Salvation
AUGUST
21
therefore being justified by Faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:1).
What did Paul mean when he said, “We are justified by Faith”?
First of all, we must look at Faith. The definition of Faith is to simply believe something. In this case, it refers to having Faith in Christ and what Christ has done for us at the Cross. The Faith of which Paul speaks always must be in this capacity. We must ever understand that Christ is the Source, and the Cross is the means. In no way is Christ to be separated from the Cross, or the Cross separated from Christ.
That’s the reason the Apostle said, “We preach Christ Crucified” (I Cor. 1:23).
Paul wasn’t meaning that Christ is still on a Cross; in fact, Christ is seated by the Right Hand of the Father, meaning that His task of Redemption is complete (Heb. 1:3). Instead, Paul is speaking of the benefits of the Cross, benefits, incidentally, which will never, never end. For this reason, the Holy Spirit through Paul referred to these benefits as “The Everlasting Covenant” (Heb. 13:20).
The Believer must understand that every single thing we receive from the Lord, and in every capacity, is made possible solely by the Cross. That is the Gospel. The story of the Bible is the story of Jesus Christ and Him Crucified, and the story of Jesus Christ and Him Crucified is the story of the Bible.
Once Faith is properly understood and established, now we turn to Justification. The Greek word used by Paul is “dikaioo,” which means “to show or regard as innocent.” In layman’s terms, it means the following:
1. It means that every sin—past, present, and future—is forgiven.
2. It means that God looks at the one so forgiven as never having committed the sin or sins in question.
3. It means that one is declared innocent, not guilty, and free of all charges, all made possible by Faith in Christ and what He did for us at the Cross.
Justification cannot be earned or purchased, at least not by the individual. It is given freely upon Faith in Christ and His Finished Work.
AUGUST
22
what shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that Grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, who are dead to sin, live any longer therein? (Rom. 6:1–2).
Some seventeen times the word “sin” is mentioned in the Sixth Chapter of Romans. Fifteen of those times the original Text, in other words, as it was originally written by the Apostle Paul, contains what is referred to as the “definite article.” That is, in these fifteen times, the Text reads “the sin.” It refers to the sin nature.
Some claim that Believers no longer have a sin nature; however, considering that Paul is writing to Believers here, if that is the case, i.e., if Believers no longer have a sin nature, then the Holy Spirit went to a lot of trouble to explain something that doesn’t exist.
No! Every Believer has a sin nature; however, we are supposed to be dead to the sin nature, even though the sin nature is not dead (Rom. 6:11).
In truth, the sin nature is supposed to be dormant in the heart and life of the Believer; at the time of Salvation, the sin nature is, in fact, rendered dormant. But if the Believer does not know how to maintain a victorious life, sin will be the result, which then brings the sin nature to life, and then such a Believer can find the sin nature ruling and reigning in his life, even as it did before he was saved.
That’s why Paul said, “Let not the sin therefore reign (rule) in your mortal body, that you should obey it in the lust thereof” (Rom. 6:12). The sin nature will reside in us until the Resurrection, but it’s not supposed to reign. The manner and way that we can have victory over the sin nature, the only way, in fact, and on a perpetual basis, is that the Cross of Christ ever be the Object of our Faith. That being the case, the Holy Spirit, Who Alone can make us what we ought to be, can effectually work within our hearts and lives, bringing about the Fruit of the Spirit, which develops Christlikeness in our life and living (Rom. 8:1–2,11).
That is the way, and the only way, that the sin nature in the heart and life of the Believer can be subdued and remain subdued.
We find here, graphically so, that “sin” is the problem with the Christian. No matter how many claims are made to the contrary, sin is the problem. And there is only one way that victory over sin can be obtained, and that is through Faith in Christ and what Christ has done for us at the Cross.
Man may devise many ways and claim that victory will be the result, but God has only one way, and that is the Way of the Cross!
Swaggart, J. (2005).
To Whom Much is Given,
Much is Required
After a person is saved (and perhaps baptized with the Spirit), many things are then required of that person. He is expected to walk in the Light, as God gives the Light. He is expected to grow in Grace and Knowledge of the Lord. He is expected to follow the Lord Jesus Christ—according to the Word of God!
