WHAT I BELIEVE NOW... By Bishop Jim Swilley
1. I BELIEVE in the living God Who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe (1 Timothy 4:10). His
salvation will ultimately reconcile all of humanity to Himself…but I believe in Him NOW !
2. I BELIEVE that Jesus Christ is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8), and I behold the
Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29)…and I behold Him NOW !
3. I BELIEVE that every knee in heaven and on earth and under the earth will eventually bow, and that every tongue in
heaven and on earth and under the earth will eventually confess to the glory of God that Jesus Christ is Lord
(Philippians 2:9, 10)…but my knees bow to Him NOW …and my tongue confesses that He is Lord NOW !
4. I BELIEVE that all were condemned in Adam, but all are justified in Christ (Romans 5:17-21), for as in Adam all
die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive (1 Corinthians 15:22). I was lost in Adam, but I am found in Christ…
condemned in Adam, but justified in Christ…dead in Adam, but alive in Christ…and I am found, justified, and alive
NOW !
5. I BELIEVE that Jesus Christ was and is the atoning sacrifice for my sins, and not for my sins only, but also for the
sins of the whole world (1 John 2:22). He has removed them from me as far as the east is from the west (Psalm
103:12), and I was chosen in Him before the foundation of the world, that I should be holy and without blame before
Him in love (Ephesians 1:4). I am forgiven…and I am forgiven NOW !
6. I BELIEVE that, because Jesus was lifted up from the earth on the cross, He will ultimately draw all peoples unto
Himself (John 12:32), but I come to Him of my own free will…and I come to Him NOW !
7. I BELIEVE that the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all humanity shall see it together (Isaiah 40:5)…that He
will pour out of His Spirit on all humanity (Joel 2:28)…and that every eye shall see Him (Revelation 1:7). But I see
His glory NOW …His Spirit is poured out on me NOW …and I see Him coming to me NOW !
8. I BELIEVE that it is not His will that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9), that the grace of God that brings salvation has
appeared to all people (Titus 2:11), and that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their
trespasses to them (2 Corinthians 5:19). This knowledge of His universal goodness brings me to repentance (Romans
2:4)…and His goodness is revealed in my mind NOW !
9. I BELIEVE that God has not appointed us unto wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ (1
Thessalonians 5:9), and that we shall not all sleep in death, but we shall all be changed (1 Corinthians 15:51). I will be
saved…and I am being saved NOW ; I will be changed…and I am being changed NOW !
10. I BELIEVE that all things shall be made subject to Him so that God may be all in all (1 Corinthians 15:28), and
that Christ is all and is in all (Colossians 3:11). The kingdom of God is IN me (Luke 17:21), and therefore God has
revealed His Son IN me (Galatians 1:16). Christ IN me is the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27), so I acknowledge that
Christ is IN me…and He is revealed IN me NOW!
