among those who do believe in this mystery?

19/  Let us turn to another book. 

II Thessalonians 1: 8, 9  In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

Here Paul says, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on those who know not God, and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and the glory of His power. Here God says, He is going to punish those who refuse to believe wonderful, marvelous God.

20/  Then notice, received up into Glory. Who received him?  A person is not received unless there is someone there to receive him.  If you go to visit someone and find that person is not home—they are out—you say, there was nobody to receive me.  The word, receive, means reception. Who was there to receive the son of God? Did He have a reception? He most certainly did. He was caught up into Heaven, received by God the Father.

21/  What a wonderful reception He had. 

Hebrews 7: 26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

He was made higher than the Heavens.  

Philippians 2: 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

God had highly exalted Him, and given Him a name  which is above every name—His position or rank is authority. Jesus Christ had a glorious reception when He went to Heaven. He was given this exalted position because He took the lowly position of being man, and suffering the awful curse of being crucified, and praise God, He is now seated on the right hand of God the Father, in the place of exaltation.

AMEN

 Ref: 05/20/1962 / THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS / 05/15/2021

FOR MEN ONLY

Photo by B Smith from patio

 

244-FOR MEN ONLY

 March 25, 1962 

 Henry F. Kulp

 

I Timothy 2: 9 -15 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

Here, Paul deals with women in the assembly, and first of all, he talks about her dress— how she should dress, and he puts two restrictions upon women in the assembly—first of all she is not to teach the Bible to men. Secondly, she is not to usurp authority over man.

1/ The first reason is given to us in the 13th verse For, Adam was first formed, then Eve.

It is a matter of why God created Adam and Eve—created man and women. Man was created first as the protose, the file leader—the leader of the regiment. Man is to have the head place.

Notice, Genesis 2: 18 And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

God says that it is not good that a man should be alone—I will make him a help-meet— that means an assistant. Woman’s place in life is to make up what is lacking in man, and woman should not be disturbed by this position, because that is the place God has given her, and this is the place where she is happy.

2/ Then notice the second reason why God says the woman is not to teach man the Bible nor usurp authority over him. Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived. Now, on the face of this seems to be contrary to fact. Was not Adam deceived? The Bible says not. He sinned with his eyes open. Satan tempted Eve directly, but he did not tempt Adam directly. As we said, Adam sinned with his eyes wide open. Adam knew what he was doing, but Eve did not. She was deceived. She believed what the devil told her. The devil in the form of a serpent said to Eve, if you eat of the fruit, you will be wise. You will be like God, you will be God. You will know all things, and as you know, she believed the devil. Adam didn’t believe the devil, he knew better. Adam knew it was a lie—she was deceived. She took the fruit and gave the fruit to Adam, and Adam took the fruit from her hand, and he knew what he was doing. He knew he was sinning against God, his eyes were wide open. Of course, Adam was guilty, but he did it to save Eve.

Romans 5: 14 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.

3/ So Adam gave himself that his wife might be saved and because of this, God put woman in the place of subjection.

4/ But remember woman does have a ministry. It is not in the open meeting, the assembly. It is not in teaching the Bible to men, or usurping authority over men, but the woman has a wonderful opportunity in private conversation.

Let us illustrate what I mean by this by looking at Acts 18: 24 - 26 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.

5/ It is noteworthy to see that Apollos received his advanced theological training, not at a seminary, nor from any of the great leaders of the day, but from two humble tent- makers. One a woman. This is amazing. This shows how God can use women.

6/ Nor, is this the last we hear of this service of this Godly couple for Christ.

I Corinthians 16: 19 The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.

7/ The kind of teacher Paul had in mind in this portion of Scripture is spoken of in Ephesians 4: 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

These positions are to be filled by men, there is a restriction upon women holding these positions. This does not down-grade the women—that does not make her be insignificant, but God has a place for her in His program, and her place is not holding offices.

8/ You will notice it was because Eve deserted her position that women are put in this position. That is the second reason. You say, that is unfair---what happened to Eve should not have any bearing on us, but it does.

For notice, Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man, sin entered into the world.

We are sinners today, and sin has been passed down to us because of Adam, and we die because of Adam’s sin. You say, it’s not fair. God didn’t ask you—this is the way God has worked it out, in Adam all have sinned, and in Adam all die.