If that person has been involved in error, wrong teaching, or in a Church that doesn’t really believe in God or the way of God according to the Word—he is expected to come out of that Church, to straighten his ways, and to allow God to work within his heart and life. Very little is required of the person who doesn’t know God. But much is required of that person after he comes into a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Fundamentally, this is what we are talking about. This is wherein the difficulty lies. For example there are multiplied thousands of Catholics who have been (in my opinion) truly Born-Again. They love the Lord Jesus with all their hearts. And, yet, there are multiplied thousands of them (including Priests and Nuns) who elect to remain in the Catholic Church. Is this proper? Are they Scripturally correct in doing so? What will happen to these people if they persist in maintaining this position?
I suppose the question should be raised: Does it really matter? Does it matter whether a person is Protestant or Catholic? Does it matter whether an individual belongs to one particular Church or another? Do these things count?
It Does Matter
Of course, many will say it doesn’t matter. Many Preachers avoid this issue—and proclaim to the world that the only thing of importance is whether the Person has come to the Lord Jesus Christ. Admittedly, the fact of an individual being saved is of tremendous importance, but the question must be raised, “What happens to that individual after he or she becomes saved?”
This period of time following the Salvation experience is so important that the bulk of the New Testament was provided to show Christians how to live, how to walk in the Light, how to conduct themselves, and how to follow the Lord Jesus Christ.
If a Christian, even though genuinely saved (Born-Again) and baptized with the Holy Spirit according to Acts 2:4, elects to stay in an environment of error, then that Christian’s Spiritual Growth will (at least) be stunted, and perhaps much worse will result. That individual could even be destroyed, spiritually speaking, if he insists on walking contrary to the Light that God has laid down.
A tremendous obligation enters the hearts of those persons who have been saved by the Blood of Jesus Christ. They are no longer their own, but are bought with a price (I Cor. 6:20). That price was the indescribable agony suffered by Jesus as He hung on the Cross. We are, therefore, “to deny ourselves and take up our Crosses and follow the Lord Jesus” (Mk. 8:34). We are commanded to follow the Lord wherever He may lead. It may be at the cost of losing friends, relatives, Church, Mother, Dad, job security, or even our very lives. Read Matthew 10:34–38. The Lord was very specific on this in all His teachings and in all four Gospels.
So What Should the
Christian Do?
So, we come to the bottom line as we address ourselves to those Christians who are truly saved but attend a religious organization in error. What should they do? Is it proper (in God’s eyes) for them to stay in that particular Church after they have been Born-Again? Will they become “better Church members”? What should they do? Should they get out of the “Church”, renounce its practices and policies, and find another Church to join and associate themselves with? What are the answers to these questions?
I hope they will realize that I speak out with equal fervor against anything I consider to be non-scriptural in any Denomination. And, yes, as those who have followed me for any length of time will realize, this includes Pentecostal Churches as well.
You see, the problem lies, all too often, in our tendency to “root for the home team.” If we’re Democrats, the Democratic Party can do no wrong. If we’re union members, the union can do no wrong. If we belong to the Moose or the Elk or the Rotary—the Moose, the Elk, and the Rotary can do no wrong. And if we’re Catholic, the Catholic Church can do no wrong. The Truth, naturally, is that anyone can be wrong, and if we don’t diligently search for the Truth, we can be wrong.
~JSM
Atonement
David said: “Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered” (Rom. 4:7).
The force of the Hebrew term “to cover” is dual. It implies Atonement and Justification. Atonement does not mean merely “at-one-ment” or “at-one-with,” but rather expiation of guilt by a blood-sacrifice which covers it.
The argument of Verses 9 through 12 in Romans, Chapter 4, is that Abraham was declared by God to be a righteous man while he was yet uncircumcised, i.e., outside of the Covenant within which the Jews afterward stood in their unique relation to God.
