Mr. Graham has preached to more people than any "Evangelist" living or dead via television hookups in "Campaigns For Christ" over the years. Let me assure the reader that I hold no personal animosity toward Mr. Graham whatsoever. I am sure he is kind, gentlemanly, very religious, and as moral a man as can be found on the face of the earth. He has great knowledge and the ability to convey what he believes to the multitudes. But I have somewhat against Mr. Graham about which I desire to tell any with sufficient interest to read the rest of this tract. First, let's draw a few preliminary conclusions from some Biblical principles before proceeding:
1. Being "kind and gentlemanly" cannot be gainsaid, but within themselves, are not sufficient to put one in the right relationship with Christ. Kindness and gentlemanliness will not remove that first sin. It takes the blood of Jesus to do that (Hebrews 9:22; Romans 5:9).
2. Being "very religious" is likewise commendable, but that too falls short of placing one in the proper relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Romans 10:1-4; Acts 17:22; 1 John 1:1-7).
3. Being morally pure is something that must be respected highly (especially in this day) when so many (including what are sometimes called men of the cloth) have been shown to be both doctrinally and morally impure. Some have even drawn prison sentences due to fleecing folks out of their hard earned dollars. Even being morally pure however isn't sufficient for a right standing with the Almighty! Cornelius was certainly that, but had to send for Peter to "tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved" (Acts 10:1-4; 11:14).
4. Having "great knowledge" is a good thing provided we know the truth and stand for the
same, but "having great knowledge" in and of itself isn't sufficient to save one from that first
sin, unless one has a knowledge of, and has complied with, the "whole council of God" (Acts
20:26-27). Only the truth into which the Apostles were led by the Holy Spirit can "furnish one
unto every good work" and assure one of having access to "all truth" (John 16:13; 2
Timothy 3:16-17; John 8:31-32).
a. Apollos was "mighty in the Scriptures," but "knowing only the baptism of John" made
it essential that Apollos be "taught the way of the Lord more perfectly", and his converts
immersed again by the authority of Jesus Christ, (Acts 18:24-26; 19:1-5; Romans 6:16-18).
5. Having been widely used and acclaimed as "the most famous Evangelist of this generation" may account for a lot in the eyes of some folks, but that too, doesn't count for anything spiritually speaking, unless what one teaches can be found in God's word. In fact, proof that he isn't careful to teach "the apostle's doctrine," (Acts 2:42), is the fact that Mr. Graham is this popular with the masses (Matthew 7:13-14; Luke 6:26). He has missed many a chance to have straightened out multitudes of people, but he chose to tell them things like "No church, no good works, and no baptism can save you, just accept Jesus as your personal Savior and then look up some Bible believing church (what he means is any church where they claim to believe on Christ) and "join" them and serve Christ by attending and working with them." The message above varies of course. Sometimes alien sinners are told to pray a particular prayer and ask Jesus to come into one's heart and save them. This has always left me puzzled?? Why? First of all, if he is correct and one is saved "the moment one accepts Jesus as personal Savior," aren't they already "saved" before and without the prayer he instructs them to pray? Too, aren't "accepting and praying" something the person is told by him to do? How does this square with his "nothing to do" position? The fact is, Mr. Graham believes that folks must have what he calls "a new birth experience " before any of the above transpires. Never mind that all this is contradictory to his own teachings above, it is also contradictory of the New Testament's teaching! That's what makes it so serious (2 John 9-10; Galatians 1:6-11)!
Lest someone think I have misrepresented Mr. Graham and the Baptist folks, let me give the quotes from my copy of one of his own mail out New Testaments from one of his campaigns for Christ. This New Testament was given to me by one whom I was fortunate to recover from the Baptist church with which Mr. Graham is mainly affiliated. Really, what Mr. Graham teaches and what many other Baptist folks teach actually claims that one is saved before faith in Christ. All the while they are strong on demanding acceptance of Christ. Read the following for confirmation:
First quote "These Folks Called Baptist" by Jimmy H. Heflin. This is an exact quote from "The Standard Manual for Baptist Churches (Southern Baptist churches ket) written by Edward T. Hiscox, D.D. It reads: "We believe that in order to be saved, sinners must be regenerated or born again; that regeneration consists in giving a holy disposition to the mind; that it is effected in a manner above our comprehension by the power of the Holy Spirit, in connection with divine truth, so as to secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel; and that its proper evidence appears in the holy fruits of repentance, and faith, and newness of life" (Ibid. pg. 12).
