The previous lessons examined selected differences between false doctrines and the gospels. No effort was made to include all the differences that can be found; however, one difference with the gospel is enough to brand it false. Truth cannot be compromised no matter how appealing another doctrine might sound.

      God told Adam to eat of the trees but not to eat of the tree of good and evil, for if he did he would surely die (Genesis 2:16-17). The serpent found Eve and told her that if she ate of the forbidden tree Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. (Genesis 3: 4-5). The tree looked good; she ate of it and gave Adam the fruit of the tree. He ate it and at this point, they had sinned against God.

     False doctrines sound good. They appeal to the human nature and are disguised as truth. As was pointed out earlier, false doctrines counter the Bible and try to make people believe one way to God is as good as another. Tragically, that is believed by many who hear it and even worse, they refuse to change their belief, even when the truth is presented to them.  

    False notions about the contents of the Bible are difficult to overcome and when the truth is presented to those who believe the false doctrines, they generally respond with “that is your interpretation” as if their belief wasn’t an interpretation. Many have never studied to find the truth and depend on the preaching and teaching of others who do not know the truth either.

    On Page 7 of Jimmy Swaggart’s booklet What Must I Do to Be Saved, Mr. Swaggart quoted the jailer’s question in Acts 16:30-31. “That is how simple it actually is.” On Page 11 he wrote, “Every evidence is that he at that moment, in that jail, believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, and was instantly saved.” (Acts 16:27-34)

    Page 18 “Water Baptism does not save us, or contribute anything toward our Salvation, but is rather a sign that we have already been saved, which we wish to declare to the entirety of the world.” He misuses Romans 10:9-10 and overlooks the totality of the Bible subject on how to be saved. The error of Romans 10:9-10 will be exposed and will be shown in a lesson on that and other errors.

    One behavior of false teachers like Jimmy Swaggart and his followers is the removal from the context of verses that fit their doctrine. Verses that show the false nature of what they teach are ignored, yet they preach that the context is important.  Now to examine the false teachings of the booklet cited above.

    Swaggart claims that the jailer was instantly saved (p.7) at the moment of belief. However, that isn’t what Acts 16:27-34 contains. In verse 27, the jail doors flew open and the jailer was afraid the prisoners had escaped. He was told in verse 28 that the prisoners were still in the cell. Verse 29 says he was trembling and fell down before Paul and Silas. The jailer asks, verse 30, Sirs what must I do to be saved? Read verse 23, which gives the jailers responsibility and what he was going to do, verse 27. In answer to his question, they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. Then what happened? They spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house, verse 32. The jailer washed their stripes and then he was baptized, verse 33. Three questions are in order. One: if he was saved in verse 30, then what is the reason Luke did not record that event? Two: what is the reason Paul and Silas spoke to him the word of the Lord if he was saved in verse 30. Three: why was he baptized?

    The answers are obvious in the verses. Before one can be saved, belief is necessary and two: the gospel must be preached which was done, verse 32. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? (Romans 10:14) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17)  The jailer was told to believe. The gospel was preached so he would know why he should believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and what to believe in order to be saved. (The jailer surely repented, although Luke did not so write.) Paul and Silas were the preachers and baptism was part of the gospel message. If it wasn’t, why did Luke record that he was baptized? Context destroys the Swaggart doctrine and false teaching.

    On page 18 of the booklet, Swaggart says that water baptism doesn’t save since it is a sign that salvation has already occurred. Not one verse on the Bible so states no matter how much Swaggart desires such to be so. I Peter 3:20-21 tells us, 20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. 21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: The Swaggart explanation for verse 21 is that baptism is the proof that the individual has been saved or made clean so he or she is baptized which creates the good conscience.  Not quite. Baptism is the answer of the good conscience turned toward God. Without baptism, there is no answer of the conscience to God and no salvation. One is not cleansed from sin before baptism either. Read verse 20 again.  Baptism is not a sign that one has already been saved. Baptism is the means by which one obeys the gospel and enters into salvation, which is Jesus Christ and is the initial manner in which faith in Christ is shown. (A future lesson series will explore baptism more fully and Swaggart’s error on baptism and explain I Peter 3:19-21.)

    Acts 2:38 is similarly maligned by the Swaggarts. He claims that the Greek word eis of Acts 2:38 (Rendered for in KJV) means because (his Expositors Bible), and writes that since one is already saved/sins remitted due to faith in Christ, the believer is baptized. He so says because of his denial of the necessity of baptism. However, not one reputable Greek lexicon or reputable Greek teacher says the definition of eis is because. The meanings of the word are going toward, with a view to with respect to a certain event; in order to and in the case of Acts 2:38, it means into Jesus Christ in order to receive remission of sins and salvation. (Confer with Matthew 28:19-20) Mr. Swaggart can protest all he wants, but the truth remains that he is a false teacher.

    Mr. Swaggart is like so many who twist the scriptures to support his man made doctrines. Another series on a new web site to be launched soon will cover more of the false teachings of Jimmy Swaggart and others. 

   It is hoped that the lessons have helped the understanding of the scriptures discussed. Truth is important if one desires to be saved and the teachings of Christ must not be misrepresented. One must study and search the scriptures daily to see if the things presented are so. (Acts17:11)

© 07-02-2011 DEC

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