Had the promise of heirship of the world been based on the principal of law, i.e., of merit, that would have set Abraham aside, for the inheritance was given him by Promise and, therefore, on the principal of Faith. Faith does not fulfill a promise made to it, but believes it; and that Faith was reckoned to Abraham for Righteousness. This principal consequently opened wide the door of Grace to all men.
The Effect of Law
Paul said: “Because the Law works wrath: for where no Law is, there is no transgression” (Rom. 4:15).
The effect of law is always “condemnation,” and, in fact, it can be no other.
So, this means that all Believers who seek to function by “law,” whether the Law of Moses, or a law devised by themselves or someone else, can only come to one conclusion, and that is “condemnation.” And let the Reader understand the following:
If the Believer doesn’t understand the Cross, then the Believer doesn’t understand Grace, and neither does he properly understand Faith; consequently, such a Believer will then resort to law, because there is no other place for the Believer to be. It’s either “Law” or “Grace.”
This means that virtually the entirety of the modern Church is functioning under law, which means they are under constant condemnation, because most of the modern Church has little or no knowledge of the Cross whatsoever.
And yet, the Church thinks that it does know and understand the Cross. But several questions should be asked:
Are you, the Reader, living a victorious, overcoming Christian life? The question could probably be better asked, “Is there repeated sin of some nature in your life?”
Is the Fruit of the Spirit being developed in your life? Perhaps the question could be asked in this fashion, “Are you becoming more and more Christlike, in your life, personality, and demeanor?”
Please allow me to delicately say that far too many Christians lie to themselves. And it’s just as much a sin to lie to ourselves as it is to someone else, perhaps even worse. In other words, we need to look at the questions just asked and answer them honestly.
The Action of Grace
Whereas the effect of law is condemnation, the action of grace is “justification.”
The doctrine of justification by works generates religious pride—that of Justification by Faith produces contrition and humility. In the matter of Justification, Faith and works are opposite and irreconcilable—as opposed as Grace and Debt. Since God declares ungodly men righteous, works cannot in any sense furnish a ground for Justification, and hence the first step toward Salvation on the part of a sinner is to humble himself and accept the Divine pronouncement that he is “ungodly.”
Then the second and concluding step is to repose Faith in Him Who justifies the ungodly. Nothing gives more Glory to God than simply believing Him. Justification is not a change in character but a declaration by God as to the Believer’s standing before Him. It is objective. Sanctification affects character and is subjective.
As we have stated, the expiatory Sacrifice of Christ is the one and only and eternal ground on which God can act in declaring ungodly men righteous. Galatians 3:21, and many similar Divine declarations, reveal the hopelessness of standing before God in a righteousness which He will accept upon any other principal than that of Faith in a crucified Sin-Bearer.
A Perfect Sacrifice
Christ’s Perfect Obedience to the Law of God formed His Own Righteousness and gave virtue to His Sacrifice—for a Sacrifice for sin must have neither spot nor blemish. But it was not the spotlessness of the Lamb which made the Atonement, but its out-poured Blood, i.e., its surrendered Life, for the blood is the life. The judgment pronounced upon sin being death, that claim could only be vindicated and discharged by the suffering of death. Christ suffered that penalty and, in consequence, saves the Believer from it.
If Christ’s obedience during His Life was man’s obedience, then man stands as He stood and, consequently, there was no reason why He should die. In that case there was no penalty, for if man fulfilled in Him all Righteousness, there was no occasion for judgment.
But the Scripture declares that Christ died for sinners, so that it is His Death that provides a spotless Righteousness for sinners who believe in Him; and it was His Obedience in life which gave efficacy to His suffering in death.
Regrettably, the vast majority of mankind accepts the human doctrine of salvation by merit; a very small minority believes the Divine Doctrine of Salvation by Grace. As the Lord Jesus Himself said, few tread that narrow way. It is abhorrent to human pride.
J. Swaggart Ministry
Hebrews 10:26 –“For if we sin willfully (the ‘willful sin’ is the transference of faith from Christ and Him crucified to other things) after that we have received the knowledge of the truth (speaks of the Bible way of salvation and victory, which is ‘Jesus Christ and Him crucified’ [I Cor. 2:2]), there remains no more sacrifice for sins(if the Cross of Christ is rejected, there is no other sacrifice or way God will accept).
