The following is a list of frequently asked questions that we receive here at Frances and Friends. We have noticed that for the most part, our listeners tend to ask the same types of questions that are all believers ask from time to time. Since it is impossible for us to answer each letter and email, we are starting an online F.A.Q. or reposistory of common questions to enable our readers the convenience of being able to search these things out for themselves. We hope it is a blessing to you. Please be patient as we continue to add to the list!
Luke 9:23 – “And He said unto them all, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”
You can go to any youth group in America today and you will find discipleship programs coming from the majority of them, and rightly so. But the sad fact is that many do not properly understand what true Discipleship really means.
WHAT IS TRUE DISCIPLESHIP?
What is a disciple? A disciple, simply put, is a follower of Jesus Christ. But more importantly, it is a person who understands that their Faith in Jesus Christ and Him Crucified is the answer for all of life’s problems. He understands that there is no other means by which he can have a proper relationship with God. He also knows that Faith in the Cross of Jesus Christ gives us the ability to live a holy, righteous, victorious life, free from all sin and guilt. Likewise, true Discipleship is teaching people to place their Faith in Christ and the Cross, and not in Law. You cannot separate the Disciple from the Master, Christ, and you must never separate Christ from the Cross. Many youth groups today are preaching and teaching a Cross-less Christ, which will bring problems unparalleled to the Believer.
SANCTIFICATION
Frankly, many understand the Cross in regards to our Salvation, but they do not understand the Cross relative to Sanctification, i.e., our everyday Christian living. And not properly understanding the Cross as a part of our everyday living, such a person tends to go toward Law, for that is all that he knows. In other words, the flesh always gravitates toward Law; it cannot gravitate toward the Spirit. This is where most youth groups get it wrong. They teach that you must do certain things, such as, reading the Bible, praying, witnessing, abstaining from all appearances of evil, etc., etc., and that will give you victory over sin.
As good as those things are, they will not give you victory over sin. Now, I must stress, and I encourage all young people to do these things, but do not place your Faith in the doing of these things. But rather place your Faith in the Finished Work of Christ, and those things will automatically come into play. The only thing, and I mean the only thing, that will give you victory over sin is your Faith in the Cross of Christ.
THE CRITERIA FOR BEING A TRUE DISCIPLE
Christ, in Luke 9:23, gives us the criteria for being a true Disciple, which are as follows.
1. DENY YOURSELF: The first thing that Christ demands is the denial of self. What does this mean? It does not mean asceticism, which means the practice of self-discipline and a refusal of all forms of indulgences, but rather means the denial of one’s own ability or strength. In other words, it is a refusal to trust in our own abilities or things that we do to provide victory over sin. We must understand that we cannot save ourselves from sin, nor can we free ourselves from sin. We have to look to Calvary, and what Jesus did there to break the sin cycle in our lives, and to keep that cycle from ever restarting.
2. TAKE UP YOUR CROSS: This speaks of Christ being the Source of all Blessings, and the Cross is the Means by which we receive those Blessings. It means to place your Faith exclusively in the Cross of Christ, which will then guarantee the help of the Holy Spirit to bring about the victory one needs in one’s life. No matter how big the problem might be, or how dire the situation might look, the Cross is able to meet that need. Do not look to the problem, look to the Cross! Do not look to the situation; look to the One Who can provide a way of escape! Do not look to the “Red Sea,” but look to the One Who can part the waters of your life! Jesus Christ and Him Crucified!
3. DAILY: This is the most important part. We must look to the Cross every single day and renew our Faith in what Christ did for us at the Cross, for Satan will ever try and move our Faith away from the Cross of Christ to something else, and that could be anything, just as long as it is not the Cross. Satan knows where your Victory lies and he will stop at nothing to see that you fail.
THE CROSS IS THE ONLY WAY THAT ONE CAN BE A DISCIPLE OF CHRIST
Let it ever be understood, the only way that one can be a true Disciple of Christ, is to place our Faith in the Finished Work of Christ, and leave it there. Jesus said in Luke 14:27, “And whosoever does not bear his Cross, and come after Me, cannot be My Disciple.” Now, those are strong Words, but I remind you that these Words came from Christ Himself, not me.
So, what is true Discipleship? True Discipleship is teaching someone to place his or her Faith in the Finished Work of Christ, and that Alone. To teach something else is to teach Law, which God can never accept (Rom. 6:1-14; 8:1-2; I Cor. 1:17-18, 23; 2:2; Col. 2:14-15).
In Him,
Pastor Gabe
This is most likely one of the most important questions that could ever be asked by a young person, or any person for that matter.
TO BE CONDEMNED
First of all, let’s look at what the opposite of “Justification” is. The opposite of “Justification” is “to be declared guilty,” or “to condemn.” When a person has committed a crime, and is caught committing that crime, he later stands before a Judge in a Court of Law. While standing before that Judge, he is pronounced by the State as guilty of committing a crime and, therefore, sentenced to jail, community service, or a fine. That person has broken the Law and, thereby, must pay the penalty of breaking that Law. There is nothing that person can do to wiggle his way out of this verdict.
Like that person of the above illustration, when Adam fell in the Garden of Eden, he was pronounced guilty of disobeying the Command of God, which was to not partake of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. And because of his Fall, Adam’s offence touched the entirety of the world for all time. That one offence of Adam’s resulted in the physical and spiritual death of all, at least for all who will not believe.
SPIRITUAL DEATH
The Bible tells us in Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death . . .” and this speaks of spiritual death, which is separation from God, and is the Divine Penalty that was brought about by Adam’s sin, and all of those who follow this path. For those who continue on the path of separation from God, their soul will be eternally lost.
Starting at the very beginning of time and coming forward to today, those individuals who have not believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, Who was, and is the Gift of God, have died, and died lost. They have been eternally separated from God, both physically, and more horrific, spiritually.
GOD CAN CHANGE YOUR SITUATION
However, mankind has not been caught up in a sinful web woven by blind fate, so that once having sinned, nothing can be done about it. Even though man fell, God is over all things, and He provided a way for man to be brought back to Himself. That way was through the Sacrificial system, which was a Type of Jesus Christ, and what He would do at Calvary.
