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Your Word for Today

Your Word for Today

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

The Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul tells us in these Passages what the condition of the world will be in the “last days,” actually in the days in which we presently live. These are the last days of the Church, meaning that its Dispensation is about over, with the righteous soon to be raptured. The world will then be plunged into a cataclysmic judgment such as it has never known before. Jesus said so! (Mat. 24:21). The Second Coming will then usher in the Kingdom Age, and the Restoration of Israel. So we are presently living in the last of the last days of the Church Age.

Paul’s statements here completely eliminate the fallacious thinking of some who claim that the world is getting better and better, and that Christianity is going to come to terms with the other religions of the world and usher in the Kingdom Age, which will then bring Jesus back. Such thinking completely disavows the coming Great Tribulation, the rise of the Antichrist, the Battle of Armageddon, etc.

The Bible doesn’t teach that the situation is going to get better and better, but, as stated here, worse and worse. It also teaches, as we see from Verse 5, that the Church will go into total apostasy. It will have, and presently has, “a form of Godliness, but denies the power thereof.”

What does “denying the power thereof” mean?

Paul said, “For the preaching of the Cross is to them who perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved, it is the Power of God” (I Cor. 1:18).

How is the preaching of the Cross the Power of God?

In truth, there is no power in the Cross, per se, and there certainly isn’t any power in the fact of death. The Power is actually in the Holy Spirit; however, He works exclusively within the parameters of the Finished Work of Christ, and, in fact, will work no other way (Rom. 8:2). When the Believer expresses Faith in Christ and what Christ did at the Cross, the Holy Spirit will then manifest His Almighty Power on behalf of such an individual. The Holy Spirit’s Work on behalf of the Believer is the Power of which Paul speaks.

However, the modern Church, at least as a whole, is denying the Cross. And when the Cross is denied, ignored, ridiculed, or set aside, then the Holy Spirit refuses to work in such an atmosphere. So the Power is denied as well!

How many Churches presently are preaching the Cross? The answer is simple: precious few!

Why aren’t they preaching the Cross?

There are many reasons, but the greatest reason of all, sadly, is “unbelief.”

Let me, however, quickly add:

Even though the situation isn’t good, and, as far as the general direction of the Church is concerned, it’s not going to get any better, still, the Lord, I believe, in these last days, is going to do a great thing, something so great that it will eclipse anything done in the past. While most of the Church will continue to go deeper into apostasy, still, even as Daniel prophesied: “

And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they who turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever.

“Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand” (Dan. 12:3, 10).”

— Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart
 
Your Word for Today

“For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the Faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness, which the Lord, the Righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also who love His appearing (II Tim. 4:6-8).

Paul wrote this last Epistle to Timothy, entrusting him with the greatest Message on Earth, “Jesus Christ and Him Crucified,” and all which that means, which is, in fact, the entirety of the New Covenant. This Epistle was written from the Mammertine Prison in Rome. During Paul’s day, this was merely a cell beneath a cell. In other words, it had no outside entrance; everything had to be let down through a trap door in the ceiling. It had been carved out of solid rock.

This cell stills exists today, and I have been in it. As I stood there that day, along with others, I cannot even begin to tell you how I felt, knowing that the great Apostle had spent his last months of life in this cell, and knowing that he had written his last Epistle (II Timothy) from this very place. I began to read Verses 6, 7, and 8, but I could not finish.

One might say, “The Apostle Paul is possibly the greatest example of Righteousness produced by Christ.” There never has been anyone else quite like the little Jew from Tarsus.

When Paul said, “I am now ready to be offered,” he knew, no doubt by the Holy Spirit, that his work was finished. The word “offered” in the Greek is “spendomai,” which refers to a Drink Offering poured out. Paul uses the same word in Philippians 2:17. He looks upon himself as the libation poured out upon the sacrifice. The libation refers to the lesser part of the sacrifice poured out onto the more important part, i.e., the Drink Offering poured out upon the sacrifice of the lamb. Only one who considered himself less than the least of all Saints could write with such deep humility.

The phrase, “And the time of my departure is at hand,” proclaims the fact that Paul’s work is over; otherwise, Nero could not have taken his life. The servant of the Lord is immortal until his life’s work is done.

The phrase, “I have fought a good fight,” should have been translated, “I have fought the good fight,” because this is the way it is written in the original Greek. Paul wasn’t speaking of himself as fighting a good fight, but rather that he had fought the correct fight. It speaks of an action completed in the past with present results. Paul fought his fight with sin to a finish, and was resting in a complete victory.

The phrase, “I have finished my course,” has reference to a race course. The words, “have finished,” is a like a Greek runner who has crossed the finish line and is now resting at the goal. Paul’s life’s work is over.

The phrase, “I have kept the Faith,” refers to that to which the Lord had entrusted him. He had been given the meaning of the New Covenant; he also had been called upon to plant (or found) the Church. He was the Masterbuilder of the Church. Paul had defended the great truth of the New Covenant, which is the truth of the Cross, in every way. He had defended it against the attacks of the Gnostics, the Judaizers, and others. He never allowed it to be compromised, perverted, polluted, or hindered in any way.

We have what we have today because, against all odds, Paul “kept the Faith.”

The “crown” to which he refers is, in the Greek, “stephanos,” and refers to the “victor’s crown.” The victor’s crown of righteousness is the crown which belongs to, or is the due reward of, Righteousness. The One Who will grant that is “The Righteous Judge,” Who is the just Judge, the Umpire Who makes no mistakes, and Who is always fair. This “crown” will be given to all “who love His appearing.”

We might say that Paul, the spiritual athlete, his victory won, is resting at the goal post, awaiting the award which the Judge’s stand will give him (Wuest).”

— Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart
 
Your Word for Today

“But you speak the things which become sound Doctrine:
Exhort servants to be obedient to their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; Not purloining, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the Doctrine of God our Saviour in all things (Titus 2:1, 9-10).

“Sound Doctrine” pertains to the great Message of the Word of God, “Jesus Christ and Him Crucified” (I Cor. 1:23).

The word “servants,” as used by Paul, is “doulos,” which means “slaves.” These to whom Paul wrote were Christian slaves serving, for the most part, in pagan households.

