Salvation
By: F. Swaggart
Acts 5:29 – “Then Peter and the other Apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.”
“We ought to obey God rather than men” – no truer words have ever been spoken, for He is the “King of kings and Lord of lords!” When the requests of men and the requests of God do not agree, it is the Higher Authority to Whom we must answer – even when it means we must rebel against the lesser. If any human authority says “no” to God, we can say “no” to that authority. We are not slaves of man, but slaves of God. And ultimately, every human authority will also have to answer to the One True Lord!
SATAN’S MINISTERS
We live in a day and time when the Evil One (Satan) is doing everything within his power to silence the Mouth of God, namely by silencing the mouths of God’s People. Satan’s “ministers” come into the church “transformed” as“ministers of righteousness” (II Cor.11:15), and they indoctrinate people to think that it is somehow righteous to obey men rather than God! God’s People are being trained that it is His Will to be obedient to human leadership no matter what! Now, of course, we respect civil government, and we believe in obeying the laws of this great country. Any American who truly loves God and country will believe and respect the laws laid down by our government – that is, as long as the government does not infringe upon our right to worship and serve God! But, today, our nation has come to a point where we, as Believers, are going to have to take a stand. We can’t live on the heroism of our forefathers any longer. We will have to become heroes of Faith (and of country) for ourselves. We will have to be willing to face the persecution of other men. There are laws being activated now that will indeed force Christians to choose: “will I ‘obey God and His Word’ or will I ‘obey man’?” We must once again become men and women of God who will obey Him no matter the cost!
OBEY?
The brainwashing to “obey our leaders” extends to both church and civil government, and many are failing to see the victory the enemy is gaining through this deception. People have come to believe that obedience to evil is Biblical and rebellion is wrong, even rebellion against blatant heresy! Amazingly, this lie of the enemy has made compromise and fear appear to be godly. Never mind the Church of Jesus Christ was actually born in rebellion. As well, this great nation of America was birthed in rebellion! Thomas Jefferson stated, “Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God,” and that is true whether we are speaking of civil tyrants or religious tyrants. The reformers had to rebel against the established church. “All powers” are not ordained of God. And those that are not, we have to resist. We must not bow before the feet of Baal! Yes, even Christianity itself was birthed in rebellion, and so I have to reiterate the question once again: “Is it wrong to disobey those in leadership over us?” Again, the answer is “no,”not when hierarchical leadership is disobeying the Word of God! The motto of the true Church of Jesus Christ must once again ring loud and clear, “. . . let God be true, but every man a liar . . .” (Rom 3:4).
DOMINION?
The modern church has succumbed to a few other lies of “Satan’s ministers” as well, lies which distract Believers from taking the stand that both our country and church need right now for its very survival. For instance, instead of standing for freedom from all civil and religious dictatorship, the modern church has become too busy trying to take“dominion” for themselves. Modern “dominionist” theology promises Believers they will hold positions of power and authority in society, if they will just climb the ranks of leadership. But, of course, you can’t climb their ranks and stand against their unbiblical teachings at the same time. Modern Believers have also become too busy expecting to be treated like kings and queens themselves. Joel Osteen has said, “. . . I’ve come to expect to be treated differently. I’ve learned to expect people to want to help me. My attitude is: I’m a Child of the Most High God. My Father created the whole universe. He has crowned me with favor, therefore, I can expect preferential treatment. I can expect people to go out of their way to want to help me.”[1] No wonder we do not see many Believers being willing to face the possible consequences of standing for Truth and Freedom in this country! They are expecting“preferential treatment” rather than recognizing what they should be willing to endure for Christ. Jesus said, “The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord” (Mat 10:24).
DESPISED AND REJECTED
Christ Himself was despised and rejected for His Stand. His Disciples were also hated. Why do we believe we will not also be? Why do we believe we are only here to be blessed by God without ever having to take a stand for Him? “Prosperity preachers” meet “persecution!” What if the only reward for obedience is harassment and hatred? Will you still consider yourself blessed? Will you still obey God rather than men? The Word of God says, “Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you” (I Jn. 3:13). When you obey God, other men will not be pleased! This is not to say that God does not bless His Children, because He most certainly does, even materially, but sometimes a Spiritual Blessing is far greater in the Eyes of God. “Blessed are you, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My Sake” (Mat 5:11).
WAS IT RIGHT?
I was reading an article over the weekend, which gives credit to Dr. Brook Stockton for the following statements made about resisting ungodly authority:
“Was it right for Joseph to disobey his boss’ wife? (Gen. 39). Was it right for Moses’ parents to disobey the civil authority over them and not kill their baby? (Ex. 1). Was it right for the Hebrew midwives to disobey the Egyptian government and save the babies? (Ex. 1).
“Was it right for Rahab to disobey the king of Jericho? (Josh. 2). Was it right for Ruth to disobey her mother-in-law? (Ruth 1). Was it right for the judges in the Book of Judges to take up the sword, organize an army, and overthrow wicked governments?
“Was it right for Sampson to disobey the Philistine government officials? (Judg. 16). Was it right for David to disobey his older brothers and not go home as ordered? (I Sam. 17). Was it right for Jonathan to disobey his Father and not deliver David to Saul? (I Sam. 20). Was it right for David not to surrender himself to the will of the king who wanted him dead and destroyed? (I Sam. 19-30). Was it right for the younger prophet to disobey the older prophet? (I Ki. 13).
“Was it right for Naboth to refuse the offer of King Ahab to purchase his property? (I Ki. 21). Was it right for Elijah not to obey the summons of king Ahaziah? (II Ki. 1). Was it right for Elisha to disobey Elijah and not ‘Stay here’? (II Ki. 2).
“Was it right for Israel to submit to her idolatrous kings? (II Ki. 17). Wasn’t Israel sent into captivity because they obeyed their idolatrous kings? (II Ki. 17). Wasn’t Israel chided by God for obeying the laws of King Omri? (Mic. 6:16). Was it right for Jehoiada the priest to resist the de facto queen and over throw her rule? (II Ki. 11).
“Was it right for the three Hebrews to remain standing after the king’s order to bow? (Dan. 3). Was it right for Daniel to pray after an executive order forbidding prayer to any God but the king? (Dan. 6). Was it right for Habakkuk and Zechariah to encourage Israel to disobey the Persian king and revive the building of the temple after they were ordered to stop? (Ezra 4 & 5).
“Was it right for Peter to keep on preaching Christ after Israel’s government ordered him to stop preaching? (Acts 5). Was it right for Martin Luther to disobey the Pope? (15th Century). Was John Huss wrong for resisting the hierarchy of the Catholic Church? (14th Century). Was it right for John Bunyan to refuse to take a government license to preach the gospel—something that cost him years in prison? (16th Century).
“Was it right for the Pilgrims not to submit to the King of England (1620)? Was it right for John Hancock, George Washington, and Patrick Henry to declare independence from rebellious King George because of taxation and other reasons (Declaration of Independence)?
“Was it right for the Germans at the concentration camps to obey their wicked, elected officials and kill Jews? Was it right for the French underground to disobey the German authorities and to smuggle Jews out of France?
“Was it right for General Robert E. Lee to teach his slaves how to read and write so they could earn a living upon their release when the laws of Virginia forbid him to do so? Was it right for General Robert E. Lee to resist the federal forces marching into Virginia, to take up arms, and resist the order of President Lincoln?
“Was it right for Bostonians to trespass on private property and to dump tea in the Boston Harbor to protest a tea tax? Should Christians in the 1850’s have obeyed the Fugitive Slave Laws and sent runaway slaves back to their owners?”
If we are to take the stands necessary in these final and trying days, we will need the power and boldness of the Holy Spirit! We will need the supernatural strength of the Lord working in us to “obey God rather than men.” We received a Word from the Lord not too long ago that is proving itself more and more crucial everyday: “Church, read the Book of Acts, and get ready!”
WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED?
THE PLAN OF SALVATION
A long time ago, a Roman Jailer asked of the Apostle Paul the most important question that could ever be asked, “What must I do to be saved?”
Paul’s answer was immediate, to the point, clear, and concise. He said:
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (Acts 16:30–31.)
That’s how simple that it actually is.
A man named Nicodemus pretty much asked Jesus the same question. Jesus answered him by saying, “You must be born again” (Jn. 3:1–8).
ALL ARE SINNERS
The Bible tells us in Romans 3:23 that “All have sinned and come short of the Glory of God.”
That means that all are sinners, actually born that way, in desperate need of the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, there are no exceptions to this. That means you and me, and all others for that matter.
Paul also said in Romans 6:23, “The wages of sin is death!”
So, that means that unless something is done about this terrible situation, that all will be eternally lost. However, God did not leave things there. He loves us, every one of us. It is His Desire that “Not any should perish, but that all should come unto repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9).
WHAT DID GOD DO ABOUT THIS SITUATION?
The Scripture plainly says, “And God so loved the world (so loved sinners, and that means you) that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believes on Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life” (Jn. 3:16).
What does that mean?