Did you get it? The "evidence of your new birth is repentance, and faith, and newness of life! This simply means saved first, repent and believe later. Who can believe such religious gobbledegook? Let me tell you, they are legion! The Southern Baptist is I suppose the largest Protestant body in the south. The Northern Baptist teach much the same. What does the statement "secure our voluntary obedience to the gospel" mean in their theology? Absolutely nothing! That must be thrown in to try and make a bad perversion of Scripture look a little less offensive! It doesn't work in my case and I am sure from what the New Testament teaches it doesn't work in Christs' case either, for it eliminates His "great commission" as unneeded and unnecessary!
Mr. Graham's Crusade Edition N.T. says on page (8) "Eternal life is yours the moment you believe." This teaches and their creed states that men are saved "solely through faith" (Hiscox pg. 62). Now Mr. Graham's instructions to this person are: "Are you ready to receive God's free gift? If you are, you need to call on Him in prayer. You may pray your own prayer. Or, if you need help in praying, you may use the following sinner's prayer if you truly make it your own confession.
"Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner (I thought he was saved the moment he believed! ket) and need your forgiveness. I know you died on the cross for me. I now turn from my sins and ask You to forgive me. I now invite You into my heart and life. I now trust You as Savior and follow you as Lord. Thank You for saving me." Amen He goes on to say the following and ask the following questions:
Did you ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins?
Did you ask Him to save you?
Did you give Jesus complete control of your life?
If so, welcome to God's family!
Why not pause for a moment and thank Him for saving you?
Then Mr. Graham's New Testament in the fly leaves goes on to instruct the person with the following words: "As evidence of giving Jesus control of your life, He wants you to publicly confess Him and follow Him in baptism and church membership. The Bible says, "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved" (Acts 2:41,47). Guess which verse in the above context is completely omitted? It is (Acts 2:38). Verse 40 is absent as well. Let us look at what the apostle Peter said on this, the birthday of Christ's church:
Believers (Acts 2:37) asked Peter and the rest of the apostles, "men and brethren, what shall we do? They Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). Peter admonished the audience to "save yourselves from this crooked generation" (V-40). Then verse forty one and forty seven read as stated above.
Why are no "great commission" passages used by Mr. Graham and other Protestants, or rarely used and if used misapplied? Such passages deny the faith only and church of choice idea, that's one reason why. See (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-17; Luke 24:45-49). Jesus said "belief and baptism were both essential to salvation from alien sins" (Mark 16:16). Luke's account said "baptism and remission of sins was to be preached in His (Christ's) name, beginning at Jerusalem."
To what church were these folks added? Only one answer is possible. This was over six hundred years before the first denomination came into full fruition as we now recognize the Roman Catholic church. It was some sixteen hundred years before the first Protestant church ever existed that folks became Christians, members of Christ's blood bought body, His church (Acts 2:22-38,40-41,47; Colossians 1:13-14; Acts 20:28; Ephesians 5:22-33; Ephesians 2:13-16; 3:6; 4:1-6; Acts 11:26; 1 Peter 4:16; Acts 26:28; Acts 4:12; 1 Corinthians 1:10-13).
The same reason Jesus shed His own precious blood, is what is attributed to water baptism in the Scriptures. Let's parallel (Matthew 26:28 and Acts 2:38). Get yourself a Greek lexicon if you wish and check the two words translated "for" in these passages. It never means because of, it always means "in order to." Jesus shed His blood "eis" or "for" the remission of sins. Can this possibly mean because we were saved already? Why no! Then neither can it mean that in Acts 2:38. Peter's own words later confirm what he meant on Pentecost.
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:" (1 Peter 3:21).
One may study every case of conversion to Christ after His "great commission" was given to His apostles and one will fail to find where even one alien sinner was told to pray for anything, let alone for salvation or for Jesus to come into his heart and save him! Saul, a penitent believer who fasted and was praying was told in essence to stop praying and do something. That which he was told to do, is that which Mr. Graham and others of his persuasion say is absolutely "not essential to salvation." If you doubt me, answer me why they so often use the penitent thief on the cross whom Jesus saved, as a reason to deny our need for immersion? The Standard Manual for Baptist Churches under note 8 page 20 states-"Baptism is not essential to salvation..." What was Saul told to do? "Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16).
