INTEGRITY PUBLICATIONS brings you quality theology through the medium of eBooks.
NEW RELEASE:
TOWARD HEAVEN: VOL 1. Eternal Realities
Dr. Swincer has just released this new book, challenging our approach to the whole perspective of the redemptive program in the context of the creation through to the Eternal Sate, as well as the pivotal issue of Christ's Spiritual Death.
The understanding of the Spiritual Death of Christ, needs to be appreciated in distinction from His physical death.
SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY PRICE: $10 (rrp $15)
Further details below.
eBooks AND PAPERBACKS!
All the eBooks on this website are also now available as PAPERBACKS. Visit http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=DAVID+SWINCER&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3ADAVID+SWINCER _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CONDEMNED ALREADY
If Adam’s sin has led to my condemnation—and therefore I am Condemned Already—how can I repent of Adam’s sin since it is not my own sin? How then can I become a Christian if I am condemned for Adam’s sin rather than my own? I can’t repent of Adam’s sin. And what place is there left for evangelism if I can’t repent?
LET GOD SPEAK: HIS WORD IS AUTHORITY
In the lands of the East, when a host accepts a man to be his guest he thereby agrees at whatever the cost to defend his guest from all possible enemies during the time of his entertainment ... The host took a piece of roast mutton and handed it to the missionary, saying as he did so, "Now do you know what I have done?" In answering his own question he went on to say: "By that act I have pledged you every drop of my blood, that while you are in my territory no evil shall come to you. For that space of time we are brothers." The Psalmist felt utterly secure, though he had enemies close by him, when he knew that God was his host. "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies".
(Wight 1953, 78.)
This simple example helps to pinpoint the need for careful biblical exegesis. If we want to LET GOD SPEAK through His Word, then we must be able to understand the meaning of that word to the culture to which it was written.
But we need to briefly lay a foundation for that study, about defining the actual Bible—the Word of God. What is the actual content of the Bible? Which books are to be included and why? Is it inspired? How are we to then interpret this composite book (of 66 books)? How are we to then discover what this ancient writing has to say to us today in our time and culture?
The climax of these foundational issues is the careful exegesis of the bible, with worked examples of several passages to demonstrate a methodology that can be applied to any verse or passage of the bible. This is the basis for preaching, teaching and personal application.
Having been told to sacrifice his one-and-only son—who he had waited for 25 years to arrive, God told Abraham to sacrifice the lad to Him. No explanation.
And the Covenant God made to Abraham depended on that son. But Abraham was strong in faith—being persuaded of God—knowing that God had it all under control.
Abraham responded with implicit trust and obedience, and even though he was about 120 years old, he immediately proceeded into the desert to obey God.
On approaching the mountain for the sacrifice, he explained to his servants who accompanied him and Isaac:
… “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will WORSHIP and then we will come back to you.” (Genesis 22:5).
Abraham wished to “appreciate God for His own sake”. And his willingness to worship—no pipe organ or hymns—underlines the nature of true worship as it is addressed in this book.
And hence the definition:
Worship is:
1. an appreciation of God for His Own sake,
2. without regard to the circumstances,
3. without regard to any benefits that we might derive from Him, and
4. it is 24/7.
This teaching is a must for every pastor, in their leadership of their flocks, as well as in their private devotions—as well as for every lay person.
We live in a day when God’s Voice is heard less and less. References to God or celebrations––like Christmas and Easter––are devalued and avoided, or reinterpreted for secular reasons.
References to God by prayers in Parliament and schools are reduced or removed. Loud, unprincipled voices are being heard instead of the truly authoritative Voice of God.
Godless evolution is promoted in most educational institutions, with any believers in, or sympathisers of creation, being dismissed or intimidated.
Against all this ignorance, we note that the only true source of authority is this same Almighty God Who is being silenced by the secular society. And the effects of this fact are being felt at all levels of society with exceptionally sad oppression and injustice.
All authority as expressed in the functional structures of our society—whether government and civil, employment and education, or domestic and private—is only ever derived authority. No one has authority vested in them by intrinsic right, or by self-achievement.
The only ones who claim such authority are dictators, petty tyrants, bully bosses, tyrannical husbands, intolerant drill instructors, and the like. No one serving under them would ever mistake their voice as even remotely expressing the Voice of the true God.
The one-and-only true and sovereign God, Who alone possesses authority, is loving, caring, compassionate, patient, just, longsuffering, instructive. How can this God’s character be conveyed to our society? Only through the derived authority expressed by Christians in the functional structures of society. Others who have imbibed the Judeo-Christian ethic, will no doubt also express from their background, something of God’s character as well.
