24 March, 2002

Dear Children,

Let me start this one off by saying that I find no personal pleasure in what I’m about to do in this message, however, I must do it for the cause of Christ and the glory of God. Because you see this sermonet of today — Jimmy Swaggart And The "Since" That Should Have Remained "If"! — is the follow-up to Jimmy Swaggart And The Accursed! (12/30/01)... which should have really corrected the problem in the first place so that this sermonet wouldn’t have been necessary... but it didn’t! And the reason that it didn’t was because a whole bunch of Christians are obeying their flesh instead of His Spirit!

In fact the first Brother "in the flesh" that we’ll deal with today is Reverend Hanshaw. Because you see by going back to our sermonet The Journey Of Fear! (3/10/02) in which we addressed his e-mail concerning our sermonet Jimmy Swaggart And The Accursed! (12/30/01), we can find the Reverend’s very descriptive one liner — "I have been associated with the Jimmy Swaggart Ministries for 20 years, have personally known most of the men and women and have never seen what your claim seems to purport." That was just a little bit of what he said to me, and the following words of Brother Swaggart were what the Lord kinda like Hand-picked as my response back to him: "You see nobody would say anything against it because, well it might upset the unity. I’m not trying to rock the boat, I’m trying to turn the wr-wr-wr — I’m trying to find some sanctified terminology — I’m trying to turn the wretched thing over! Hallelujah to God and the Lamb forever! What the Nation needs is an old fashion Holy Ghost revival. It needs preachers full of the Spirit who will preach the Gospel without fear or favor." (Jimmy Swaggart Home Church Video - September, 2001, 2nd Sunday)

You see what the Lord was doing through our correspondence was exposing a few of the snakes in Reverend Hanshaw’s life. I mean you just can’t please both the people and God at the same time... it’s impossible! And in order for the Reverend to crucify some of the sinful flesh that’s hindering his walk for Jesus, the Lord kinda like gave him a formal invitation to do exactly that in our next e-mail back to him:

To: REVHANSHAWJR@aol.com

Sent: Monday, March 18, 2002 11:29 AM

Subject: A Word Of Wisdom

So Reverend Hanshaw has been called to help Jimmy Swaggart see his error, but so far he hasn’t accepted the Lord’s invitation and called me. I mean after all, "...it’s hard to get rid of the flesh."

And now for the second person in today’s message who’s been called to help Jimmy Swaggart see his error but hasn’t; Jimmy Swaggart’s very own wife Frances. Now please believe me when I say that this sermonet is not about making friends through flattering words. This sermonet is to speak God’s Truth and uncover some "sinful flesh" that’s stopping the Jimmy Swaggart Ministries from doing exactly what it’s been called to do: to deliver the Pure Word of God — Seven times Pure (see ...And Benny Hinn Says The Catholics Are Saved? (5/7/00)) — to a lost and dying world!

I mean going back to our most recent trip to the Jimmy Swaggart Ministries — The Journey Of Fear! (3/10/02) — I should have known that God was up to something when He had me approach Sister Swaggart instead of her husband. You see I’m a "snake hunter for Christ" and the Father always makes sure that I’m properly introduced to the snakes. However, before we continue on with this "snake hunting adventure" please let me share with you a bit of humor from the Father. Because it was on the 14th of March, 2002, that the Lord gave me the following Scripture in reference to Sister Swaggart and this up-coming sermonet: "And he [Jesus] was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered." (Luke 14:11)

Now would anybody care to guess how the characters of this story might apply to Sister Swaggart and myself? Well believe it or not but the "dumb one with the devil" is me and the "wondering people" is her! So just how do you think that made me feel? I mean at first I was really ticked, that is until the Lord started showing me just how true it actually was.

You see it was only a few short years ago — 19 April, 1991 to be exact — that we established the FMH Children’s Club International with it’s motto of "ALL FOR THE LOVE OF JESUS". That’s what the Lord told me to do and by the grace of God that’s what I did. However, at the time this all took place there was just one little old glitch in the works: I was extremely fearful of not only speaking the name of Jesus but also writing it. I was kinda like "bound-up and shut-up by a dumb devil"... that is until Jesus got a-hold of my life and cast him out.