As I write these words, I sense the Presence of the Lord so strong, that I cannot write without tears streaming down my cheeks. It does not matter what you have been involved in, or what you are currently involved in, God can take your wrong, put it into His Right, and make everything all right.
The moment that the Believing sinner comes to the realization that he is a sinner in desperate need of a Saviour, the Holy Spirit, Who is God, draws that person to Christ. As that Believing sinner accepts Jesus Christ, God Justifies that person, and cleanses that person from all unrighteousness.
JUSTIFICATION
Now, what does “Justification” mean? It is a legal term, and it means that God had declared that person “not guilty.” Even though the evidence was against us, when we accepted God’s Redemptive Plan, we were declared “not guilty” of all charges. But it does not stop there, for not only does it mean “not guilty,” it also means to be declared “legally innocent.” But, once again, it does not stop there. Not only does it mean “not guilty,” as well as being declared “legally innocent,” it also means that we are now “perfect,” as though we have never sinned. It is the Act of God that declares men free from guilt and acceptable unto Himself, thus accounting Righteousness unto them. In other words, God wipes the slate clean, and has erased our past, never to be brought up again.
It must be understood that God cannot declare a person “Justified” until he is cleansed from all sin and made pure and holy by the Blood of Christ, which takes us to the Place where all can be forgiven and cleansed, Calvary.
THE CROSS AND OUR FAITH
Simply put, the only way that we can be in right standing with God is by Faith in what Jesus Christ did for us at Calvary. It cannot be received in any other manner. Man had been separated from God by sin, and could not find his way back into the fold. God, therefore, neatly fashioned the Cross to bring mankind back into right relationship with Him.
It was written in Genesis 15:6 that, “Abraham believed in the LORD; and He counted it to him for Righteousness.” This is one of the most important Verses in the entirety of the Word of God. In this Verse we find the meaning of Justification by Faith. When Abraham believed in the LORD, Grace, which is the Goodness of God that is given to undeserving people, was then given to him, thereby bringing about the Redemption that was needed. God demands Righteousness, but it is the Righteousness that was made available by Jesus Christ and Him crucified, and that alone. There is nothing else that could bring about this great Redemptive Work, and there is nothing that we can do, as well, that can allow the Grace of God to flow in our lives. Only our Faith in the Finished Work of Christ can bring this about.
To sum it all up, when a person accepts what Jesus Christ did at Calvary, all on our behalf, we are declared in the Eyes of God as Justified, which is God’s greatest gift to a lost and dying world. But it can only be obtained by Faith in Jesus Christ, and what He did at Calvary, and that alone (St. Jn. 3:16).
Pastor Gabriel Swaggart
See Gabriel Swaggart's article "Sippin Saints" HERE
See Gabriel Swaggart's article "Is Homosexuality a Sin" HERE
For an indepth explaination please see Frances Swaggart's article SIN
For an in depth answer please refer to Gabriel Swaggarts Article "Unequally Yoked", HERE
This answer was taken from Jimmy Swaggart's book Straight Answers to Tough Questions.
Basically there are two schools of thought on the matter of security for the Believer. One is Calvinism and the other is Armenianism. Both are based on Scripture, but their conclusions diverge dramatically. Calvinism emphasizes the sovereignty of God and His Divine prerogative. Armenianism stresses man’s free will and responsibility.
The doctrine of unconditional eternal security accepts the Calvinistic perspective and states that once a person has been saved and accepts the atoning Blood of Jesus Christ, he can never be lost afterward no matter what he might do.
The Armenian view is that man has a free will and it is the free will of man which determines his condition. According to his free will, he determined to accept Christ when the Holy Spirit moved upon his heart. As well, free will coupled with the Grace of God maintains his position in Christ; however, if he so desires, God forbid, he can through his free will elect to cease believing what got him in, which is faith in Christ and what Christ did at the Cross. If that happens he will then revert from a saved condition to a lost condition.
Without question God is sovereign and this sovereignty allows Him full latitude in any area whatsoever. At the same time, though, God is always consistent. This means that God, although He has the power to do anything, will never abrogate His nature or His righteousness. We can therefore determine His predictable reaction by reviewing Scripture. Any doctrine demanding capricious or arbitrary action by God, contrary to other areas in the Word, can be assumed to be errant.
CAN A BELIEVER CEASE TO BELIEVE AND THEN BE LOST?
Yes, a Believer, if he so desires, can cease to believe in Christ and what Christ has done for us at the Cross. That done, and if they continue in that vein, they will be eternally lost. As stated, it is free will that gets one in. The Scripture says:
“And the Spirit and the Bride say, Come. (This presents the cry of the Holy Spirit to a hurting, lost, and dying world. What the Holy Spirit says should also be said by all Believers.) And let him who hears say, Come. (It means if one can “hear,” then one can “come.”) And let him who is athirst come (speaks of spiritual thirst, the cry for God in the soul of man). And whosoever will, let him take the Water of Life freely (opens the door to every single individual in the world; Jesus died for all and, therefore, all can be Saved, if they will only come)” (Rev. 22:17).
As free will gets one in, free will can get one out and keep one out, if that is what the person so desires. Some claim that if a person is truly saved, then they won’t want out.
That most definitely is the case with me and millions of others; however, there are some unfortunately, who for whatever reason, elect to turn their back on Christ and what He did at the Cross. Never forget, the loss of Faith, is the loss of the soul.
BIBLICAL EXAMPLES
The Word of God records any number of personalities who were at one time in the Grace of God, but who subsequently fell from Grace. After their fall from Grace, these individuals were lost.
LUCIFER- Lucifer was once without sin and walked perfectly within the Grace of God. Read Ezekiel 28:12-19, where the fall from Grace of Lucifer is so poignantly described, and his ultimate end so graphically revealed.