First notice, I Corinthians 15: 21 For since by one man came death. And the 22nd verse, In Adam all die.

Man may not like this position, but it is true, and rebellion against it doesn’t make it any better. The same is true of the woman, she may rebel and say, I don’t have to suffer because Eve degraded her position, but she does, and God says it is so—and the only sensible thing to do is to accept God’s position and be the person God wants you to be, and obey His Word, and then He can prosper you.

9/ I Timothy 2: 15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

That has nothing whatsoever to do with a woman who has a child being saved—but, rather, she is saved through the coming of the Seed of the woman. The Seed is the Lord Jesus Christ, who has provided salvation.

10/ Then notice in I Timothy 3: 1 This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

The word, bishop, is the word overseer. There is no authority in the New Testament for what we know as a bishop in this day...man who holds a high office in the church and wears a specially constructed “robe.” That is simply not in the Bible. The word bishop simple means one who is an overseer—one who is willing to take charge in the affairs of the assembly. To understand, first of all, I think we would have to recognize that the teaching of the clergy today of the hierachy in the church is something that God hates.

11/ Let us show you something about what is known as the clergy, or the hierarchy of the church. In Revelations, chapters 2 and 3 we have seven churches mentioned—the third one is the church of Pergamos—and notice Revelations 2: 15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.

In this church there are two outstanding doctrines. The doctrine of Baalim, and the doctrine of Nicolaitanes. The doctrine of Baalim is the doctrine of tolerance. Baalim encouraged Israel to mingle with the Gentiles nations about them thereby causing this nation to lose their separated position. Nicolaitism, means ruler over the people. So we have here the clergy, and they set themselves aside from the laity. And I want you to notice, God hates this thing. God hates this thought.

If you go over to Revelations 2: 6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.

12/ Now let us notice the kind of man a bishop or an overseer in the assembly ought to be. Verse 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

This description means that this man is a man of high moral life, and it is a description that is hard to fill.

13/ First of all you will notice it is something to be desired. This word does not mean just a passive waiting for, but an act of reaching for—an eager coveting. First of all, this man is to be blameless. That means without reproach. The bishop, or the overseer, must be of such spotless character that no one can point an accusing finger at him. Of course, people will always accuse the overseer, but when they make the accusation, it means that they will not be able to make it stick. People will accuse you of a thousand and one things. Any man who makes a stand for God will have people make accusations against him. But these accusations, if they are true, are proven true—he is not fit to be an overseer. But, of course, you just can’t listen to gossip—they must be substantiated facts.

14/ The husband of one wife. And now we come to something that has caused much confusion and much hardship in the church. What does it mean? The husband of one wife? Some say, it means he must not have more than one wife at a time. Others say, if his wife dies, he must not marry again, he must stay unmarried. Then others say, it means that someone who is unmarried cannot, possibly, be an overseer of the assembly, and of course, this is not true. The literal translation is this—A MAN OF ONE WOMAN and we could translate it this way—A ONE-WIFE SORT OF HUSBAND.

We speak of the German Sheppard dog, as a one-man dog. I have a dog, we call his name Apache. He is a German Sheppard—some call him a police dog, and we have folks say, he is a one-man dog—you better watch him, and we have folks say you better take care of him—he only takes to one person in the family—he picks one person out and makes that one person his sole master. That is exactly what is meant here—it is a man who has just one woman as his wife. What does all this mean? First of all, it doesn’t mean one who is unmarried cannot be a bishop or an overseer. What we must remember is back in the days when Paul was writing, these people came right out of paganism, sexual sin ran rampant. All one has to do is read the New Testament, and know at that time sexuality, evil sexuality was everywhere. It is a prohibition against polygamy. If they had a man come into the church, he was saved, and while he lived in heathenism, he had more than one wife, he was not permitted to be a bishop or overseer. And also, I believe it means that if a man was not strictly faithful to his wife, he was to be disbarred from being an overseer, being a bishop.

15/ He was to be vigilant—that means, discreet. He is to be sober, meaning, serious, or in earnest. Then he was to be of good behavior, a bishop, or overseer must not only talk well, but he must walk well. A bishop is one who practices what he preaches. Given to hospitality. The word, hospitality means, being kind to strangers. It means to welcome strangers into your home. A home that is open where folks are welcome.