Because you see for the last 11 years I’ve walked in obedience to the Father’s will, dying to the flesh all along the way, so that I’ve now been delivered from that "dumb devil" of the flesh. I can now speak whatever Word the Lord gives me to speak... which just so happens to be this Word to Sister Swaggart... who will likewise be awestruck at what she hears.

So what do you think about that? Well now that my tongue’s been delivered it’s time to speak some of God’s correction to Sister Swaggart. Because you see even though our sermonet Jimmy Swaggart And The Accursed! (12/30/01) was of God — totally directed by His Holy Spirit — it outraged Sister Swaggart’s sinful flesh to the point that she actually took me off the mailing list for the Jimmy Swaggart Home Church Videos (no more videos since January). I mean even though I’ve supported the Jimmy Swaggart Ministries since 1984, and likewise been a member of their Home Church since it’s conception (early 1990), she allowed her sinful flesh to control her actions. God’s Divine Will for my life through the Jimmy Swaggart Home Church Videos has been stopped because of Sister Swaggart’s sinful flesh.

But that ain’t even all. Because you see it was just a few days ago, during my Spirit-filled meeting with Pastor Duseau (see Pastor Michael Duseau: His Harley Or The Cross! (3/17/02)), that I consulted with him concerning Jimmy Swaggart’s error in the Word. And as the Pastor was giving me his heart-felt reasons for Brother Swaggart’s problem the Lord kinda like gave me His in the form of the Truth. Because the bottom line reason for the many and varied problems in Brother Swaggart’s ministry goes right back to his wife!

Now please don’t take what’s just been said to the extremes, because there’s always two sides to every story. I mean what the Lord is telling me is that Sister Swaggart has influenced her husband in making decisions that were not what the Father had wanted. In other words she has encouraged Brother Swaggart to "walk in the flesh" instead of "the Spirit", and all because of her very own overpowering sinful flesh. In fact while we’re on the subject of Sister Swaggart, on the 18th of March the Lord gave me the Scripture from James 1:8 as applying to her: "A double minded man [woman] is unstable in all his [her] ways."

In fact this is as good a time as any to bring up Brother Swaggart’s "walk in the flesh" that caused his ministry such long-term heart-ache and pain. Because you see as the Lord gives me His revelation on the "human body and sin" — how Jesus destroyed sin in His Flesh at the Cross so that we might do the same — he uses real-life examples in order to explain what He’s trying to teach me. And it was during the real-life adventure of Pastor Stephens And The Rejected Word From God! (5/27/01) that the Lord told me what actually caused Brother Swaggart to have his real big problem a few years back.

You see the way it all works is that when a person finally gives up on trying to live life through their own natural abilities (self), and likewise turns their life completely over to God Almighty, it’s their belief in what Jesus did at the Cross that "justifies" them to be sinless in the eyes of God. In other words they are not actually "sinless" by any stretch of the imagination, but Father God "sees" them as such because of the Blood of Jesus. That’s step one of God’s Salvation Process. We are considered sinless by Father God because we’re trusting in the One (Jesus) who’s totally defeated every sin of the world through His own Flesh and Blood on the Cross.

And, of course, seeing how Jesus perfected the Sin-killing Process, He knows how to perform it in us... which brings up step two of God’s Salvation Plan. "Sanctification" comes after "justification" and it’s the unbelievable transformation that takes place inside the Believer as they totally trust in "Christ and Him Crucified". Because you see when we allow the Holy Spirit to take complete control of our lives, as Jesus did through His entire walk on earth, we will slowly but surely crucify our sinful flesh as we walk in obedience to each and every Word of the Father. That’s how Jesus did it and we must do it the same way. God knows the sin in our bodies and through our very own Holy Spirit directed "walk in the Spirit" our sinful flesh will be slowly but surely killed-off and replaced by His Spirit.

So that in a nutshell is the way it all works — God tells the Believer what to do, the Believer just does it, and some of their sinful flesh kinda like "becomes no more". However, that’s only what happens "if" the Believer obeys each and every Command from God... and they do it come Hell or high water! In fact just what do you figure happens to the Believer "if" they don’t?