I should say something about the thief whom Jesus saved. This was during the lifetime of Christ on earth while the law of Moses was still binding. The "great commission" had not been given. Besides, Christ had power on earth to forgive sins on any, or no conditions as He choose. That one could not be buried with Christ in baptism as He was buried in the tomb and raised to walk in newness of life until after those events had transpired should be obvious (Matthew 9:6; Romans 6:3-6; Colossians 2:12; 3:1-4). The Hebrew writer pointed out the fact that "a Testament is of force after the death of the Testator" (Hebrews 9:14-17).
Conversions under the world wide commission of Christ may be studied in the Acts of the
apostles as well as in some of the epistles. One would expect them to comply with said
commission, for "God is not the author of confusion.." (1 Corinthians 14:33; John 17:17,20-21;
1 Corinthians 1:10). It is my sincere hope and prayer that you will examine these cases of
conversion in the light of these passages (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:45-49).
Keep in mind also what Jesus said to Nicodemus in (John 3:3-5).
1). Jews on Pentecost-(Acts 2:22-38,40-41,47)
2). Samaritans-(Acts 8:12)
3). Simon-(Acts 8:13)
4). Ethiopian Eunuch-(Acts 8:26-39)
5). Saul of Tarsus-(Acts 9:1-6; 22:16; Acts 26)
6). Cornelius-(Acts 10:1-2, 43,47-48; 11:14)
7). Lydia-(Acts 16:14-15)
8). Philippian Jailer-(Acts 16:25-33).
A careful analysis of each, shows that they Heard, Believed, Repented, Confessed faith in
Christ, and were Immersed for the forgiveness of sins. This is how folks became Christians
then. This is how one becomes a Christian today. If not, then why not? Being a Christian and
being a member of Christ's New Testament church were identical relationships. When one comes
under the authority of Christ in gospel obedience, one automatically by those same acts becomes a
citizen of Christ's kingdom. How many kingdoms does Christ have? How many churches did he
establish? The answer is only one and they are one and the same relationship (John 10:16;
Matthew 16:18-19; Ephesians 5:23-25). These folks were never told to "go find a Bible
believing church" as in the "church of Choice" teachings of today. Again, Mr. Hiscox and others
(including Mr. Graham) know this is true. Why will they persist in teaching otherwise? I'm sure I
do not know all the reasons.
Read the following:
Dear reader, why not accept the truth of Christ, obey His gospel plan and become simply and only a Christian and a member of Christ blood bought body, His church? You have everything to gain and absolutely nothing to lose except the alien sins that stand between you and the Son of God Almighty. Perhaps you could be the very one to assist this "good man" who has deceived so many, in coming to a knowledge of the truth.
This "good man" Mr. Billy Graham, because he is so influential, and has yet to tell that first alien sinner what inspired men in Biblical times told them to do to be saved and become members of Christ's church, is one of the most detrimental persons to the cause of Christ who ever lived! Folks take his word over that of the Apostles and Evangelist recorded in the Bible, and believing themselves saved before and without gospel obedience leading to membership in Christ's church, will face judgment unprepared to meet the Lord (Matthew 7:13-28; 1 Peter 1:22-25; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-11; Revelation 14:13; 22:14; 20:12-15).
Mr. Graham is in failing health and will soon have to face the Lord Jesus Christ whose gospel he has perverted lo these many years, and whose church he has repeatedly said is not essential to one's salvation. By saying such things as; "no church, no good works, n o baptism, can save you, only Christ can save you." We all admit that it is Christ who saves men, but what men does He save? In what relationship are they to be found?
Christ saves only the obedient and He adds them to His blood bought church (Acts 2:22-38, 40-41,47). Such aren't saved by "good work" of human devising, but by grace through faith by the gospel (Galatians 3:26-29; Ephesians 2:8-10).
Call or write me or the one who gave you this tract for further study about these matters please.
Written with love for all mankind for whom Christ died. Ken