The freedom of the Gospel and its brotherhood conflicted with the institution of slavery, and ultimately abolished it; but meanwhile slaves were commanded to be subject to those who owned them; for in no rank of society was there more danger of the equality of Christians being misunderstood than in that of slaves. Hence, the large legislation given by the Holy Spirit affecting them (I Cor. 7:20, 24; Eph. 6:5; Col. 3:22; I Tim. 6:1; I Pet. 2:18, etc.).

So great a portion of inspired Scripture being given to slaves ennobles them, and reveals how warmly God loved them, and how largely they engaged His thoughts. The most amazing revelations from God before which great kings and mighty scientists stand dumb and stupid are in the Scriptures connected with slaves and revealed to them.

The best testimony to the doctrines of the Gospel is to adorn them by a Christlike life. Some few carnal men might be ready to die for the Gospel, but only spiritual men can live it. God would have His Truth adorned even by slaves, whom the world at that time regarded as no better than beasts of burden.

True liberty and true equality must reign in a Divinely governed and consistent Church. Its moral order secures both. Satan’s aim is to introduce disorder and thus, disrupt the fellowship and destroy its testimony. But if the precious proprieties ordained by God are not maintained, liberty perishes and carnal tyranny replaces Christian freedom.

The Holy Spirit recognizes, even as is dealt with in this very Chapter, every relationship which God has formed. Age and youth, husband and wife, child and parent, servant and master, all have their own proprieties and ministries to maintain toward each other in the sweetness and power of the Grace that at its appearing brings health and healing to all men.

So the conduct of Christian people among themselves in the Church, and their conduct among their fellow citizens in the State, are both based upon the great doctrines of Christianity.

Grace appeared — not to a particular people — but to all men — and it did not bring them nutriment for their passions, but nourishment for their souls. It did not demand righteousness from men, but brought righteousness to them. They needed Righteousness. So Grace overleaped every obstacle in order to reach every man and to discipline him so that in relation to himself he should be sober; in relation to his neighbor, righteous; and in relation to God, pious (Williams).”

— Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart
 
Your Word for Today

“Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey Magistrates, to be ready to every good work, To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men (Titus 3:1-2).

The conduct of the Christian as a subject of the State is governed by the same principle as motivates our conduct as a member of the Church. We are to be obedient to the government, and to show to our fellow citizens, however hostile, immoral, debased, or degraded they may be, the same Grace that God showed to us, remembering that we possess the same corrupt nature as they, and that in that nature the seeds of all vile passions are also present.

The governing principle of public conduct is foreign to, and opposed to, human nature. Self-interest, ambition, and love of ease, of money, or of position animate the ordinary members of society. The Christian’s conduct is regulated by his relationship to God as the Saviour. We recognize that that which makes us different from others is not any merit in ourselves, or any personal or moral superiority. In a sense, we are even as they. Grace makes the difference, and it teaches us to be as kind and merciful to others as God is to us.

The sense of what we once were, and of the evil of the nature which dwells in us, and of the graceful action of our Lord toward us, all of this combines, or should do so, to govern our conduct toward others.

The Christian is to cheerfully obey the government and to willingly volunteer to support it in “every good work,” unless something is done personally to us which violates our conscience. This is our duty, for the Magistrate is a Divinely appointed officer (Rom., Chpt. 13) to punish evildoers and protect society.

In our own private lives and in our relationship to all men, however hostile and abominable they may be, the Christian is to be gentle toward those who attack us, and generally to pursue a course of peace and benevolence, because the principle of Grace excludes all violence of thought, language, or action.

Some time back, a Television reporter did everything he could do to hurt us, even to destroy us. His last effort was over CNN, which went into some 157 countries. Every effort was made to besmirch, sully, hinder, hurt, and even destroy. In our prayer meeting the morning after the CNN program aired, I endeavored to pray for the reporter. The Scripture says that we should “pray for those who despitefully use us.” But, to be frank, I couldn’t pray. In my heart, I wanted something very bad to happen to him. His efforts actually had gone on for many years, with the CNN program only being the latest.

Finally, I asked the Lord to help me. I knew my feelings were not pleasing to the Lord, and I knew that I needed His help to be able to handle this thing correctly. The Lord spoke to my heart and said, “You show him the same mercy that I have shown you.” That was all there was, and that was enough! All of a sudden, the entire complexion changed. I honestly could pray for the man. To this day, I don’t have a single thing in my heart against him. I realize how much Mercy and Grace the Lord has shown me. As such, how could I do less regarding him?”

— Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart
 
Your Word for Today

“Let us therefore fear, lest, a Promise being left us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the Gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the Word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them who heard it. Seeing therefore it remains that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief (Heb. 4:1-2, 6).

It is my belief that Paul wrote the Book of Hebrews. Whoever wrote it had to have a profound knowledge of the Law, the New Covenant, and the Cross. Concerning these subjects, no one had such knowledge as did Paul.

The Book of Hebrews concerns Christian Jews, who, through discouragement or whatever reason, were turning their backs on Christ, so to speak, and going back into Judaism. In effect, the entirety of this most important Epistle is written as a warning that the Cross of Christ must not be abandoned. If it is, spiritual tragedy is the conclusion!

There is only one way that a person can “enter into His rest,” and that is by accepting Christ and what Christ did at the Cross. When this is done, and the Believer maintains his Faith in Christ and the Cross, the Believer enters into a “spiritual rest” that Jesus described as “more abundant life” (Jn. 10:10). In fact, this “rest” was symbolized during the time of Law by the “Sabbath.” Of course, when Jesus came, the Sabbath was totally fulfilled. One does not need the symbol when one has the Substance! As one now properly follows Christ, it is the same thing as keeping the Sabbath once was, which, incidentally, was Saturday.

The pronoun “us” in Verse 2 refers to those alive in Paul’s day, which continues even unto the present. The pronoun “them” refers to Israel in the wilderness. The Word was preached to those in the wilderness, but “not being mixed with faith in them who heard it,” it did not “profit them.” Carrying forth the same thought, Paul also stated to the Galatians, “If you be Circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing” (Gal. 5:2). The principle is the same!

