Is Jimmy Swaggart's "Message Of The Cross" Biblical?

[RevRafael]

Jimmy Swaggart's "Message Of The Cross": Articles From A Pentecostal Persepective

Some things to consider that are vital for sound discernment today in the Body of Christ.

 

[Locutus]

I'm not getting any audio on the sound - is yer microphone connected..

 

[Silverwings]

So in effect, by your own admission, you are saying that you would rather he never made a comeback?

If there's a short answer to why Swaggart has managed to make a come back, it would be likely be for this very understandable reason. As I have observed in my other article, the majority of those who eagerly hearken to Swaggart's programming and teaching are those who are either largely ignorant of his ministry before his infamous fall or who look past it for any one of a hundred reasons we don't have time to get into here.

Everything in the Bible tells us to restore a brother that falls............but you would rather see him stay down, than to see him repent, which he did profusely, and be restored? And you have the audacity to attack him? I think you are either jealous or misguided.

 

[Johnny_B]

I do not see any difference in his message of the cross then others that hold the Arminian view of salvation. Is it Biblical? The acticle did not enough Scripture quoted for one to make that call, at least that is the way I see it.

I used to be a big Jimmy Swaggart follower, I thought he preached the word of God, I was pentecostal at the time.

 

[MessageOfTheCross]

Paul said:

​

“For Christ sent me not to baptize (presents to us a Cardinal Truth), but to preach the Gospel (the manner in which one may be Saved from sin): not with wisdom of words (intellectualism is not the Gospel), lest the Cross of Christ should be made of none effect. (This tells us in no uncertain terms that the Cross of Christ must always be the emphasis of the Message)” (I Cor. 1:17).

​

In this one Verse, the Apostle tells us what the Gospel of Jesus Christ actually is. It is the Message of the Cross.

This means, if the preacher is not preaching the Cross, then whatever it is he is preaching, in its own way it may be good, but it’s not the Gospel, and it will not help anyone. In fact, the only Message that will save, help, heal, bless, instruct, lead, guide, empower, is the Message of the Cross.

JSM
​

 

[MessageOfTheCross]

Psalm 84:5-6 / Pastor Jimmy Swaggart Bible Commentary

5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them. (There is no blessing to the man who follow the ways of man)

​

6 Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools. In every Christian life, there are one or more "Valleys of Baca." We are placed there by the "LORD of Hosts," for our Spiritual Enrichment. It is the intention of the Holy Spirit to teach us the lesson He desires to teach, which He does in the "Valley of Baca," and then to turn it into a "well."

If the spirit of the Believer is carnal, this valley will only be a valley of weeping. But to the Spiritual Heart, it will be a new nature and an unfailing reservoir of strength and refreshment.

The Holy Spirit also tells us that it is not His intention that we remain there. We are only "passing through."
​

Most of the times, a "Valley of Baca" is put in our path in order that we may come to the end of ourselves and realize that Christ is our Source for everything, while the Cross is the Means.

Every Believer must learn God's prescribe order of victory - The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:2)

​

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WHY IS IT SO DIFFICULT FOR BELIEVERS TO PLACE THEIR FAITH EXCLUSIVELY IN THE CROSS OF CHRIST?

It is difficult for Believers to place their Faith exclusively in the Cross of Christ because it goes against the flesh.​

 

[MessageOfTheCross]

​And it cameto pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he letdown his hand, Amalek prevailed. Exodus17:11

Amalek was to dwell in the land, but not to reign in it. Romans6:12 says, "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortalbodies." The command would be unmeaning if the sin nature were notexisting in the Christian. The sin nature dwells in a Believer, but dwells andreigns in an unbeliever.

Let me say this again! Do not miss this!

Works of the flesh
Paul tells us this in the 5th Chapter of Galatians. The entire Book of Galatians, butespecially the 5th Chapter, is a warning from Paul to the Church at Galatia,which is also meant for us. The warning is that if they place their faith inanything except “Christ and Him Crucified,” that “Christ shall profityou nothing” (Gal. 5:2).

The Apostle goes on to say that if the Believer doesn’t adhere to the Way ofthe Spirit, which is the Way of the Cross, then works of the flesh willmanifest themselves. He said:

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery,fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred,variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders,drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as Ihave also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall notinherit the Kingdom of God” (Gal.5:19-21).