Man as a sinner could not save himself. In other words, such was and is impossible; consequently, God literally became man, came into this world born of the Virgin Mary, and then died on Calvary to pay the price for man’s Redemption. As should be obvious, the price was high. But thank God, it was everlastingly paid by Jesus Christ, that “WHOSOEVER WILL, MAY COME AND TAKE THE WATER OF LIFE FREELY” (Rev. 22:17).
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST?
Going back to the Scripture which we quoted in the Foreword of this booklet, Paul says:
“If you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart man believes unto Righteousness; and with the mouth, confession is made unto Salvation” (Rom. 10:9–10).
To believe on the Lord Jesus Christ is more than just giving mental assent that He is the Son of God. Millions do that and aren’t saved.
When the Scripture speaks of one believing, it simply means that one accepts Who Jesus is, which is the Son of God, and what He has done, which refers to Him dying on Calvary, in effect taking our place, in order that we might be saved.
It means to accept Him, and Him Alone as your Saviour, resolving to make Him the Lord of your life, and to follow Him with all of your heart, mind, soul, and strength as long as you live.
SUBSTITUTION AND IDENTIFICATION
As we have already stated, man being eternally lost and helpless to save himself, God had to provide a means of Salvation whereby sinful man could be made righteous. He did that by providing His Own Son, Who gave His Life on Calvary, thereby paying the terrible price which we could not pay. That price was His Own Precious Shed Blood.
He became our Substitute.
What does that mean?
It means He did for us what we could not do for ourselves. There was a terrible sin debt owing due to man’s fallen condition. As stated, that refers to every single human being, none excepted. With no way to save ourselves, God had to provide a Saviour, which He did. It was done simply because He loves us so much (Jn. 3:16).
Jesus being the Substitute, if we identify with Him, which means to accept what He did at Calvary’s Cross on our behalf, we will be saved. It is that simple!
He became our Substitute, and upon our identification with Him, we are rewarded with Eternal Life (Rom. 6:23).
SUBSTITUTION AND IDENTIFICATION
As we have already stated, man being eternally lost and helpless to save himself, God had to provide a means of Salvation whereby sinful man could be made righteous. He did that by providing His Own Son, Who gave His Life on Calvary, thereby paying the terrible price which we could not pay. That price was His Own Precious Shed Blood.
He became our Substitute.
What does that mean?
It means He did for us what we could not do for ourselves. There was a terrible sin debt owing due to man’s fallen condition. As stated, that refers to every single human being, none excepted. With no way to save ourselves, God had to provide a Saviour, which He did. It was done simply because He loves us so much (Jn. 3:16).
Jesus being the Substitute, if we identify with Him, which means to accept what He did at Calvary’s Cross on our behalf, we will be saved. It is that simple!
He became our Substitute, and upon our identification with Him, we are rewarded with Eternal Life (Rom. 6:23).
FAITH AND NOT WORKS
The only thing required to obtain this glorious and wonderful Salvation is to simply believe on Christ, exactly as Paul said, which means to have Faith in Him.
What does that mean?
It is actually very simple. The Lord made it this way in order that all may have equal opportunity.
It simply means that you believe or have faith in what He did, and accept it for yourself on a personal basis. That’s all that God requires. But of course, to believe and have faith, even as we have already said, means to accept the Lord as your Saviour and, as well, to make Him the Lord of your life.
First of all, man must understand that he is a sinner. That includes all (Rom. 3:23). As such, he needs a Saviour. There is only one Saviour, only One Who has paid the price for man’s Redemption, and that Saviour is the Lord Jesus Christ. In other words, if one does not accept Christ, one cannot be saved.
Millions attempt to earn their Salvation in many and varied ways other than accepting Christ. Or else they attempt to become saved by accepting Christ as well as adding other things to Christ.
The Scripture says: “FOR BY GRACE ARE YOU SAVED THROUGH FAITH; AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES: IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD: NOT OF WORKS, LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BOAST” (Eph. 2:8–9).
That means the Church cannot save you, and neither can Water Baptism save you, or anything else for that matter, as important as those things may be in their own way. I have said this because millions think that they are saved by being baptized in water, or joining a Church, or performing good works, etc.
While those things may be important in their own right, they have absolutely nothing to do with one being saved. One is saved simply by trusting Jesus Christ, even as we have already said.
That means that one can be saved anywhere: in Church, on the street corner, watching a Christian Telecast, listening to a Christian Radio Program, or even reading this Booklet.
Where one is doesn’t matter. It is what one believes that really counts.
The moment that one confesses the Lord with one’s mouth, and believes in one’s heart, and does so truly, at that moment, and wherever you may be, you are saved. As we have stated several times, it is just that simple.
Incidently, when the Jailer asked Paul the question, “What must I do to be saved?”, he was actually at that time in the jail with Paul and Silas. Every evidence is that he at that moment, in that jail, believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, and was instantly saved (Acts 16:27–34).
IT IS TIME NOW!
In fact, if you have not already given your heart and life to Jesus Christ, it is time that you do so, and actually it can be done this very moment.
I am going to ask you to read these words below, and actually say them out loud. As well, I am going to ask you to believe them with all of your heart, and if you will do so, you will be instantly saved. Please say them with me as you read:
“DEAR GOD IN HEAVEN, I COME TO YOU TODAY AS A LOST SINNER.”
“I AM ASKING YOU THAT YOU SAVE MY SOUL AND CLEANSE ME FROM ALL SIN.”
“I REALIZE IN MY HEART MY NEED OF SALVATION, WHICH CAN ONLY COME THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.”
“I AM ACCEPTING CHRIST INTO MY HEART AND WHAT HE DID ON THE CROSS IN ORDER TO PURCHASE MY REDEMPTION.”
“IN OBEDIENCE TO YOUR WORD, I CONFESS WITH MY MOUTH THE LORD JESUS, AND BELIEVE IN MY HEART THAT GOD HAS RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD.”
“YOU HAVE SAID IN YOUR WORD WHICH CANNOT LIE, ‘FOR WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED’ (ROM. 10:13).”
“I HAVE CALLED UPON YOUR NAME EXACTLY AS YOU HAVE SAID, AND I BELIEVE THAT RIGHT NOW, I AM SAVED.”
If you have sincerely prayed these words, which I have written out for you, and believed in your heart upon the Lord Jesus Christ, you are at this moment saved, and your name is written down in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
Congratulations!
~JSM
The Bible tells us that man’s purpose is to fear God and keep His Commandments! In fact, Scripture calls this “the whole duty of man.” Reading from the THE EXPOSITOR’S STUDY BIBLE: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His Commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. (Having heard all that can be said in favor of trying to secure happiness in this life by the use of material agents, the conclusion is: It is impossible; the only happy life is one in fellowship with God and the Bible; such fellowship produces the ideal man; any other life is madness, because there is a day coming when every action, however hidden, will be brought into the unsparing light of the Throne of God and judged, unless cleansed and covered by the Blood [I Jn 1:7])” (Eccl. 12:13). God, having revealed Himself to man through His Commandments, explains that “the Commandments,” if kept, produce perfect moral character. “That the man of God may be perfect (refers to maturity), throughly furnished unto all good works (properly understands the Word, which then produces ‘good works,’ i.e., ‘Godly lives’)” (II Tim. 3:17).
HOLINESS
You see, it is not an action, duty, or function that the Lord wants from a Believer. It is Holiness! This is the “good work”He desires from man! If we seek this state, which is pleasing to God and brings Him glory, we are automatically fulfilling our purpose as Believers. Holiness testifies of a Holy God! Holiness is Godliness! If we are not living holy lives, we are not fulfilling God’s Purpose no matter how many religious functions we fulfill. You see, servanthood may be performed with or without the Lord. Therefore, servanthood in and of itself is not a definitive witness to the world. Holiness, on the other hand, demonstrates a miraculous change! It shows that a fallen sinner has been made a Saint. It shows that the curse has been reversed! Hallelujah! And this will inevitably point people to Calvary because they will ask themselves how this new and miraculous Life has come into a once sinful man!
RELATIONSHIP
We must grasp this concept as Believers that Scripture encourages us to “seek first the Kingdom of God” and His Righteousness (Lk. 12:31). The Believer is to pursue a relationship with God rather than function. A Believer’s function will occur naturally out of correct relationship with God, but correct relationship must come first! Notice, this immediately discounts any non-believer from fulfilling any true purpose of God since he is not yet in relationship with God. A call from God is revealed to an individual by the Holy Spirit at the Lord’s Will. If a person does not know the Spirit of God, he cannot know the Spirit’s desire for his life. Also no one, whether Saved or unsaved, can cause God to reveal anything through a program, method, or “forty days of purpose”! God does not answer man-made agendas, nor will He answer to man’s clock! God is sovereign over all. He speaks at His Own Will and in His Own Time.