Well I’m glad you asked, because that takes us right back to Brother Swaggart and his problem with the prostitute. You see it all started back when God commanded Brother Swaggart to build the JSM Family Worship Center to seat 10,000 people... but he didn’t. In fact the "very good" reason that he decided to build it for 5,000 people instead of the 10,000 was because of his wife. Frances Swaggart influenced Jimmy Swaggart in such a powerful way that he decided to obey her in the JSM building project instead of God!

Now I realize that it’s awful hard for most folks to understand how a dedicated man of God like Brother Swaggart could end up in a sticky situation with a prostitute... and all because he obeyed his wife instead of God. But you see this is why it’s so important that we walk "in faith", obeying each and every command from the Father, and do it without ever questioning "why". Because you see "if" Jimmy Swaggart would have stood his ground by fighting the good fight of faith and building the Family Worship Center for 10,000 people, he would have likewise killed-off the sinful flesh that was waiting to destroy him later on.

You see the way it all works is that God directs the paths of the Believer in such a way that their "sinful flesh" isn’t exposed and vulnerable to Satan’s attacks until the "sinful flesh" has been taken care of. That’s the way it works "if" we obey God in all things. And it was this particular "sinful flesh" that should have been taken care of during Brother Swaggart’s building project that kinda like took him down during his battle against the Catholic Church. God gave Brother Swaggart a strong message to preach against the Catholic doctrines, and he would have likewise been prepared to do it "if" he would have only obeyed God and not his wife.

Understand? Crucifying the sinful flesh can only be done through God’s Perfect Design. He knows how, and He knows when, so that all we’ve got to do is just trust in the Cross of Christ by obeying Him in all things. Because as we walk in obedience to Him our sinful flesh will die-off and be rebirthed in His Spirit.

In fact while we’re on the subject of Sister Swaggart’s sinful flesh we ought to just go ahead and let Brother Swaggart say what the Lord’s put on his mind. Because it was only this morning that the Father miraculously Hand-picked the following message just for the two of them:

(The following excerpt was taken from Jimmy Swaggart’s sermon as recorded on the Family Worship Center Home Church video - Fourth Sunday/October, 2001)

Think of what I’m saying! Orpah went back to her gods, but Ruth said, "Whither thou goest I will go" — to Naomi — "whither thou lodgest I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, thy God shall be my God. Where you die and are buried that’s where I will die and be buried." That was the testimony of Ruth... I’m saying goodbye to Moab, goodbye to Chemosh, goodbye to these heathen gods, goodbye to my family, goodbye to all that I have known or had. Whither thou goest I will go. Now I’m telling you what it’s going to take. Some of you have been in the valley of decision; you don’t quite know whether you want to serve God or not. You’ve got to say it exactly as Ruth said it... You hadn’t heard it yet! And maybe what I’m about to say is the reason that Orpah didn’t go. Jesus addressed it: your relatives and everybody, friends and everybody has to be left... Maybe Orpah said I just can’t leave Mamma and Pappa. I don’t know but maybe that’s what she said. Maybe Orpah said I just can’t leave my friends and go to a strange land... Orpah said I just can’t do that! I can serve God in Moab. No you can’t! Jesus said, unless you prefer Me — speaking of Himself — before mamma and daddy and brother and sister you cannot follow me. And some of you just might let your family take you to Hell. I love my family, but Jesus Christ is preeminent in my life.

***********************

Now that’s what I call getting to the point! Excellent message Brother Swaggart! In fact to further emphasize Brother Swaggart’s point I’ve kinda like given that sermon the title of Ruth: Everything Or Nothing!... because that’s exactly what it takes!

In fact that one little old message is so very important for Brother Swaggart’s life that just maybe we ought to read Luke 14:27-27 — Word for Word — from the Holy Bible: "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple."

So, do you notice the difference between Brother Swaggart’s version of Luke 14:27 and the actual Scripture itself? Do you think it was a coincidence that Brother Swaggart left out the "wife" as being one that Jesus demands we "hate" in order to maintain our walk for Him? Will Brother Swaggart be able to receive this Word from God and make the proper corrections in his married life and ministry?