ANGELS- Then, there are the uncounted millions of Angels created by God. Of these, one-third rebelled and chose to follow Lucifer in his insurrection against God. Every one of these became destined, at that moment, to join Lucifer ultimately in the fiery pit (Mat. 25:41).
ADAM AND EVE-Our first parents were created in God’s Grace and Favor (Gen. 1:26-31). And, what happened? They fell from Grace and lost the eternal residence they would have enjoyed if only they had obeyed God and walked in His Statutes. Adam was a son of God (Lk. 3:38) but he lost his son-ship, through transgression. No specific mention is made anywhere within the Word of God of Adam or Eve’s subsequent salvation from sin.
NADAB AND ABIHU- These two men, Nadab and Abihu, were sons of Aaron – God’s anointed, who served as the first High Priest of the Children of Israel after the captivity. Yet, as recounted in Leviticus 10:1-2, they disobeyed God. And, what was their instantaneous end? They were destroyed by fire from God.
KORAH, DATHAN, AND ABIRAM- These three, Korah, Dathan, and Abiram rebelled against God. Korah was a Levite, actually a Priest, an incense bearer before God in the worship services of the Israelites. And, what happened to him and his fellow rebels? They were cast into the pit and, consequently, eternally lost, because of their decision to turn away from God.
MANY TURNED AWAY FROM GRACE
Turning to the New Testament we find, in St. John 6:66, that many of the faithful – the very Disciples who worked personally with our Lord – turned away from His Grace and walked with Him no more. In Luke 8:13, the words of our Saviour Himself tells us that many, in times of temptation fall away after receiving the Word.
ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA
Just the other day a radio Preacher stated that Ananias and Sapphira were saved, and even though they lost fellowship with God, they still went to Heaven upon their deaths. This Preacher was, as well, a proponent of the doctrine of unconditional eternal security.
To accept the concept that Ananias and Sapphira died saved, just doesn’t conform to God’s principles as laid out in the balance of His Word. It is stated unequivocally in Acts 5:3-4, and 9, that they lied to God and the Holy Spirit. And, what is the fate of liars according to God’s Word? In Revelation 21:8, we are told that liars are to be cast into the Lake of Fire. What happens to those cast into the Lake of Fire? Revelation 20:10 says they shall be tormented day and night, forever and ever. According to God’s Word, the fate of Ananias and Sapphira is quite different from that described by the radio Preacher.
HYMENAEUS AND ALEXANDER
In I Timothy 1:19-20, Paul refers in passing to Hymenaeus and Alexander. He states that they, though once being in the faith, have made their faith shipwreck by putting it away.
We are admonished in many places throughout the Bible to avoid the special wrath God has reserved for those who turn away after coming to know the Light. In the Old Testament (Ex. 32:33), the Lord said, “…whosoever has sinned against me, him will I blot out of My Book.” In Deuteronomy 30:17-20, He said, “…But if your heart turn away…you shall surely perish…” In Ezekiel 3:20-21, we are told, “When a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity…he shall die in his sin…”
Jesus spoke (Mat. 5:13) of the salt which has lost its savor. What is it good for? Only to be cast out. In John 8:31, our Lord said, “If you continue in My Word you are My Disciples…” In Galatians 5:4, Paul accused some in the Churches of Galatia of having “fallen from Grace.” In I Timothy 4:1, he said “expressly…some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of Devils.”
Peter said, “Give diligence to make your calling and election sure, for if you do these things you shall never fall.” He also said (II Pet. 2:20-22), “If, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse…than the beginning.”
Those who do not overcome will have their names blotted out of the Book of Life (Rev. 3:5; Ex. 32:32-33; Ps. 69:28).
Believers can have eternal security if they claim it on God’s terms, not on the terms of man. Thankfully, the terms of our Lord are not hard at all. In fact, Jesus said, “My yoke is easy, and My burden is light” (Mat. 11:30). Faith alone is required, but it must be Faith in the correct object, and that correct object is “Jesus Christ and Him Crucified” (I Cor. 1:23).
The following was condenesed from a book by Jimmy Swaggart entitled Straight Answers to Tough Questions.
No!
First of all, the Christian should understand that Sunday is not the Sabbath. Saturday is the Sabbath. Second, the old Jewish Sabbath was a day of rest and not necessarily of worship as it regarded the Lord. The people were supposed to rest on this day, and even the animals were supposed to rest on this particular day. The Fourth Commandment stated:
“Six days you shall labor, and do all your work:
“But the seventh Day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God: in it you shall not do any work, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your man servant, nor your maidservant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger that is within your gates:
“For in six days the Lord made Heaven and Earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath Day, and hallowed it” (Ex. 20:8-11).
The Sabbath, and in fact, every single thing that pertained to the Law, and in every capacity, spoke of Christ in some manner, whether in His Intercessory Work, His Atoning Work, or His Meditorial Work. In fact, the Jewish Sabbath was one of the greatest types of all, in that it symbolized the “rest” that would be incumbent in Christ. That’s what Jesus was talking about when He said:
“Come unto Me (is meant by Jesus to reveal Himself as the Giver of Salvation), all you who labor and are heavy laden (trying to earn Salvation by works), and I will give you rest (this “rest” can only be found by placing one’s Faith in Christ and what He has done for us at the Cross [Gal. 5:1-6]).
“Take My yoke upon you (the “yoke” of the “Cross” [Lk. 9:23]), and learn of Me (learn of His Sacrifice [Rom. 6:3-5]); for I am meek and lowly in heart (the only thing that our Lord Personally said of Himself): and ye shall find rest unto your souls (the soul can find rest only in the Cross).
“For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light (what He requires of us is very little, just to have Faith in Him, and His Sacrificial Atoning work)” (Mat. 11:28-30).
In the Law of Moses, everything was “doing,” “doing,” “doing!” In Christ, it is “believing,” “believing,” “believing,” and because Christ has already done all the work so to speak. That is what the Sabbath was supposed to represent, the “rest” that would come in Christ.
