WHY CHRIST HAD TO DIE

Photo by B Smith from the patio

 

255 – WHY CHRIST HAD TO DIE 

DECEMBER 16, 1962

HENRY F KULP


 

Romans 8: 26 - 32 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

Out of this glorious 8th chapter, we have talked about the doctrine of glorification, we will be glorified with the uncreated glory of Christ. We shall be manifested, revealed as the sons of God, and then, we know by the foreknowledge of God that we will one day be predestinated to be conformed to the image of His Son—we shall be like Jesus Christ.

1/ Now, we found out last week that predestination is founded upon the foreknowledge of God—the fact that God knows everything. He knows what is going to happen before it happens. But the foreknowledge of God does not determine our actions. What it does determine is what is going to happen to those who are saved—they will be like the Lord Jesus Christ.

2/ Now, let us go back to Romans 8: 26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

We have skipped over this to this point, because I think you will better understand what I want to tell you about it at this time. Notice the Spirit hearest our infirmities—He knows how infirm you are, how infirm I am, and He does not trust us. I want you to notice that— He does not trust us. Whatever weakness there is in your Christian life, God makes a provision for it. God is not going to let our infirmities interfere with His plans for us.

3/ Now, the second part of that verse says, we do not know how to pray. Did you ever stop to think that if the Lord gave you only what you prayed for, you wouldn’t have very much. Just stop and think about this for a moment—say tomorrow morning, Monday morning, when you start out, you don’t know what you are going to need through the day, because you do not have foreknowledge—you don’t know what you are going to bump into. Why, if you had to pray for everything you were going to need, and get it before the day is done—that is do it in the morning before it happens, you would, first of all, have to spend many hours in prayer, and then you wouldn’t know how to pray because you don’t know what you are going to bump into during the day. So God makes provision for us in this aspect.

4/ Now, let’s think about that from the aspect of the Holy Spirit. We don’t know what we should pray for as we ought, and God doesn’t depend upon our praying. God has given us the Holy Spirit to pray for us. Remember He is a person, remember He is God, and He has foreknowledge, He knows everything we are going to need. He knows all of our needs throughout Monday, and so he makes intercession to the Father for the strength and working out everything that happens to us. No wonder God can say that all things work together for good to them who love God?

5/ How do I know that I am eternally saved? Not just that I have eternal life, but God in His foreknowledge has said that everyone who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ, will one day be conformed to the image of His Son, and to guarantee the working of this, He has the Holy Spirit, who indwells us, praying for us, interceding for us. We hear much about the intercessory work of Jesus Christ, but very little about the intercessory work of the Holy Spirit. Yet this work of the Holy Spirit is very important. It enables God to say that all things work together for good to them who love God—it is the work of the Holy Spirit in interceding that will guarantee that one day we will be like the Lord Jesus Christ. 

6/ YOU SEE, THE HOLY SPIRIT AND GOD THE FATHER ARE WORKING TOGETHER IN OUR LIVES. THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE GUARANTEE THAT WE WILL BE MADE LIKE UNTO JESUS CHRIST.

Now, remember that God leaves you after you are saved in the midst of the world where Satan is god, where Satan is a roaring lion, going about seeking whom he may devour. It is a world of darkness, it is a world that hates God, it is a world that can’t stand Jesus Christ. And do you realize you couldn’t live five minutes in this world without God’s provision, without the Holy Spirit interceding for you, dwelling in your body and praying for you. I love the thought that the Holy Spirit is for us.

7/ As I read and contemplate all this, I am thrilled and exalted in Jesus Christ, and my mind always go back to just one portion of Scripture. We have given it before, but we want to share it with you again.

Ecclesiasticus 3: 14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever.

God does nothing for just time. When God saves a soul, He saves a soul forever. God doesn’t save a soul and keep him six months and then let him fall and be lost. God doesn’t work that way. God does things forever, and He has given us the Holy Spirit to indwell our bodies and to pray for us, to make sure that one day we’ll be made like the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

Here where it says, for whom He did foreknow, He did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son—for what reason? Now notice this—that He might be the first-born among many brethren. Notice the word, first-born. This is a born race, and the Lord Jesus Christ was born, so the Lord’s people are a born race—a super-race—that will be like the

Lord Jesus Christ. But now the question we must consider, and it is very important here— what does it mean that He might be the first-born among many brethren?