SO, USING HIS PEACE Plan to solve the five “global giants” of the world (spiritual empti-ness, [corrupt] leadership, poverty, disease, and illiteracy), Rick Warren communicates tothe people that defeating global giants is worth any cost! In the name of missions, social action will take precedence above all else. Warren goes on to say that these problems are so big that everybody has failed to solve them. Warren said, “The United States has failed, and the United Nations has failed as well. Nobody has solved these five problems because the solution needs a three-legged stool. For the stability of a nation, you must have strong healthy government, strong healthy business, and strong healthy churches. A three-legged stool will have sta-bility. So, I am going from country to country teaching business its role, teaching church its role, and teaching government leaders their roles because you have to work together.
We cannot solve the problems in your country or the world if we won’t work together. You see, unity is the name of the game!” Unity is also a part of the new gospel that is being preached, but this type of unity is unbiblical! Unity is taught in the Bible, but it refers to the unity of belief and doctrine, not to unity with unbelievers and/or false doctrine.
1. Every wind of doctrine pushes its audience this way and that way, and few Christians are able to resist it. Their teachings for years have moved the
church into a wrong direction.
2. Many precious Christians started off with good intentions only to find themselves shipwrecked alongside the others they
befriended. Standing for the truth and giving a good defense of the Gospel is more important to God than friendships that could cause you to compromise the
Gospel. Here, it is the truth of Scripture that matters first, not someone’s ministry or who he is. Jesus told the people the truth
and offended the religious crowd. Nothing has changed today if you stand for the truth of Scripture. Those who are exposed will
always respond in anger. Just expect it!
One only has to look at the condition that the world is in today to see that his mission plan has not succeeded. Our government is in the worst shape it has been in since it was founded. Business
is so full of corruption that it is in total disarray, and the church is anything but healthy. The church in America overall is weak and weary not strong, not well, not healthy. It has a diminishing voice because its message has been watered down to the point that it has lost its integrity, and its leaders are not leading.There are damnable doctrines that have been brought into the church today, such as The Purpose Driven Life and its agenda, with that being “modern religion.” In all of Rick Warren’s PEACE Plan, preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ is not mentioned.
In order to partner with the other religions of the world, it must be left out because the preaching of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection would be a stumbling block. The Muslims and the Hindus would not partner with him if that message was the focal point. The whole premise of the five giants of the world is untrue. There is only one giant that needs to be defeated and that is sin. Sin is what produces all of the other problems. Mankind’s problem is sin but that is not even addressed here. Until it is addressed as such, man’s problems will not be solved. Jesus Christ is the remedy for sin and until the world accepts Him, we will always have poverty, disease, illiteracy, corrupt leadership, and spiritual emptiness. Compare the statement of Rick Warren with that of John Foster Dulles, and you will easily see this is not about Jesus Christ, but it’s about the social gospel for a one-world religion.
One-world government means one-world religion. What we really see here is not the truth of the Bible being taught, but rather a change agent at work, changing the hearts of men away from Jesus to “another Jesus.” Rick Warren is the change agent and The Purpose Driven Life and The Purpose Driven Church are the means to achieving change. Churches by the thousands are falling for this lie. Jesus Christ and His redeeming power to save man from his evil ways is being replaced by the false gospel of servitude. Serving man rather than Jesus Christ is the message of the false prophets of this day. They, of course, will deny this, but we will in this article examine their message. Of course, the false gospel of the Word of Faith teaching on positive confession for health and prosperity has become the norm. Christian television has become the extension for the false teachers of money. They have a monopoly on the airwaves. They preach an unbiblical pseudo-scheme called “s e e d f a i t h.”