And now that we’ve dealt with a few of the fleshly reasons for Brother Swaggart’s error, let’s take a look at the error itself... starting with my God-directed e-mail from the year 2000. Because just as He always does, the Lord has laid out a few of the pieces to this puzzle long in advance.

From: Bruce Hallman

To: Donnie Swaggart

Sent: Friday, January 07, 2000 2:26 PM

Subject: JSBC "Baptism"

That was my e-mail to them, and the following was theirs back to me:

From: "Wyndi Guillory"

To: <child@brigadoon.com>

Sent: Monday, February 07, 2000 1:45 PM

Subject: Information

Dear Bruce,

Thank you so very much for your inquiry. Please allow me to answer you. The Baptism spoken of in Mark 16:16 has to do with the Baptism into the Death of Christ as given in Romans 6. It is not referring to Water Baptism.

I hope this answers your question. Again, thank you for writing.

In the Master's Service, Yours,

Jimmy Swaggart

JS/wbg

And of course, just to set the record straight I sent the following one back to them:

From: "Bruce Hallman"

To: "Wyndi Guillory"

Sent: Tuesday, February 08, 2000 11:48 AM

Subject: Re: Information

Dear Wyndi,

Thanks for the reply. I realize you folks must be very busy. So according to your answer I can assume that even though Brother Swaggart used Dake's comments as a reference source for "things pertaining to the kingdom" in Acts 1:3, he doesn't agree with Dake that Mark 16:16 is referring to water baptism.

In the Lord,

Bruce Hallman

Now what these three little e-mails point out is just how very confusing it can be for someone trying to understand what "water baptism" is all about! Is it when a person gets "dunked" or is it "Baptism into the Death of Christ as given in Romans 6"? Well at the time these e-mails were written I was truly searching for The Truth. I mean just what in the world does it all mean? That was my question to the Lord, and then it was only shortly thereafter that He gave me His answer in a way that I never expected. Because you see what He told me to do was write a sermonet series comparing the Old Testament "animal sacrifices" with the New Testament "water and fire baptism".

Ain’t that great! I mean I didn’t even have the foggiest understanding of what water baptism was all about, and the Lord tells me to write a complete series of sermonets on it! However, even though I complained real loud that I couldn’t do it — with great conviction might I add — the Lord assured me that He would give me the revelation needed to make it all happen.

Well that’s what He said and that’s exactly what He’s done. Because from that point on the Lord has poured out the Scriptures, and an understanding of them, in order for me to write our sermonet series on the "human body and sin". In fact it was on the 25th of June, 2000, that we published the very first sermonet in the series entitled How Do You Want Your Fire... Now Or Later? And even though we’re already up to part XV in the series, I can already see that we’re only just getting started.

So anyway, getting back to Brother Swaggart’s "error" on baptism, what do you say we start things off with another one of Brother Swaggart’s sermons that was kinda like Hand-picked by the Lord too:

(The following excerpt was taken from Jimmy Swaggart’s sermon as recorded on the Family Worship Center Home Church video - Second Sunday/October, 2001)

If you have your Bibles, please turn with me to Romans chapter 6. I won’t preach long... only until I’m finished. Romans 6, beginning with verse 1. This chapter just might be, I know it’s one of the most important chapters in the entirety of the Word of God, but it just might be the most important... especially as it relates to Christians. And the tragedy is most Christians do not even remotely understand it, and that’s, that is a tragedy. Paul writes and says: "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?" That is not speaking of water baptism. That’s speaking of the Crucifixion of Christ and Him dying as our substitute and in the Mind of God us literally dying in Him which we did when we accepted Him. "Therefore we are" — and I could put the word also in there as well — "Therefore we are [also] buried with him by baptism into death." Whenever Rome rolled the stone over that tomb they thought they were shutting Jesus in but in reality they were shutting in all what I used to be. Hallelujah! (Brother Swaggart laughs.) Glory to God! "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:." This is the 4th message that I have preached in succession in the last — counting today — the last 4 weeks on the subject of The Doctrine Of Substitution And Identification. I want to say it again, The Doctrine Of Substitution And Identification.