Now let me say it again, because it is so very important:
If the Believer doesn’t understand the Cross of Christ, as it regardsSanctification, then, in some way, one or more of these “works of the flesh”are going to manifest themselves in his life. As stated, such is inevitable! Thefirst four, “Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, and lasciviousness,”are obvious and easily understood. But the modern Christian quickly dismisses “idolatry,witchcraft, and heresies,” thinking they do not really apply today.

Let us address that:
First of all, any suggested way of victory other than the Cross of Christ, suchas the “Purpose Driven Life,” the “Government of Twelve,” the “Wordof Faith,” or “Denominationalism,” etc., constitutes idolatry. Ineffect, it is the same as Old Testament times, when Israel would begin toworship idols instead of Jehovah. To be sure, Israel actually referred to theseidols as Jehovah; but the Lord definitely did not look at it in the samemanner! And neither does He look any differently at modern idolatry!
Furthermore, all of this constitutes “heresies,” in which the modernChurch abounds.

Let me say it more clearly:
Any doctrine, way, scheme, or direction made up by men, which means it isdevised by men and not by God, is constituted by the Lord as “heresy,”which is a “work of the flesh.” Let me say it again, and because itis so very, very important! Any way other than “Christ and Him Crucified”is, in the eyes of God, “heresy.” Once one begins to understand these “worksof the flesh,” these things become more obvious.

The Message of the Cross - Pastor Jimmy Swaggart

 

[MessageOfTheCross]

The hands"upheld" signified total dependence on the Lord. When the Believer istotally depending on the Lord, and what He did for us at the Cross, the victoryof Christ belongs to us; otherwise, it doesn't!

Exodus17:12 says, "But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took astone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hurstayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side;and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun."
(The "Stone," as well, is symbolic of Christ. Moses exhaustionportrays the fact that our own efforts soon result in spiritual burn-out. Butonce we are in God's glorious way [sitting on the Stone], the victory is ours."Aaron" was a Type of Christ as our Great High Priest, and"Hur," whose name means "light," speaks to us of the HolySpirit. This is the help afforded the Child of God. But unfortunately, mostChristians are trying to hold up their hands [trusting in God] by their own personalstrength, which is doomed to failure.)

The Holy Spirit doesn't require much of us, but He does require one thing, andwithout reservation. Our Faith must be exclusively be in Christ and the Cross,understanding that this is God's Prescribed Order of Victory. When we stay"victory" we are speaking Victory in every capacity, be it spiritual,financial, domestically, physical, etc. God's Prescribed Order of Victory is"the Cross of Christ."

The Way Of The Spirit
Focus: The Lord Jesus Christ (John 14:6)
Object Of Faith: The Cross of Christ (Romans6:1-14)
Power Source: The Holy Spirit (Romans8:1-2, 11)
Results: Victory (Romans 6:14)

Man's Way
Focus: Works.
Object Of Faith: Performance.
Power Source: Self.
Results: Defeat!

The only way to God is through Jesus Christ (John 14:6)...theonly way to Jesus Christ is by the Means of the Cross (Luke14:27). The only way to the Cross is a denial of self (Luke 9:23).If any person tries to come any other way, Jesus says, "they are a thiefand a robber" (John 10:1).

Exodus17:13 says, "And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with theedge of the sword." (The "sword" here is a Type of the Word ofGod [Eph.6:17]. The Word of God holds the answer to every single problem whichpertains to "Life and Godliness" [2Peter 1:3-4].)

The Expositor's Study Bible - Pastor Jimmy Swaggart

 

[Speak2Me]

I'm a Pentecostal, and I wouldn't touch Swaggart with a 200 ft. pole.

He and his son Donny is arrogant and prideful.

 

[hardsell]

I'm a Pentecostal, and I wouldn't touch Swaggart with a 200 ft. pole.

He and his son Donny is arrogant and prideful.

And they both taught Gabriel to be the same way.

I also cannot get behind this message of the cross, it keeps Jesus on the cross and makes the actual cross an Idol.
If you watch or listen really carefully the say the resurrection does not mean anything, all that does is the cross.

He also was never, ever fully restored. He opted to be defrocked by the AOG instead of going through their mandatory 2 year restoration process for any Pastor caught in sexual sin. The fact he was habitual after getting caught the first time is also evident. Because of this he is not fit for ministry.

 

[MessageOfTheCross]

And they both taught Gabriel to be the same way.

I also cannot get behind this message of the cross, it keeps Jesus on the cross and makes the actual cross an Idol.
If you watch or listen really carefully the say the resurrection does not mean anything, all that does is the cross.