One must have Faith in Christ and what Christ did at the Cross in order for the “Word” to be of profit. People can study the Word, memorize the Word, and quote the Word; however, if their faith doesn’t make Christ and the Cross its sole Object, then again there is no profit. Regrettably, that’s the place and position in which the modern Church, for the most part, now finds itself.

As Verse 6 proclaims, the major problem is “unbelief.”

At a given point in my life and Ministry, it seemed like total wreckage would be the end result. I simply did not know what to do! How is it possible for the Believer to live a victorious, overcoming Christian life, and do so on a consistent basis, guaranteeing the defeat of Satan and all evil spirits?

I well remember the day I laid my Bible on the table and stated, “I do not presently know the answer to that, but I know the answer is in the Bible, and, by the Grace of God, I’m going to find it.” That was the best decision I’ve ever made. I did find it, and in a capacity that I never dreamed possible. In 1997, the Lord began to open up to me the Revelation of the Cross. It was not something new, actually that which He had already given to the Apostle Paul. But, regrettably, it is new to most of the present Church world. In fact, most Christians have no idea whatsoever as to the part the Cross plays in their Sanctification.

I watched the Denomination with which I had been associated for many years reject the Word of God and embrace humanistic psychology. I turned to the Bible, while they turned to the world.

Why did they do this?

For the same reason that Paul addresses in this Fourth Chapter of Hebrews. The reason was, and is, unbelief! They simply do not believe that what Jesus did at the Cross, and one’s Faith in that Finished Work, can guarantee victory in every capacity. But it most definitely can!

There is no bondage, perversion, sin, transgression, or problem that Jesus didn’t address at the Cross. As a result, total and complete victory, and in every capacity, can belong to the Child of God. In fact, it is meant to belong to the Child of God.

Our Lord paid a great price for this victory, and it certainly should be understood that He desires that we have all for which He paid such a price! (Rom. 6:1-14; I Cor. 1:17-18, 23; 2:2; Gal. 6:14).”

— Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart
 
Your Word for Today

“For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain Mercy, and find Grace to help in time of need (Heb. 4:15-16).

Jesus Christ is our Great High Priest. The heart of that Priest is not insensible to the sorrows, needs, infirmities, and temptations of those for whom He acts, for He Personally, as Man, suffered the worst form of temptation, but never sinned. To come timidly to the Throne of Grace is to disobey God, for He commands His People to come boldly. Man, unfortunately, condemns this boldness and applauds his own faithless fearfulness.

The true Christian does not wish for sympathy with the sin that is in him. He detests it, and desires that it be slain with the two-edged sword of Hebrews 4:12, and to have no mercy shown to it. This is the purpose and action of the sword, i.e., the Word of God.

But the Believer does desire sympathy for his weakness and difficulties in temptation, and this sympathy he finds in all perfection in the Great High Priest, Who wields the sword of the Word. These Divine provisions of the sword and the Priest encourage him to hold fast his confession despite the difficulties that beset his path.

The type of temptations that Jesus experienced is actually the root of all temptation. Jesus wasn’t tempted to steal money, commit adultery, to lie, etc., as some think. His temptation came in the form of Him stepping outside the Will of God. An excellent example would be His temptation to turn the stones into bread while in the wilderness (Mat. 4:3-4). He had the power to do such, but it would not have been the Will of the Father for Him to use His Power in such a manner.

Satan does the same thing with Believers – tempting us to step outside the Will of God, i.e., “the Word of God.” When the Believer comes to the place that he is tempted to steal, to lie, or to engage in some type of immorality, etc., this is a position that he shouldn’t be in. If our Faith is correct concerning Christ and the Cross, we will definitely be tempted to step outside of the Will of God; but, if Victory is won there, there will be no problem with the other types of temptations. They simply won’t happen!

Sadly, when temptation gets to the place that we are tempted to commit particular acts of sin, we will, at some point, probably yield, because we have been maneuvered by Satan into this place.

One might say the temptation comes in two steps: The first step, as stated, pertains to the Believer getting out of the Will of God, actually into the flesh.

The second step pertains to committing acts of sin.

No Believer should get past the first step; we won’t, in fact, if our faith is properly placed. If we do drop down to the second step, then the situation becomes critical, because, as we’ve also already stated, failure will be, more than likely, the result.

Jesus knows exactly the types of temptation that Satan brings against us, and He empathizes greatly with us, because, as the Man Jesus Christ, He has been there, at least as it regards the temptation to step outside of the Will of God — a temptation, of course, to which He never succumbed. Because He never sinned by stepping out of the Will of God, He never experienced the lower form of temptation, but He does understand it. He understands it not by experimentation, but by the fact that He is God, and knows all things.

The position of safety is Faith in Christ and the Cross, and it is the only position of safety (Phil. 3:1; Ps. 91:1-7).”

— Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart
 
Your Word for Today

“Therefore leaving the Principles of the Doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of Repentance from dead works, and of Faith toward God, Of the Doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of Resurrection of the dead, and of Eternal Judgment (Heb. 6:1-2).

The above quoted Scriptures are those used by individuals who claim that the Cross, although proper for Salvation, has no meaning thereafter, and that the Believer should go beyond the Cross.

There is, however, nothing beyond the Cross, as there needs to be nothing beyond the Cross. These individuals are basing their belief system on a gross misinterpretation of the Scriptures, which we will address here.

We must, first of all, understand that the entirety of the Bible points to Christ, both Old and New Testaments. The Old Testament points to Christ Who was to come, while the New Testament points to Christ Who has come. Christ and the Cross are ever before the Reader in the entirety of the Word of God (Jn. 1:1).

When Paul said, “Therefore leaving the Principles of the Doctrine of Christ,” he was speaking of the first principles (Heb. 5:12), which pertained to the Law of the Moses. The entirety of the Law of Moses, and in every capacity, pointed to Christ, which it was meant to do. With Christ now having come, it is not proper, Paul tells these Christian Jews, to try to cling to the old Law. It has already been fulfilled in Christ. Consequently, we should leave those first principles of the Law.

The phrase, “Let us go on unto perfection,” should have been translated, “maturity.” The Apostle is saying that it’s not possible for the Believer to mature when he is improperly addressing Christ, i.e., when he is going back to the Law.