THE HEART OF MAN
One does not find that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob emphasized “pursuit of purpose” to these Fathers of Faith, but, if we look closely, we can see that this pursuit is actually a very basic instinct within the natural heart of man. This is why we must never forget the warnings in Scripture regarding the heart. The Bible says the heart of man is evil and deceitfully wicked, so we must be cautious of anything that originates there! “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (God knows the hopeless corruption of the natural heart, and so He said to Nicodemus that no one, however cultured and moral, can either see or enter into the Kingdom of God. There must be a new birth)” (Jer. 17:9). Our own hearts will deceive us! It is their very nature to deceive us! Believer, you must trust the Truth of the Word before you trust yourself! You must use the “Sword of the Spirit” to guard against your own devious heart. We are also told in the Book of Romans the true state of man’s heart, even religious man: “As it is written (Ps.14:1-3), There is none righteous, no, not one (addresses the complaint of the Jews and clinches the argument with the Scriptures, which the Jews could not deny): There is none who understands (proclaims total depravity), there is none who seek after God (man left on his own will not seek God and, in fact, cannot seek God; he is spiritually dead). They are all gone out of the Way (speaks of the lost condition of all men; the ‘Way’ is God’s Way), they are together become unprofitable (refers to the terrible loss in every capacity of wayward man); there is none who does good, no, not one (the Greek Text says, ‘useless!’)” (Rom. 3:10-12). This is one reason why pursuing “purpose” is dangerous! It appeals to a prideful heart, it is self-focused.
RELIGIOUS PRIDE
Also, “purpose” can quickly become an obsession, which automatically becomes an idol, a false god in your life. Purpose can become more important than Christ, and this is precisely what we are seeing in the Church world today! People are bent toward finding purposes for their life rather than finding God’s Will for their life. Some feel that if they are serving a “good” purpose in the world, they are automatically serving God. This is not true. God’s Will and a “good” will are not the same thing! A person’s desire for purpose can even control him, sometimes to the point of forsaking loved ones or even his own health. See, someone searching for purpose inevitably discovers something that drives, hence, the idea of the “purpose-driven life.” It must be noted here that the True God of the Bible never forces anyone to obey Him. God gave man free will! “Purpose,” however, can be turned into a type of religious pride (somewhat like asceticism) where the person believes they are “dying to self” in order to fulfill a higher calling or mission from God. But, any function or purpose that is truly from the Lord will only begin within an individual who loves God enough to want to follow Him. No truly God-given Purpose will make you feel that your “sacrifice” is earning favor with God.
TROJAN HORSE
“Self-actualization,” which is the process of reaching one’s highest potential and purpose, has always been at the heart of paganism. It has actually been part of the very core of New Age theology and occult practices for thousands of years. This spirituality/god is said to unite the world while true “Christianity, doctrine, and theology” is said to divide us. The pagan community strives to develop the idea of “wholeness,” which is, in essence, the teaching that a person, both individually and corporately can be regenerated or “saved” through a more thorough and complete understanding of “self.” Alice Bailey (practicing occultist) says that this is “the process for gods and for men . . . it is the hidden mystery of mind and of its place in evolution.” In other words, this is specifically the false salvation process of the occult! Let’s see how the Apostle Paul addressed the people he met at Mars Hill in Athens: “Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ Hill, and said, You men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are too superstitious (in this one sentence, he debunks all of their philosophies; they are guided by superstition, which is no way to live). For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions (has reference to their objects of worship), I found an Altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD (by addressing the situation in this way, he could not be accused of preaching a foreign god to them). Whom therefore you ignorantly worship, Him declare I unto you (refers to them acknowledging that maybe they did not have the last word on gods! actually, they did not have any word at all). God Who made the world and all things therein (presents God as the Creator), seeing that He is Lord of Heaven and Earth (proclaims Him not only as Creator, but the constant Manager of all that He has created as well), dwells not in Temples made with hands (He is bigger than that!); Neither is worshipped with men’s hands (the Second Commandment forbids the making of any graven image of God, or the worship of any type of statue, etc.), as though He needed anything (God needs nothing!), seeing He gives to all life, and breath, and all things (presents His Creation needing what He provides, which is provided by no other source); And has made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the Earth (proclaims all having their origin in Adam), and has determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation (pertains to particular parts of the world, and those who occupy these areas; however, the statement, ‘one blood all nations of men,’ eliminates any type of racial superiority); That they should seek the Lord (presents the chief end of all God’s dealings with men [I Pet. 2:24; II Pet. 3:9; Jn. 3:15-20; Rev. 22:17]), if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him (Paul is appealing to the action of logic and common sense in trying to address these Pagans), though He be not far from every one of us: (speaks of the Creator being very close to His Creation)” (Acts 17:22-27). Indeed, ancient Gnosticism has infiltrated the Church,“purpose” being its “Trojan horse!” It has now permeated the modern church and masquerades as true Christianity.
SIN!
And through this infiltration, Christianity has been reduced to merely curing the world’s social problems. New Age proponents are able to teach believable distortions of the Bible to back up their philosophy as they give Biblical words and names (such as Jesus, spirit, Heaven, creation, Adam and Eve, etc.) radical new meanings. Because key words sound familiar, myths and mysticisms seem normal as well as exciting to Believers. Besides, who doesn’t want to help mankind? Who doesn’t want to cure the world of sickness and disease, to end poverty and war? Who doesn’t want to tackle the giants of this world and see them defeated? But this social gospel of “purpose” purports that man can do it without addressing the real problem, which is sin! So instead of focusing on the real problem, the Church has been deceived and led astray to work on its symptoms. We are actually completely avoiding the root cause! How can we solve any problems when the real reason for the problems is overlooked? Instead of preaching Jesus Christ and Him Crucified as the only Way this world can be healed, we are told to partner and work with all kinds of people. But, if these so-called “people of faith” are not believers in the Biblical Faith, how will there ever be any unity? The Cross is the only foundation that proper unity can be built upon, but our modern leaders are telling the Church, which was established by Jesus Christ, to partner with other religions of this world and their unchristian beliefs. We are told to partner with homosexuals, Allah, Joseph Smith, Buddha, Madeline O’Hara, atheists, Hindus, Roman Catholics, and other non-Christians. We are told to care more about our own teachings, writings, and reading, than about preaching Jesus Christ and Him Crucified! We are taught to care more about man’s temporal needs than his eternal soul which will live either forever in Heaven or forever in Hell! Church, our priorities are being completely scrambled right before our eyes!
MATERIAL HELP?
This modern false gospel is not demonstrating the Love of a shepherd whatsoever! Man will choose where he spends his eternity, and our mandate from God is to go into all the world and preach the everlasting Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the only way mankind will realize they have such a crucial choice to make! Of course, this does not mean that we ignore human suffering. The Word of the Lord does say, “But whoso has this world’s goods (refers to the necessities of life), and sees his brother have need (it is seeing a Christian in need of the necessities of life over a long period), and shuts up his bowels of compassion from him (presents the individual who has the means to truly help, but refuses to do so), how dwells the Love of God in him? (His actions proclaim the fact that despite his profession, there is actually no love of God in him.)” (I Jn. 3:17). Jesus does lead us at times to provide material help to those in need, but this is not to be our focus. Did Jesus enter into Jerusalem or any other place to work with either the Roman government or the Jewish religious establishment to eradicate the city’s poverty, disease, and illiteracy? Did he go to Pilate and say, “Let’s work together to eliminate poverty?” No! Did He say to the Pharisees and Sadducees, “Let’s join hands although we don’t agree on everything to defeat illiteracy?” Again, no! Although Jesus cared deeply for those who were suffering, He did not join hands with unbelievers. He said in Matthew 26:11: “For you have the poor always with you; but Me ye have not always.” What about the Apostles, did they enter into cities to work with pagans and unbelievers to care for the sick and educate the next generation? Of course not! They went, instead, to bring the greatest “help” afforded to any man, “the Gospel of Jesus Christ!”
“After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia (represented an area east of the Ephesus area): but the Spirit suffered them not (proclaims the door being closed to this area as well!).
“And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas (this area would be closed for the time being also).
“And a Vision appeared to Paul in the night (proclaims the Holy Spirit now telling the Apostle exactly where He wanted him to go); there stood a man of Macedonia (the northern part of modern Greece, from the Adriatic to the Hebrus River), and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us (thus, was ushered in the most momentous event in the history of the world, the going forth of Paul to take the Gospel to the nations of the West).
“And after he had seen the Vision, immediately we endeavored to go into Macedonia (by the use of the pronoun ‘we,’ we know that Luke, the writer of this Book of Acts, now joins Paul here at Troas), assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the Gospel unto them (they knew they now had the Mind of the Lord).
“Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis (this would be the very first presentation of the Gospel on European soil, which would have such a bearing on what is presently referred to as ‘Western Civilization’)” (Acts 16:7-11).
This was their message, and the spreading of their Message was God’s Purpose for their lives! The Message was their Good Work!