He also was never, ever fully restored. He opted to be defrocked by the AOG instead of going through their mandatory 2 year restoration process for any Pastor caught in sexual sin. The fact he was habitual after getting caught the first time is also evident. Because of this he is not fit for ministry.

Christ must never be separated from the Cross, which refers to what He did there. No, Christ is not still on the Cross; He is rather seated by the Right Hand of the Father in Heaven (Hebrews 1:3). As well, we are seated with Him in Heavenly Places, spiritually speaking (Eph. 2:6). The idea is, everything I receive from the Lord comes by the means of the Cross.

The Cross means the same thing as the Blood of Jesus and the Finished Work at Calvary.

 

[hardsell]

Christ must never be separated from the Cross, which refers to what He did there. No, Christ is not still on the Cross; He is rather seated by the Right Hand of the Father in Heaven (Hebrews 1:3). As well, we are seated with Him in Heavenly Places, spiritually speaking (Eph. 2:6). The idea is, everything I receive from the Lord comes by the means of the Cross.

The Cross means the same thing as the Blood of Jesus and the Finished Work at Calvary.

Then you better let Jimmy and Donny Know, because they never talk about this or acknowledge it or the resurrection.

Donny has been know to say nothing happened at the resurrection, it all happened at the cross.

We know some kids who went to The youth Camp meeting and Gabriel and all his Pastors say the same thing.

 

[MessageOfTheCross]

Then you better let Jimmy and Donny Know, because they never talk about this or acknowledge it or the resurrection.

Donny has been know to say nothing happened at the resurrection, it all happened at the cross.

We know some kids who went to The youth Camp meeting and Gabriel and all his Pastors say the same thing.

​Is redemption centered up in the Cross of Christ or the Resurrection of Christ?

Answer:

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Redemption is centered up totally in the Cross of Christ. While everything else after the Cross, the Resurrection, Ascension, and Exaltation of Christ, played a tremendous part, and continues to play a tremendous part, the truth is, all of this is made possible, the Resurrection, Ascension and Exaltation of Christ, because of the Cross.​

​

Victory = The Cross of Christ, i.e., The Blood of Jesus, i.e., The Finished Work​

​

Pastor Jimmy Swaggart​

 

[hardsell]

​Is redemption centered up in the Cross of Christ or the Resurrection of Christ?

Answer:

​

Redemption is centered up totally in the Cross of Christ. While everything else after the Cross, the Resurrection, Ascension, and Exaltation of Christ, played a tremendous part, and continues to play a tremendous part, the truth is, all of this is made possible, the Resurrection, Ascension and Exaltation of Christ, because of the Cross.​

​

Victory = The Cross of Christ, i.e., The Blood of Jesus, i.e., The Finished Work​

​

Pastor Jimmy Swaggart​

Precisely, Jimmy cannot get Jesus off the Cross.

 

[oldethennew]

personally, I think jimmy hung himself to satan's cross...

 

[hardsell]

personally, I think jimmy hung himself to satan's cross...

Sorry again for our misunderstanding.

 

[Grandpa]

The idea is, everything I receive from the Lord comes by the means of the Cross.

I don't understand this.

Do you have scripture that EXPRESSLY says this?

I like the idea of most of your concepts I just don't understand the hang-up of the cross.


Why is the cross more important than the resurrection? That I don't understand at all.

 

[kaylagrl]

Jimmy Swaggart's "Message Of The Cross": Articles From A Pentecostal Persepective

Some things to consider that are vital for sound discernment today in the Body of Christ.

After Swaggart refused to step down he lost my support. I don't listen to a thing he says,to me he's a hypocrite.

 

[7seasrekeyed]

After Swaggart refused to step down he lost my support. I don't listen to a thing he says,to me he's a hypocrite.

not that it matters, but I personally always thought he was over the top

when the story broke, his actions in his program made more sense to me

I agree about needing to step down...he may have been restored and certainly forgiven had he done so, but his actions betray his motives IMO

sorry

really and truly not someone I would recommend on that alone

 

[kaylagrl]

not that it matters, but I personally always thought he was over the top

when the story broke, his actions in his program made more sense to me

I agree about needing to step down...he may have been restored and certainly forgiven had he done so, but his actions betray his motives IMO

sorry

really and truly not someone I would recommend on that alone

In my travels I met a pastor who knew Swaggart personally. He said that many of the pastors knew he had the issue with women,it was a well known secret. Sad that he let his vices bring him down.