***********************

Now everything that Brother Swaggart said in that sermon seemed to be the Truth at the time that I first heard it. In other words not knowing what he was thinking when he said it I could only comprehend what he said through my own understanding. And what I understood Brother Swaggart to say was that Father God "looks" at the Believer as being sinless because of what Jesus has already done at the Cross. In other words when we look to "Christ and Him Crucified" for our "deliverance from sin" we are justified in the eyes of God because the Father knows that Jesus can do it. Jesus did it in His own Flesh and Blood and He can likewise do it in the Believer too!

That’s what I understood Brother Swaggart to say, however, as we’ll soon discover that was not what Brother Swaggart was thinking (I think). And that’s right about where the teaching series on Romans Chapter 6 (verses 1-5) comes into play. Because you see it was on the 10th of December, 2001, that I called in my order for the teaching series just as the Father had demanded... and I did it even though I thought that I really didn’t need it. I mean after all, I already had the Jimmy Swaggart Commentary on Romans so what more did I need?

Well as you’ll soon discover, not only did this teaching series highlight Brother Swaggart’s error, but it also focused a great big old spotlight on the one who "helped" him believe it:

(The following excerpt was taking from the Jimmy Swaggart teaching series videos entitled Romans Chapter 6 (verses 1-5).)

(Jimmy Swaggart)

You must understand though, that if we are to be like Him in His Resurrection, in other words have Resurrection Life — which Paul is now going to teach us how to have in the balance of this 6th chapter of Romans — we have to understand that it comes about because we were planted together in the likeness of His Death.

(Loren Larson)

Might I add something there too please? In verse 5 "if" is a fulfilled condition, so it’s, Paul is saying, he has stated what has happened, and now he comes back and says "since". Since we have been planted, and the word here would be good "united", since we have been united with together in the likeness of His Death we shall be also united in the likeness of His resurrection.

(Jimmy Swaggart)

Exactly... exactly... that’s it! But the, the, I’m glad you brought that up, because it sounds like he’s saying "maybe we were and maybe we were not" by the word "if" and so the King James people should have translated it, because in the Greek it actually says for "since" we have been planted. In other words if you’re saved this is a foregone conclusion. But you have to understand that the Resurrection Life comes about because of us understanding that we died with Him. You can’t have a resurrection until you have a death. See? Alright, we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, or since we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection. Knowing this, now as we’ve tried our best to explain it, do you know it? Do you know that everything is in the Cross? Do you understand that?

(Loren Larson)

Let me jump in, this is a beautiful scene. Paul starts off this scenario in chapter 6 verse 3 with the word "agnoeo" which means "don’t you have, do you have a lack of knowledge or have you just been disinclined to hear?" This word "knowing" is a different word, it’s the word "ginosko" which means there is a personal experiential knowledge. You see if we understand, and are bent to hear the true message of the Cross we will personally experience the benefits, knowing this.

(Jimmy Swaggart)

Right. That our old man is crucified with Him.

***********************

Wow! Do you believe that? Well I for one don’t because the Father’s in the process of showing me the True meaning of water baptism... and that ain’t it! Our "old man" — the sin nature/the sinful flesh — is not crucified with Christ through a "personal experiential knowledge" that results from "hearing the true message of the Cross". I wish it were that easy! "Experiential knowledge" comes about only through the Believers "walk in the Spirit" as they "hear and obey" each and every Command from the Father! And it’s likewise guaranteed that the "walk in the Spirit" will cause great suffering and pain to the Believer because it is the process by which the "sin-filled flesh" is crucified in order for the resurrection of the "born-again flesh" to take place.

I mean what Loren Larson teaches is not only a gross error concerning water baptism but nothing less than a lie of Satan straight from the pit of Hell! And now that I’ve "seen" Brother Larson in action on the Romans Chapter 6 (verses 1-5) video I kinda like understand why the Father had me buy it in the first place. In fact what I saw in the video also makes it abundantly clear why the Father had me say such strong things about him in our sermonet Jimmy Swaggart And The Accursed! (12/30/01). I mean Loren Larson is truly one of the accursed at the Jimmy Swaggart Ministries!

In fact just to help you understand what I’m talking about, it was in that sermonet of Jimmy Swaggart And The Accursed! (12/30/01) that the Lord had me say — before I even received the Romans Chapter 6 (verses 1-5) video — the following very strong words concerning Loren Larson: And as the Lord was preparing me to write this message, it was on the 9th of December that he gave me II Timothy 3:5 as Scripture pertaining to Brother Larson. It was kinda like His stamp of approval in confirming what I had already experienced: "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."

