GRAHAM'

GRAHAM'S INCREDIBLE STATEMENT

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March 10, 1998 (Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org) - The following by Pastor Allen P. Dickerson is from the Maranatha Baptist Watchman (Maranatha Baptist Church, P.O. Box 246, Elkton, MD21921. 410-398-3764) --

In May 1997 interview Billy Graham was interviewed by Robert Schuller, and Schuller asked Graham the question, "Tell me, what do you think is the future of Christianity?"

Graham's reply was:

"Well, Christianity and being a true believer you know, I think there's the Body of Christ. This comes from all the Christian groups around the world. Outside the Christian groups, I think everybody who knows Christ, whether they are conscious of it or not, they're members of the Body of Christ. I don't think that we're going to see a great sweeping revival, that will turn the whole world to Christ at any time. I think James answered that. The Apostle James in the first council in Jerusalem, when he said that God's purpose for this age is to call out a people for His name, whether they come from the Muslim world, or the Buddhist world, or the Christian world, or the non-believing world, they are members of the Body of Christ, because they've been called by God. They may not even know the name of Jesus, but they know in their hearts that they need something that they don't have, and I think they turn to the only light they have, and I think that they are saved, and that they are going to be in heaven with us" (Billy Graham, televised interview with Robert Schuller, May 13, 1997).

In response to Graham's totally unscriptural statement, Schuller exclaimed, "What, what I hear you saying is that it's possible for Jesus Christ to come into human hearts and soul and life even if they've been born in darkness and never had an exposure to the Bible. Is that a correct interpretation of what you are saying?"

Graham answered: "Yes, it is, because I believe that. I've met people in various parts of the world in tribal situations, that they have never seen a Bible or heard about a Bible, and never heard of Jesus, but they've believed in their hearts that there was a God, and they've tried to live a life that was quite apart from the surrounding community in which they lived."

Graham makes the foolish statement, "I think that everybody that loves Christ, or knows Christ, whether they're conscious of it or not, they're members of the Body of Christ." My question is, How can anyone love Christ or know Christ and not be conscious of it? The Bible says in Romans 8:16, "The Spirit beareth witness with our spirit that we are the sons of God." In 1 John 3:24, "And hereby we know that He abideth in us by the Spirit which he hath given us," and also 1 John 4:13, "Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit." Note in Romans 8:9, "Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His." In Romans 10:14 the Word of God says, "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 heart? and how shall they hear without a preacher?" We read in John 3:18, "...but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

Then, the preposterous statement by Graham, "They may not even know the name of Jesus, but they know in their hearts they need something that they don't have." Note that in Acts 4:12 Peter said, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved." Romans 10:13, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Concerning the statement by Billy Graham that "people in various parts of the world in tribal situations, who had never heard about a Bible and never heard of Jesus, but they believed in their heart that there was a God, and they lived differently in the community would be in the Body of Christ." James 2:19 tells us, "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well, the devils also believe and tremble."

What Graham is actually saying here is, "Sinners can be saved by their good works and that a personal relationship to Jesus Christ by being born again is not necessary to salvation.

Also see "Graham Believes Men Can Be Saved Apart from Name of Christ"