9/ Acts 13: 33 God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.

Now notice, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten Thee, This day—what day is that? It is the resurrection day, for it speaks of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, for when Jesus Christ was raised from the dead, He became the first born of God. He had died, and He rose to a new life. And every one of the members of the body of Christ—the super-race, who are to be conformed to the image of His Son are raised from the dead every one of them. In this sense, Christ was born as we were born – How? By resurrection.We are born into the family of God by resurrection. Go back in this same book.

Romans 6: 3, 4 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

We have been baptized, now notice, into the death of Jesus Christ, and like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. As Christ has raised from the dead, so are we, and we are part of this first-born group. It is all by resurrection.

10/ Romans 8: 31 What shall we say then to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

In other words, what is there to be afraid of? Nothing, Because all this is working together for our good.

Let us turn to Jeremiah 20: 11 But the Lord is with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten.

This is another Scripture that always comes to mind when I think of Romans 8: 31. But the Lord is with me as a mighty, terrible one. There are some translations of the Bible that read this way—the Lord is with me as a mighty giant -- who is afraid?

Actually, I believe that is the closest to the meaning. The picture in the original language is that a little boy who has been bullied by larger boys in the neighborhood, and he is afraid. He is afraid to go out and play on the sidewalk, afraid to go out and play ball, because these bullies always pick on him, they hurt him and they hit him and make fun of him and mock him. But one day his father comes to him and says, son, let’s go down and watch a ball game. And so the father and the boy walk down the street, and the boy’s hand is in the father’s hand. Is the boy afraid now? Not at all, is he afraid of the neighborhood bullies? No, they are still there—they see him, but they don’t hit him, they don’t mock him. No, and at this point he is not afraid, because his father is with him and his father can protect him. That is the story here. If God be for us, God has predestinated us, that we

should be like the Lord Jesus. He has even provided the Holy Spirit to pray for us, why should we be afraid? We shouldn’t because the Giant is with us.

11/ Romans 8: 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

Now notice, He that spared not his own Son but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with him also freely give us all things?

Please notice how that is worded. It doesn’t say, He shall—but what it does say, and this is precious to those who know Christ—how can He help -- how is it possible if God has done this for us, that He could withhold anything from us? If God has not withheld His Son, there is nothing else that He will withhold from us. Why did Christ Jesus die? That God might give us everything. This is the basis of all that has gone on before. The doctrine of glorification, the doctrine of manifestation, the doctrine of the Holy Spirit praying for us, it is because Christ was offered up by God the Father, and the Father did not withhold His Son from us.

12/ Now, the word, delivered, means handed Him over. God the Father, handed Him over. But what is the meaning of this? There are enemies clamoring for our condemnation, our sin, all the powers of hell, all the powers of darkness are against us. We are truly sinners, and these evil powers have the right to bring us into condemnation. We deserve hell.

Notice Ephesians 6: 12 We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, authorities, the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

We wrestle against them now, but in days gone by when we were under the condemnation of sin, we were sinners, these powers had control over us and we were held in bondage over His Son for us. He delivered Him up for us. What did He say—to these powers—here is My Son, vent all your rage upon Him. Make Him the object of your hate and your wrath. All the powers of hell and Satan could never have touched the Son of God, but God gave Him up, God delivered Him up.

13/ Let me give you an illustration that may make this clearer to your mind. The transaction of God delivering up His Son for us.

You remember Genesis 19: 1 And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;

There came two angels to Sodom in the evening, as Lot sat in the gate of Sodom, and Lot came up to meet them. He didn’t realize that they were angels, and so he said, I pray you, come into your servants house and tarry all night, wash your feet, you shall rise up early and be on your way. And they said, no, we shall abide in the street all night. But he insisted on them greatly, and they turned into his house. He made them a feast, he had unlevened bread there, and they did eat. Before they went to bed that night, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom ringed about the house, both old and young, and they called to Lot and said unto him, where are the men which came to thee in the night, bring them out to us that we might know them.