16/ Apt to teach. This overseer must be a teacher—apt to teach means, not merely given to teaching, but one that is able and skilled at teaching. Then he is not to be given to wine—that means not sitting over wine, not becoming quarrelsome over

it. He is not to be a striker. The idea is here of a violent man—one who is pugnacious either with hand or tongue. Some people’s tongue can be a deadly weapon—it can be devastating. How many people can be real vicious with their tongues. An overseer must be one who is careful how he uses his tongue.

Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.

Money is not evil in itself. Many men who had money have been godly men. Abraham of the Old Testament was a rich man who was a godly man.

There is a problem when men preach just to make a living—just for the money. Then it becomes filthy lucre. It is a ministry that the Lord can no longer bless.

Motives are so important. Make sure your motives are pure in all that you do, especially in the pulpit.

AMEN

Ref: 03/25/1962 / 244 - FOR MEN ONLY / 05/13/2021

SHOULD A CHRISTIAN WOMAN WEAR JEWELRY?

Photo by B Smith from the garden

 

243 – SHOULD A CHRISTIAN WOMAN WEAR JEWELRY?

March 18, 1962

Henry F. Kulp

 

I Timothy 2: 9 - 15  In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

Actually, Paul is telling young Timothy that he should be over-seer of these assemblies in Ephesus about the woman and her charm. He was told how to handle the female side of the church, and I am sure that this young man was thankful for the guidance he received from this older man, the Apostle Paul. 

1/  You will notice, in like manner also, that woman adorn themselves also in modest apparel and so forth.  I am sure you can see from the context that Paul is thinking especially of the women coming to worship, and he lays down rules so that they might know how to dress for such an occasion, or better still, how they should not dress for such an occasion. They are not to dress as if they were going to the theater, to a dance, or a banquet—in other words, there is to be a strict avoidance of vulgar display. Of course, this goes beyond just going to church. 

2/  When Paul says the woman is to dress in modest apparel, I think if we were to put that in our present-day language, it would be best translated good taste. A woman is to dress in good taste when she comes to the assembly. It is not good taste to dress in such a way that you become outlandish because you are trying to look like a Christian, for there is no holiness in that.

3/  For the word shamefacedness, it is not an easy word to translate in our present day language. What does the average person think about when he reads the word, shamefacedness. Well, actually it means to allow nothing that would embarrass or outrage a proper sense of shame. So that goes right along with the idea of modest apparel in good taste. And then the word, sobriety, has nothing to do with strong drink, but, of course, a Christian woman will not have anything to do with strong drink. But the word, sobriety, is saneness, so you can see the whole thought is that a woman should dress in good taste, so they will not embarrass anyone’s shame, and then be very sane in the way that they dress. So that would show that to dress as the styles were forty years ago is not being sane, is it? I think a woman should look neat, clean, and up-to-date but not with great extravagance so that she will attract attention. 

4/  Then he talks about the hair, and of course, this is the most beautiful thing that a woman has. The hair is a woman’s glory. He says, not common use of braids. The Greek word refers to an elaborate gathering of the hair into knots. History informs us that the Roman women of the day were prone to be ridiculous in their extravagance of adorning the hair. She would just keep putting the hair in one knot after the other, until it absolutely looked ridiculous. Her hair would be high above her head. Many times they used to braid strands of gold into the hair, and jewelry. This does not teach that a woman should not have a decent hairdo. But she shouldn’t have an extravagant one—she should not be outlandish in the manner of wearing her hair.

5/  Then secondly, the matter of jewelry is taken up. And here he points out the Christian woman is not to have extravagant ornaments. We are told by scholars that in that day they used to hang jewelry around one’s person as one would hang ornaments on a Christmas tree. That which is forbidden here is not the wearing of jewelry itself, but the extravagant, gaudy and conspicuous display of jewelry. Notice, the last two words costly array.That which is expensive just to show off. 

6/  Notice Genesis 24: 22 And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold;

Here we have the getting of a bride for Isaac, and in the 82nd verse it talks about golden earrings of half a shekel’s weigh and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekel’s weight of gold. Certainly God would not pick a woman for Isaac who was to be so important in God’s program, if she were wrong in wearing jewelry. But it is a matter of a modest wearing of jewelry.