The Bible tells us that man’s purpose is to fear God and keep His Commandments! In fact, Scripture calls this “the whole duty of man.” Reading from the THE EXPOSITOR’S STUDY BIBLE: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His Commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. (Having heard all that can be said in favor of trying to secure happiness in this life by the use of material agents, the conclusion is: It is impossible; the only happy life is one in fellowship with God and the Bible; such fellowship produces the ideal man; any other life is madness, because there is a day coming when every action, however hidden, will be brought into the unsparing light of the Throne of God and judged, unless cleansed and covered by the Blood [I Jn 1:7])” (Eccl. 12:13). God, having revealed Himself to man through His Commandments, explains that “the Commandments,” if kept, produce perfect moral character. “That the man of God may be perfect (refers to maturity), throughly furnished unto all good works (properly understands the Word, which then produces ‘good works,’ i.e., ‘Godly lives’)” (II Tim. 3:17).
HOLINESS
You see, it is not an action, duty, or function that the Lord wants from a Believer. It is Holiness! This is the “good work”He desires from man! If we seek this state, which is pleasing to God and brings Him glory, we are automatically fulfilling our purpose as Believers. Holiness testifies of a Holy God! Holiness is Godliness! If we are not living holy lives, we are not fulfilling God’s Purpose no matter how many religious functions we fulfill. You see, servanthood may be performed with or without the Lord. Therefore, servanthood in and of itself is not a definitive witness to the world. Holiness, on the other hand, demonstrates a miraculous change! It shows that a fallen sinner has been made a Saint. It shows that the curse has been reversed! Hallelujah! And this will inevitably point people to Calvary because they will ask themselves how this new and miraculous Life has come into a once sinful man!
RELATIONSHIP
We must grasp this concept as Believers that Scripture encourages us to “seek first the Kingdom of God” and His Righteousness (Lk. 12:31). The Believer is to pursue a relationship with God rather than function. A Believer’s function will occur naturally out of correct relationship with God, but correct relationship must come first! Notice, this immediately discounts any non-believer from fulfilling any true purpose of God since he is not yet in relationship with God. A call from God is revealed to an individual by the Holy Spirit at the Lord’s Will. If a person does not know the Spirit of God, he cannot know the Spirit’s desire for his life. Also no one, whether Saved or unsaved, can cause God to reveal anything through a program, method, or “forty days of purpose”! God does not answer man-made agendas, nor will He answer to man’s clock! God is sovereign over all. He speaks at His Own Will and in His Own Time.
THE HEART OF MAN
One does not find that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob emphasized “pursuit of purpose” to these Fathers of Faith, but, if we look closely, we can see that this pursuit is actually a very basic instinct within the natural heart of man. This is why we must never forget the warnings in Scripture regarding the heart. The Bible says the heart of man is evil and deceitfully wicked, so we must be cautious of anything that originates there! “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (God knows the hopeless corruption of the natural heart, and so He said to Nicodemus that no one, however cultured and moral, can either see or enter into the Kingdom of God. There must be a new birth)” (Jer. 17:9). Our own hearts will deceive us! It is their very nature to deceive us! Believer, you must trust the Truth of the Word before you trust yourself! You must use the “Sword of the Spirit” to guard against your own devious heart. We are also told in the Book of Romans the true state of man’s heart, even religious man: “As it is written (Ps.14:1-3), There is none righteous, no, not one (addresses the complaint of the Jews and clinches the argument with the Scriptures, which the Jews could not deny): There is none who understands (proclaims total depravity), there is none who seek after God (man left on his own will not seek God and, in fact, cannot seek God; he is spiritually dead). They are all gone out of the Way (speaks of the lost condition of all men; the ‘Way’ is God’s Way), they are together become unprofitable (refers to the terrible loss in every capacity of wayward man); there is none who does good, no, not one (the Greek Text says, ‘useless!’)” (Rom. 3:10-12). This is one reason why pursuing “purpose” is dangerous! It appeals to a prideful heart, it is self-focused.
RELIGIOUS PRIDE
Also, “purpose” can quickly become an obsession, which automatically becomes an idol, a false god in your life. Purpose can become more important than Christ, and this is precisely what we are seeing in the Church world today! People are bent toward finding purposes for their life rather than finding God’s Will for their life. Some feel that if they are serving a “good” purpose in the world, they are automatically serving God. This is not true. God’s Will and a “good” will are not the same thing! A person’s desire for purpose can even control him, sometimes to the point of forsaking loved ones or even his own health. See, someone searching for purpose inevitably discovers something that drives, hence, the idea of the “purpose-driven life.” It must be noted here that the True God of the Bible never forces anyone to obey Him. God gave man free will! “Purpose,” however, can be turned into a type of religious pride (somewhat like asceticism) where the person believes they are “dying to self” in order to fulfill a higher calling or mission from God. But, any function or purpose that is truly from the Lord will only begin within an individual who loves God enough to want to follow Him. No truly God-given Purpose will make you feel that your “sacrifice” is earning favor with God.
TROJAN HORSE
“Self-actualization,” which is the process of reaching one’s highest potential and purpose, has always been at the heart of paganism. It has actually been part of the very core of New Age theology and occult practices for thousands of years. This spirituality/god is said to unite the world while true “Christianity, doctrine, and theology” is said to divide us. The pagan community strives to develop the idea of “wholeness,” which is, in essence, the teaching that a person, both individually and corporately can be regenerated or “saved” through a more thorough and complete understanding of “self.” Alice Bailey (practicing occultist) says that this is “the process for gods and for men . . . it is the hidden mystery of mind and of its place in evolution.” In other words, this is specifically the false salvation process of the occult! Let’s see how the Apostle Paul addressed the people he met at Mars Hill in Athens: “Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ Hill, and said, You men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are too superstitious (in this one sentence, he debunks all of their philosophies; they are guided by superstition, which is no way to live). For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions (has reference to their objects of worship), I found an Altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD (by addressing the situation in this way, he could not be accused of preaching a foreign god to them). Whom therefore you ignorantly worship, Him declare I unto you (refers to them acknowledging that maybe they did not have the last word on gods! actually, they did not have any word at all). God Who made the world and all things therein (presents God as the Creator), seeing that He is Lord of Heaven and Earth (proclaims Him not only as Creator, but the constant Manager of all that He has created as well), dwells not in Temples made with hands (He is bigger than that!); Neither is worshipped with men’s hands (the Second Commandment forbids the making of any graven image of God, or the worship of any type of statue, etc.), as though He needed anything (God needs nothing!), seeing He gives to all life, and breath, and all things (presents His Creation needing what He provides, which is provided by no other source); And has made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the Earth (proclaims all having their origin in Adam), and has determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation (pertains to particular parts of the world, and those who occupy these areas; however, the statement, ‘one blood all nations of men,’ eliminates any type of racial superiority); That they should seek the Lord (presents the chief end of all God’s dealings with men [I Pet. 2:24; II Pet. 3:9; Jn. 3:15-20; Rev. 22:17]), if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him (Paul is appealing to the action of logic and common sense in trying to address these Pagans), though He be not far from every one of us: (speaks of the Creator being very close to His Creation)” (Acts 17:22-27). Indeed, ancient Gnosticism has infiltrated the Church,“purpose” being its “Trojan horse!” It has now permeated the modern church and masquerades as true Christianity.
SIN!
And through this infiltration, Christianity has been reduced to merely curing the world’s social problems. New Age proponents are able to teach believable distortions of the Bible to back up their philosophy as they give Biblical words and names (such as Jesus, spirit, Heaven, creation, Adam and Eve, etc.) radical new meanings. Because key words sound familiar, myths and mysticisms seem normal as well as exciting to Believers. Besides, who doesn’t want to help mankind? Who doesn’t want to cure the world of sickness and disease, to end poverty and war? Who doesn’t want to tackle the giants of this world and see them defeated? But this social gospel of “purpose” purports that man can do it without addressing the real problem, which is sin! So instead of focusing on the real problem, the Church has been deceived and led astray to work on its symptoms. We are actually completely avoiding the root cause! How can we solve any problems when the real reason for the problems is overlooked? Instead of preaching Jesus Christ and Him Crucified as the only Way this world can be healed, we are told to partner and work with all kinds of people. But, if these so-called “people of faith” are not believers in the Biblical Faith, how will there ever be any unity? The Cross is the only foundation that proper unity can be built upon, but our modern leaders are telling the Church, which was established by Jesus Christ, to partner with other religions of this world and their unchristian beliefs. We are told to partner with homosexuals, Allah, Joseph Smith, Buddha, Madeline O’Hara, atheists, Hindus, Roman Catholics, and other non-Christians. We are told to care more about our own teachings, writings, and reading, than about preaching Jesus Christ and Him Crucified! We are taught to care more about man’s temporal needs than his eternal soul which will live either forever in Heaven or forever in Hell! Church, our priorities are being completely scrambled right before our eyes!
MATERIAL HELP?