TITHING UNDER THE NEW COVENANT
Many Believers have it in their mind that tithing originated with the Law. And inasmuch as the Law of Moses has been fulfilled in Christ, then tithing is no more incumbent upon modern Believers. In the first place, tithing did not begin with the Law, but possibly existed at the very beginning of time. However, it was spelled very out clearly under Abraham.
Under the Law, the care for the Priests, and the upkeep of the Temple were done so by Tithe. Presently, under the New Covenant, the Priesthood is no more, has been replaced by the Ministry (Eph. 4:11). Our task now as well is not the Temple, for there is no Temple as such under the New Covenant, but rather, the taking of the Gospel to the world. Jesus said:
“Go ye therefore (applies to any and all who follow Christ, and in all ages), and teach all nations (should have been translated, “and preach to all nations”, for the word “teach” here refers to a proclamation of truth), baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (presents the only formula for Water Baptism given in the Word of God):
“Teaching them (means to give instruction) to observe all things (the whole Gospel for the whole man) whatsoever I have commanded you (not a suggestion): and, lo, I am with you always (It is I, Myself, God, and Man, Who am — not “will be” — hence, forever present among you, and with you as Companion, Friend, Guide, Savior, God), even unto the end of the world (should have been translated “age”). Amen (it is the guarantee of My Promise)” (Mat. 28:19-20).
Of course, under the New Covenant our salvation is not in anyway based upon our good works or our obedience to the Ten Commandments. However, does that mean we can just discard them as something we do not have to follow in the New Covenant? Of course Not! Well, tithing is no different. While tithing is in no way connected to our salvation, it is still a valid command for New Testament believers, and it will still provide a blessing.
The Preceeding answer was condensed and paraphrased from a book by Jimmy Swaggart entitled, "Straight Answers to Tough Questions."
Even though this idea of “covering” seems good to the carnal mind, there is no Scriptural validity for this found in the Word of God. It must always be remembered, even as we’ve already stated, that the Bible must be the criteria and the foundation of all that we do. If it’s not Biblical, then it’s either wrong or of no worthwhile consequence.
Actually, this “man covering belief” is not only of no worthwhile consequence, but it is also, in effect, unscriptural.
This is what the Bible says about covering:
“Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, who take counsel, but not of Me; and that cover with a covering, but not of My Spirit, that they may add sin to sin:
“That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at My mouth, to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt! (Isa. 30:1-2).
As is obvious from the Word of God, the only covering that we have that is of any consequence, is the Precious Shed Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Anything else is of man’s doing and is facetious. True, all of us need the counsel, prayers, and support of our Brethren in the Lord. True, it is very helpful to have fellow Ministers (or anyone) to confide in regarding weaknesses, problems, or anything that Believers can help us pray about. To look to mere mortals, Denominations, or any type of man-made structure as a covering, however, is to deny the covering of the Shed Blood of Christ, and the Holy Spirit, and, instead, to resort to man. One will then receive only the help that man can give, which is precious little to say the least!
The preceeding was condensed from a book written by Jimmy Swaggart entitled "Straight Answers to Tough Questions."
In order to gauge whether or not soaking prayer is a valid form of prayer or communication to God, we must first look to God’s word. Prayer in its purest form is calling on the name of God and in every scriptural example is a done as a form of communication with the Lord. Although at first glance soaking prayer may seem that it follows this model of prayer it does not. Like most lies of the enemy a closer look will reveal a different picture. Soaking prayer involves a trance like meditative or contemplative state in which the adherent is encouraged to empty their mind. This type of prayer seeks to experience God’s presence through mystical exercises which teeters dangerously on the edge of the esoteric. As believers we understand that God’s presence is ever with us and when we come to prayer it is with His will in mind not ours.
Christians can often mistakenly believe that everything supernatural is of God. Tingling sensations, being pinned to the floor, feelings of heat or a power moving through their body are not uncommon experiences in soaking prayer adherents. These sensations and experiences are automatically ascribed to God and evidence of Him blessing us. However, the phenomena experienced during these periods of soaking are identical to those experienced in Kundalini Yoga, New Age, and Eastern Religions.
"Some of these phenomena are obvious: weeping, cries, exuberant and prolonged expressions of praise, shaking, trembling, calmness, bodily writhing and distortions, falling over (sometimes referred to as 'being slain in the Spirit'), laughter and jumping. Other phenomena are more subtle: slight trembling, fluttering of the eyelids, faint perspiring, a sheen on the face, ripples on the skin, deep breathing..." Wimber also said that people sometimes experience a sense of heaviness or tiredness, weeping or drunkenness." Roger Harper, Soaking Prayer
Random house dictionary defines Magic as "The art of producing a desired effect or result through the use of various techniques, as incantation, that presumably assure human control of supernatural agencies or the forces of nature." When we presume to gain experiences of God through various disciplines of contemplation and soaking we are in essence engaging in white magic and are presuming control over God.
Let me emphatically state that there is no such thing as a “Christian” mystic. Many who make this assertion do so on the basis of II Cor.12:2-4, which describes an isolated incidence of Paul being carried to the Third Heaven.
I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven. And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows—was caught up into Paradise, and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak (2 Corinthians 12:2-4)
In verse 2 the term “caught up” is the Greek work harpazo which is translated as seizing something by force. In this instance, the word harpazo is in the aorist tense, denoting a one time occurrence. This was a one time occurrence that God himself initiated.
We must actively seek to separate Christianity from the mystery religions. Our communion and connection with God comes through divine grace and the shed blood of Jesus and not through any spiritual exercises that we ourselves perform! Reacting to revelation is far different than conjuring these spiritual experiences through the practice of any of the mystic disciplines or contemplative traditions. If our spirituality is dependent upon anything that we ourselves perform then we are basing it on works and not on faith!
It is imperative to state that Paul did not embrace a works based faith. Paul’s spirituality was squarely focused on grace and in no way did Paul promote experiencing God in a mystic way. When you compare Paul’s third heaven experience to the rest of his ministry it becomes an obscure and isolated event. He had this experience only once in 14 yrs of ministry. Modern day seekers of third heaven experiences would have us believe that they can visit the third heaven on a daily basis. Indeed, they must be more “spiritual” than the Apostle Paul!
