Are You Saved?

[Goodboy]

I know this may upset some, but I disagree about BG. He preached salvation by grace thru faith in Christ plus living a Christian life to be saved.
I can appreciate his sincerity, but he was sincerely wrong. He preached "another gospel."
If what you say above is what BG preached, this is not simply believing the gospel, it is adding to the gospel. He takes the burden of salvation from what Christ completely accomplished and puts it on people like you and me; as though Christ did his part, now you have to do your part to finish your salvation. This is aka, LS.
I would have been saved and known it as a teen if BG had simply presented Christ's finished work and said trust Him as your only Savior and be saved. It took reading Paul's Epistles years later when I believed and was saved. But what BG does is present salvation as a package of things you have to change about yourself plus trust Christ, which no one can possibly do to be saved.
As for believing with ones heart. This means simply putting ones faith in Christ alone for salvation.

I never knew that Billy Graham preached that you must do anything other than believe to be saved, until I read this thread. I never listened to his full speeches, but I knew he always referred to John 3:16 which is one of the first scriptures I memorized. This scripture just says you need to believe and nothing else.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Just like you PhilR, I would have gotten saved at 16 rather than 28 had I know it was a free gift and there was nothing for me to do but believe and accept it. I thought you had to believe in Jesus and be extremely good. The believe part I would have been comfortable with, it was the being extremely good that I had a problem with. I didn't feel I could be extremely good. By man's standards, I was not bad even before I was saved. However, I was not extremely good either.

Yes as you stated we must believe with our heart, but that is different from believing with all your heart. There are some Christians that have been saved and attending church for many years, that still don't believe with all their heart.

As far as Billy Graham, I don't personally know enough about him and what his full teaching was during his life, so I reserve judgement regarding his teaching. However as I stated in my first post, I disagree with his last statement of what was posted in this thread. (see below)

"Do you believe with all your heart? Have you committed your life completely to Christ? Is He yours? Have you said, “I want Christ to be my Lord and my Master and my Savior”? Make your commitment to Christ right now."

His last statement speaks of commitment, rather than just belief. That would not be a FREE GIFT.

 

[PhilR]

I never knew that Billy Graham preached that you must do anything other than believe to be saved, until I read this thread. I never listened to his full speeches, but I knew he always referred to John 3:16 which is one of the first scriptures I memorized. This scripture just says you need to believe and nothing else.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Just like you PhilR, I would have gotten saved at 16 rather than 28 had I know it was a free gift and there was nothing for me to do but believe and accept it. I thought you had to believe in Jesus and be extremely good. The believe part I would have been comfortable with, it was the being extremely good that I had a problem with. I didn't feel I could be extremely good. By man's standards, I was not bad even before I was saved. However, I was not extremely good either.

Yes as you stated we must believe with our heart, but that is different from believing with all your heart. There are some Christians that have been saved and attending church for many years, that still don't believe with all their heart.

As far as Billy Graham, I don't personally know enough about him and what his full teaching was during his life, so I reserve judgement regarding his teaching. However as I stated in my first post, I disagree with his last statement of what was posted in this thread. (see below)

"Do you believe with all your heart? Have you committed your life completely to Christ? Is He yours? Have you said, “I want Christ to be my Lord and my Master and my Savior”? Make your commitment to Christ right now."

His last statement speaks of commitment, rather than just belief. That would not be a FREE GIFT.

Hi GB, there are only a few verses that say "believe in your heart" or believe with all your heart." I think these are emphasizing whether ones belief or faith is sincere. The difference can be seen in a person who says he just believes in God and Jesus, and, on the other hand, someone who has put his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. It's like they believe boats will float, but do they put their trust in the boat to keep them from drowning. If you have trusted in Christ's finished work to take away your sins and give you eternal life then that is enough belief. You're right, salvation is a free gift, we just simply accept this gift by faith. The vast majority of salvation verses just say to believe or trust or have faith, they don't try to qualify that faith. The jailor at Philippi was told to simply "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ" and he would be saved.

 

[Goodboy]

Hi GB, there are only a few verses that say "believe in your heart" or believe with all your heart." I think these are emphasizing whether ones belief or faith is sincere. The difference can be seen in a person who says he just believes in God and Jesus, and, on the other hand, someone who has put his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. It's like they believe boats will float, but do they put their trust in the boat to keep them from drowning. If you have trusted in Christ's finished work to take away your sins and give you eternal life then that is enough belief. You're right, salvation is a free gift, we just simply accept this gift by faith. The vast majority of salvation verses just say to believe or trust or have faith, they don't try to qualify that faith. The jailor at Philippi was told to simply "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ" and he would be saved.

