MyAnswer: Billy Graham ""I Wonder About Salvation"

"I Wonder About Salvation"

I don't agree with you when you make such general statements about everybody being a sinner. There are many wonderful people in the world who certainly don't belong in the hoodlum and criminal class.

You have not asked me a question, but I can tell you why I have repeated the assertion that all have sinned. There are basically two reasons why I insist upon this. First, the Bible says so: "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." If there were no other reason, that in itself would be sufficient. But there is a second reason also. Human nature is best explained when you accept this view. The wonderful and good people you mention are without doubt as good as you say when judged by human standards. It is when we make the comparison with the holiness of God that we realize the truth of this statement. Any person that is not fully as good as Jesus Christ is a sinner. He alone is the world's only example of one who was without sin. Every other person, even the good and wonderful ones you may have in mind have their weak moments when they fall below their own faulty standards. That is why we all need a sinless Saviour. Of Jesus, the Bible says: "He who knew no sin, was made to be sin on our behalf that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (II Corinthians 5:21).

I have recently started my college studies, and among my first subjects I am studying the psychology of religion. My professor tells me that conversion is nothing more than a psychological phenomenon experienced by most religions. Right now I am plenty worried about the things I learned in my home church, for they seem to be slipping away from me. Do you think my conversion was real?

Certainly your conversion was real, if when you were converted you came from darkness to the light of the Gospel. If you received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, then and there you became a new creature. I wouldn't take anything for granted, not even a religious experience. You see, your professor is right when he says there are conversions experienced in most religions. But don't allow that to disturb you, for though all men may have some kind of a religious experience, only the ones who receive Jesus Christ in a moment of repentance and faith are born again. The fact that others have similar religious emotions and conversions merely shows that God so made man that he is capable of being converted. How tragic it is when a man is converted falsely! I'll tell you what to do. To overcome your fears and intellectual dilemma, just give as much time to the study of what God has to say about it as your professor does. Don't argue with him, but test everything he says in the light of God's word. You need have no fear then, for the Bible can stand the onslaught of the enemy.

I want to be a Christian and live for the Lord. I believe on the Lord Jesus Christ with all my heart and pray, but I don't feel any change in myself. What can I do?

Your question expresses all the requirements for being a Christian. You say you want to be a Christian — you have desire. You believe with all your heart — you have faith. And you have prayed — that is communication. But you add that you don't feel any change. It could be that you are expecting some earth-shaking emotion and that is where you are making a mistake. You may not feel any change, but the fact that you hunger for God, that you believe, and that you pray, all signifies that there is a change in your life.

   For sake of illustration, let us say that you owed a bill that you were unable to pay, and a friend with adequate resources paid that bill for you. For further proof that the debt was canceled, let us say that you received a statement from your creditor informing you that the bill was paid in full. You would be foolish to go around saying that you couldn't believe the debt was paid, and that you didn't feel any different.

   The cross of Christ cancels your sins for the Bible says so. "And having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things to Himself." You have accepted God's estimate of your sins, and now you must accept God's estimate of Christ's redemptive work on the Cross. Not only believe it, but accept it, and live by it.

I was reared in a Christian home where the Bible was clearly taught and believed. Since I have grown up I have seen older people converted and how they rejoiced. I have never had this kind of feeling. Is it because I have been taught about Jesus and "good" all my life?

There are perhaps two reasons why you have never experienced this "joy" you have observed in other people.

 

   First, if you accepted Christ in early life, the transition from innocent childhood to a believing Christian was not nearly so noticeable as it is in a mature person whose conscience has been weighed down with years of accumulated guilt. To illustrate: let us say that a farmer and his son were walking home from the cornfield. The boy carries a few ears in his hands, but the father bends beneath the weight of a hundred-pound sack of corn. Now, suppose a friend comes down that road with a wagon and offers to carry father and son home. He carries the load of each, but it is obvious that the father would be the more relived and grateful of the two. The child coming to Christ, because his burden of sin is light, may not experience the overwhelming joy of the confirmed sinner who finds relief from his guilt through Christ. His load was greater — thus his joy is greater.

   The other reason could well be that you have trusted in your good upbringing rather than in the person of Christ. Only you can decide which applies to your case.

I have broken about every one of the Ten Commandments in the Bible. I am really sorry for my wrongdoing and am trying to live a Christian life. But somehow I wonder if God can really forgive all I have done. Is there some way I can really know where I stand with God?

There is no doubt about God's willingness to forgive you. The Bible is filled with such promises as: "I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember Thy sins."

   There are two suggestions I would make to you. First, you say you are sorry for your sins. But there is a difference between remorse and repentance. Remorse means "being sorry for your sins," but repentance means "turning from your sins." Make sure you have turned from your sins. Don't just file them away for future reference, but put them out of sight and out of mind forever. The Bible says: "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thought, and let him return to the Lord, for He will abundantly pardon." You must forsake before you are forgiven.

   Second, it is possible that God has forgiven you but that you haven't forgiven yourself. If God loves you enough to forgive and forget the past, then you ought to forgive yourself. If a just God considers you forgiven, then you should forgive yourself.

I have confessed my past sins to God, but do I have to make public confession for the terrible sins committed in my younger days? There is no one living that is concerned in any way.