The phrase, “Not laying again the foundation of Repentance from dead works,” had to do with repentance as it regarded the animal sacrifices. Due to the fact that Christ has come and has gone to the Cross, thereby atoning for all sin, the Sacrificial System of old is now adjudged to be “dead works.” Repentance must be on the basis of what Christ has done at the Cross, and not on the Sacrificial System of old (I Jn. 1:7).

The short phrase, “And of faith toward God,” refers, as here stated, to improper faith. It is faith toward God based on the old Sacrificial System, which the Lord now will not accept. Our faith must be in Christ and what Christ has done at the Cross (Rom. 6:1-14).

The phrase, “Of the Doctrine of baptisms,” should have been translated “of the Doctrine of Washings,” which is what the original Greek actually says. The “washings” mentioned here had to do, once again, with the animal sacrifices, which required washings before they were offered up on the Altar. It also referred to the Priests, who had to wash in the Brazen Laver, both hands and feet, every time they entered into the Holy Place of the Tabernacle or Temple.

The phrase, “And of laying on of hands,” is not pertaining to the custom of laying on of hands to bless people, or to pray for their healing, etc., but rather of the sinner who had brought the lamb for sacrifice. Just before the lamb was killed, the sinner laid his hands on the lamb’s head and confessed his sins. That is no longer needed, as should be obvious, inasmuch as Jesus has gone to the Cross. Now, we pray to God the Father in the Name of Jesus, confessing our sins (Jn. 16:23; I Jn. 1:9).

The phrase, “And of Resurrection of the dead,” simply means that before the Resurrection of Christ, the fact of the Resurrection was known only in shadow. Now, since the Resurrection of Christ, there is a far greater understanding.

The phrase, “And of Eternal Judgment,” was, in Old Testament times, also known only with very little knowledge. In fact, during those times, God was looked at more so as a Judge than a Saviour.

So, it shows a great misunderstanding of these Passages of Scripture for Believers to use them to claim that Believers are to leave the Cross after getting saved and go on to other things. I hope this is, by now, overly obvious. It is impossible to go beyond the Cross, because every single thing the Lord does is based on the foundation of the Cross, and in totality.

That’s why Paul said, “We preach Christ Crucified” (I Cor. 1:23). In fact, the Cross of Christ is an Everlasting Covenant (Heb. 13:20).”

— Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart
 
Your Word for Today

“For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the Heavenly Gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, And have tasted of the good Word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto Repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame (Heb. 6:4-6).

These Passages, as should be overly obvious, completely refute the unscriptural doctrine of Unconditional Eternal Security.

The people to whom Paul was writing were Christian Jews. They had grown discouraged for one reason or the other, and some of them went back into Temple worship, actually the old Mosaic Law. The Apostle here warns them that if they fall away from Faith in Christ and what Christ did at the Cross, they have then repudiated the Plan of Salvation, which means there is no way for true Repentance to be enjoined.

The manner of Salvation is faith; however, it is Faith in the correct Object, which is Christ and Him Crucified. As long as one maintains Faith in Christ and what He did at the Cross, Salvation is maintained. If one loses faith in Christ and the Cross, thereby placing faith in something else (and it really doesn’t matter what the something else is), if they continue on that path, they will ultimately lose their soul.

Please note carefully:

These individuals to whom Paul was writing were not people who had merely heard the Gospel and now had decided not to accept it. They were people who had wondrously and gloriously accepted the Gospel, had been thereby “enlightened,” which is impossible for an unsaved person, and they had also “tasted of the Heavenly Gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit.”

(The Greek word for “partaker” is “metochos,” which means “a sharer, a partaker,” which no unbeliever could be.)

No! These were individuals who had accepted Christ, which means they had been Born-Again. But now they are ceasing to believe in Christ; by doing what they did, they were making a mockery of Christ, actually “crucifying to themselves the Son of God afresh, and putting Him to an open shame.”

Because it is so important, let us say it again:

Faith is the key to Salvation (Rom. 5:1). If that, in fact, is the case, and it most definitely is, if faith ceases to be, at least in the correct Object, which is Christ and the Cross, then Salvation is forfeited. This is what the Apostle is saying, which means that what these Christian Jews were doing was serious indeed!

The same thing holds true presently. If Satan can get the Believer to subscribe to something which is not Christ and the Cross, the possibility definitely exists that the soul of such a person can be lost. Our Faith must ever have Christ and the Cross as its Object. Further, this means it cannot be Christ and the Cross plus. . . !”

— Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart
 
Your Word for Today

“Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost who come unto God by Him, seeing He ever lives to make intercession for them. For such an High Priest became us, Who is Holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needs not daily, as those High Priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for His Own sins, and then for the people’s: for this He did once, when He offered up Himself (Heb. 7:25-27).

The “intercession” made by Christ for us, which He does continually, is intercession for sin. Several things are said here. They are:

1. Sin is of far greater magnitude than most Believers know or understand. Without the intercession of Christ on our behalf, and on a constant basis, the best of us, whoever that might be, wouldn’t last one hour.

2. His “intercession” for us is not something that He does; it’s actually something He has already done. The very fact of His Presence at the Throne (Heb. 1:3) proclaims the fact that God the Father has accepted what Christ has done for us regarding Atonement; therefore, His Presence is all that is needed. Intercession is thereby guaranteed.

3. Every last Believer needs intercession, and continually. If someone thinks they don’t, this means they do not really understand themselves, what sin actually is, and what Christ has actually done for us at the Cross.

4. Jesus Christ is our Great High Priest; as such, He intercedes for us on the basis of a Finished Work, which means there is no danger that the intercession will not be accepted.

5. The reason for the total acceptance by God the father of such intercession is because it is all in Christ and not at all in those for whom He is interceding. All of this means that we have a perfect High Priest, “Who is Holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.”

— Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart
 
Your Word for Today

“But now has He obtained a more excellent Ministry, by how much also He is the Mediator of a Better Covenant, which was established upon better Promises (Heb. 8:6).

“The Better Covenant” is that of Hebrews 8:10; “The Better Promises” are those of Hebrews 8:10-12.