It is important to emphasize that Paul did not initiate this encounter nor did he in any way point to this experience as something for us to emulate. He most certainly did not teach others, how to take the journey! Self styled apostles and prophets operating in the contemplative and mystic traditions not only claim to have made multiple trips to the third heaven but also teach others through conferences, books and tapes, how they too can have similar encounters! Seeking third heaven experiences “by faith” is not biblical and should under no circumstances be engaged in.
These experiences as they are being taught today are no different than the occult. What they report and engage in is astral travel (astral meaning heavens). A true blood-bought child of God has Christ residing within and does not need to seek him through mystical third heaven experiences.
For an indepth explaination of the New Age Movement please see the following synopsis.
CLICK HERE
For an indepth answer to this question please refer to Frances Swaggart's Article entitled The Message Bible- Continues New Age Terminology.
CLICK HERE to read Part One and CLICK HERE to read Part Two
For an indepth answer to this question please see the following article which has been condensed and paraphrased from, The Cross of Christ Series, False Doctrine by Jimmy Swaggart. CLICK HERE
No! For a detailed explaination to this answer please read the following article CLICK HERE
For an answer to this please see an excellent article written by Donny Swaggart entitled "The Valley of Bacca"
Also Donny Swaggart's sermons on this subject can be viewed on line at his website HERE
As for the question of God’s sovereignty and whether God is limited to His word. God is limited to his Word because He has limited Himself to His word! Mathew 4:3-10 outlines the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness by Satan. In every case Jesus answered Satan with “it is written”! God is limited by His own nature and His own word. Let me explain. There are definitely things that God can not do! God can not do something that is contradictory in nature nor can he deny himself. He can not swear by any higher (which is why is swears by Himself). He can not lie nor can He change what is written in His word. He can not let sin go unpunished. I for one am so glad that God has chosen to limit Himself to His Word. This means that He can not fail to keep His promises and He cannot break His covenant! He can not ignore the cries of his people nor ignore the blood of his martyrs. Praise God that his Word is a sure thing!
This brings us to our last question as to whether we can bind God to something that He has said in His Word. God has bound Himself to His word. We can not bind God as that would suggest power over Him. We have no power over God nor can we command Him. God has bound Himself to His Word and it is a sure and certain thing.
No! Jesus Christ is the only way to God, no man comes to the Father except through Him. For clarification on this please read Frances Swaggart's article entitled "Is there more than one way to God?"
CLICK HERE
No Jesus was not a Nazarite. Please see the following Article by Brother Jimmy Swaggart entitled "The Nazarite Vow" to clarify.
CLICK HERE
For an answer to this please see the following article by Frances Swaggart.
CLICK HERE
For the answer to this question please see Frances Swaggart's article in the 02/09 edition of "The Evangelist"
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According to the proponents of this heresy, Jesus became sin on the Cross when He yielded Himself to Satan. He swallowed up the evil nature of Satan, thus becoming one in nature with the adversary, taking upon Himself the diabolical nature of Satan. At that time He became a lost man, they say, crying, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Mat. 27:46; Ps. 22:1). These teachers therefore conclude that Jesus at that time died spiritually and became a lost sinner.
According to these teachers he was taken to the burning side of Hell, and was chained with the fetters of sin, wickedness, disease, and all other evils of Satan. The Devil stood before the darkness, crying, “We have conquered the Son of God.” There followed, they continue, a gala celebration down in the pit. Satan believed he had finally triumphed over God. Jesus consequently suffered agonies beyond description in the pit for three days as all the hosts of Hell were upon Him. But then suddenly, they say, Jesus was justified. From His throne in Heaven, Almighty God arose and put His hands to His mouth and screamed, “It is Finished; it is enough.” Jesus was now, they say, “born again” and made spiritually alive once more.
Hell itself then was shaken, they say. Jesus shook off His chains of sin, sickness, and evil. He walked over to the Devil, grabbed him, and threw him to the ground. As the Devil cowered and trembled on the floor of the pit, Jesus put His foot on top of him and took the keys of death, Hell, and the grave from Satan. At this time, according to these teachers, the Holy Spirit kicked open the gates of Hell and raised Jesus from death. He then ascended to the Father and announced, “I have paid the price. The prison is now opened.” He was now a born again man who had defeated Satan. Jesus was the firstborn from the spiritually dead. Thus it was at the time Jesus was made alive down in the pit that the Believer was also made alive. The Church, they continue, had its origin in the pit of Hell when Jesus was begotten from the dead as the “firstborn among many brethren” (Rom. 8:29).
At first glance, this doctrine appears to be a glorious cause for rejoicing; however, if you think about it for a moment, you quickly realize that you have never read anything of this nature on the pages of your Bible. Why? Because it’s not in the Bible! It is fictitious from beginning to end.
THE TRUTH
The truth is, “He blotted out the handwriting of Ordinances that was against us, 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). The words “nailing it to His Cross…triumphing over them in it” means that Jesus’ great victory was won on the Cross, and on the Cross exclusively.
THE OLD TESTAMENT SACRIFICES
The Old Testament animal sacrifice (a type of Jesus), which was to die as a substitute for the sinner, had to be without spot or blemish.
“How much more shall the Blood of Christ (while the Sacrifice of animals could cleanse from ceremonial defilement, only the Blood of Christ could cleanse from actual sin; so that throws out every proposed solution other than the Cross), Who through the Eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God (in this phrase, we learn Christ did not die until the Holy Spirit told Him to die; in fact, no man took His Life from Him; He laid it down freely) [Jn. 10:17-18]
As well, the fact that Jesus “offered Himself without spot to God” shoots down the unscriptural Doctrine that “Jesus died Spiritually” on the Cross; had He died Spiritually, meaning He became a sinner on the Cross, He could not have offered Himself without spot to God, as should be obvious; God could only accept a perfect Sacrifice; when He died on the Cross, He took upon Himself the sin penalty of the human race, which was physical death; inasmuch as His Offering of Himself was Perfect, God accepted it as payment in full for all sin — past, present, and future, at least for those who will believe [Jn. 3:16]), purge your conscience from dead works to serve the Living God? (“Dead works” are anything other than simple Faith in the Cross of Christ, i.e., “the Blood of Christ.”)” (Heb. 9:14).