The need of the hour, is for The Voice of God to be heard at all levels of society.
* * * * *
TONGUES VOLUME 1: CONFUSED BY ECSTASY
The chief concern in this study is the understanding of the true glossolalic phenomenon, in distinction from the confusing element of ecstasy.
The starting point is the assumption that there is an authentic gift of glossolalia that presumably is potentially valid today, although under what conditions and why is a different question. Gifts of teaching, preaching, and pastoring are self-evidently valid or able to be independently validated, but what is the validation of speaking in "tongues"? Indeed, what is "speaking in tongues"?
TONGUES VOLUME 2: GENUINE BIBLICAL LANGUAGES
UNIQUE. This is the only known construct to demonstrate the true gift of languages (together with interpretation as a composite gift), showing its source, purpose and operation.
This unique construct demonstrates all the biblical criteria, in particular:
• the source in God (Trinitarian) as for ALL gifts,
• the ministry to the church (as for ALL the gifts),
• its relevance today in spite of arguments to the contrary,
• the fact that it has never been abrogated at any time,
• its method of operation that can be independently validated and thereby protect its operation from abuse,
• its purpose as an unambiguous sign of God’s judgement and displeasure with unpersuaded believers in the church—hence a gift for the church.
The traditional pastoral role has changed over the last decades, largely due to the growth of mega-churches. The senior pastor has tended to become more an executive leader with an emphasis on public preaching as the figurehead of a large organisation.
The traditional pastoral role has been superseded in large part in these situations, with much of the regular pastoral role being performed by a range of associate pastors/elders with a primary function as pastors, with little if any preaching component.
In the past, many churches did not have any pastoral assistance, and often the pastor was assisted by deacons, performing de facto pastoral roles, whilst also performing the normal administrative functions usually ascribed to deacons.
This has meant that often the expectancy of performing this de facto pastoral role, has led to a more selective process for choosing deacons, often precluding some well-equipped and gifted men from a serving ministry because they did not simultaneously qualify as elders.
We look at the pastoral role generally, but with a view to multiplying this role in order to meet the needs of growing congregations through the introduction of elders. Some practical considerations are given for the transition to introduce these changes.
Alongside this, what is the function of women in leadership ministries of the church?
The title of this book is an expression of the following:
1Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing (acceptable) and perfect will.
Romans 12:1-2, emphases added.
The question that is paramount, is, “How do we discover this good and acceptable and perfect will?”
And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from the Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts - deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds ...
Colossians 3:15 (Amplified), emphases added.
This verse expresses in a quite convincing way, the last word on discovering the will of God: Let the peace of God continually act as umpire in your hearts, deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds (Colossians 3:15, adapted).
But this is not a privilege for anyone, as if it were some semi-magic trick to discover God’s will.
It is premised upon a deep and meaningful personal relationship with Christ. That relationship is the result of the conversion experience, and results in a life of growing into Christ’s likeness—the process of sanctification. The expression of that life is then found in true Christian worship, with its commitment to God and the desire to live in obedience to Him—doing His will.
That is the theme of this book.
I have always been challenged about the need to be ready to share the Gospel, but I am not an evangelist, although like Paul told Timothy, do the work of an evangelist (2 Timothy 4:5), so I feel the need to at least be ready:
15But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. ALWAYS BE PREPARED to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
1 Peter 3:15, emphases added.
I am commissioned—as a Christian—to be responsible in sharing the Gospel.
God spoke to Ezekiel and enunciated the principal of the responsibility of those appointed to be “watchmen” for others:
17“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. 18When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will HOLD YOU ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR BLOOD. 19But if you do warn the wicked person and they do not turn from their wickedness or from their evil ways, they will die for their sin; but you will have saved yourself.
Ezekiel 3:17-19, emphasis added.
Whilst the passage relates to Ezekiel’s responsibility to Israel, the principle is inescapable as it relates to my call to intervene on behalf of others who are dying—going to a Christless eternity.
It is the last phrase of the quote that haunts me: I will hold you accountable for their blood. I confess that I don’t know exactly what that means, but you don’t have to be very smart to realise that there is a serious accountability. Whatever it is, I don’t want to have Blood on My Hands.
* * * * *
THE OLD MAN DIED (AND HE’S DEAD)
The Old Man is a term only occurring three times in the Bible. It is a very important concept theologically, but this has been lost by incorrect translation, and then by incorrect explanation.