They wanted to use them for an evil, wicked, filthy, foul act. They wanted to misuse these men, and Lot went unto the door unto them, and shut the door after him. Then he said I don’t want you men to misuse these two men. Behold I have two daughters which have not known men, let me I pray you, bring them out unto you and do unto them as is good in your eyes, only do nothing to these two men. This was a wicked thought of Lot, but Lot was willing to spoil his two daughters to save these men who were guests in his house. There it was, evil, it was wicked. But that is exactly what God the Father did for us. All the power of evil, Satan, wanted to vent upon us his wrath and their wrath because we are sinners and we deserve it. But God said, not so, you take my Son, I’ll deliver Him over to your hands that these folks might be made free, might have everything from me.

14/ Now, you can remember if God was willing to do this for us, deliver up His Son who did not deserve this treatment, how can He help but freely give us all things. He can’t help but do it.

15/ Now, let us stop at this point and think about some of the things we pray for. You say, if the Lord can’t help but give us good things, why doesn’t He always give me what I pray for? Sometimes you do pray for things and you don’t get them, and perhaps at that point, you doubt the goodness of God. You think, He is not willing to give to me.

I had a man who was sick, and He said, If God wanted to, He could take this sickness from me, and He hasn’t done it. And He doubted the goodness of God. But it is God’s nature to give. If there is something good for us, God can’t help but give it to us. It is just His nature. The Bible says that God is love. It is His very nature. He just loves to give, and He can’t help but give, so when God withholds, it is not that He doesn’t want to give, it is because it isn’t good for us.

16/ Romans 8: 33 Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect it is God that justifieth.

First of all, God is the Judge. God is on the bench. We are before God. No one can condemn apart from him. Others may judge, but only God has the right to judge. When others judge you, it doesn’t really matter, it is a matter of whether God has judged you. But notice, God the Judge has justified, He has pronounced the sinner just, and so we have a marvelous, wonderful fact brought home to us here.

God controls all that comes into the believer’s life...it passes through His hands first.

We do not have to live with a spirit of fear. Perfect love casteth out fear.

Refuse to live in a spirit of fear...it is not from God. It is why Christ had to die...to remove the spirit of fear.

AMEN

Ref: 12/16/1962 / 255 - WHY CHRSIT HAD TO DIE / 10/18/2021

LOVE THAT LASTS

455 – 2 LOVE THAT LASTS 

December 11, 1978 

Henry F. Kulp 

 

Romans 8: 35 - 39  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We hear the phrase all the world loves a lover, and we are constantly told that we are to love. But very few people have any knowledge of love, they do not understand love. Love is a person – God is love. He loves us, only a believer can love. 

1/ Verse 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? The answer is absolutely nothing. In this world, people love someone who loves them, but if the other person doesn’t return their love, they forget the love that they have for them. Or you can see constantly—love can be turned off by things that happen in this world, but not so with the love of Christ. 

2/ God has been talking about suffering in this chapter, and He said all the suffering the believer goes through, mixed with the plan of God, equals absolute good, And then we are told in verse 35 all these sufferings will not separates us from the love of Christ, so therefore that which results has to be absolute good. 

3/ Verse 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

Now, Paul quotes from the Old Testament. 

Psalms 44: 22 Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.

God’s people always considered to be sheep, accounted for slaughter. It is not an act of faith to shut one’s eye to trouble and suffering. The Apostle Paul has written a list of his perils and sufferings, but you know, he was never in danger of being separated from the love of Christ, and that has been true of the believer down through the ages. You talk about minorities—the true Bible-believing individual is the one minority that is hated, despised and rejected. The world never takes up the cause of the Bible-believing Christian, who considers us to be sheep for the slaughter, sacrificial animals? None other than the world and the devil. Just go to your public schools and you will see that the highest in our land, the Supreme Court ruled the Bible out of public school. Creation is considered a joke, but evolution to be the truth. Go back to the early days of the church, and Rome slaughtered Christians. 