When these false teachers claim that Jesus literally became sin with the inherent need to become “born again,” they expose the basic flaw in their doctrine, which stems from apparent ignorance of the nature of the Old Testament Sacrifices, especially the Sin Offering. They conveniently forget (if indeed they ever really knew) that the Old Testament clearly teaches that at no point does the Sin Offering become an unholy sacrifice, either before or after its death.
The answer above was condensed from a Jimmy Swaggart Book entitled "Straight Answers to Tough Questions."
No he did not die spiritually. The essence of this question is, “Did Jesus become a sinner on the Cross and thereby experience spiritual death, as some teach?” Or was He rather a Sin Offering?
We teach and believe that Jesus was a Sin Offering. We also teach that He was Holy and pure, just as the Old Testament Offerings foreshadowed. Isaiah said:
“Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief: when You shall make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand” (Isa. 53:10).
NOTES FROM THE EXPOSITOR’S STUDY BIBLE ON VERSE TEN
“Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him,” refers to the sufferings of Christ, which proceeded from the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God (Acts 2:23), and which, being permitted by Him, were in some way His doing. “It pleased Him” moreover that they should be undergone, for the Father saw with satisfaction the Son’s self-sacrifice, and He witnessed with joy man’s Redemption and deliverance affected thereby.
“He has put Him to grief,” actually says “He has put Him to sicknesses” or “He has made Him sick.” This spoke of the time He was on the Cross bearing our sins and “sicknesses” (Mat. 8:16-17; I Pet. 2:24). And yet, while all sin and sickness were atoned at the Cross, the total effects of such will not be completely dissipated until the coming Resurrection
(Rom. 8:23). “When You shall make His soul an offering for sin,” is powerful indeed! The word “Offering” in the Hebrew is “asham,” and means “a Trespass Offering,” an “Offering for sin.” Offerings for sin, or “guilt offerings,” were distinct from “Sin Offerings.” The object of the former was “satisfaction”; of the latter, “expiation.” The Servant of Jehovah was, however, to be both. He was both the “Sin Offering” and the “Guilt Offering.”
This completely destroys the idea that Jesus died spiritually on the Cross, meaning that He became a sinner on the Cross, and died and went to Hell as all sinners, and was born again in Hell after three days and nights of suffering, etc. None of that is in the Word of God. While Jesus definitely was a “Sin Offering,” He was not a sinner, and did not become a sinner on the Cross. To have done so would have destroyed His Perfection of Sacrifice, which was demanded by God. In other words, the Sacrifice had to be perfect, and He was perfect in every respect.
No, he cannot. If a person says he can, evidently he does not know the meaning of creation and the Bible, nor does he understand evolution. Thomas Henry Huxley (a contemporary of Darwin) said, “It is clear that the doctrine of evolution is directly antagonistic to that of creation…evolution, if consistently accepted, makes it impossible to believe in the Bible.”
No true evolutionist can be a Christian or a Believer in the Bible. There’s no place for God in evolution; hence, there is no need of a belief – in sin or a Saviour, Heaven or Hell. Those in the Church who try to harmonize evolution with the Bible rule out God despite themselves and are enemies of both God and the Church, at least the True Church.
Not one single branch of organic evolution has ever been proved, much less the main theory. Actually, evolution is a bankrupt, speculative philosophy – it has never been, and is not now a scientific fact.
EVOLUTION
- Evolution accepts – heathen and pagan philosophers in preference to God, Christ,
- the Holy Spirit, and the Bible.
- Evolution nullifies – the idea of Biblical creation by God. Blind force is substituted for the creative power of the Personal God Who created all things (Gen. 1:1).
- Evolution degrades – God’s image to nothing more than a mere beast.
- Evolution degrades- Man’s image from that from creation by God in the image of God to a monkey ancestry.
- Evolution does away with – the fall of man, for how can a mere beast that has evolved steadily from a molecule to an intelligent being go backward and have a fall?
- Evolution does away with - Biblical miracles and the supernatural in all its forms. The only miracle of power in evolution is the inherent force of molecules.
- Evolution does away with - the virgin birth, making it both impossible and unnecessary.
- Evolution makes Christ a product of evolution in the same sense that it does all other men.
- Evolution denies – the bodily resurrection of Christ declares that it is contrary to the process of evolution.
- Evolution denies – the Atonement; for, according to evolution, there was no fall of man, and therefore, no sin for which to make Atonement.
- Evolution denies – the Second Advent of Christ and the final restoration and preservation of all things by the personal act of God.
Anyone who believes that Genesis is the literal account of creation holds a worldview which is directly opposite to that of Evolution. Darwin has had a devastating effect on Christianity and has shipwrecked the faith of many Saints. After all, if the book of Genesis contains lies then it calls into question the integrity of the entire Bible.
Make no mistake about it, Darwin’s worldview, his theory of evolution, and his take on the origin and meaning of life is diametrically opposed to that of the Christian Faith. One can not embrace both.
For answer, see Frances Swaggart's three part series on Homosexuality.
By Frances Swaggart
The scripture says “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. (This means that Judgment must be rendered according to the whole Word of God, and not merely by taking a part and perverting it to one’s own satisfaction.)” (John 7:24).
We do not seek to judge others personally, but we certainly should judge false doctrine. The Apostle Paul was not hesitant to do such. In Ephesians 5:11 he says, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness (the Scripture teaches separation, but not isolation), but rather reprove them (speak out boldly and forcibly against them). And then in Verse 13 he says, “But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the Light (it is only Christ and the Cross which can adequately portray what sin actually is; that’s the reason much of the Church doesn’t care for the Cross!): for whatsoever does make manifest is light. (The Cross alone manifests sin and all its evil effects.)