I searched and only found 7 verses in the Old Testament that say ""with all your heart". Four referring to serving the Lord. One referring to loving the Lord. One referring to searching for the Lord. One referring to turning to the Lord. None of the verses are salvation verses and they are all in the Old Testament, not in the Grace Age we are currently in.

Deu 11:13 And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,
Deu 13:3 Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
Jos 22:5 But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.
1Sa 12:20 And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart;
1Sa 12:24 Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.
Jer 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Joe 2:12 Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:

While I agree with what you have stated, I just wanted to show that I did not find "believe with all your heart" anywhere in the bible. As Billy Graham stated in his writing, Billy and others try to redefine what the word "believe" means. They turn it into a commitment you must agree to. I might go along with that, if the bible did not make it very clear that salvation is a FREE GIFT. Something cannot be a free gift if there is a commitment attached to it. The commitment means you are in some way earning it.

You and I agree, but I just wanted to add my too cents to make myself clear.

 

[Goodboy]

If Salvation is a Free Gift Why Doesn’t Everyone Accept It?

First let’s talk about a free gift. If you add any requirement at all to a free gift, it is no longer free. Most unbelievers do not believe salvation is a free gift. Sadly, most believers do not believe salvation is a totally free gift either. Yeah, they may say they agree with the bible passages that say it is a free gift, however they like to add “but” you must do or not do this or that to be truly saved. Also they may redefine what true belief is.

Now to answer the question as to why people will not accept the free gift of salvation. I believe there are at least four reasons, while there could be more.

Reason-1 They just simply do not believe in a supreme being (God).
This group usually believes in “Mother Nature” who ever that is and/or evolution.

Reason-2 They do not believe a free gift is really being offered.
I have kind of said this before, but some do not believe a free gift is really offered. In the world today there is a saying that goes “There is no such thing as a free lunch”. Meaning if you are offered a free lunch there is usually something behind it, if only your time to listen to a sales pitch.

Reason-3 They believe they already have what it is you are offering them.
If you had a home with a brand new expensive stove and oven that you loved and someone was offering a free stove, would you take it? Now I am not talking about taking it to sell or give away. I mean you have no need of it, so the fact that it is free does not motivate you to accept it. This was the case with the Pharisees in the bible. They were depending on their own righteous for salvation. Like those who say they believe they will go to Heaven because they are a good person.

Reason-4 They do not want what it is you are offering them.
This one seems the hardest one to believe and I would not add it to the list if it was not clearly stated in the bible. You may be thinking as I would, how could anyone not want to go to Heaven? Remember though, Satan and a third of the angles left Heaven. So I guess they did not like Heaven. Why, because they were evil and filled with pride.

Here are the bible verses below to support this last reason highlighting 19 and 20.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
John 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
John 3:21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

Goodboy

 

[PhilR]

I searched and only found 7 verses in the Old Testament that say ""with all your heart". Four referring to serving the Lord. One referring to loving the Lord. One referring to searching for the Lord. One referring to turning to the Lord. None of the verses are salvation verses and they are all in the Old Testament, not in the Grace Age we are currently in.

Deu 11:13 And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,
Deu 13:3 Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
Jos 22:5 But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.
1Sa 12:20 And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart;
1Sa 12:24 Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.
Jer 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Joe 2:12 Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:

While I agree with what you have stated, I just wanted to show that I did not find "believe with all your heart" anywhere in the bible. As Billy Graham stated in his writing, Billy and others try to redefine what the word "believe" means. They turn it into a commitment you must agree to. I might go along with that, if the bible did not make it very clear that salvation is a FREE GIFT. Something cannot be a free gift if there is a commitment attached to it. The commitment means you are in some way earning it.

You and I agree, but I just wanted to add my too cents to make myself clear.

I do agree Goodboy. People, too often, will latch onto what some preacher says and not search the Scriptures rightly dividing them. (Acts 17:11; 2 Tim 2:15)

 

[PhilR]

If Salvation is a Free Gift Why Doesn’t Everyone Accept It?

First let’s talk about a free gift. If you add any requirement at all to a free gift, it is no longer free. Most unbelievers do not believe salvation is a free gift. Sadly, most believers do not believe salvation is a totally free gift either. Yeah, they may say they agree with the bible passages that say it is a free gift, however they like to add “but” you must do or not do this or that to be truly saved. Also they may redefine what true belief is.