4/ I wonder if you know in the Spanish inquisition, when they killed the Bible-believing individuals they invented every means of painful death. They weren’t satisfied with throwing a man into the flames, they weren’t satisfied with beheading him, they invented all manners and means of death that are painful. Sometimes a man was stretched on a form, his hands were tied above his head, and his feet tied, and then they began to pull from each direction. His feet were stretched in one direction, his hands were stretched in another direction until the whole body was stretched apart. Just think of the suffering—they invented every manner of pain. The devil did that because this was religion, and it is still here. But the devil and the world has never defeated the church. It still goes on. 

5/ During the middle ages it is estimated that two million believers were put to death with great suffering before they died. 

6/ In Russia and China today, Bible-believing folks are paying a tremendous price, many of them in prison, many of them face a cruel death. 

7/ Verse 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Here when you read it for the first time you have a puzzling portion of Scripture—Nay, in all things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. What is it to be than a conqueror? I’ve thought about that many times, in my early days in the ministry. We know what a conqueror is from history. Napoleon was a great conqueror. He swept over Europe, and no army could stand before him until nearly all of Europe was lying at his feet—that is all except England. He had a map made, and had England painted red because that was dangerous. He was a conqueror, but not more than a conqueror. No man on the face of the earth has been more than a conqueror. 

8/ Actually in the Greek it is a Super-Conquerors. So what is super-conqueror. Notice the phrase, NAY, IN ALL THESE THINGS. What things? The suffering, of course. 

9/ I think I have come up with a few reasons after much thought and prayer as to why we are Super-Conquerors. More than Conquerors. First of all we are more than conquerors because our foe is much more than our equal. Paul tells us in the book of Ephesians that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of darkness in this world, and so forth, Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

If our foes were natural, the victory would be natural, but since our foes are super-natural, then our victory is super-natural. Thus, we are not only conqueror, we are more than conquerors. 

10/ Now in the second place we are more than conquerors or super-conquerors because of the length of the warfare we have to wage. In earthly battles, soldiers are sometimes called upon to fight day and night, but there comes a moment when flesh and blood cannot take any more and so the exhausted soldier is taken out of battle, but in the spiritual warfare there is no armistice, no truce, nor interval. Notice, FOR THY SAKE WE ARE KILLED ALL THE DAY LONG. We are targets of the world, the flesh and the devil and there is never a moment of reprieve. It follows that our conquest is more than a conquest and we are super-conquerors. 

11/  In the third place, the result of our battle is eternal, and our victory is eternal. Therefore, we are more than conquerors. We are going to live for all eternity, and we are going to live with the Lord Jesus Christ and be like him. 

12/ In the fourth place, we are more than conquerors because we receive rewards that surpass anything given to an earthly conqueror. No earthly soldier will ever be given any reward equal to what we have. We know that in warfare soldiers partake of the booty, and we know that many times they are vicious as they conquer a land. 

13/ Then fifthly, and I picked five because that is the number of grace, we are more than conquerors because we have victory without fighting. It is what the Lord has done for us. We don’t do the fighting. Your little bit of fighting doesn’t mean anything to Satan, but the one he is afraid of is the one who is God Almighty. 

14/ II Kings 19: 35 And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the Lord went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.

Here is a Scripture most of you know, but we can look at it again. This is where the Syrians had come against Israel, and the Syrians were the mighty nation of that day. We are told in one place that they came with a thousand thousand, that was a million soldiers and that was a mighty big army for that day. And there was nothing in the world like it. The Syrian king came with his chariots of iron and his mounted soldiers, all decked out with banners and colors. He came up against Israel. Hezekiah went to the Lord about it. Hezekiah said, what are we going to do? Isaiah was living at that time and the Lord sent Isaiah to Hezekiah, tell Hezekiah, the king of the Syrians will not come into Jerusalem – they will not get any farther than they are. Notice that when morning came, they were all dead. I think Israel was more than a conqueror there, because they got the victory without fighting. This is true of the church, the body of Christ. We do not fight, God has done the fighting for us. The victory is guaranteed because he has a program, He has a plan. 