This modern false gospel is not demonstrating the Love of a shepherd whatsoever! Man will choose where he spends his eternity, and our mandate from God is to go into all the world and preach the everlasting Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the only way mankind will realize they have such a crucial choice to make! Of course, this does not mean that we ignore human suffering. The Word of the Lord does say, “But whoso has this world’s goods (refers to the necessities of life), and sees his brother have need (it is seeing a Christian in need of the necessities of life over a long period), and shuts up his bowels of compassion from him (presents the individual who has the means to truly help, but refuses to do so), how dwells the Love of God in him? (His actions proclaim the fact that despite his profession, there is actually no love of God in him.)” (I Jn. 3:17). Jesus does lead us at times to provide material help to those in need, but this is not to be our focus. Did Jesus enter into Jerusalem or any other place to work with either the Roman government or the Jewish religious establishment to eradicate the city’s poverty, disease, and illiteracy? Did he go to Pilate and say, “Let’s work together to eliminate poverty?” No! Did He say to the Pharisees and Sadducees, “Let’s join hands although we don’t agree on everything to defeat illiteracy?” Again, no! Although Jesus cared deeply for those who were suffering, He did not join hands with unbelievers. He said in Matthew 26:11: “For you have the poor always with you; but Me ye have not always.” What about the Apostles, did they enter into cities to work with pagans and unbelievers to care for the sick and educate the next generation? Of course not! They went, instead, to bring the greatest “help” afforded to any man, “the Gospel of Jesus Christ!”
“After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia (represented an area east of the Ephesus area): but the Spirit suffered them not (proclaims the door being closed to this area as well!).
“And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas (this area would be closed for the time being also).
“And a Vision appeared to Paul in the night (proclaims the Holy Spirit now telling the Apostle exactly where He wanted him to go); there stood a man of Macedonia (the northern part of modern Greece, from the Adriatic to the Hebrus River), and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us (thus, was ushered in the most momentous event in the history of the world, the going forth of Paul to take the Gospel to the nations of the West).
“And after he had seen the Vision, immediately we endeavored to go into Macedonia (by the use of the pronoun ‘we,’ we know that Luke, the writer of this Book of Acts, now joins Paul here at Troas), assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the Gospel unto them (they knew they now had the Mind of the Lord).
“Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis (this would be the very first presentation of the Gospel on European soil, which would have such a bearing on what is presently referred to as ‘Western Civilization’)” (Acts 16:7-11).
This was their message, and the spreading of their Message was God’s Purpose for their lives! The Message was their Good Work!
~JSM
Romans 1:18-19
(18) “FOR THE WRATH OF GOD IS REVEALED FROM HEAVEN AGAINST ALL UNGODLINESS AND UNRIGHTEOUSNESS OF MEN, WHO HOLD THE TRUTH IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.”
The phrase, “For the Wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men,” tells us several things:
1. As the Righteousness of God is revealed to those who have Faith in Christ, likewise, “The Wrath of God” is revealed against those who reject that Righteousness.
2. The “Wrath” or anger of God is here revealed, along with the purpose of the Revelation.
It is absolutely imperative that God hate evil, because if He did not do so, He could not love good. If there is to be one (to love good) of necessity, there must be two (to also hate evil). In other words, God must do both or neither.
The Greek word for “Wrath” is “Orge.” It is used of Jesus when, after healing the man with the withered hand, He observed the hardness of heart of the Pharisees, and looked upon them with anger (Mk. 3:5). “Orge” is an anger “Which Righteous men not merely may, but as they are Righteous, must feel; nor can there be a surer and sadder token of an utterly prostrate moral condition than the not being able to be angry with sin—and sinners.”
Vincent describes “Orge” as God’s personal emotion with regard to sin. It represents God’s abhorrence and hatred of sin.
3. These Passages tell us that inasmuch as God has revealed His Righteousness from Heaven to sinful men, if that Light is rejected, as it mostly is, the Wrath of God automatically follows. In fact, Paul said, “And the times of this ignorance (the world before Jesus came) God winked at; but now Commandeth all men every where to repent” (Acts 17:30).
This tells us that the Judgment of God is even more severe now than it was in Old Testament times, which is the opposite of what most people believe. However, it should not be difficult to understand.
To where little Light of the Gospel was given, the Lord did not step in until there was absolutely no other choice. I speak of the flood, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, the proposed extermination of certain Tribes, the threat and ultimate destruction of Nineveh, plus others. As should be obvious, there was some Light before Christ, but it was ensconced almost altogether in Israel, who at times hindered its illumination.
Since Jesus came and died on Calvary, thereby paying the sin debt, and rose from the dead, the Holy Spirit now has much more access to the world and to men in general, thereby, providing much greater opportunity for acceptance of the Lord. In other words, considering the proliferation of the Gospel, ignorance is no longer an excuse.
I think the record will show, that inclement weather, wars, famines, disease, and pestilence is the judgment of God against “ungodliness and unrighteousness of men.”
A man asked me once if I believed that AIDS was a judgment from God?
My answer is an unequivocal “Yes!”
I realize that many would say, and rightly so, that all sickness and disease originate with Satan. However, even though that is correct, the Lord is still in control of everything. In other words, Satan can only do what the Lord allows him to do (Job Chpt. 1). To not understand that, is to deny the Omnipotence, Omniscience, and Omnipresence of God!
The phrase, “Who hold the Truth in unrighteousness,” does not represent here the Gospel, but the fact of a Supreme Being with Divine Attributes to Whom worship and obedience are due.
This “Truth” being seen by all men through their observation of the created Universe, thus demands a Creator to answer for its existence.
The human race, possessing this Truth which is overly obvious, yet holds it down in the sense of refusing to acknowledge its moral implications, continues on in its sin, despite the proliferation of “Light.”
The primary thrust of this particular Passage deals with evolution, which without a doubt has to be the biggest farce ever perpetrated upon gullible humanity. The promoters of this drivel, and drivel it is, claim to be scientific, which has no place for Faith, etc. The Truth is, it takes much more Faith to believe in evolution than it does the Biblical account of Creation.
The purveyors of this lie claim that all the evidence is available, with the exception of the “missing link.” The Truth is, the whole chain is missing.
It is amazing that educators will teach this fabrication, especially considering that there is not one single specimen of evolution in the world. The simple fact is, were the teaching of evolution correct, there would be hundreds of millions of beings who are half ape and half man, or any such combinations. The answer that it takes billions of years to produce such, is no answer at all.
Once again, the simple fact is, if through these millions or billions of years evolution has produced the human family from apes, if we now have the finished product, or even a stage toward the finished product, there would also be other stages in between. Of necessity, that is a must, that is if there is any truth to evolution!
However, in this of which the Holy Spirit says through Paul, the “Holding of the Truth in unrighteousness,” not only applies to evolution, but as well to psychology. It too is an insult to God.
As evolution denies the Creator, psychology denies the Saviour. It claims it holds the answer for the sin and aberrations of humanity. In other words, man can save or rehabilitate himself.
As I have stated many times, and will continue to do so, if man is able to do that, then Jesus wasted His time coming down to this sinful world. He should have read a few of the books written by modern Psychologists and saved Himself the trouble.
No! As evolution is a lie pure and simple, psychology (psychoanalysis) falls into the same category.
It is ironical that two of the standards of atheistic Communism are “evolution and psychology.”
And yet the modern Church, even the Pentecostal variety, has accepted and bought into this lie pretty much totally.
(19) “BECAUSE THAT WHICH MAY BE KNOWN OF GOD IS MANIFEST IN THEM; FOR GOD HATH SHEWED IT UNTO THEM.”
The phrase, “Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them,” simply means it can be known if so desired. It speaks of the universal objective knowledge of God as the Creator, which is, more or less, in all men.
The phrase, “For God hath shewed it unto them,” means that in Creation is His Signature.
As we have stated, the Gospel reveals a Righteousness from God on the principle of Faith, as opposed to merit. Those who reject this Righteousness are justly exposed to the Wrath of God not only because they are without Righteousness, but because they are wholly unrighteous and corrupt and desire to remain that way. As well, all humanity is declared here to be sunken in this corruption.
The heathen world then as now, debased the gift of reason, degraded God to “a creeping thing,” and conduct being determined by creed, they gave themselves to vile affections.
Twenty-four of these are particularized, to which we will address ourselves momentarily, all of them together proving fallen human nature to be sunken into an appalling abyss of moral putridity.
This true picture of sinful man is fiercely denied by modern thinkers, as energized by the evil author of ancient and modern thought.
The Greeks and Romans who were the Disciples of Philosophy, condemned the heathen. One of the greatest of the Greek Philosophers was Socrates, and one of the most celebrated of the Romans was the Emperor Marcus Aurelius. But these cultured Nations disobeyed, degraded, and corrupted the wisdom which they had, for while applauding virtue they practiced vice, and taught that man being impotent to do what was right was not to be condemned if he practiced what was wrong.
To the Hebrew people was granted by Divine Election the most precious of all gifts—Revelation. Since man is a creature it was reasonable that his Creator should have made a Revelation of Himself to him. But just as the Rationalists and the Philosophers degraded the Light given to them, so Israel corrupted the Law, and became proud and self-righteous.