And then we have the words of Timothy: “Preach the Word (refers to the whole body of revealed Truth, which means the entirety of the Word of God); be instant in season, out of season (presents the idea of the Preacher holding himself in constant readiness to proclaim the Word); reprove, (the Preacher is to deal with sin, both in the lives of his unsaved hearers and in those of the Saints to whom he Ministers, and he is to do so in no uncertain tones and terms), rebuke (a suggestion in some cases impending penalty), exhort with all longsuffering and Doctrine. (This tells us that the “reproving” and the “rebuking” must be done with gentleness. As well, the “longsuffering” refers to a gentleness that continues even when the Message is met with rejection. However, the “Doctrine” is not to change, even though it is rejected.)
Not only is it not wrong to judge doctrine, it is incumbent upon us, that is, if we are to be faithful to the Lord to do so. Millions are in Hell today, simply because they blindly followed what they heard, which in fact caused them to be eternally lost.
It first of all means that the believing sinner must be born again, which speaks of a spiritual birth, and which work is carried out by the Holy Spirit (Jn. 3:3-6). Jesus further said to Nicodemus,
“Marvel not that I said unto you, you must be born again (evidently addresses itself to the surprise, which must have been registered on the countenance of Nicodemus). “The wind blows where it listeth, and you hear the sound thereof, but cannot tell from where it comes, and whither it goes (presents the way in which Jesus explains the “born-again” experience; He likens it to the wind which comes and goes, but is impossible to tell exactly how): so is every one who is born of the Spirit (it is a spiritual birth, so it cannot be explained intellectually)” (Jn. 3:7-8).
For the sinner to be saved, the Holy Spirit has to first place such a person under conviction, which He does by the Word in some manner being given to them. The Scripture says:
“And when He (the Holy Spirit) is come, He will reprove (convict) the world of sin (the supreme sin of rejecting Christ), and of Righteousness, and of Judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on Me; Of Righteousness, because I go to My Father, and you see me no more; Of Judgment, because the Prince of this world is judged” (Jn. 16:8-11).
When the believing sinner is placed under conviction, the Holy Spirit then gives Faith to that individual. It says:
“According as God has dealt to every man the measure of Faith” (Rom. 12:3).
At this juncture, the believing sinner can say “yes” or “no” to Christ. The Lord will never violate the free moral agency of an individual. If the person says “yes” to Christ, at that moment, at least in the mind of God, the believing sinner is baptized into Christ by the Holy Spirit.
The Scripture says,
“Know you not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ (plainly says that this Baptism is into Christ and not water [I Cor. 1:17; 12:13; Gal. 3:27; Eph. 4:5; Col. 2:11-13]) were baptized into His Death? (When Christ died on the Cross, in the Mind of God, we died with Him; in other words, He became our Substitute, and our identification with Him in His Death gives us all the benefits for which He died; the idea is that He did it all for us!)
Paul said:
“Therefore if any man be in Christ (saved by the Blood), he is a new creature (a new creation): old things are passed away (what we were before Salvation); behold, all things are become new. (The old is no longer useable, with everything given to us now by Christ as “new.”)” (II Cor. 5:17).
That is what it means to be born of the Spirit.
The answer above was condensed from a book by Jimmy Swaggart entitled "Straight Answers to Tough Questions."
The Scripture is abundantly clear on that subject. Anything that the Lord gives is good! Concerning speaking with other tongues, the Scripture says, “As the Spirit gave them utterance.” I don’t think I would want to speak disparagingly of something that’s given by the Holy Spirit.
When one speaks in tongues, one is declaring “the wonderful Works of God” (Acts 2:11).
The great Prophet Isaiah said some 750 years before Christ, “For with stammering lips and another tongue will He speak to this people.
“To whom He said, this is the rest wherewith you may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing; yet they would not hear” (Isa. 28:11-12).
These two Verses tell us that speaking with other tongues brings about a “rest” from the tiredness of the journey of life. As well, speaking with other tongues brings about a “refreshing,” which rejuvenates the person. In fact, the Apostle Paul quoted part of these Verses in I Corinthians 14:21-22).
The person who speaks in tongues, speaks unto God (I Cor. 14:2). Anything that’s spoken directly to God is good. Speaking in other tongues edifies the Believer, which we all need (I Cor. 14:4). This is the Lord’s answer for stress, emotional disturbances, nervous disorders, and the pressures of life in general.
When one prays in an unknown tongue, one’s spirit prays, which means that one prays exactly as the Holy Spirit desires the prayer to be given (I Cor. 14:14). Tongues are for a sign to unbelievers (I Cor. 14:22). Even though most unsaved do not know this, and would not understand it if it was told to them, we’re living in the last of the last days. It is a sign in this respect to the unbelieving world.
Even though there are many evidences, still, the initial physical evidence that one has been baptized with the Spirit, is “speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives the utterance.” There are no exceptions to this. And once again, we will prove from the Word of God that this is the case.
Some have claimed that some can be baptized with the Spirit without speaking with other tongues. There’s nothing in the Word of God that substantiates such thinking. And please understand, it’s not what Denominations might say, or particular Preachers, etc., but rather what the Word of God gives us. Unequivocally, it proclaims speaking with other tongues as the initial physical evidence. Acts 2:4 plainly says,
“And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4).
Some have foolishly claimed that speaking with other tongues is no more than incoherent babble, or gibberish. The Word of God says different. In fact, tongues are always a language known somewhere in the world, but not by the speaker.
When the Holy Spirit fell in the Temple, for that’s where they were on this particular day, the Bible said, “The multitude came together, and was confounded, because every man heard them speak in his own language (means that these on-looking Jews heard these people speaking in many different languages, in fact languages of the nations of their residence, wherever that might have been, proving that this was not gibberish or babble as some claim (Acts 2:6-11).