15/ Some folks may think it is strange when I preach and say don’t be afraid. Don’t you have that in the Bible? There are 365 days in the year, and you will find FEAR NOT 365 times in the Bible. Because every day the Lord wants you to live in that text—fear not—your foes are already defeated. 

16/ The principle can again be seen in Exodus 14: 13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.

Moses brought the children of Israel to the Red Sea, and he was able to give them the battle cry—stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will show you even to this day. Then the sea was parted, the people of God went through dry land, while the enemies were confounded and engulfed in the returning waters of the sea. 

Ruth 3: 18 Then said she, Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall: for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day.

Ruth was in distress concerning her personal life, and the aged Naomi told her, Sit still my daughter, until thou shalt see how the matter will fall. In other words, just trust God. He is going to work it out. 

17/ II Corinthians 12: 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

And we can cry with Paul, therefore we take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ sake, for when we are weak then we are strong. 

We can say all these things because God takes all the distasteful, horrible, hard things in our lives, works them together with His plan and guarantees us it will equal absolute good, and when we understand this we know this, then we can have peace of heart, mind and soul 

18/ I believe the greatest enemy of the believer is ignorance, ignorance of doctrine. How few people know really much about their Bible. That is why they are constantly defeated in their lives and do not know that the victory is theirs in Christ Jesus. 

19/ Romans 8: 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

For I am persuaded—that means confidence, that means assurance, that neither life or death. Death is both ordinary and extraordinary. We scarcely look up when we see a funeral procession move down the street. We read of an earthquake where thousands are killed, we read of floods where hundreds die, we read of famine, and we are touched, but just for a moment, because death is ordinary—it is about us all the time. You pick up the newspaper and every night you read the obituaries. 

20/ When Adam and Eve learned that their son Abel had been killed, I am sure questions must have thronged their minds at once. They knew that cold clay that was so rapidly disintagating was not their beloved Abel. The fire, the life, warmth and breath of their son was no longer there. This was merely a house from which the tenant had moved. But where had he gone? Where was Abel? Ask the average man on the street and he is really not too sure. 

21/ All through the ages man has wondered, what is death, what is on the other side of death? 

Philippians 1: 21 - 24 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.

Paul is writing to the Philippian church and telling them about his own affairs. They knew he had been arrested and that he was in Rome to await trial before Caesar. He knew that he might either be freed or have his head cut off, but he was calm before either possibility, and this is literally what he said, LIVING TO ME SIMPLY MEANS CHRIST, AND IF I SHOULD DIE, I AM JUST GOING TO BE WITH HIM. I SHOULD FIND IT VERY HARD TO MAKE A CHOICE. I AM TORN IN TWO DIRECTIONS. ON THE ONE HAND, I LONG TO LEAVE THIS WORLD AND LIVE WITH CHRIST, AND THIS IS OBVIOUSLY THE BEST THING FOR ME. YET, ON THE OTHER HAND, IT IS POSSIBLY MORE NECESSARY FOR YOU THAT I SHOULD STAY HERE ON EARTH. 

Paul had the proper attitude when it came to death. 

22/ II Corinthians 5: 7, 8 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

Here, Paul tells us that death is merely the absence of the inward man from the outward man. And the inward man is in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ in a place called Heaven. Here he says, he is willing rather to be absent from the body and present with the Lord. Notice, willing rather—that goes alone with Philippians that first chapter, for the believer to die is better, but perhaps he has some ties on earth where he feels his loved ones need him, so therefore he wants to stay to help them. That is the only reason for a believer wanting to live on earth. 

23/  There are lists of ten things mentioned in these two verses. And we have utmost confidence in them, for the words, I am persuaded in the Greek are I HAVE PERFECT, I HAVE UTMOST CONFIDENCE. Death does not separate, but it takes us into the presence of the Lord of Heaven. It is the very opposite of separating.

24/ The second thing is life. Notice a very important passage. 

Galatians 2: 20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

The life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the Son of God. For this reason life could not possibly separate us from the love of God, and life here means no sin, no person, no situation, not even yourself can separate you from the love of God. 

AMEN

Ref: 11/27/1978/ 455-2 LOVE THAT LASTS / 10/15/2021

WHICH BELIEVER WILL REIGN WITH CHRIST?