7/  Then notice, Exodus 35: 4, 5 And Moses spake unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the Lord commanded, saying,Take ye from among you an offering unto the Lord: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the Lord; gold, and silver, and brass,

They brought jewelry for the building of God, so this is under law, remember that, and jewelry was not forbidden under law. Only the lavish display of jewelry was forbidden. We have these folks who say, you shouldn’t wear rings, you shouldn’t wear bracelets. They do not find that the Bible. That is the tradition of men—that is some thought that a man has advanced. 

8/  Proverbs 25: 12 As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear. 

In other words, what he is saying here, is that a rebuke kindly administered by a wise man should be esteemed of greater value than a costly present. And he is not rebuking the use of jewelry here. In other words, it is an accepted thing according to this portion of Scripture.

9/  Isaiah 61: 10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

 

And here it talks about a bride adorning herself with her jewels. Certainly if it is wrong to wear jewelry, it should be wrong to have a bride wear jewels. Here, even under the law, jewelry was worn by the bride. It is not that God is against the use of jewelry—He is against the lavish display of it.  

10/  Then Paul talks about the woman’s place in the public assembly. Remember, all this has to do with the woman in the public assembly. It says let the woman learn in silence, with all subjection. And God puts two restrictions upon a woman—not to usurp authority over the man, and not to teach. The woman is not to teach men, or usurp authority over the man. Remember, He is referring to ministry and public worship. But please remember that does not restrict the woman in any other way in the assembly. Aside from teaching men, usurping authority over men, there is no service she cannot perform in the assembly, such as singing, teaching children, and playing piano, playing the organ, doing many other things. 

11/  Of course, it is wrong for a woman to be a preacher. God never intended the woman should pastor a flock or to teach a man’s Bible class, or a mixed Bible class. But I want you to notice some women that God used mightily in the assembly.

12/  Romans 16: 1 I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:

Again we come to this woman Phebe, who was a deaconess, if you please, in the church. In other words, a servant of the church. She is the one who carried the Roman epistle to the church at Rome, where God used a women a women.

Luke 8: 2 - 3 And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.

Certain women which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities—Mary called Magdalene, Johanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward—Suzannah and many others ministered unto the Lord of their substance. These women had a great deal to do with comforting and ministering unto the Lord Jesus Christ. God used them in this capacity. 

Psalm 68:11 The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.

It says, the Lord gave the word—great was the company of them that published it. The word, company, is the word, women, It could be rendered—God gave the word, but many were the women that published it. That was not only true in that day, but it is true in our day. Go out in the missions fields of the world, you will find the women doing a real work for the Lord Jesus Christ. Go to many of the Sunday Schools and see women who are faithful as they teach the children in the things of the Lord Jesus Christ.

13/  And then we can go in Acts 16: 14, 15 and discover a very lovely soul in the person of Lydia. How God used Lydia in the life of Paul. 

And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.

14/  I Timothy 2: 11 Let the women learn in silence with all subjection. 

The word, silence, should not have been translated silence, but quietness. It doesn’t mean silence. There is another word for silence used in revelation where it says there was silence in Heaven about the space of half an hour. But that is not the word used here—it is quietness, for God loves quietness. And then it goes on to say, with all subjection. Many folks like to go back to other portions of Scriptures where it means in subjection to the husband, but the word, husband does not appear here, and it is not the thought. The women in the assembly are to be quiet, and she is to learn. In other words, she is not to put herself in the place of equality. You will notice the havoc that has been raised and put forth by many of the evil sects of our day—they have been started by women who have been way out of place.

15/  The reason why women are not allowed to usurp authority from men is given to us in two reasons. 

#1 Adam was first formed, then Eve. You see, she was made for second place. It is not that she is inferior to man, but God made her for second place, and when woman gets out of that second place, she gets into trouble. The Greek word, first, in verse 13 for Adam was first formed, is protose—it means file leader—then Eve. This is the order that God created them. It is just a matter that Adam was created before Eve in the matter of time, but that Adam was created as the file leader, and when woman refused to look to man as being first, then mankind is in trouble. We have this in political offices today—woman was created to be a congresswoman—she is not created to be a mayor of a city—she is not created to be a president of the United States. She was created for second place—a place where God wanted her to be.