The Old Man is the condition of unregenerate humanity, identified in union with Adam. It is our condition naturally after our corporate sin in Adam. It is not a reference to our nature as if it were some part of us. It is not a person with a will. It is not an abstract principle—an abstract principle cannot be responsible for a sin a man commits.
The Old Man is DEAD! How can we then go on sinning? Who can we blame?
This is the pivotal issue of this book—sin and Christian responsibility.
WILL NOBODY LISTEN?
Here is an intensely practical approach to Conflict Resolution for dedicated counsellors and pastors, as well as lay persons. It uses the two issues of a. one-to-one counselling and b. written communication—both in a rather unique way—with 100% success!
- This 213 page e-book covers Family Conflict, Marriage Conflict, Church Conflict.
- It addresses the principles of Conflict Resolution from the biblical bases.
- The methodologies are fully explained, and warnings are illustrated in regard to Rushing to Judgment.
- Clear explanatory notations.
SEE REVIEW: WILL NOBODY LISTEN?
The first Jew was a Gentile. Prior to Abraham, there were no Jews—there was no nation of Israel.
Israel exists by the sovereign choice, plan, and action of God—the sovereign ruler of the universe. It deserves to be carefully acknowledged and recognised because of that origin—and more.
No other nation has ever attracted the detailed care, protection, and specific purpose as has Israel.
Through the Abrahamic Covenant, Israel was to become:
- A great nation, deriving from Abraham. This was a personal blessing.
- They would be given a land to possess—the land of Canaan. Beware of trifling with God’s determination here.
- Through the descendants of Abraham, down to Christ, there would be an international blessing. This belated nation would become central to God’s purpose in order to determine the salvation destiny of the whole world.
God warned:
3I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; (Genesis 12:3).
Nations that have failed to appreciate that statement, have learned to their own detriment., if they have tried to oppose Israel: they are opposing Israel’s God.
Nations who have supported Israel, have benefited from the blessing of Israel’s God.
Don’t mess with Israel! They are the Apple of God’s Eye!
It is common parlance to refer to a departed loved who has supposedly “gone up there”, as one who is now “looking down”, presumably “from heaven”. And no regard is paid to the rotation of the earth’s axis at that time, or the position of the earth in its orbit around the sun! So where is “up”? Or “down”?
Is heaven “up there”, or “out there”, or “down here”? These questions only confuse the issue because this is to think spatially instead of relationally.
We pray: Our Father in heaven (Matthew 6:9). That statement implies location, but where is that?
We further pray:
10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Matthew 6:9, emphasis added.
Implicit to this prayer is that we desire to have God’s sovereign rule (His kingdom) and His will operating in undivided application on earth as it is currently operating in heaven. This implies a future expectancy for this earth, as well as a particular location—both now and then!
If we glibly refer to heaven as being “where God is”, then since God is everywhere, we are already in heaven—because God is here!!
And if God is everywhere—spatially—then where does Satan fit in? No, we can’t argue spatially. God is sovereign and reigns supreme over all things—Satan included.
And if God is everywhere—spatially—then where is the lake of fire?
“God in heaven” is the being of God apart from sin—God in His perfect holiness, and where He reigns supreme.
But WE are not NOW in heaven as the bible understands—even though God is also here—or we have no future hope! There is nothing more to be achieved. Paul is clear:
19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.
1 Corinthians 15:19.
There is much more!!
Evolution tends to be the assumed “scientific” explanation of origins. But it is seldom allowed to stand on its merits—if indeed it has any.
Any World View that seeks to explain origins—which any World View MUST do—must necessarily go to the very start—the origin—from which it claims to build its structure.
There is no credibility in a theory of origins, that does not have an independent origin, but instead can only stand on previously existing foundations. It is not a complete World View.
Too often, proponents of evolution seek to browbeat others into accepting their unfounded and unsubstantiated theory. A genuine, and properly scientific and validated theory, needs no such intimidatory tactics for its acceptance. It stands on its merits.
We carefully examine a series of irrefutable criteria, from the very beginning of existence for any theory, that must be demonstrated for that theory to have any credibility, and right to demand acceptance. Twelve irrefutable scenarios are addressed, demonstrating that at each step, evolution has no answer in the slightest. It can’t even make a start.
It is a THEORY WITHOUT FOUNDATION.