But anyway, getting back to the subject of "water baptism", the process actually takes place inside the Believer’s body as they walk in obedience to the Father’s every Word. The "water" part is real, and even though it’s symbolically represented on the outside of the Believer it’s on the inside where it actually takes place. And just to give you a sneak preview of what’s coming-up in the very near future — if the Lord’s willing and the creek don’t rise — it was what we covered in the sermonet Photosynthesis: The Key To Both This Life And The Next! (9/9/01)that will kinda like take us on into God’s Perfect Design of the photosynthesis that takes place inside the human body. Because you see the Word of God is Light, and it’s this same Light, when received and processed into an action by the Believer, that produces the real-life "metabolic death and resurrection process" that the Holy Bible calls "water baptism".

So what do you think about that? Well what do you say we get back to the subject of Brother Swaggart’s error as found in his commentary on the book of Romans. In fact before we go there why don’t we first read through Romans chapter 6, verses 1-6, from the Holy Bible: "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin."

Now notice that I underlined the word "if" in "if we’ve been planted together in the likeness of his death" because it’s that same "if" that’s gotten Jimmy Swaggart totally confused on the issue of "water baptism". And of course we can’t go on without saying that Brother Swaggart’s confusion has come about through a great deal of help from Loren Larson. But anyway, as was pointed out in our sermonet Jimmy Swaggart And The Accursed! (12/30/01), this thing about the "if" started way back in Jimmy Swaggart’s Commentary on Luke 4:3 — "And the devil said unto him [Jesus], If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread."

So that’s what the Word of God says, but the following is what the word of Jimmy Swaggart says: "The phrase, If Thou be the Son of God, should have been translated, Since Thou be the Son of God, for Satan was not questioning Who Jesus was! He knew, and beyond the shadow of a doubt, that Jesus was The Son of God.

Now isn’t it amazing how such a simple little change in God’s Word has brought about such an enormous misunderstanding with Jimmy Swaggart on Romans chapter 6 and "Christ and Him Crucified"? Well believe or not but that’s where it all started. The "since" that should have remained "if"... and the reason it should have remained "if" is because Satan was trying to make Jesus doubt that He was the Son of God. It’s Satan’s second step in his three step process as he continuously works to send us all to Hell... which even included Jesus! Because you see "if" he can’t keep us from obeying God’s Word he’ll try to make us doubt that we’ve even heard God’s Word (Jesus knew He was the Son of God because His Father in Heaven told Him so). And "if" that doesn’t work he moves on into his final trick of blowing us up with pride... as in how great we are!

So now that we’ve uncovered the truth on Luke chapter 4, what do you say we move on into the Jimmy Swaggart Commentary on Romans chapter 6. Because reading from his comments on verse 5 we find the following: "The phrase, For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His Death, proclaims that what Jesus did at Calvary, was totally and completely for the sinner. In effect, the believing sinner died in Him on the Cross, and was buried in Him as well. This means that the price was totally and completely paid concerning the outstanding debt of sin and sins, with simple Faith all that is required on the part of the sinner, in order for this Standing in Christ to be freely given. The phrase, We shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection, means that it is impossible to have one (benefits of Calvary), without having the benefits of the other (Newness of Life). To believe in Christ implies association with Him in His Death and Resurrection. His Death is called in verse 3 His Baptism. He was Baptized into Death, and all His members (sinners who have faith in Him) were associated with Him in that Baptism; and His Death and Resurrection being inseparable in their purpose and efficacy, union with Him in the One carries with it participation in the Other... Paul used the word if but it is the if of a fulfilled condition. In effect, he is saying, In view of the fact, or Since such and such a thing is so, etc. Have been planted together in the Greek Text, speaks of a living, vital union of two individuals growing up together...and represents the close union between Christ and the Believer. God actually places the believing sinner into Christ at the Cross, to share His Death and Resurrection. As stated, this is done by Faith on the part of the Believer."

