Billy Graham Confirms Salvation Without Faith

In an interview published in Newsweek magazine, August 14, Billy Graham confirmed his misguided opinion that men might be saved without faith in Jesus Christ. When asked whether he believes heaven will be “closed to Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus or secular people,” Graham replied: “Those are decisions only the Lord will make. It would be foolish for me to speculate about all that. I believe the love of God is absolute. He said he gave his Son for the whole world, and I think he loves everybody regardless of what label they have” (“Pilgrim’s Progress,” Newsweek, Aug. 14, 2006).

No one would disagree that God will make the decision about man’s eternal destiny, but the fact is that He has already made that decision and has revealed it in the Scriptures. It is not speculation to believe the Bible. God does indeed love all sinners and Christ died to make it possible for them to be saved, but the other side of the coin is that only those who repent and trust Christ will be saved. Nothing is more plainly stated in Scripture. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:26). “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life” (1 John 5:12). “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:15-16). “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Revelation 21:8). “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him” (Hebrews 2:3). “See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven” (Hebrews 12:25). The second chapter of Ephesians describes the condition of every individual apart from regenerating faith in Jesus Christ. They are “dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph. 2:1); they walk “according to the prince of the power of the air”  (Eph. 2:2); they are “by nature the children of wrath” (Eph. 2:3); they have “no hope” and are “without God in the world” (Eph. 2:12). Without faith in Jesus Christ, there is no hope. That is the teaching of God’s Word, and it is every evangelist’s responsibility to warn the people to be saved before it is eternally too late.

Friday Church News Notes, August 18, 2006, www.wayoflife.orgfbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143

 

Photo from Flickr.com | Richard Bromley

Tags: Billy Graham

By Admin in Billy Graham, Error on October 18, 2011