Concerning this statement made by Paul, Wuest says, “The Book of Hebrews was written to prove the following proposition: The New Testament in Jesus’ Blood is superior to, and takes the place of, the First Covenant in animal blood. The writer has proved this to be true on the basis of pure logic and the Old Testament Scriptures. Using the logical argument that a superior workman turns out a superior product, he has shown that Messiah, the Founder of the New Testament, is better than the founders of the First Testament, who were the Prophets, Angels, Moses, Joshua, and Aaron. Therefore, the Testament He brought in is superior to, and takes the place of, theirs.”

“The Better Covenant,” which was established upon “Better Promises,” was made possible totally and entirely by the Cross. Even as the Scripture says (Heb. 8:7), the First Covenant was never meant to solve the human problem, since animal blood was woefully insufficient to do that. So, for a “Better Covenant,” based on “Better Promises,” to be brought about, God would have to become Man, live a perfect Life, never fail, not even once, thereby keeping the Law of Moses in every respect, and then go to the Cross in order to address the broken Law, which Christ did, and atone for all sin, which God the Father accepted totally and completely as full payment. The Law was, therefore, satisfied in every respect.

The Believer must understand the following:

All of this was done for you and me. It was not at all done for Heaven, for the Throne of God, for Angels, or for Himself, only for sinners. It was done so perfectly and so completely that everyone who evidences Faith in Christ and His Finished Work becomes the recipient of this “Better Covenant,” based on “Better Promises.” This is what Jesus was talking about when He said that the least Believer in the Kingdom of God was, and is, greater than John the Baptist, all because of the privileges afforded under the New Covenant (Lk. 7:28).

What a privilege we have! All because of the Cross of Christ!”

— Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart
 
Your Word for Today

“How much more shall the Blood of Christ, Who through the Eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the Living God? (Heb. 9:14).

There are some who claim that “The Eternal Spirit” here specified is not the Holy Spirit, but rather the personal Spirit of Christ. They conclude this because, as they say, there is no definite article, “the,” in front of “Spirit”; however, the definite article does precede “Eternal Spirit,” signifying the Holy Spirit. God the Father is referred to as “The Eternal God” (Deut. 33:27), and the Lord Jesus is also referred to as “The King Eternal” (I Tim.1:17). We also have here “The Eternal Spirit,” so-called.

The idea is this:

The Holy Spirit superintended Christ in every facet of His Life and living. It was the Holy Spirit Who decreed the Conception (Mat. 1:20). The Holy Spirit also superintended His Birth (Lk. 2:26-27) and His Childhood (Lk. 2:40). At His Water Baptism, “the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily shape like a Dove upon Him” (Lk. 3:22). Just before beginning His public Ministry, the Scripture says that He “was led by the Spirit into the wilderness” (Lk. 4:1).

At the beginning of His Ministry, and continuing throughout His Ministry, He said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me . . .” (Lk. 4:18). So now when it is time to die, the very purpose and reason for which He came, He would breathe out His Life only when “The Eternal Spirit” told Him to do so. He was guided, helped, strengthened, empowered, and led by the Holy Spirit in every facet of His Life and living, even at His Death.

But it didn’t stop there:

“The Spirit . . . raised up Jesus from the dead” (Rom. 8:11). Moreover, concerning His Disciples and all His followers, and for all time, just before He ascended back to Heaven, “being assembled together with them, Commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the Promise of the Father . . . For John truly baptized with water; but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days hence” (Acts 1:4-5).

The Lord is telling them, and us, that since the Cross, which has made it all possible, the Holy Spirit can abide in the hearts and lives of all Believers, and will, in fact, do so, exactly as He abode in the heart and life of Jesus in His earthly Ministry.

What a privilege!

Exactly as He promised, He sent the Holy Spirit back, and did so in a completely new dimension. It is recorded in the Second Chapter of Acts.

If there is any great mistake the Church makes, it is undervaluing the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit, the Church is no more than any other earthly club or gathering. But with the Holy Spirit, the Church becomes a living dynamo.

There is nothing more dangerous than a Church which can function without the Holy Spirit. While there might be great religious activity, there is nothing truly done for the Lord. Sadly, that’s the state of the far greater majority of the modern Church.

If Jesus needed the Holy Spirit, and the evidence is overwhelming that He did, then we, most definitely, also need the Holy Spirit!”

— Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart
 
Your Word for Today

“But this Man, after He had offered One Sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the Right Hand of God; From henceforth expecting till His enemies be made His footstool. For by one Offering He has perfected forever them who are Sanctified (Heb. 10:12-14).

Sin is the problem, whether it’s an unbeliever or a Believer. The Cross is the only answer for sin. There is no other!

When Jesus died on the Cross, He atoned for all sin and all sins, past, present, and future, at least for those who will believe (Jn. 3:16). In other words, He addressed not only the effect of sin, but also its cause. To be sure, the “One Sacrifice,” which spoke of Christ offering Himself, was enough. It will never have to be repeated, because it was totally sufficient to accomplish the task.

That Christ presently has “sat down on the Right Hand of God” tells us that the work was complete, absolute, total, will never need to be repeated, and was accepted fully by God the Father. In other words, the effect was perfect because the Sacrifice was Perfect; the Sacrifice was Christ.

There is only one way that a proper Sanctification can take place in the heart and life of the Believer and have an ongoing positive effect. That way is by the Believer placing his Faith and trust exclusively in the “One Offering of Christ,” even as Hebrews 10:14 proclaims. As stated, the Cross is the only Sacrifice for sins.

When the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul gave instructions as to how this Sanctification was to be carried out, i.e., how the Believer could have perpetual victory over the world, the flesh, and the Devil, He took the Believer straight to the Cross (Rom. 6:3-5). There He tells the Believer that the same way he got in (was converted) is the same way he stays in. It is by making the Cross of Christ the Object of one’s Faith, and maintaining one’s Faith in the Cross of Christ. This, and this alone, is the manner of Sanctification.

Unfortunately, the modern Church has accepted, and is accepting, almost anything and everything that one might think or suggest in place of the Cross. But no matter how religious these other efforts might be, and no matter that the far greater majority of the modern Church accepts them, there will be no positive effect regarding Sanctification.