Now it’s those last two statements that kinda like just burn-it-on-down in Brother Swaggart’s messed-up doctrine of the "if that should have been since". I mean thank God for His revelation to me on the "human body and sin"! Because I know without a shadow of a doubt that even though Believers are "justified" by their "simple faith" in what Jesus did on the Cross, they are no means "sanctified" or "baptized" through that same "simple faith". Sanctification or baptism only comes about as the Believer puts his or her faith in "Jesus’ Crucifixion Process" and walks out in obedience to each and every Word from the Father. It’s called "walking in the Spirit" and through it the sinful flesh is killed-off (crucified) and made righteous.

And having said all that, let’s move on into the Scripture of I Corinthians 6:9-11, just as the Lord has commanded me to: "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."

OK, so in this Scripture we’re gonna kinda like see Jimmy Swaggart’s error of the "if that should have been a since" kinda like multiplied in his commentary. Because reading from his comments on verse 11 we find: "Sanctification makes the believing sinner ready for the legal process of Justification. Of course, all this takes place upon one’s Faith in Christ, and is done instantly... Some people, even as we have already explained in other Commentary, get the Work of Sanctification confused. They confuse the Standing of Sanctification which is what is being described here, with the State of Sanctification, which is actually an ongoing, progressive process."

Well, contrary to what Brother Swaggart has just said about "some people being confused", he’s actually the one who’s confused. Because even though the "justification" being spoken of here is the finished results of the "sanctification" process, it is by no means done instantaneously as the Believer puts his or her faith in the Cross! No way! This "justification" is the final step in God’s Salvation Process as He kills-off the sinful flesh and replaces it with righteous flesh... and it actually takes place inside the body of the Believer. This is the "state" of a Believer who has had some of their sinful flesh cleansed by the Blood of Jesus and made righteous as a result of their obedience to God through their "walk in the Spirit".

The "standing" of the Believer is the initial "justification" by the Father as the sinner turns to Christ for their Salvation. At this stage of the Salvation Process God the Father only "sees" the new Believer as righteous because of what Jesus has already done on the Cross. And of course this initial "justification" has to be accomplished before God’s Holy Spirit can enter the new Believer and start the "sanctification clean-up process" — baptism — that will be completed when the Believer’s flesh is "justified as righteous". So the "sanctification and justification" in I Corinthians 6:9-11 actually takes place in the body of the Believer and it is a life-long process. As the Father takes care of some of the Believer’s sinful flesh by making it righteous, He just starts right back in on some more.

And that takes on into Philippians 3:10-14 which is the final Scripture that the Lord’s chosen for this message: "That I might know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made comformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

Now would anybody like to take a guess as to why the Lord picked this one? Well it’s because of that great big old "IF" that’s right in the middle of Paul’s discussion on dying to his flesh and being resurrected to a new life in Christ. So with that "if" in mind let’s see what Brother Swaggart has to say in his commentary. Because reading from his comments on verse 11 we find: "In Philippians 3:11-16, the Passage of our present study, Paul looks again at the idea of spiritual attainment. He himself has turned his back on his own considerable accomplishments under the Law. He has tossed them aside and considers them worthless. His goal now is simply to be found in Christ and so to attain to the Resurrection from the dead. As stated, this expression does not refer to the coming physical resurrection, but to Paul’s present experience concerning a power for righteous living that can be found by Faith and only as Jesus shares His Own Resurrection Life with the Believer (Rom. 6:8, 13; Phil. 3:9). This experience of power comes as we seek to follow Jesus and put into daily practice whatever level of understanding and maturity we may arrive at. The picture that emerges as we connect these Passages is an exciting one. God does have a high calling for Christians. But we attain it, not by self-reliant attempts to live by the Law, but rather by humble commitment of ourselves to Jesus, asking and believing by Faith that He will give us the power to follow Him, which He does through the Holy Spirit, and according to our Faith in His Death and Resurrection."

Bueno! Brother Swaggart hit the nail on the head in this one (I think). I mean from all indications the "if" actually stayed an "if". Because the truth of the matter is that Paul knew his sin-filled flesh would only be resurrected into new life "if" he "heard and obeyed" the Living Word of God for his life. The Law (rules/regulations/doctrine) has no Power to crucify the flesh, and Paul knew it! It’s only through God’s specific Word to the Believer, and their obedience to it, that their sinful flesh can be baptized into death and resurrected into new life.