COMING: READY OR NOT
The subject of the Second Coming was usually treated with a snigger and evasive comments, like, “Oh, I’m a pan-millennialist” (“she’ll all pan out in the end!”), or a “… flour mill!” It was always regarded as an argumentative topic reserved for wet-Sunday-afternoon idle chatter, rather than as a serious issue to be carefully understood and applied.
Why was God’s climactic work—the culmination of His whole redemptive program—so unclear and indecisive, if this attitude were true? Why was it frequently treated with such gross trivialisation? This is the climactic purpose of the Creator of the universe!
COMING: READY OR NOT takes a careful appraisal of the whole program of God, seeking to give balance and perspective to the many interlocking issues. An understanding of the Kingdom of God is basic to this pursuit, and this includes a corrective treatment concerning the significance of the role of Israel in God’s overall program.
Have you heard of “gay cakes”? This is a picture of those who for conscience (in the US) would not provide “cakes”, i.e. cater for a gay marriage reception, once the “marriage” equality laws had come in. Immediately the gay lobby sued for discrimination and the owner (Aaron Klein) was forced to comply or be fined—in this case $135,000—and put out of business.
This is the work of a terrorist mentality. No consideration for anyone else’s beliefs. No respect for other universally and well-established views. Just force with coercive pressure to demand conformity to their narrow and perverted ideology.
The “marriage” equality debate is a ruse to have laws enacted that will then open the floodgates for all manner of perversion, followed by discrimination laws to force the perverse views on the apathetic public.
Only 1% of the population is trying to manipulate the 99%, and we are just letting it happen. There is an urgency to acquaint everybody with the situation before we lose the opportunity to have a say. If we delay, it will not be just a matter of “gay cakes”, a pastor will not be able to refuse to “marry” a gay couple. A church will not be able to refuse the use of its facilities for a gay reception. These things are already happening in Canada, USA, UK, Ireland, and other places that have allowed gay “marriage” to be introduced.
And it won’t be a matter of tolerating these changes, the new deconstructionism of “toleration” requires hearty assent and approval of the aberrations.
In seeking to promote and support the Calvinist position, Benjamin Warfield sought to champion the cause by making some rather extravagant statements:
"He who believes in God without reserve and is determined [free will!??] that God shall be God to him, in all his thinking, feeling, willing - in the entire compass of his life activities, intellectual, moral, spiritual - throughout all his individual, social, religious relations - is, by the force of that strictest of all logic which presides over the outworking of principles into thought and life, by the very necessity of the case, a Calvinist".
This can only be described as a ridiculously elitist statement. To believe in God in the terms described, does not even remotely require a person to be a Calvinist. Likewise, the following quote from Warfield is equally elitist in the extreme.
"Religion (sic) in its substance is a sense of absolute dependence on God and reaches the height of its conception only when this sense of absolute dependence is complete and all pervasive, in the thought and feeling and life. But when this stage is reached we have just Calvinism".
Sadly this statement is arrogant nonsense! Is this position—absolute dependence on God, etc.—not true of EVERY Christian? It is this arrogant approach that raises a serious concern of an elite theology above the Scriptures.
Such statements demand that a corrective be given, and hence this book.
TOWARD HEAVEN VOL 1
You have arrived in Heaven—the Ultimate Reality.
You are busy greeting all the old friends and acquaintances, that passed on ahead of you. It’s like Pleasant Sunday Afternoons on steroids—and non-stop. Coffee and doughnuts for everyone—just like Sunday School. All are chatting about the “good old days”.
What could be more wonderful?
But then you become aware of a little kid, standing off to one side, seeming to be lost. Oh, he’ll be OK.
But he doesn’t go away, and you start to feel a bit guilty—but you can’t do anything as he doesn’t speak your language. Then you discover, this is from the slums of Calcutta—what can you say to him? A mere 2-year-old.
He has never had a cup of coffee—let alone a doughnut, or even one decent meal in his entire life. But by the grace of God he is there—and no doubt many others like him.
Hovering to one side, cowering behind some large potted plants, is a bedraggled woman. Further enquiries reveal that she is a survivor from the Holocaust—the subject of abuse and repeated raping. Will you invite her to join your happy little group? Welcome her to the friends that you are preoccupied with? What will you say to her—if you can understand her language?
Let us not be unmindful of these precious souls for whom Christ died—and who are now in Heaven—the Ultimate Reality.
They are just as important in God’s eyes, as we are. Even if we don’t understand their language or culture, and have never experienced anything remotely like their totally impoverished lives.
* * * * *
It is scenarios like this that motivated the writing of this book, and that shook me deeply about my own prejudices and presuppositions.
* * * * *