I think we could even call it a Ponzi scheme. They are removing the money from faithful Christians to themselves. The preachers become richer while the average layman becomes poorer. Their teachings for years have moved the church in the wrong direction. This affects evangelism, discipleship, and tithing. Tithing is no longer giving to God because we love Him and want to help further the message of Jesus to a hurting and dying world. The message today is about giving to get rich. This is man’s gospel and not the message of the Bible. We have every wind of doctrine being preached through the airwaves and in the church. All of this is being preached by men claiming to be Spirit-filled, anointed prophets and apostles, but they themselves are without the Spirit, are carnally minded, or have succumbed to another spirit. The Bible says that if they do not speak according to its Word, they have no light in them. Isaiah 8:20 states,
“To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them. (The great question should always be, and about any situation, ‘Is it biblical?’)
THE VICTORY OF THE CROSS
Paul in his Epistle to the Colossians spelled it out as to exactly what Jesus did for us at the Cross. He said:
“Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us (the Law), which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His Cross;
“And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it” (Col. 2:14–15).
Two things were here done:
1. The demands of a thrice Holy God were satisfied.
2. Satan was completely defeated.
Now let’s see how all of this was done.
The Law of God as given to Moses, sometimes referred to as “the Law of Moses,” proclaimed the Standard of Righteousness which God demanded of all men. Unfortunately, man in his depraved, fallen condition, could not live up to this Law, and no matter how hard he tried. In fact, in the entirety of these some 1,600 years of the Law, not one person succeeded in satisfying its demands, except Christ.
In fact, as it regards the moral Law (the Ten Commandments), it is still incumbent upon humanity, at least all who do not know the Lord. As stated, this is God’s Standard of Righteousness.
Unable to keep the Law, it condemned us, even as all Law must. In other words, it declared us guilty, and demanded the penalty, which was death (Rom. 6:23).
However, Jesus came as the “Last Adam,” referred to by Paul in that manner, because He would do what the first Adam did not do, and would as well do it so perfectly, that another would never be needed, hence Him being referred to as the “Last.”
He kept the Law perfectly in every respect, doing it all on our behalf, even as our Substitute. One might say that he did all of this as the “Representative Man” (I Cor. 15:45–50).
He not only kept the Law, and as stated, did so perfectly, but as well, He suffered its terrible penalty of death—all on our behalf.
When He did this, the price was paid, with the record that was against all of us, being completely and totally “blotted out.” The Scripture plainly says that He “nailed it to His Cross.”
Now we are seeing why the Cross is so very, very important.
This which He did satisfied the demands of a thrice Holy God. The Reader must understand, that the Cross was not carried out in order to satisfy the Devil, etc., but rather to satisfy the demands of God. It was either us die, which meant that we would never be raised from the dead, and because we were an imperfect sacrifice, or for God to become man, which He did, thereby taking our place.
However, having done this, what Jesus did at the Cross, also spelled defeat for Satan and all his henchmen.
Satan has a legal right to place man into captivity because of sin. But with all sin atoned, even as Jesus did at the Cross, Satan lost that right, at least as it regards those who will believe (Jn. 3:16).
In other words, Satan has no more legal right over me and because I am now “in Christ,” which means I have trusted Christ and what He did at the Cross on my behalf, which cleanses me from all sin. Sin being the means by which Satan holds men in captivity, with sin being gone and washed away, and by the precious Blood of Jesus, as stated, Satan has no more right.
As a result, this spoiled all principalities and powers, which refers to all demon spirits and fallen angels, which includes Satan as their federal head, with the Scripture plainly saying that Jesus “triumphed over them in it,” meaning, that what He did at the Cross totally defeated them.
So this means, that every single demon spirit is defeated, every fallen angel is defeated, even the mightiest of them and in totality are defeated, and above all, Satan as their federal head is defeated.
As we’ve said previously, the work which Jesus did at the Cross by the giving of Himself in Sacrifice, was actually a legal work. It satisfied the legal demands of a thrice Holy God. Man had committed a terrible crime, and that crime had to be addressed, with its penalty satisfied. It was satisfied in Christ.
All these things we’ve just said, are the reason that the Cross is the Source of all Victory, and of course, we are speaking of what Jesus there did. That’s the reason our Faith must ever be in the Cross. And this I might quickly ask:
Many Preachers claim that we must go beyond the Cross, especially many of those of the Charismatic variety. What do they mean by going beyond the Cross? Actually, where is one to go?