There is nothing more miserable than a Christian living a life that falls short of victory. That’s not the way it ought to be. There should be victory, and on a perpetual basis. If the Believer will look exclusively to Christ and His Finished Work, and continue to do so, to be certain, the Holy Spirit will get it done (Rom. 6:1-14).

Concerning this, the Scripture boldly says: “Whereof the Holy Spirit also is a witness to us” (Heb. 10:15).

To have the witness of man is one thing, but to have the witness of the Holy Spirit is something else altogether. The Holy Spirit has just put His seal of approval on the things we have just taught.

There is victory in the Cross of Christ, and there is victory only in the Cross of Christ!“

— Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart
 
Your Word for Today

“Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the Elders obtained a good report (Heb. 11:1-2).

Having proved from the Scriptures that the “rest” and “the good things” of the New Covenant are secured and held by faith, the Holy Spirit now illustrates the activities of faith. Verse 1 is not a definition of faith, but a declaration of its action. It makes Promises present and real and unseen things visible.

So the Promises respecting Canaan were real to Abraham and to Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, though they were wanderers, and all died without getting them. Similarly, Abel saw the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world; Enoch saw his Divine companion; Noah saw the coming Flood; Abraham saw the city which has foundations; Moses saw Him Who is invisible; women saw “a better resurrection,” and they all saw the “better thing” which God provided for them.

By faith Abel — by faith Enoch — by faith Noah. These three Patriarchs illustrate Worship, Walk, and Witness; and, Salvation, Consecration, and Condemnation. This is faith in action upon the path of Faith. Verse 4 proclaims Abel offering to God “a more excellent Sacrifice than Cain.” It was a lamb. Here was a lamb for one man; in Exodus 12, a lamb for a family; in Leviticus 16, a lamb for a nation; and in John 1:29, a lamb for the whole world.

Going to Verse 7, the human race, we find, owes its existence to the fact that one man, Noah, was “moved with fear.” As a factor in Salvation, fear is decried at the present day, and only love is declared to be the true Gospel. Enoch predicted the Wrath of God, i.e., the Flood (Jude, Vs. 14). Society laughed; Noah trembled.

Looking at Verses 25 through 27, we find that Moses chose the slave driver’s lash rather than Egypt’s crown. Thus, he forsook the throne of Egypt, and, in so doing, braved the anger of the king, who must have been much incensed that a royal prince should degrade the imperial throne and family by such a decision.

The Scripture says that Moses, “Through Faith he kept the Passover, and the sprinkling of the Blood, lest He Who destroyed the firstborn should touch them” (Heb. 11:28).

The Blood of Christ, we find here, is precious to Faith, but the Doctrine of the Atonement is offensive to the self-righteous moralist. While Providence placed Moses in the court of Pharaoh, faith caused him to forsake it. Thus, faith as a motive produced the effect which Providence prepared. Providence governs circumstances; faith governs conduct.

The faith that did not fear the wrath of Pharaoh feared the Wrath of God. By the sprinkling of the Blood, Moses acknowledged that he was as much the object of the just judgment of God as was Pharaoh himself. There was no moral difference between them. Both were sinners. Neither of them was innocent. Both stood under the sentence of death; and, being guilty, both merited it. However, the faith that sprinkled the blood, and the unbelief that refused its shelter in the form of Pharaoh, fixed this great gulf between the two men.

Moses balanced the best of the world with the shame of Christ, and deliberately chose the latter. He saw its future wealth. However, he could see it only in Christ and the Cross, of which the Passover was a symbol!

The Cross helps one to see one’s self, to see this world as it really is, and, above all, to see the Promises of God as they really are!“

— Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart
 
Your Word for Today

“For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives. If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chastens not? But if you be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are you bastards, and not sons (Heb. 12:6-8).

In these extremely informative Passages, several things are here seen:

1. The words, “chasten” and “chastisement,” do not carry the idea of punishment, but rather of corrective measures, which drive the person to the Lord, with the Holy Spirit then correcting the situation, which He Alone can do.

2. The problem is sin, even as the problem always is sin (Heb. 12:4). To be sure, the Holy Spirit will not rest until the problem is solved, ever how long it takes, and ever how severe the chastening has to be.

3. The Believer is not to despise “the chastening of the Lord,” but rather understand its necessity.

4. Every single true Believer is loved by the Lord. That means that every single true Believer experiences chastening from the Lord. There has never been one, and never will be one, who doesn’t need such chastening.

5. In the chastening process, which will never end until either we die or the Lord comes, we may be assured that the Lord is dealing with us, not as sinners, but as “sons.” So that means that the chastening is always guarded by love.

6. If one claims the Lord, and there never seems to be any chastisement, that’s a perfect sign that the person is really not saved. The Holy Spirit is blunt in his assessments. These people are “bastards, and not sons.”

7. All of this is being done “for our profit, that we might be partakers of His Holiness” (Heb. 12:10).

8. Admittedly, chastening is not joyous, but rather grievous; however, we can rest assured that it will ultimately “yield the peaceable fruit of Righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby” (Heb. 12:11).“

— Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart
 
Your Word for Today

“Now the God of Peace, Who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that Great Shepherd of the sheep, through the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do His Will, working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to Whom be glory forever and ever. Amen (Heb. 13:20-21).

By virtue of Christ’s Blood, i.e., His Atoning Sacrifice as the Good Shepherd, He is the Great Shepherd of the sheep. He could not be such had He not, as the Good Shepherd, shed His Blood for the sheep and so established the Everlasting Covenant.

The Twentieth Verse of this Thirteenth Chapter presents the only time in the entirety of the Book of Hebrews that Paul mentions the Resurrection. Even then, it is in connection with the Cross, evidenced by the phrase, “The Blood of the Everlasting Covenant,” proclaiming the fact that it was the Cross that established that Covenant.

Unfortunately, all too many modern Christians place the emphasis of strength in the Resurrection, and not in the Cross. When they do that, they are doing the same thing that Israel did with the Abrahamic Covenant.