Thus, all men are by voluntary action subject to the Wrath of God; and the Holy Spirit places this terrible Truth in the forefront of the Gospel in order that the Doctrine of Justification by Faith might be based upon the fact of universal guilt and condemnation, and so open wide the door of boundless Salvation.
For the Gospel can only be truly preached, or embraced, as being the Good News of Life and Pardon to all who are lost beyond recovery and know it.
So the first Foundation Doctrine of the Gospel which the Apostle preached (vs. 15) announced the Wrath of God (vs. 18). This dogma angers self-righteous man (Williams).
~JSM
Romans 1:24-28
(24) “WHEREFORE GOD ALSO GAVE THEM UP TO UNCLEANNESS THROUGH THE LUSTS OF THEIR OWN HEARTS, TO DISHONOR THEIR OWN BODIES BETWEEN THEMSELVES:”
The phrase, “Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts,” presents mankind not merely drifting toward depravity, but actually in a sense being shoved by God in that direction.
Since men chose to give up God and worship the creature, God could do nothing but give men into the control of the sinful things they preferred. In other words, God would not violate man’s will and force him to do something he did not want to do. When men persisted in following their totally depraved natures, God allowed them free reign. The natural result was immorality of the vilest kind (Wuest).
Alford says of God’s act of delivering mankind over into the control of utter human depravity, “Not merely permissive, but judicially, God delivered them over. As sin begets sin, and darkness of mind, deeper darkness, Grace gives place to judgment, and the Divine Wrath hardens men, and hurries them on to more fearful degrees of depravity.” God delivered man to uncleanness.
The word “lusts” is “epithumia” in the Greek Text, and means, “a passionate craving, longing, desire,” and in this sense, an inordinately sinful one.
Alford again says, “Not by or through the lusts; the lusts of their heart were the field of action, the department of their being in which the dishonor took place.” In other words, this was what their hearts wanted.
The phrase, “To dishonour their own bodies between themselves,” carries with it more than the mere profligacy in the satisfaction of natural lust, but rather bestiality, which refers to impurity in the physical, and not only in the social and religious sense. In other words, man is grossly immoral.
It speaks of adultery, fornication, pedophilia (sex with children), bestiality (sex with animals), lesbianism and homosexuality.
(25) “WHO CHANGED THE TRUTH OF GOD INTO A LIE, AND WORSHIPPED AND SERVED THE CREATURE MORE THAN THE CREATOR, WHO IS BLESSED FOR EVER. AMEN.”
The phrase, “Who changed the Truth of God into a lie,” refers back to verse 23, which speaks of spiritual and sexual uncleanness.
In the realm of idolatry, this refers to anything that is placed before Christ.
Most people presently are not inclined to make idols out of pieces of wood as they did many centuries ago; however, if we allow anything to come between Christ and us, whether we realize it or not, such becomes an idol. That’s why John the Beloved said, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols” (I Jn. 5:21).
However, this condition of men’s hearts in purposely refusing the Truth of God, led to the Lord using no restraining force over man whatsoever, allowing him without restraint to push headlong into this lie of darkness, which in effect is the same as God giving man a push. Considering man’s already depraved condition, the slide even further downward was terrible, to say the least!
As we see here, the words, “God also gave them up,” as given in verse 24, is a restraining force exercised by God even on unregenerate mankind, unless refused, which it was and continues to be.
As well, there is a far greater restraining force on Believers as should be obvious (Job 1:10; Ps. 91; Rom. 8:28).
However, this restraining force even on Believers can be removed as well through disobedience and rebellion.
The phrase, “And worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator,” presents that of which Paul spoke in his Message to the Athenians (Acts 17:29–30).
For man to worship and serve the creature, means that he is doing such to something he has made with his hands, and is, therefore, less than him.
Regarding the “creature,” even if man worships himself or other men and women, which most of the world does, still, what good does such do him?
The phrase, “Who is blessed for ever,” should have been translated, “bless-ed,” because it refers to God.
The word “blessed” refers to one receiving a Blessing, in which as should be obvious, God needs nothing.
The word “bless-ed,” in effect, two syllables, refers to the One doing the Blessing, in this case, the Lord.
The idea is, all True Blessings come exclusively from the Lord, with idols or anything else for that matter, able to produce none at all.
The word “Amen” means that this is anchored in the Word of God, and as such, will not change.
(28) “AND EVEN AS THEY DID NOT LIKE TO RETAIN GOD IN THEIR KNOWLEDGE, GOD GAVE THEM OVER TO A REPROBATE MIND, TO DO THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE NOT CONVENIENT;”
The phrase, “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge,” carries the idea of the human race putting God to the test for the purpose of approving or disapproving Him.
They wanted a God to their liking, and finding that He did not meet those specifications, the world refused to approve Him as the God to be worshiped, or have Him in its knowledge.
The “knowledge” spoken here, in the Greek is “epignosis,” and means “full and precise knowledge.” In other words, their knowledge of God, due to their rebellion against Him and, therefore, going into deep sin, was only a dim memory, and that perverted!
If one wants to know what is wrong with the modern School System in America, despite the fact of hundreds of billions of dollars being thrown at this ever-worsening situation, it is because Educators “did not like to retain God in their knowledge.” So, and speaking of the Public School System, we have Godless schools, which means that the schools are filled with Satan. We have Godless education, which means that what knowledge the students do have is largely warped and twisted, ill preparing them for life. We have Godless direction, consequently we have erroneous ways.
The phrase, “God gave them over to a reprobate mind,” presents the third time such a statement is used (vss. 24, 26). Once again, humanity wanted that which was licentious and evil and the Lord took away the restraining forces, allowing them to have what they desired.
The words “Reprobate mind” in the Greek Text is “adokimon noun.” It carries the idea of the human race putting God on trial, and because it rejected Him after trial, God gives it a “trialess” mind, in other words, one incapable of discharging the functions of a mind with respect to the things of Salvation (Wuest).
As they did not think it fit to keep God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a mind which has no way to comprehend God. In other words, Light rejected is Light withdrawn. The one thing answers to the other.
Virtually, they pronounced the True God disapproved, and would have none of Him, and He in turn gave them up to a disapproved mind, a mind which is no mind and cannot discharge the functions of one, a mind in which the Divine distinctions of right and wrong are confused and lost, so that God’s condemnation cannot but fall on it at last.
This speaks of people who are completely perverted, and as the Canaanites of old, who did their abominations unto their gods, then the last deep of evil has been reached.
The phrase, “To do those things which are not convenient,” concerns wrong direction which will affect the person in every capacity, and in a very negative way.
The Greek word for “convenient” is “katheko,” and means “It is becoming, it is fitting.” So, the human race does things which are not fitting.
It is like an old abandoned building, the home of bats, spiders and snakes, not a very pleasant place to be (Robertson).
~J. Swaggart Ministries
What is the Sin Nature?
In simple terminology, the sin nature is the bent of the human being toward sin. When Adam and Eve fell, they fell from the level of total God-consciousness down to the far, far lower level of sin-consciousness. As a result of the Fall, their entire nature became one of sin. In other words, they were controlled by the sin nature, even as every single unredeemed person in the world is controlled by the sin nature.
Before you, as a Believer, gave your heart to Christ, you were totally and completely controlled by the sin nature, and in every capacity, which refers to every aspect of life and living. In other words, your whole bent or persuasion was altogether toward sin.
Paul said:
“And you has He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
“Wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience:
“Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others” (Eph. 2:1–3).
Let us look now at these same Verses from THE EXPOSITOR’S NEW TESTAMENT:
“And you has He quickened (made alive), who were dead in trespasses and sins (total depravity due to the Fall and original sin);
“Wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world (refers to the fact that the unredeemed order their behavior and regulate their lives within this sphere of trespasses and sins), according to the prince of the power of the air (pertains to the fact that Satan heads up the system of this world), the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience (the spirit of Satan, which fills all unbelievers, thereby working disobedience):
“Among whom (the children of disobedience) also we all had our conversation (manner of life) in times past in the lusts of our flesh (evil cravings), fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind (the minds of the unredeemed are the laboratory of perverted thoughts, impressions, imaginations, etc.); and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” (God’s Wrath is unalterably opposed to sin, and the only solution is the Cross.)
All of this tells us that the sin nature totally and completely controls the unredeemed individual, whoever that person might be, despite their education or lack thereof! Born in original sin, mankind is controlled by the sin nature, which is the cause of all war, strife, and man’s inhumanity to man.
As we have stated, this thing can be ameliorated only by one’s acceptance of Christ and what Christ has done for us at the Cross. At the Cross alone was sin addressed.
Paul said: “But this Man (this Priest, Christ Jesus), after He had offered one Sacrifice for sins forever (speaks of the Cross), sat down on the Right Hand of God (refers to the great contrast with the Priests under the Levitical System, who never sat down, because their work was never completed; the work of Christ on the Cross was a “Finished Work,” and needed no repetition [Heb. 10:12]).