The Work of Christ at the Cross, is called a “Finished Work,” which is portrayed by Paul in Hebrews 1:3, by Jesus being “sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” As well, Paul referred to this great work as “the Everlasting Covenant” (Heb. 13:20).
Some may claim that we leave the Cross after conversion, thereby going on to the Holy Spirit. However, when we understand, that the Holy Spirit will not work within our hearts and lives, at least to the full degree which He can, without our Faith being properly placed in the Cross, then we realize that it’s impossible to separate the Holy Spirit from the Cross. That’s what we explained in Romans 8:2. Everything the Holy Spirit does, He does within the framework and the parameters of what Jesus did at the Cross. In fact, before the Cross, He could not even come into the hearts and lives of Believers to abide. This could only be done after the Cross, which satisfied the sin debt (Jn. 14:16–17).
The great Ministry of the Holy Spirit is to “glorify Christ” (Jn. 16:14). And how does He glorify Christ?
He does so, by constantly pointing to the Cross (I Cor. 2:2).
Actually, in the last two Chapters of Revelation, which speak of the perfect age to come, when Satan is locked away in the Lake of Fire, along with all his demon spirits and fallen angels, and in fact, there is no more sin, we find the Holy Spirit referring to Christ some seven times as “the Lamb” (Rev. 21:9, 14, 22–23, 27; 22:1, 3).
Seven of course speaks of God’s perfection, and “Lamb” refers to the Crucified Christ (Jn. 1:29).
The Holy Spirit does this, so that we will never forget, that it was the price paid by Christ on the Cross, which has afforded, and does afford all of these great and glorious things. In fact, the entirety of the story of the Bible is the story of man’s Redemption, which in effect, is the story of the Cross.
J. Swaggart
SELF-HELP OR CROSS-HELP?
The great battlefield for the Christian is whether he attempts to find victory by his own machinations, or trust completely in what Christ did at the Cross? In fact, this is the same battlefield for the unredeemed. Do they trust in their own efforts to save themselves, or do they trust in what Jesus did at the Cross? The Cross ever stands at the intersection of life, and for all people, and for all situations.
Of course we know and understand that the unredeemed cannot be saved, unless they trust in what Christ has done at the Cross on their behalf (Jn. 3:16). Admittedly, they don’t have to understand much about it, but they must evidence Faith, at least in some degree. Of course, the Holy Spirit supplies them the Faith as they hear the Word of God. But when it comes to the Christian, the following can happen, to which Paul addressed the entirety of the Epistle to the Galatians. Theologians refer to this problem as “Galatianism.”
It simply means that people come to Christ by trusting in what He did at the Cross, but after being saved, then transfer their Faith from the Cross to something else entirely. Even though they of course remain a Child of God, simply because they continue to trust Christ as it regards their initial Salvation, by no means, however, can they walk victorious. So we have “Salvation by Faith,” and “Sanctification by works,” which as stated, is the greatest problem for the Child of God.
In fact, the Galatians had been brought to Christ through the Ministry of Paul. Of course, they were taught correctly as would be obvious. But then, false teachers came into these respective Churches, telling the people, that they must add Law to their experience. In other words, now that they had accepted Christ, they must also engage in circumcision (for the boys and the men), and Sabbath keeping, etc. This was the way to deeper life, etc., they claimed!
If it is to be noticed, Paul’s Letter to the Galatians drips with scorn, and in fact, is His most strident Epistle. In fact, the Apostle is downright angry, and rightly so!
He knew that if the Galatians followed that error, they were going to lose their victory, and possibly even their souls. So, the Holy Spirit had him to write the Epistle to the Galatians to address this terrible error.
Unfortunately, the problem didn’t die with the Galatians. It remains with us today, and in fact, it is the greatest problem faced by the Child of God.
After coming to Christ, which means that we now have a new nature within us, which of course is provided by the Holy Spirit by and according to what Jesus did for us at the Cross (Jn. 7:37–39), we instinctively know that we must live right, and in fact, we want to live right. But the great question is, how is this done?