16/  I know many women rebel against this—they don’t like it, and they fight against it, and they hate it, but that doesn’t change it—this is exactly what God says, and when we reject what God says, when we reject God’s council, there is only one thing that can result, and that is chaos, and that is a loss to ourselves. As I think about this, my mind goes back to a Scripture in the Old Testament.

Psalm 81: 13 - 16  Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways! I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries. The haters of the Lord should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever. He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.

Here God is telling what He would have done foe Israel if they had followed Him closely. If they would have obeyed Him, I would have subdued their enemies, turned my hand against their adversaries—I would have fed them with the finest of wheat, with honey out of the rock—I would have satisfied them. But they, Israel, would not and did not—and they did not get the finest of wheat or honey out of the rock. God had it for them, but instead of being like sheep, keeping close to the shepherd to get tender grass—that the shepherd might lead them to where he wanted them to go -- they wandered afar— He said, I would have given you this, but they didn’t get it. How believers are like that. God has so many things for us, but we don’t want—and so we rebel against it.

17/   Psalm 78: 72  So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.

This verse shows the faithfulness of God—and this means God did everything He could for them. He has done everything for you and me that He can. If we don’t have all that God would give us—it is not His fault, it is our fault. And so He says, He fed them according to the integrity of His heart. He could not give them the finest of wheat—He could not because they would not permit Him. Yes, God was faithful, He did all that He could, but He had to say, you could have had the finest of wheat and honey out of the rock, but I couldn’t give it to you. You wouldn’t permit me. So folks may rebel against what the Word of God teaches. But you are the loser when you disobey God. 

18/  Then secondly, Adam was not deceived, but the woman. On the face of this, this seemed to be contrary to the fact—was not Adam deceived? No, the Bible says not— he sinned with his eyes wide open. Satan tempted Eve directly, but he did not tempt Adam directly. As we said, Adam sinned with his eyes wide open—he knew what he was doing, but Eve did not. Eve was deceived. She believed what the devil told her. The devil in the form of a serpent said to Eve—if you eat of the fruit, you will be wise, you will be like God – you will know all things, and she believed the devil. Adam didn’t believe. Adam knew it was a lie, but she believed it and she was deceived—she took the fruit and she gave the fruit to Adam, and when Adam took that fruit from her hand, he knew what he was doing. He knew he was sinning against God—his eyes were wide open. Adam, of course, was the guilty one—but he did it to save Eve. 

Romans 5: 14 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.

19/  Romans 5: 12 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:

Now sin has not come into the world through Eve, and Eve is never blamed for that—sin came into the world through Adam—he sinned deliberately, he was not deceived, and the whole human race fell—but Eve was deceived, and Adam gave himself that she might be saved, and so she was in the place of subjection. But remember, the woman can speak and teach, but it is not in the open meeting, in teaching or usurping authority. The woman has a wonderful opportunity in private conversation. 

Let us illustrate what I mean by this by looking at Acts 18: 26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.

And it says here, he began to speak boldly in the synagogue, whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. Of course, they might have criticized him and just let it go at that, but he evidently was a good man, and it would have been a pity to leave him right where he was—he could be used by God. He was a splendid creature—he was eloquent, mighty in the Scriptures—that is as far as he went—fervent in enthusiasm—diligent in his work, he was courageous. We couldn’t let a man go with all these fine gifts. He was able to draw crowds to the synagogue when he was preaching, and yet there were two members of his congregation who could immediately tell something was wrong—his doctrine was at fault he knew only the baptism of John. 

Then notice, they did not rebuke him in public. Aquila was too sensitive a soul to take the matter up in public, but instead; Apollos was invited to the privacy of the home, and here Priscilla was able to join in the talk, and take her share of the exposition of the Word of God. Notice, it does not say that he, Aquila, did it, but they did it. The woman had her chance, and she took it. Yes, even though disbarred from the pulpit and public worship, she found a way to bear her public testimony, and to get across God’s message.

AMEN

Ref: 03/18/1962 / 243 - SHOULD A CHRISTIAN WOMAN WEAR JEWELRY? 05/13/2021