The Abrahamic Covenant was meant to be the theme of Israel’s relationship with God, the only way, in fact, that such relationship could be established. It had to be by faith (Gen. 15:6). However, when the Law was given, Israel inverted the process. They made the Law the primary objective instead of the Abrahamic Covenant; thereby, they lost their way.

In a sense, the modern Church does the same, when it places the emphasis of the Atonement on the Resurrection instead of on the Cross. To be sure, the Resurrection is a product of the Cross, and not the other way around. The Resurrection, even as the Law, was, and is, of extreme significance, as should be overly obvious, but the Resurrection is not the central theme of the Gospel, but rather the Cross.

If the Resurrection was the central theme, wouldn’t it stand to reason that Paul would have done more than mention it just one time in this great Book of Hebrews? The answer to that is obvious.

The Covenant that Jesus established at the Cross was so perfect, so complete, so total, that the Holy Spirit referred to it as “The Everlasting Covenant.” This means that this Covenant will never have to be amended, will never lose its power and be discarded, and nothing will ever have to be substituted for it. It is Everlasting, which means Eternal.

It is so Eternal, in fact, that in the last two Chapters of the Book of Revelation, the word “Lamb” is used some seven times, which always denotes the Cross. This is remarkable when one considers that Satan and all of his cohorts are then in the Lake of Fire, where they will remain forever (Rev. 20:10).

In the New Heavens and the New Earth, there is no more sin, no more failure, no more transgression, no more disobedience, no more pain, sickness, suffering, or death, all caused by sin. It will be a perfect eternity. And yet, some seven times, the Holy Spirit then refers to Christ as “the Lamb.”

This is to let us know that all of these beautiful things described in the last two Chapters of Revelation are all made possible, and exclusively so, by the Cross, hence “the Lamb.” Not only is the Cross an Everlasting Covenant regarding the coming perfect day which will never end, but it is that, and that alone, which brings the Saint to maturity, “perfect in every good work to do His Will.”

It is ever the Cross! Ever the Cross! Ever the Cross!“

— Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart
 
Your Word for Today

“Do you think that the Scripture says in vain, The Spirit Who dwells in us lusts to envy? But He gives more Grace. Wherefore He said, God resists the proud but gives Grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded (James 4:5-8).

The phrase of Verse 5, “The Spirit Who dwells in us lusts to envy,” speaks of the Holy Spirit. The two words connected with Him, “lusts” and “envy,” seem strange to the ear.

As we presently understand the word “lusts,” it virtually always denotes something bad; however, the real meaning of the word is “to earnestly or passionately desire.” Of what is the Holy Spirit envious? What does He passionately desire?

The Holy Spirit is envious of any control the fallen nature might have over the Believer and is passionately desirous that He controls all our thoughts, words, and deeds. He is desirous of having the Believer depend on Him for His Ministry to him so that He might discharge His responsibility to the One Who sent Him, namely God the Father.

The pronoun “He” in Verse 6 refers to the Holy Spirit, and that He is the Dispenser of Grace. Providing the Believer ever makes the Cross the Object of his Faith, Grace will continue to come in an uninterrupted flow.

Concerning “pride” and “humility,” God resists those who look to something other than the Cross and blesses those who humble themselves by looking strictly to Christ and the Cross, which alone develops humility.

When James said, “Submit yourselves therefore to God,” this means that the Holy Spirit desires that we submit ourselves to the Plan which God has provided, which is “Jesus Christ and Him Crucified.”

Millions of Believers have read the phrase, “Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you,” and have wondered, deep in their hearts, “What does this mean?” They have tried to resist Satan, and have had little success.

The way to resist the Devil, and the only way, is to strictly look to Christ and what He has done for us at the Cross, where Satan was totally defeated (Col. 2:14-15). When we do this, we have the help of the Holy Spirit, with Whom Satan has no desire to tangle. However, far too many Christians attempt to resist the Devil in all the wrong ways. He can only be resisted in one way — that which we have given — which is Christ and the Cross and our Faith in that Finished Work.

Every Believer must have a desire to “draw near to God.” If this is done, He will draw near to us. We have here His Promise. Once again, this is ever done by Faith whichever makes the Cross of Christ its Object.

Last, of all, the Holy Spirit through James told us to “cleanse our hands,” which refers to that which we do, and to “purify our hearts,” which can only be done by making Christ and the Cross the Object of our Faith. This is the Sanctification of the Saint. It is impossible otherwise for the Believer to live a victorious, Christian life.“

— Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart
 
Your Word for Today

“Is any sick among you? Let him call for the Elders of the Church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the Name of the Lord: And the prayer of Faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they shall be forgiven him (James 5:14-15).

Divine Healing is part and parcel of the great Gospel of Faith. While the Lord does not heal all of the time, He most definitely still heals.

I was wondrously healed when I was about ten years old. My parents took me to the doctor several times, but nothing could be found. I stayed nauseous constantly, and, at times, would go unconscious. Actually, I passed out several times at school, and the last time this happened, the Principal told my parents, “If something is not done, you are going to have to take Jimmy out of school. We don’t want him dying on our hands.” That’s how critical the situation was.

My family belonged to the tiny Assembly of God Church in our little town of Ferriday, Louisiana. Our Pastor, although young, was a Godly Brother, who definitely believed that the Lord healed the sick. I was prayed for any number of times by him and others, but seemingly to no avail. The problem not only did not get better, it grew worse.

I will never forget the day that healing came. It was Sunday. The Church Service had ended, and my parents were taking the Pastor and his wife out to lunch. But first they had to go by the home of a parishioner who was ill and pray for him.

I remember us walking into the humble dwelling, praying for the dear Brother, and then coming back out to the front room, ready to leave. Suddenly, my Dad spoke up and said, “Brother Culbreth, anoint Jimmy, and pray for him. If the Lord doesn’t do something for him, we’re going to have to take him out of school.”

This dear man, as stated, had prayed for me many times, but to no avail. Other Godly people had also prayed for me, but still, there was no healing. Most of the time we have little clue as to exactly why the Lord does things in the manner in which He does them. Whatever He does, however, is always for purpose.

In my mind’s eye, I can see Brother Culbreth as he walked across the floor with a bottle of oil in his hand, which he had just used to anoint the dear Brother for whom we had all just prayed.