If we don’t know the Message of the Cross, which is God’s prescribed order of victory, and I might quickly add, His only prescribed order of victory, then we will cast about attempting to find a method of victory on our own. That’s what I meant by Salvation by Faith, and Sanctification by works.
And let it please be understood, that if we do not know the Truth of the Cross, this Truth is just not going to simply fall on us. The Word of God concerning this great foundational Truth in some manner, in some way, must be ministered to us. This is the only way we can come by Truth. As stated, it cannot be given by laying on of hands or any other manner, except the preaching and teaching of the Gospel. So what do we presently have?
Due to the fact that almost none of the modern Church knows or understands the great Message of the Cross, the far greater majority of the Church walks in defeat.
But there’s another problem attached to all of this:
SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS
“Works” always produce self-righteousness. In fact, that’s why the Religious Leaders of Israel crucified Christ. The whole Jewish system by the time of Christ had degenerated into “works”; consequently, self-righteousness was paramount at that time, and self-righteousness always must kill the Righteousness of the Lord. In fact, we have a perfect example of this in Genesis Chapter 4 with Cain killing Abel.
The Cross produces humility, even as the Cross alone can produce humility, while works always produce self-righteousness.
However, “works” are very subtle. Most of the time they are cloaked with all manner of religiosity, which makes us think that what we’re doing is of the Lord. In fact, the greatest weapon that Satan uses is to actually take that which is of God, such as prayer, fasting, or manifestations of the Spirit, even as we’ve already addressed, and make us think that the doing or the engaging in these things will bring about the victory which we must have.
While to be sure, these things we’ve mentioned, plus many we haven’t mentioned, are very necessary in the life of the Child of God; still, if we try to use them in the realm of the source of victory, we will find that we have turned them into works, which God can never bless or recognize.
I am victorious totally and completely, not because of the things I do, but totally and completely because of what Christ has done at the Cross. That and that alone, which demands my Faith, brings victory to the Child of God, and in every capacity I might quickly add. Proper Faith in the Cross, which guarantees the help of the Holy Spirit, is the only manner, the only means, the only way, that the Child of God can walk in victory. And to be certain, there is no power of darkness that wasn’t defeated at the Cross of Christ.
~J. Swaggart Ministry
Salvation God’s Way
O Israel, return unto the LORD your God; for you have fallen by your iniquity. Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: Say unto Him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips. Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, You are our gods: for in You the fatherless find mercy (Hos. 14:1–3).
Hosea now gives an Altar call! It is for Israel, but yet it is just as succinctly applicable for any and every person.
What the Holy Spirit gives through the Prophet is a perfect example of what the Lord wants and desires from anyone who comes to Him. It is as follows:
1. Israel is commanded to “return unto the LORD your God”: This is the first step that must be taken, and the only direction that holds an answer, irrespective of the problem.
2. “For you have fallen by your iniquity”: Sin was the problem of Israel, as sin is the problem of the entirety of the human race. Someone has well said, “If the economy was the problem, the Lord would have sent an economist. If manufacturing was the problem, the Lord would have sent an engineer. If construction was the problem, the Lord would have sent a carpenter. But the problem was sin, so God sent a Saviour.”
3. “Take with you words, and turn to the LORD”: Not sacraments, nor ceremonies, nor rituals, but “words.” This is a confession of sin.
4. “And receive us graciously”: This is a cry for forgiveness upon the principle of Grace and not of merit.
5. “So will we render the calves of our lips”: This corresponds to the sacrifice of praise, and refers actually to the Cross.
6. “Asshur shall not save us”: Israel’s sin was trusting man (Assyria and Egypt) and idols for salvation. Trusting man is still our sin.
7. “We will not ride upon horses”: We will not place any trust in the Egyptian cavalry.
8. “Neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, You are our gods”: “Self” cannot save self. Our efforts are constituted by the Lord as idolatry.
9. “For in You the fatherless find mercy”: Jehovah was to be the Father of Israel; however, Israel had forsaken Jehovah and was now fatherless. But her cry is, as it should be ours: “The Lord shows mercy to the fatherless.”