Photo by B Smith from the kitchen window

 

422 - WHICH BELIEVER WILL REIGN WITH CHRIST?

December 9, 1975

Henry F. Kulp 

 

II Timothy 2: 7 - 13 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

Paul, in II Timothy is concerned with the deposit that God has given him. This is the special deposit that God gave to him. It is called the mystery or the secret and it has to do with the dispensation of God, and the Gospel of the grace of God. 

1/ Paul’s great concern is that Timothy would take a stand for this truth, for Paul is going to die. He wants Timothy to stand for it and then pass it on to men who have the gift of teaching and are faithful. 

2/ Verse 3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

He compares them with soldiers, and the soldier is to be steadfast, unmovable. Then he compares him to an athlete who knows discipline. But then with the farmer who has great patience, but then he adds another principle. The farmer must be first partaker of the fruits. The word, first, is PRO-TOS that means a file leader—the first of the group, and the word, fruits, is benefits or profits. So even though we will suffer if we stand for the truth, God has guaranteed us benefits. Therefore we should be glad to suffer for this truth. 

3/ This is a very interesting verse and one we must spend some time with. It is the Greek word, NO-EH-O and it is present, active imperative. And it means you are to consider and concentrate. 

4/ However, if you look at the English word, consider, it comes from a Latin word that has to do with the stars, and you put the word, CON, in front of it, and it means WITH THE STARS. In the days that Paul wrote this, many men would not start out on a journey without considering the stars for guidance. There are those today who believe the stars and the planets shape our destiny. Those folks are constantly looking at horoscopes. Astrology is one of the most foolish things that man has ever invented. The stars and their constellations are not constant today. Man today talk about the dawning of the age of Aguarius. But in China it is the day of the dog. With many this is a religion, and how foolish they are. You read your horoscope for guidance and you will read of double talk that is truly amazing. 

5/ Do you know what the word, disaster means? It is an ill star. Some people will not move until their stars are just right. 

6/ The word comes to us with the idea of LOOKING UNTO THE STARS FOR GUIDANCE. But Paul tells us we are to concentrate on what he says. Here is a guiding principle. WHAT I SAY. You don’t consider the stars, you consider what I say.

 

7/ It is active voice—that means, you must do this, you must initiate the action, you must concentrate on what Paul says, and it is imperative mood, and it means it is a command. You don’t take it, or leave it, but you must obey it. 

8/ Now, we have something that is very interesting. If we consider what Paul says, the Lord will give you understanding in all things. Let’s make a comparison with another verse. 

Luke 24: 45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

Here, Jesus Christ in His resurrection is talking to His disciples, and He, the Lord, opened their understanding that they might understand the Scriptures. If God doesn’t open your understanding you might as well forget it. The word, give, is in the future tense, and so you must first hear Paul, and then the Lord will give you understanding. For who opened their understanding? The Lord. Who will open your understanding? The Lord. It is not a matter of brilliance that a man may possess. 

9/ If this were not written by the Holy Spirit, you would say, what a boaster! Let me give you another Scripture that teaches this same truth. 

I Corinthians 14: 37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

If you want to be spiritual, you listen to me. 

10/ I am going to say something very bold this morning, and I hope you will consider it in the light of the Scriptures. If you don’t consider what Paul says, the Lord will not give you understanding. You can see how mixed up the church world is. Someone called me up this week and said she was just saved, and why were there so many different teachings among believers. The answer is right in front of you.

11/ The word, understanding is very interesting. It is SOON-A-IS. And it means, the junction of the streams or where all the streams come together. So it means to fit together, to bring it together, you must listen to Paul. Actually, the word means, mental putting together. 

12/ If you want to understand your Bible there are four things you must do. 

1/ II Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  All Scripture is by inspiration of God. All Scripture holds together by the inspiration of God. 

 

2/ Then we must put three principles to work. 

a/ We must test the things that differ. 