Brother Culbreth put some oil on the tip of his finger, anointed my head, and, all of a sudden, it happened. Without warning, the Spirit of God came down in that room. I felt something like a ball of fire start at the top of my head and slowly go down through my body and out my feet. I was only about ten years old, but I knew the Lord had healed me. I knew it beyond the shadow of a doubt. And that’s exactly what happened.

Whatever the problem was, it went and has never returned. In fact, I’ve had almost perfect health from that day until this, which is just a few days before my 70th Birthday. Why did the Lord do it this way? Why wasn’t I healed at the other times the Pastor prayed for me?

I don’t have the answers to those questions. However, for the following I am very thankful:

I’m glad we attended a Church that believed in praying for the sick. Had that not been the case, I probably would not be here today. Second, I’m glad our Pastor was a Godly Brother, and that he kept believing with us, despite the fact that healing did not come immediately. I’m glad my parents didn’t get discouraged and quit seeking the Lord concerning my healing. They kept believing and the Lord rewarded our faith.

When I say the Lord heals, I’m saying it on the authority of His Word; however, I’m also saying it on the authority that Word has had in my life in effecting healing for me.

The husbandman must be first partaker of the fruit. And by the Grace of God, I have been a partaker of that fruit (II Tim. 2:6).“

— Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart
 
Your Word for Today

“Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through Sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the Blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied (I Pet. 1:2).

There are three steps, one might say, which pertain to the sinner coming to Christ:
1. God the Father chooses you for Salvation.
2. God the Spirit brings you to the act of faith.
3. God the Son cleanses you from your sin.

The two terms, “elect” and “foreknowledge of God,” need to be explained.

First of all, the “elect” are those who elect to favorably respond to the Call of the Holy Spirit.

The “foreknowledge of God the Father” pertains to the Omniscience of God, i.e., that He knows all things, past, present, and future. Through foreknowledge, He knew that He would have to send a Saviour to redeem man from the Fall; all who accept the Saviour are the “elect.”

The words, “elect,” “foreknowledge,” and “predestination,” do not mean, as some teach, that God has selected some to go to Heaven and some to go to Hell, and there is nothing they can do about the selected destination. These words refer to the Plan of God; it is the Plan of God which has been foreordained, elected, or predestinated. However, who will be in that Plan is determined by “whosoever will” (Jn. 3:16; Rev. 22:17).

So the first step in the Salvation process is God the Father, through Christ and by the Holy Spirit, presenting the Plan of Salvation, by whatever means, to the lost soul. That person has the privilege of responding with either “Yes” or “No”! Regrettably, most, it seems, reject.

The second step pertains to Sanctification of the sinner coming to Christ, which is carried out strictly by the Holy Spirit. The Greek word used here for “sanctify” means “to be set apart unto God.” Actually, when the sinner comes to Christ, the very thing that happens is that a “washing and sanctifying” takes place (I Cor. 6:11). Before the believing sinner can be “declared” clean, which is “Justification,” he must first of all be “made” clean, which is Sanctification.

All of this is done under the covering of the shed Blood of Jesus Christ, which could be constituted as the third step, in which God the Son cleanses the believing sinner in His Own Precious Blood. This is given to us in the words, “sprinkling of the Blood of Jesus Christ”; Peter uses the phraseology and typology of the Levitical ritual where the Priest sprinkled the people with the sacrificial blood (Heb. 9:19).

All of this is a legal work, carried out by the Lord, which constitutes one being “born again.” All the believing sinner has to do is to exhibit Faith in Christ, which then sets all of this in motion, and which is, in fact, carried out instantly.

Actually, all of this which we have just mentioned, and I refer to the Salvation process, has already been done. It just awaits the faith of the sinner. When the Holy Spirit deals with the lost soul, the person has the choice of accepting or rejecting. If he accepts, and does so by faith, Salvation instantly is accomplished, because the Work has already been accomplished at the Cross and accepted by the Father.“

— Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart
 
Your Word for Today

“Forasmuch as you know that you were not Redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation (lifestyle) received by tradition from your fathers; But with the Precious Blood of Christ, as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you (I Pet. 1:18-20).

These three Verses of Scripture proclaim to us the fact that the Doctrine or principal of the Cross of Christ is the oldest doctrine known to man. Through foreknowledge, God knew, in eternity past, that He would make man, and that man would fall. So it was deemed necessary by the Godhead that man would be redeemed by God becoming Man, going to the Cross, and thereby atoning for all sin, actually serving as man’s Substitute. All of this was decided before the foundation of the world.

“Foreordained,” in the Greek Text, means “to designate beforehand” to a position or function. In the councils of the Triune God, the Lord Jesus was the Lamb marked out for Sacrifice. Before this Universe was created, the Lord Jesus had been foreordained to be the Saviour of lost sinners, and the Saints had been foreordained to become recipients of the Salvation He would procure for lost sinners at the Cross (Eph. 1:4; Rom. 8:29).

Considering that the Cross of Christ was foreordained from before the foundation of the world to be the essential core principle of Salvation, this means that every other doctrine must be built squarely on the basis of the Cross of Christ. If it is not, at least in some manner or way, it will be specious. That, in fact, has been the problem from the very beginning. It began with Cain and Abel, even at the dawn of time.

After the Fall, the First Family was given instructions by the Lord as to how sins could be forgiven and fellowship restored. It was by virtue of the slain lamb, which would be a symbol of the Coming Redeemer. Abel carried out the instructions of the Lord to the letter, but Cain substituted something else. The “something else” has been the problem from then until now. All false doctrine has its beginning through a misinterpretation, a lack of understanding, or a denial of the Cross of Christ. When the Church gets off track, or even the individual Believer, the Church or the Believer has to come back to the Cross before things can be made right.

Even though the Cross of Christ was foreordained before the foundation of the world, still, it has been “manifest in these last times for me and you.” If we ignore what the Lord has done, there is no way we can go in the right direction. The foundation is the Cross of Christ, and it will always be the foundation. Paul labeled it “The Everlasting Covenant” (Heb. 13:20).“

— Donnie Swaggart (taken from the “Word for Every Day”)
Donnie Swaggart
 
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