The Christian and the Sin nature
When you came to Christ, you were born again, thereby becoming a “new creation in Christ Jesus” (II Cor. 5:17). At that time, the Holy Spirit, in His regenerating process in your heart and life, also gave you the “Divine Nature” (II Pet. 1:4). When you were born again, the sin nature became dormant in your life. It was not taken out, but, as we have already addressed, it was made ineffective. However, if you, as a Believer, do not know how to properly exercise your Faith, which must always be in the Cross of Christ, you will find yourself depending on self, even though you may not understand that’s what you are doing.
When this happens, and I’m speaking of trusting in “self” instead of the Cross, you will fail the Lord. When this takes place, it is like throwing gasoline on the fire. The sin nature, which had been dormant in your life, will suddenly come alive because it is sin which fuels this nature. It will then start to control you, exactly as it did before you were saved.
As we’ve already stated several times, if the Believer doesn’t understand the Cross as it regards Sanctification, he will not understand how to address the sin nature, and will not be able to obey the Lord, no matter how hard he may try otherwise.
Paul said:
“Let not sin therefore reign (rule) in your mortal body, that you should obey it in the lusts thereof” (Rom. 6:12).
While the sin nature is to remain in your mortal body, it is not to “reign”in your mortal body. Tragically, it is ruling and reigning in the hearts and lives of most Christians, and they don’t even understand what is happening to them. The cause is either ignorance of the Word or unbelief of the Word.
Remember what Paul said:
“For that which I do I allow (understand) not” (Rom. 7:15).
Lack of Scriptural Teaching
This which I am teaching you is seldom taught in the modern Church. Coming up in Church as a young boy, actually being in Church most of my life, I don’t recall ever hearing, or reading, one single sermon on the subject of the sin nature.
Over the years, I’ve read hundreds, maybe thousands, of sermons. I did occasionally come across the phrase, “sin nature,” but, until I read the information given by Kenneth Wuest, no one had ever explained in their Messages exactly what the sin nature was and how dangerous it actually was.
To be sure, Scriptural ignorance can cause one just as much problem as unbelief. Unfortunately, almost all of the modern Church is ignorant regarding the “sin nature.” As a result, failure among Believers is of tragic proportions. And, please believe me, the failure of which we speak results in broken hearts, broken lives, twisted dreams, and pain and suffering of such magnitude as to defy all description.
The Reader should carefully notice in the Word of God how frequently the Apostle Paul says, “Now I would not have you ignorant …” (Rom. 1:13; 10:3; 11:25; I Cor. 10:1; 12:1; 14:38; II Cor. 1:8; 2:11; I Thess. 4:13). Considering that the word “ignorant” was used that many times in Paul’s writings, don’t you think the Holy Spirit is trying to tell us something?
The sad truth is that the sin nature is ruling, in some way, the hearts and lives of most Christians, exactly as it did before they got saved. This is tragic, but true!
And how do I know that?
I know that simply because the modern Church understands the Cross not at all as it regards Sanctification. That being the case, and it most definitely is, the sin nature will most definitely rule and reign. That makes for a miserable existence for the Child of God.
Swaggart, J. (2005). Baton Rouge, LA: World Evangelism Press.
Ephesians 4:4
(4) “THERE IS ONE BODY, AND ONE SPIRIT, EVEN AS YE ARE CALLED IN ONE HOPE OF YOUR CALLING;”
The “Unity of the Spirit” of which Paul has spoken, brings into realization the unity of the Son and thence to the Source of unity in the Father, as we will see in succeeding Verses.
“One Body” depicts the Church as a single visible community. It is not simply a mystical concept. Its unity is recognizable in that Jews and Gentiles are now seen to be reconciled in Christ. In the Pagan world there were many religious cults, but as it regards Christianity, all are members of one Body. However, the Holy Spirit through the Apostle had much more in mind than merely the amalgamation of Jews and Gentiles into one Body, i.e., “one Church.” He is speaking of the entirety of the Plan of God as it regards not only the Church, but each individual. It is the manner in which all things are received from the Lord, and as well, in which all things are given to us.
“One Spirit” indwells the Body of Christ. By Him the Body lives and moves (I Cor. 12:13). The Holy Spirit is its soul; apart from Him it cannot exist. Consequently, the same Spirit fell on the Jews at Pentecost and on the Gentiles in the House of Cornelius. Peter made it clear that it was the same Spirit (Acts 10:47; 11:12, 15–17).
The “one Spirit” Who has already spanned this gulf will bring together all who Name the Name of Christ, and for the obvious reasons.
The Holy Spirit is the pledge of our inheritance (Eph. 1:14) and so He is the Guarantor of the “one hope” to which we are called (Eph. 1:18; 2:12). This is not the hope that stems from the calling but the hope that belongs to the call (Eph. 4:1). It is, of course, the hope of sharing Christ’s Glory at the end of the age (I Jn. 3:2).
ONE BODY
The phrase, “There is one Body,” pertains to the Church, the Body of called-out Believers. Admittance to this Body is the “Born-Again” experience (Jn. 3:3).
This “Body” is the invisible Church, and yet at the same time visible, the Mystical Body of Christ, which is composed of all Believers before the Cross and after the Cross. All are included in this Body, for this was actually the purpose of God in forming the nation of Israel to begin with. It was done in order to give the world the Word of God, and bring the Redeemer into the world, so that all, both Jews and Gentiles would have the opportunity of Salvation, all in Christ. That Israel refused her share, in no way negated the Plan of God, even though it did alter its direction (Rom. Chpt. 11).
This “One Body” will have its culmination at the Rapture, or perhaps a better word would be “The Resurrection.” That’s the reason that the Holy Spirit said through John, “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the First Resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be Priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years” (Rev. 20:6).
The phrase, “One Body” means as should be obvious, that there aren’t 20 Churches or five, or even two. There is just one, and as stated, admittance into this Church or Body is the acceptance of Christ, Who Alone is the Redeemer (Jn. 3:16).
Man cannot bring an individual into this “Body,” and man cannot take an individual out of this “Body.” To be sure, some have been attempting to do that, and I speak of so-called religious leaders, almost since the beginning of time. In other words, the claim by some, that if you do not belong to their Church you are not saved, etc. Such is foolishness, as should be obvious!
While it’s imperative that the Believer find a good Church, faithfully attend that Church, and faithfully support that Church, it must always be understood, that membership or participation in an earthly organization, constitutes no Salvation at all. However, the assembling of ourselves together in order to worship God is absolutely necessary, and for all the obvious reasons. We are saved not only to ourselves, but as a part of the Body, and as such, we desire to be with the Body.
THE NECESSITY OF A GOOD CHURCH
As we’ve already explained, when we say “Church” we are not necessarily speaking of a building beside the road with the name “Church” painted on it. Church is made up of Believers, and when Believers meet together in order to worship God, wherever that may be, that is “Church.”
It is absolutely necessary that one be led by the Spirit as it regards the Pastor under whom one sits. The Believer will always be a product of what they are taught. God has set various callings in the Church for this purpose, which we will deal with in the 11th Verse. However, if the Believer chooses to sit under an “Angel of Light,” who in fact, is one of “Satan’s ministers,” the end results will be dire (II Cor. 11:12–15).
To which we have already alluded these “ministers” will look like God, act like God, talk like God, and say many right things; however, all of that is done, in order to snare the individual for their own devious purposes. False teachers came into the Church in the time of Paul, which caused him to address this subject over and over again, and to be sure, false teachers are still abundant presently. In fact, for every “true Teacher of the Word,” there are probably several false teachers of the Word.
Unfortunately, there are many Believers, perhaps the majority, who are truly in this “one Body,” meaning they have been truly Born-Again, but are sitting under false teachers. It happened at Corinth and Galatia, with attempts no doubt being made in all the Churches planted by Paul, necessitating several of his Epistles.
So, Satan will do all within his power to keep the person out of this “Body of Christ,” but if he cannot do that, he will attempt to push them into erroneous teaching, which will greatly hinder their spiritual growth, and could even cause them to ultimately be lost.
THE EFFORTS OF SATAN
Satan was strongly attempting in the time of Paul to split the Church, in effect, making it two bodies of Christ, one composed of the Jews and another composed of the Gentiles. Through the power of the Cross, reconciliation with God had been effected for both Jew and Gentile, thus creating the possibility not only of the vertical relationship of peace with God but also the horizontal relationship of peace with all men. Thus, one Body of Believers has been brought into being (Eph. 2:16).
As we have stated, Satan’s effort in this capacity did not die with the early Church but continues unto this moment. He attempts to make several bodies, which of course, can never be sanctioned by the Holy Spirit. So, any Believer who even remotely hints in his thinking, of admittance into this Body, as by any other way than Faith in Christ, that individual is on dangerous ground. In other words, if he thinks that one has to belong to his Church to be saved, he has just created a second body, which the Lord cannot accept and in which the Holy Spirit cannot work. In other words, the very thing they are claiming—their Church as the only Church—has the very opposite effect. By their own actions, they are taking themselves out of the true Body of Christ, placing themselves into this man-devised body. Millions have lost their souls in this fashion.