"If" the Believer "hears God’s Word and obey God’s Word" the resurrected life of their flesh will be manifested. And it’s actually this same resurrected flesh in the Believer’s body that allows them to have the "mind of God". Because you see it’s only through this "baptismal process" that the body of the Believer can reprogrammed to think "God’s Way". And that’s exactly what this thing about "knowing God" is all about — "That I might know him"!

And having said all that, we can kinda like blow Brother Larson’s statement clean out of the "baptismal water" tank. Because in the video on Romans Chapter 6 (verses 1-5) Brother Larson made the following comment concerning the Believer having the mind of God: "This word "knowing" is a different word, it’s the word "ginosko" which means there is a personal experiential knowledge. You see if we understand, and are bent to hear the true message of the Cross we will personally experience the benefits, knowing this."

You see what Brother Larson said was directly linked to his statement that the "if should have been since"... and therefore all that a Believer needs to do is "hear and understand" the message of the Cross in order to "know" God and receive all the baptismal benefits (a personal experiential knowledge). But yet Paul is saying in Philippians 3:10-14 that it’s his desire to fully "know" God — a personal experiential knowledge — and even though he has already both "heard and understood" the message of the Cross. Paul is running for the mark of having all his "sinful flesh" made "righteous" before "check-out time". And likewise Paul knows that it’s only through his obedience to the Word of God — in other words "if" — that he’ll be able to achieve it.

And having said all that let’s continue on with Jimmy Swaggart’s comments on Philippians 3 verse 12: "We are not saved to just merely miss Hell and go to Heaven. We are saved in order to be made into the Image of Christ."

You see that’s what life is all about! We are born into sin-filled bodies (we are sinners/enemies of God), but through an acceptance of "Christ and Him Crucified" we can be "justified" in the eyes of God so that the Holy Spirit can come inside of us and lead us on our "walk in the Spirit" that will slowly but surely change us into the Image of Christ.

And on that same line of thought we’ll go on into Jimmy Swaggart’s comments on Philippians 3 verse 14: "Paul’s goal was the complete knowledge of Christ, at least such knowledge as is appropriate at our level of maturity, both in the Power of His Resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings. When the goal was reached, the prize would be one."

You see that’s what the Cross of Christ is all about. Jesus became Flesh and Blood so that through the Holy Spirit He could walk in obedience to His Father and likewise defeat sin in His Body through His suffering on the Cross. That’s the Salvation Process that Jesus has made available to everyone who can believe it. And it’s because of what Jesus did at the Cross that Believers can receive the Holy Spirit (the Power of His Resurrection) in order to willingly take up their cross and crucify their sin-filled flesh (fellowship of His sufferings).

In closing, please let me say that God has a very special and high calling for the Jimmy Swaggart Ministries during these end times. The Lord has given us this message of today as a means of getting Brother Swaggart’s Ministry back on track for that calling. I am sincerely dedicated to the Swaggarts for all they’ve done for the Glory of God; my personal spiritual development has resulted from it. I am very humbled that the Lord has used us in this mission for His glory.

Let us all consider the problems we have dealt with today as we continue our "walk in the Spirit" for the Lord. It’s not over till it’s over! And because of that one little old fact we must stay on our faces before the Lord in prayer, seeking His Divine Will in all things. Because "if" we can somehow manage to do exactly that we’ll be able to Keep On Keeping The Faith In Jesus!!!

(See sermonets Jimmy Swaggart And The Accursed! (12/30/01), Jimmy Swaggart And His Spiritual Adultery! (4/21/02), Is Jimmy Swaggart's Wife Frances Really Uncovered?, Jimmy Swaggart Repents! (9/25/04), The Monster Within Jimmy Swaggart Threatens To Kill Gays! (9/26/04), Jimmy Swaggart Trashes Knee Worshiping Frances! (8/14/05), and Jimmy Swaggart Thinks He Has Arrived...But God's Got An Eraser! (10/23/05) for updated information on this subject.)

Love,

Dad (Bruce Hallman)