Philippians 1: 9, 10 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ. We must recognize there are different things taught in the Bible, and until we see the differences, we will not have understanding 

b/ II Timothy 2: 15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

We must rightly divide the Word. After we see the differences, we must rightly divide the differences. Put them where they belong in the right places. We must see the earthly program of Israel, where God is king, and then we must see the church the Body of Christ which is Heavenly. 

c/  We must compare spiritual with spiritual, and then we must bring the whole together.

13/ Verse 8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:

Paul starts with the word, remember. This is very important for word for memory and forgetfulness play a big part in the experiences of he believer.

Psalms 106: 7, 13 Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea. They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:

After Israel was brought out of Egypt they lusted after the things of Egypt and they remember the leaks, onions, garlic and fish, and they wanted to go back. 

14/ They forgot their bondage, what slavery was like, but remembered the eating. And they forgot all that the Lord had done for them. 

15/ 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:

Paul wants us to remember our bondage. He wants you to remember what you came out of. 

16/ Timothy is asked to remember, two particular facts about the Lord Jesus Christ, and they are to be vital in his ministry. 

1/ Jesus Christ was of the seed of David. 

2/ He was raised from the dead.

 

17/ These two truths were the center of attack and denial. Those who said that Jesus Christ was not a real Man, and they denied He was raised from the dead. These teachings are even with us today. Look at the sects around you.

18/ Just look at II Timothy 2: 17, 18 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

They were teaching spiritual resurrection—not a literal physical one. 

I Corinthians 15: 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

Paul says if Christ is not resurrected from the dead we are of all men most miserable. This must be believed. 

19/ These two facts are embodied in the hope of Israel and the hope of the church the Body of Christ.

1/ Compare Acts 2: 29 - 31 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulcher is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in her, neither his flesh did see corruption. Christ is to sit upon a throne in a physical, resurrected body is a necessity for the hope of Israel.

2/ Romans 1: 3, 4 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh. And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: Here, Paul says our hope depends upon Christ being a literal man and being physically raised from the dead.

20/ II Timothy 2: 9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.

This is to encourage Timothy. He says, I suffer trouble as an evil doer, but that really means malefactor or criminal offense. Anywhere you went in the Roman Empire it was a criminal offense to believe the teaching of Paul. You would suffer the same fate that he was suffering. But then he makes a marvelous statement. Even though I am bound, the Word of God is not bound. 

21/ Verse 10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

Here he says, I endure all things for the elect’s sake. That they may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory, and don’t misunderstand this verse. All believers have salvation by grace, eternal life. But not all believers have salvation with eternal glory, which means age-abiding glory, and we want you to see that it will be your privilege not just to have salvation, but to have salvation with age-abiding glory, and this is connected with suffering and reigning. 

Verse 12  If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

AMEN

Ref: 12/09/1975 / 422 - WHICH BELIEVER WILL REIGN WITH CHRIST / 09/18/2021

 

A FRIEND ON THE BENCH

Photo by B Smith from the kitchen window

 

353-1 A FRIEND ON THE BENCH

May 15, 1977 

Pastor Henry F. Kulp

 

Colossians 1: 16 - 19 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

In this portion of Scripture Paul is showing that Christ is Lord of Creation. He has no rival in the creative order. Notice, HE IS PRE-EMINENT IN THE UNIVERSE. Notice the last part of verse 16. The ALL THINGS were created by Him and for Him. And that should read, The all things stand created, not by Him, but through Him.

SO IT IS Dee-a-plus the genitive, and it should be through Him. Then instead of being for Him, ICE-plus the accusative and this should be, for the use of Him, or for the purpose of Him. You can see His pre-eminence in the universe. Everywhere you go, you can stamp “Created by Jesus Christ, and for the use of Christ, for the purpose of Christ.”

1/ It is important how you use the world; the things that are in this world, and if you use them to glorify the Lord, yourself or man, or anyone else.

2/ Verse 17 And He is before all things. Actually, in the Greek that should be, AND HE KEEPS ON BEING BEFORE ALL. All what? All creatures. He is before all creatures. This has a reference to the eternity of Jesus Christ. He is before all. He is eternal.