The “one Body” means that this is not a Western Gospel, or an Eastern Gospel, or any other type of localized Gospel. It is one Gospel for this one Body, for the entirety of the world, for all of mankind, all in Christ.
ONE SPIRIT
The phrase, “And One Spirit,” refers, of course, to the Holy Spirit. Even though this phrase is short, it contains a wealth of meaning, as should be obvious.
Paul is stressing here the unity of the Godhead, which unity should rest in the hearts of Believers as well. Inasmuch as there is only One Holy Spirit, there can be no diversity of doctrine or contradiction in any capacity. So, in essence, Paul is saying that both he and the Judaizers cannot be correct, inasmuch as the teaching of each contradicts the others. It is the same presently!
There are hundreds and possibly even thousands of different types of Churches and belief systems as it regards the Word of God, much, often contradictory. Knowing that the Holy Spirit is not the Author of such contradiction, then we must come to the conclusion that some are wrong in their Doctrine. For those who sit under such wrong doctrine, and untold millions do, what they are hearing is not given by the Holy Spirit, not inspired by the Holy Spirit, which means irrespective of the claims, that it is not the Word of God. Consequently, deception and spiritual wreckage are the result, which regrettably, characterizes most of that which goes under the name of “Church.”
THE TRUE CHURCH
The true Church does not go under a denominational name. Whatever name it goes under, it is where the One and the Selfsame Spirit dwells.
Regarding all who are truly Born-Again, it was the same Holy Spirit Who awakened all; enlightened all; convicted all; and, converted all. Wherever they may be, and whoever, there has been substantially the same work of the Spirit in the heart of every Christian. There are circumstantial differences arising from diversities of temperament, disposition, and education; there may be a difference in the depth and power of His operations on the soul; there may be a difference in the degree of conviction for sin and in the evidence of conversion, but still there are the same operations on the heart essentially, produced by the same Spirit.
All the Gifts which come from God, are in essence, products of the Spirit. All the zeal, the ardor, the love, the self-denial in the Church, are produced by the same Spirit. Consequently, there should be, therefore, “unity.”
There is one Spirit, the Holy Spirit of God Who was outpoured on Believers with such marvelous manifestations on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1–4), who were altogether Jewish. As well, this same Spirit was given to the Gentile Believers at Caesarea under the ministry of Peter (Acts 10:44–46; 15:7–9), and in fact, to all Believers from then unto now.
Swaggart, J.
and he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Beth-el, and pitched his tent, having Beth-el on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he built an Altar unto the LORD, and called upon the Name of the LORD (Gen. 12:8).
“Beth-el” means “House of God.” “Hai” means “garbage dump.”
The Altar alone, typifying the Cross, can keep the Believer away from the garbage dump.
It is virtually impossible for the Believer to know the difference between the “House of God” and the “garbage dump” other than by the Cross. That’s the reason we have so much false doctrine presently and so many Christians following false doctrine. For the last several decades, the Church has drifted so far from the Cross that it hardly knows any more where it has been, where it is, or where it is going. Because it no longer plants its doctrines on the foundation of the Cross, it has lost completely its moorings.
Without an understanding of the Cross, there is absolutely no discernment regarding false doctrine.
That’s the reason that Paul said:
“Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times (the times in which we now live) some shall depart from the Faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils” (I Tim. 4:1).
A “departure from the Faith,” i.e., “Christ and Him Crucified,” is the reason!
Never forget:
Satan dresses up his “garbage dumps” to look like something else altogether. In other words, they look like anything but garbage dumps; and, without an understanding of the Cross, invariably that’s the way the Believer will go (Gal. 6:14).
~J. Swaggart
by Donnie Swaggart
SEDUCING SPIRITS AND DOCTRINES OF DEVILS
Timothy 4:1 “Now the Spirit (Holy Spirit) speaks expressly (pointedly), that in the latter times (the times in which we now live, the last of the last days, which begin the fulfillment of Endtime Prophecies) some shall depart from the Faith (anytime Paul uses the term the Faith, in short he is referring to the Cross; so, we are told here that some will depart from the Cross as the means of Salvation and Victory), giving heed to seducing spirits (evil spirits, i.e., religious spirits, making something seem like what it isn’t), and doctrines of devils (should have been translated, doctrines of demons ; the seducing spirits entice Believers away from the true Faith, causing them to believe doctrines inspired by demon spirits ).”
This Verse, as given by the Holy Spirit to the Apostle Paul, expressly warns us what is going to happen in the Church in the Last Days.
“NOW THE SPIRIT SPEAKS EXPRESSLY”
This speaks of the Holy Spirit. The words, “speaks expressly,” refers to the fact that it was not by mere hints or even symbols, but given to Paul in an open and plain manner. In other words, there was no hesitation or waffling on the part of the Holy Spirit. What He stated to Paul was unmistakably clear.
In Revelation, Chapters 2 and 3, seven times it says, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches.” It is the Work of the Holy Spirit to reveal what is going on and what is going to happen, and whatever the Holy Spirit says will come to pass, then it will come to pass.
“THAT IN THE LATTER TIMES”
This statement refers to the last years ending the Church Age and before the Millennial Reign of the Lord Jesus Christ. Actually, it is speaking of this present time. The problems the Holy Spirit mentioned have always existed in the Church; however, as we grow closer to the Rapture of the Church, these problems will be more pronounced and common. In the Greek, the word “latter” means “afterward, at the last of all.” What is being said here is that the Church is in the last great apostasy of the Church Age.
“SOME SHALL DEPART FROM THE FAITH”
This speaks of a departure from the Word of God, but more particularly to the major Theme of the Bible, the Finished Work of Christ, the Cross. Today, Doctrine is laughed at, dismissed, and lampooned. But without correct Biblical Doctrine, the Church is like a ship adrift at sea with no engine. Where there is an absence of Doctrine, Satan will always see to it that which is false will fill the void. The Message of the Cross is being openly attacked and dismissed as never before.
Understand this: the Cross of Christ is the dividing line between the True Church and the apostate Church. Take note of my words. Those who reject the Cross and disdain it, they will be lost. If you don t embrace the Truth of Christ and Him Crucified and Resurrected, and proclaim that great Truth as the only means of Justification and Sanctification then you are going to lose your soul and you will spend eternity in Hell.
Joshua 24:15 still says, “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served who were on the other side of the Flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” And you can t serve the Lord outside of Calvary.
“GIVING HEED TO SEDUCING SPIRITS”
This statement tells us the cause of the Church s departure from Truth. “Seducing” in the Greek is “Planos” and means “wandering, roving, misleading, leading into error.” The word “spirits” refers to evil spirits actually putting into motion human agents of the “spirit of error.” “Seducing spirits” means exactly what the word implies. Evil spirits actually seduce preachers and laity, just as a harlot seduces a man. These seducing spirits appear as Angels of light. These seducing spirits move one away from the true Word of God, the King James Bible, to the perverted translations that literally change the meaning of Scripture. As seducing spirits, they blind the Church to what is the real truth to the point where truth is called a lie, and the lie is called the truth.
After these seducing spirits blind the Church, the next step is to bring the world and its ways into the Church until the people become so blind and in such a stupor that they are worshipping Satan thinking it is Jesus. Satan is no longer outside of the Church, but he is literally in charge of far too many pastors and their congregations.
Today, preaching is laughed at. The Holy Spirit is no longer welcome. Instead of singing the great songs of Faith, we have substituted secular, worldly music. We have brought Hollywood movies into the Sanctuary of God. Too many services resemble nothing more than a night club. But I remind you of the Word of the Lord in Ezekiel 5:11, “. . . because you have defiled My Sanctuary with all your detestable things, and with all your abominations, therefore will I also diminish you; neither shall My Eye spare, neither will I have any pity.” God s Sanctuary has been turned into a gathering place of demonic spirits.
“DOCTRINES OF DEVILS”
This phrase should have been translated “Doctrines of Demons,” for there is only one Devil, a fallen Angel, and many demons who are Satan s servants. It is important to note that Paul finds the source of false doctrine in these demons who entice God s Children away from the True Faith, causing them to believe doctrines inspired by demon spirits.
Never forget that what is preached and taught from behind the pulpit is always empowered by a spirit. If it is Truth, then it is backed by the Holy Spirit and the Bible. If it is false doctrine, then it is empowered by demon spirits. There is no middle ground. The modern church has been by and large seduced by demon spirits.
THE ANSWER
The only hope for the Church is Revival and one can only have Revival by returning to the old paths. The Church must come back to the Cross and repent.
What I have written is negative, but I am going to end on a positive note. In spite of the worldliness of the church, there is still a remnant left. There are still 7,000 who haven’t bowed the knee to Baal. There are still some Daniels out there who won t stop praying. There are still some Moses out there who will look Pharaoh right in the eye and proclaim, “Let my people go.”
I do believe we will see a great Move of God. I still believe in II Chronicles 7:14, “If My People, who are called by My Name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My Face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”