THE ANSWER OF THE LORD TO THE REPENTANCE OF ISRAEL
(AND ANY INDIVIDUAL, FOR THAT MATTER)
10. “I will heal their backsliding”: The “backsliding” referred to apostasy and idolatry. Forgiveness based upon Grace, not upon merit, can pardon the most desperate sins.
11. “I will love them freely”: The statement means “without a just cause.” In other words, even though Israel will give the Lord no reason to love her, He will, just the same, extend his love, just as He will for all who come to Him in humble supplication.
12. “My anger is turned away from him”: True Repentance cools the anger of God.
13. “I will be as the dew unto Israel”: “Dew” speaks of the Holy Spirit, Who will be freely given to Israel, and, again, to anyone who meets God’s terms.
14. “He shall grow as the lily”: The “lily” speaks of Righteousness, freely given!
15. “And cast forth his roots as Lebanon”: Like a tree planted by the waters.
16. “His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree”: Israel will now bring forth fruit, which, of course, will take place in the coming Kingdom Age.
17. “And his smell as Lebanon”: This speaks of the cedars of Lebanon. It is a fact that no insect or serpent can be found where there are Cedar trees, or any of the Cedar family. This tells us of the protection of the Children of God—protection from demon spirits.
18. “They who dwell under His shadow shall return”: This is the resting place for the Child of God, “under His shadow” (Hos. 14:4–7).
To close this great Book, the Prophet, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit said, “Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? Prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein” (Hos. 14:9).
~J. Swaggart
This is the most important question in human existence and one whose answer is clearly outlined in scripture. In order to be saved we must first realize our true state of sinfulness before God and know that He alone can save us, cleanse us, and give us eternal life. Scripture tells us that Jesus is the only way and we can not have access to God through any other means. In fact, in John 14:6, Jesus plainly stated…
God Loves You!
God loves you so much that he made a way for you, through the shed blood of his son so that you might be able to spend eternity with Him.
“For God so loved the world that he gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have Everlasting Life” ( Jn. 3:16 ).
Man is a Sinner, and Sin has Separated him from God!
You may think you are a good person but being good is not enough! Every man has sinned and there is none that is righteous before God!
“For there is not a just man upon Earth, that doeth good and sinneth not” ( Eccl. 7:20 ).
“For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God” (Rom. 3:23).
Jesus Christ is the Only Remedy for Sin!
Jesus Christ is the only remedy for sin. We can not be good enough to get into heaven, nor can our good works get us there.
There was no other way for God to erase the effect of sin except by blood. The shedding of Christ’s blood indicated that the penalty for sin had been paid; a perfect sinless life had been sacrificed for the lives of all who have sinned.
“. . .Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins” ( Hebrews 9:22 )
“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God…” ( I Pet. 3:18 ).
“Neither is there Salvation in any other: for there is none other name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” ( Acts 4:12 ).
You Must Receive Jesus Christ as Your Lord and Savior
To be saved, a man must confess that Jesus is Lord, while acknowledging in his heart that Christ must have full rule over his life. This confession of Christ as Lord assumes that it is Christ who will work and fulfill His own righteousness within man, as man is unable to attain righteousness of his own accord.
Jesus calls this experience the “new birth.” He told Nicodemus: “. . . Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God” ( Jn. 3:3 ).
We invite you now to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour. “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name” ( Jn. 1:12 ).
Pray this Prayer and Mean it with all Your Heart
Dear Lord Jesus, I realize that I am a sinner and have broken your laws. I understand that my sin has separated me from you. I am sorry and I ask you to forgive me. I accept the fact that your son Jesus Christ died for me, was resurrected, and is alive today and hears my prayers. I now open my heart’s door and invite Jesus in to becomemy Lord and my Saviour. I give Him control and ask that He would rule and reign in my heart so that His perfect will would be accomplished in my life. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Congratulations!
If you prayed this prayer in all sincerity, you are now a Child of God. However there are a few things that you need to do to follow up on your commitment.
- Get baptized ( full immersion) in water as commanded by Christ
- Tell someone else about your new faith in Christ.
- Spend time with God each day through prayer and Bible reading
- Seek fellowship with other followers of Jesus
~J. Swaggart Ministry