3/ Then we read, and by Him all things consist. The word, consist, SOON-AS-STAME- ME—it means to hold together. To continue in the status quo. It stands in contrast to Kuh-Teed-Zoe. The verb for to create. Here it doesn’t mean to create, but it refers to preservation, rather than creation. So He Who creates, preserves. So it means that Jesus Christ holds all things in the universe together in perfect harmony. It is He that keeps the heavenly bodies going and holds them in their places and traveling on their courses. CONSIST means to continue to exist.

4/ We must remember that Jesus Christ is the member of the Godhead Who preserves and sustains the universe. Remember when He was the Babe in the cradle, He was also God, and holding the universe together. We must also keep in mind, while He was on the Cross, He was also God and holding the universe together. He is the preserver and sustainer of it all. People may take His Name in vain, deny Him His deity, but all the time their very existence depends on Him.

5/ The so-called scientific laws are really not scientific laws at all. They are divine laws, rather than scientific laws. Science has no way of enforcing them. Science cannot guarantee that they will always continue as they are today. There is no guarantee even for tomorrow.

Hebrews 1: 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:

Hebrews tells us, BY THE WORD OF HIS POWER, JESUS CHRIST HOLDS THE UNIVERSE TOGETHER. So Jesus Christ guarantees these laws. That is, for the time being. It is by His faithfulness that they operate for now. That is why, when we look at the word, faith, we see subjective faith.

II Timothy 2: 12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

Jesus Christ is faithful.

Romans 3: 3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?

What if some did not believe? Did their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? Of course, not. The fact that the sun will come up tomorrow morning and the world will continue as it is right now, proves that the unsaved have not changed the faithfulness of God in this point.

Also look at II Timothy 2: 13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

6/ But even though science may say, we think those laws are fixed laws and they are going to continue down through the years, they are wrong. Because a change is going to take place.

7/ II Peter 3: 10 - 12 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

It might be well for me to say, were it not for the faithfulness of Jesus Christ in holding all things together, keeping them existing together, this whole universe would blow up.

Even if it were only for a split second, he must be faithful constantly and continually. If it were not for Jesus Christ and His faithfulness, our space program would be a failure. Were it not for Jesus Christ and his faithfulness in this universe, we would have never put a man on the face of the moon. For scientists have used God’s fixed divine laws, and used them to get a man there. We would never have been able to send a probe toward Mars or Venus, where it not for Jesus Christ and His faithfulness in this ministry to divine laws.

8/ In other words we could say, and we do it in reverence. Jesus Christ is the glue that holds the universe together.

9/ A day is literally coming when the universe will stop being in existence. Jesus Christ will no longer hold things together.

II Peter 3: 10, 11 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

In the 11th verse He says, Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved. The word, dissolved, in the Greek is an interesting word. It is used in Luke 3: 16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:

Here where John Baptist said, One mightier than I cometh, whose lachet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose—to untie. So he uses the word here, to unloose or untie a shoe as he speaks of the universe becoming untied or unloosed. So the earth will become untied.

10/ We know now what happens when elements are broken from their state of consistency. In this present day we are more prepared to understand this chapter and Colossians 1, than in any age before us.

We call this the Space Age, and we know when we dissolve or split the atom, we have an atom bomb that gives us a terrible explosion, and what took place at Hirshimo, and Negasaki is but a minor picture of what is going to happen in II Peter 3: 10, 11 When God unties this universe.

Then we can look at Revelations 21: 1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

Atom Bomb Isaiah 66: 22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain.

11/ Don’t worry about anyone pushing a panic button. Moscow, or Washington will not destroy the world. It will not be destroyed but by Jesus Christ. No one is going to start an atomic war before the world is evangelized.

Verse 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Head—One body—First raised from the dead. He is the head of the Body, the Church—no earthly head—the head is in Heaven.

Acts 7: 38 This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:

Hebrews 2: 12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.

Psalm 22: 22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.

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.

Jeremiah 32: 37, 38 Behold, I will gather them out of all countries, whither I have driven them in mine anger, and in my fury, and in great wrath; and I will bring them again unto this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely: And they shall be my people, and I will be their God:

Hebrews 10: 7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.

AMEN

Ref: 05/15/1977 /  353-1 A FRIEND ON THE BENCH / 09/18/2021