In Acts 8 we have the second account. When Peter and John came to Samaria and preached to these Samaritans about the Baptism with the Holy Spirit, and then laid hands on them that they might receive, this they did; however, nothing is mentioned about tongues.
But then we have the account of Simon the Sorcerer.
He observed Peter and John praying for these people, and them receiving the Holy Spirit. He then foolishly offered Peter and John money that they would tell him how that he as well could have this gift. Peter said to him:
“Your money perish with you, because you have thought that the Gift of God may be purchased with money.You have neither part nor lot in this matter: for your heart is not right in the sight of God” (Acts 8:20-21).
The word “matter” as used in Verse 21, in the Greek is “logos.” It means, “a word or speech.” So it should have been translated, “you have neither part nor lot in this utterance,” proving that they spoke with other tongues when they were baptized with the Spirit.
The third account is found in Acts 9 of Paul being filled and Acts 10 where Cornelius and his household were saved and baptized with the Holy Spirit. The Scripture says:
“While Peter yet spoke these words (concerning Believing in Him), the Holy Spirit fell on all them which heard the Word (even though we are given very little information here, this is the moment when Cornelius and his household accepted Christ, and were saved).
“And they of the Circumcision (Jews) which believed (Believed in Christ) were astonished (at what they saw the Lord doing, which could not be denied), as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the Gift of the Holy Spirit (Cornelius and his household were saved, and then moments later Baptized with the Holy Spirit; it was quite a meeting!).
“For they heard them speak with tongues (this is the initial, physical evidence that one has been Baptized with the Holy Spirit; it always and without exception accompanies the Spirit Baptism), and magnify God (means that some of them would stop speaking in tongues momentarily, and then begin to praise God in their natural language, magnifying His Name)” (Acts 10:44-46).
The last account is found in Acts 19. Paul asked the Believers “Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed?” (Acts 19:2). They pleaded ignorance regarding his question, then he explained the Baptism with the Spirit to them, laid hands on them, and the Scripture says:
“The Holy Spirit came on them; and they spoke with tongues, and prophesied” (Acts 19:6).
And then we have in the Fourteenth Chapter of I Corinthians all the teaching that the Apostle gave as it regards how tongues are to be used in the public assembly. If something of this nature didn’t exist, I hardly think that the Apostle would have given over this much space to such a subject.
The question above was answered using the book "Straight Answers to Tough Questions" by Jimmy Swaggart.
Someone has said, and rightly so, that at Salvation, the Holy Spirit baptizes us into Christ, which is done by our Faith in Christ and what He did for us at the Cross. As stated, it has nothing to do with Water Baptism. Regarding the Baptism with the Holy Spirit, it is Jesus Who baptizes us into the third Person of the Godhead, i.e., “the Holy Spirit.” John the Baptist said of Christ:
“I indeed baptize you with water unto Repentance: but He (Christ) Who comes after me is mightier than I, Whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall Baptize you with the Holy Spirit, and with fire” (Mat. 3:11).
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BORN OF THE SPIRIT & BAPTIZED WITH THE SPIRIT
As is obvious, the Holy Spirit is very much involved in both situations. The first refers to Salvation, which pertains to the individual being born again. The second pertains to the Believer being equipped for Service, with all the help that the Holy Spirit provides. Jesus said:
“But you shall receive power (Miracle-working Power), after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you (specifically states that this “Power” is inherent in the Holy Spirit, and solely in His Domain): and you shall be witnesses (doesn’t mean witnessing to souls, but rather to one giving one’s all in every capacity for Christ, even to the laying down of one’s life) unto Me (without the Baptism with the Holy Spirit, one cannot really know Jesus as one should) both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the Earth (proclaims the Work of God as being worldwide)” (Acts 1:8).
Jesus also said that the Baptism with the Spirit would afford the following:
“He will guide you into all Truth.”
“He will show you things to come.”
“He shall glorify Christ.”
“He shall receive of Mine and shall show it unto you” (Jn. 16:13-15).
Baptism with the Holy Spirit does the following for the Believer, which cannot be done otherwise:
- Gives the Believer power (Acts 1:8).
- Gives the Holy Spirit access to the Believer as it refers to the Believer’s sanctification (Jn. 14:16-18).
- Gives the Believer access to the Holy Spirit, which is the most important of all (Jn. 16: 13-15).
A Believer cannot receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit until he is born again. Jesus said:
“And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of Truth; Whom the world cannot receive” (Jn. 14:16-17).
Due to what Jesus said, it’s not even possible for a believing sinner to be baptized with the Holy Spirit in the Salvation process. Salvation has to be effected first, and then the Believer can receive. They may receive in fact, seconds after being saved, even as did Cornelius and those with him, or it may be a period of several years, but it’s always after Salvation.
The Baptism with the Holy Spirit is a separate and distinct work, apart from Salvation, meaning that it follows Salvation, meaning that it is given to those who ask for it (Lk. 11:13).
Five different experiences of Believers being baptizes with the Holy Spirit are given to us in Acts.
- Acts 2:1-4
- Acts 8:14-15
- Acts 9:10-18
- Acts 10
- Acts 19:1-7
The question above was answered using the book "Straight Answers to Tough Questions" by Jimmy Swaggart.
The Holy Spirit is God! In Mathew Jesus tells us that we are to:
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (Mat. 28:19).
Over and over again, Jesus used the personal pronoun in referencing the Holy Spirit. This is Biblical proof that He is not merely an emanation from the Father but a seperate entity. He said:
“Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come (which He did on the Day of Pentecost), He will guide you into all Truth (if our Faith is properly placed in Christ and the Cross, the Holy Spirit can then bring forth Truth to us; He doesn’t guide into some truth, but rather “all Truth”): for He shall not speak of Himself (tells us not only What He does, but Whom He represents); but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak (doesn’t refer to lack of knowledge, for the Holy Spirit is God, but rather He will proclaim the Work of Christ only): and He will show you things to come (pertains to the New Covenant, which would shortly be given)” (Jn. 16:13).
The question above was answered using the book "Straight Answers to Tough Questions" by Jimmy Swaggart.
