A Review Of Evangelist Billy Graham's Book:
“How To Be Born Again”
By David J. Stewart | April 2015
Romans 11:6, “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.”
Evangelist Billy Graham wrote a book in 1977 titled, “How To Be Born Again” (ISBN: 0-8499-0017-4). I have a copy of the book in front of me. I have read the book and it contains some disturbing material that is contrary to the Holy Scriptures.
Here is an example of the blatant heresy taught by Billy Graham in his book . . .
After his conversion, the Apostle Paul took three years of study in Arabia. It took God forty years to train Moses on the back side of the desert before he made his public appearance. In these days we often hear of a person who is in jail one day, and a few weeks later is on a public platform testifying concerning his conversion before a large crowd. Sometimes this is followed by a great tragedy—the so-called new convert had really not been born again; he had only professed Christ, but had not been willing to pay the price of following Christ. [emphasis added]
SOURCE: Billy Graham, from the book, “How To Be Born Again,” pp. 164-165
My friend, that is utter heresy! Mr. Graham is teaching that a person's profession of faith is false if they go into sin afterwards, claiming that they were not willing to “PAY THE PRICE OF FOLLOWING CHRIST” to be saved. That is satanic doctrine! Billy is teaching works-salvation! The Word of God teaches that eternal life is a free gift, which means that we don't have to pay anything to be saved. Jesus paid the ultimate PRICE, which was His precious blood, and the PLACE where the blood was applied is the Mercy Seat in Heaven!!! When Billy Graham speaks of being required to PAY A PRICE to be saved, he speaks as a fool. Jesus paid a debt that He did not owe, because we owed a debt that we could not pay. JESUS PAID IT ALL!!!
Billy Graham is saying that you cannot be saved unless there is a deliberate and intentionally turning from the act of sin, which is 100% human effort. Here is the suggested prayer on page 169 that Graham gives . . .
Oh God, I acknowledge that I have sinned against You. I am sorry for my sins. I am willing to turn from my sins. I openly receive and acknowledge Jesus Christ as my Savior. I confess Him as Lord. From this moment on I want to live for Him and serve Him. In Jesus' name, Amen.
SOURCE: Billy Graham, from the book, “How To Be Born Again,” p. 169
The preceding false plan of salvation by Billy Graham makes the following errors:
- No where in the Holy Bible are we required to “be sorry for our sins” to be saved.
- No where in the Holy Bible are we required “to turn from our sins” to be saved
- No where in the Holy Bible are we required to “openly receive and acknowledge Jesus Christ” to be saved.
- No where in the Holy Bible are we required “to confess Jesus as Lord” to be saved
- No where in the Holy Bible are we required “to want to live for Jesus and serve Him” to be saved
Here's what Jesus said:
John 6:28-29, “Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”
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 6:40, “And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”
1st Corinthians 15:1-4, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”
There's nothing in the Word of God about doing all the extra things, which are all human effort, as required by false prophet Billy Graham. It is tragic that America's churches have fallen prey to heresy. Mr. Graham gets paid over $600,000 a year from his so-called “ministry,” and the rest of his family are also dipping deep into the pot. Religion pays well. Like Balaam, Billy Graham is a prophet for hire, who has sinfully done more than any man alive to unite unsaved Roman Catholics and evangelicals together. The consequential result has been massive apostasy, completely corrupting the Gospel with Lordship Salvation as taught by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Please don't be a fool by following a fool. I plead with you to follow the Scriptures alone!
I am writing this defense of the Christian faith so that you may be indeed “Rooted and built up in him [Jesus Christ], and stablished in the faith” (Colossians 2:7). I have nothing personal against Billy Graham. He definitely has that gleam in his eye, THAT LOOK, of a stern preacher; yet, tragically, his look is a total deception. Billy Graham is not saved, a satanic false prophet, a wolf in sheep's clothing. Shame on any preacher who idolizes or follows this man of sin. I am convinced that Mr. Graham is sincere, but the road to eternal damnation in Hell is paved with good intentions. My Graham's plan of salvation parallels the works-based plan of salvation of the workers of iniquity from Matthew 7:21-23. Jesus said to them, those who did “many wonderful works” in Jesus' name... I NEVER KNEW YOU!!!