Now to answer the question as to why people will not accept the free gift of salvation. I believe there are at least four reasons, while there could be more.

Reason-1 They just simply do not believe in a supreme being (God).
This group usually believes in “Mother Nature” who ever that is and/or evolution.

Reason-2 They do not believe a free gift is really being offered.
I have kind of said this before, but some do not believe a free gift is really offered. In the world today there is a saying that goes “There is no such thing as a free lunch”. Meaning if you are offered a free lunch there is usually something behind it, if only your time to listen to a sales pitch.

Reason-3 They believe they already have what it is you are offering them.
If you had a home with a brand new expensive stove and oven that you loved and someone was offering a free stove, would you take it? Now I am not talking about taking it to sell or give away. I mean you have no need of it, so the fact that it is free does not motivate you to accept it. This was the case with the Pharisees in the bible. They were depending on their own righteous for salvation. Like those who say they believe they will go to Heaven because they are a good person.

Reason-4 They do not want what it is you are offering them.
This one seems the hardest one to believe and I would not add it to the list if it was not clearly stated in the bible. You may be thinking as I would, how could anyone not want to go to Heaven? Remember though, Satan and a third of the angles left Heaven. So I guess they did not like Heaven. Why, because they were evil and filled with pride.

Here are the bible verses below to support this last reason highlighting 19 and 20.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
John 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
John 3:21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

Goodboy

There is another reason: From childhood we have been hammered into us that in some way you have to earn every good thing; that nothing is easy or free. Preachers will take something as simple and easy as salvation and complicate it with their land mines of ifs and buts and conditions, like Christ died for you BUT you have to do your part and you have to follow through. Even simple child like faith is not enough for them. They will say you have to jump through all the right hoops, say all the right words in the right order. They are fruit inspectors, who are either inspecting the quality of how you believed when you were saved, or inspecting to see any change is in your life since you have been saved. If not, they will say that it's "easy believism'... Well believism is easy and is supposed to be since Christ did all the hard work, all a person can do it believe it and thus receive eternal salvation.

 

[PhilR]

I searched and only found 7 verses in the Old Testament that say ""with all your heart". Four referring to serving the Lord. One referring to loving the Lord. One referring to searching for the Lord. One referring to turning to the Lord. None of the verses are salvation verses and they are all in the Old Testament, not in the Grace Age we are currently in.

Deu 11:13 And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,
Deu 13:3 Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
Jos 22:5 But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.
1Sa 12:20 And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart;
1Sa 12:24 Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.
Jer 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Joe 2:12 Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:

While I agree with what you have stated, I just wanted to show that I did not find "believe with all your heart" anywhere in the bible. As Billy Graham stated in his writing, Billy and others try to redefine what the word "believe" means. They turn it into a commitment you must agree to. I might go along with that, if the bible did not make it very clear that salvation is a FREE GIFT. Something cannot be a free gift if there is a commitment attached to it. The commitment means you are in some way earning it.

You and I agree, but I just wanted to add my too cents to make myself clear.

The only place in the NT that I can find "believe with all thine heart" referring saving faith is Acts 8:37. This is one of these add-ons that got into the KJV by some commentary inadvertantly added to the text. I like and use the KJV, but also other translations, but like all translation from the original languages there are some errors. Faith is believing what God says. Who can say what is in the heart ..The Bible says the heart can be deceitful.

 

[Goodboy]

The only place in the NT that I can find "believe with all thine heart" referring saving faith is Acts 8:37. This is one of these add-ons that got into the KJV by some commentary inadvertantly added to the text. I like and use the KJV, but also other translations, but like all translation from the original languages there are some errors. Faith is believing what God says. Who can say what is in the heart ..The Bible says the heart can be deceitful.

Thanks for showing me that verse. I agree with all you have stated, but even if that verse is correct, I still don't think it is a problem or a salvation verse.
Act 8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
Act 8:36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
Act 8:37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

Being baptized does not save you. Notice that in Acts 8:36 the eunuch asked "what doth hinder me to be baptized?", not "what doth hinder me from being saved?". I think the eunuch accepted Jesus as his Savior after Philip preached to him in Acts 8:35
I could be wrong of course, but that is my take.

 

[PhilR]

I heard Franklin Graham on TV this evening. He was preaching the same false loadship salvation message that his father Billy Graham preached, which was, you have to believe plus start turning over a new leaf in order to be genuinely saved; faith plus works. Billy Graham was Southern Baptist, but he was just as much a loadship salvationist as John MacArthur. Watch some of his past Crusades if you don't believe me.