The confession of sin should be as public as was the deed. If you have wronged an individual, make amends to that individual. If you have sinned against a group, you must ask that group to forgive you. If you have sinned against your community, print your confession in the newspaper. That, I believe, is the Bible way. "If thou rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; . . . be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift."

   You say your sin concerns no living person. Then God, alone, should be your confessor. Confessing to other people may only complicate matters, and cast aspersions on your character. The Bible says: "If we confess our sins unto Him, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

I cannot see how a sinner who has committed robbery, murder, and rape can go to God and ask forgiveness and get it.

This person you mention, to my way of thinking, certainly was in need of forgiveness! Is it your idea that only good people can be forgiven? The Bible says: "Christ came not to call the righteous, but sinners unto repentance."

   The Pharisees didn't see how Jesus could forgive the adulteress, but He did! The wonderful thing about the grace of God is that it is particularly designed for sinners — bad sinners. Paul said: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief." A person who feels smug about his goodness never makes a good disciple of Christ. You will remember the Pharisee and the Publican. The Pharisee said: "I thank thee Lord that I am not as other men." But the Publican said: "God be merciful to me a sinner!" The Bible says that the Publican went up to his house, justified — his attitude of repentance was pleasing to God, but the Pharisee's self-righteous attitude was repugnant to God.

   Remember also the thief on the cross who said: "Lord, remember me." And Jesus said: "This day thou shalt be with me in paradise." God specializes in making sinners into saints!

Last night a bunch of us fellows got to discussing religion and the majority seemed to feel that if we do the best we can, we are Christians. If that is true, where does Christ come in?

Your discussion has really centered on the question whether a man can save himself; whether the best we may do is all that God requires of us. If man, by his own efforts, no matter how lofty and good they might be, is capable of saving himself, then there would have been no necessity for Christ to come into the world. The Bible says: "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." The Bible also tells us that "the wages of sin is death." Man's big problem centers in the ugly little word "sin." We all are sinners by nature, by inheritance, and by practice. If we say we do not sin, we simply make God a liar. The next question naturally is whether we can do anything about our own sins. We may reform but we cannot change our hearts. It is no more possible for a man to redeem himself from the guilt and penalty of sin than it is for him to lift himself up by his boot straps. Then what can man do? Only one thing and that is to accept the provision God has made. This provision is in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who came into this world for the express purpose of changing our sinful natures and giving us new hearts. This He does to all who in sincerity accept Him as their Saviour. This is the heart of the Gospel message and it is wonderful news.

My wife has always been a follower. Anything I suggest, she will go along with me. When I was living in sin, she took part in the sinful way of life. Recently I was converted, and now she goes with me to church and takes part in everything. How can I be sure she has also been converted?

 

Probably you can never be sure in your own mind if your wife is a true Christian if she is such a follower. You will have to be content to judge by the changed life. Even though she may have followed you in the sinful life, it is doubtful if she would do so when you have committed your life to Christ. Almost every time there is opposition from the unconverted partner to such a change. You should be very grateful to have a wife who does not oppose you in the new life you have begun.

   Another thing you should know is that not every person is psychologically capable of experiencing conversion with the same radical effect as you did. Her mild disposition may mean that she would never have the revolutionary change you think she should. This does not mean that her conversion is less genuine or real. Just accept her confession and give thanks to God that you continue in such agreement.

How can a person know for sure if he is a Christian?

The Bible suggests ways in which we can have the assurance of our salvation.

   We know because of a change that takes place. The Bible says: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

   We know by the presence of God's Spirit in our lives. "Hereby we know that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because He hath given us of His Spirit."

   We know we are Christian if love is the dominating force in our lives, "Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God, and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God . . . for God is love."

   We know we are Christian when we find it in our hearts to obey God. "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments."

   And last but not least, we know because we receive Christ. "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name."

 

I have been studying Christianity, and have a question about some things I don't understand. How completely should one have answers to all of the problems before becoming a Christian?

Actually you will never find the answers until you do become a Christian. There are a host of spiritual problems that you cannot understand at all until you begin the Christian life. The reason is, those who have never exercised faith in Christ are called spiritually "blind," and therefore it is not possible to find answers. If you wait until you have a complete understanding of all the details of the Christian faith, then you will never be saved at all. Nicodemus, the teacher of Israel in the days of Jesus, once came to Jesus for the answer to some of his questions. Jesus did not answer a single question, but first pointed out that a man must be "born again" before he could see spiritual truth. This takes place, not when you understand all things, but when you understand simply that you are sinful and in need of a Saviour, and that Jesus Christ is that Saviour you need. Forsake your sins and trust Him. Then the eyes of your mind will open to the glorious truths of God.

Do you think that people who are reared in a good Christian home need to come forward publicly and "accept Christ," as you say? Don't children who are raised in a Christian atmosphere just grow into the faith?

It is possible that children who are reared in a devout Christian home may have "accepted Christ" in the natural course of events without having a climactic, dramatic experience of conversion. My wife, Ruth, doesn't remember the exact moment that she accepted Christ, but there has never been a doubt that she has.

 

   But, we must also remember that being reared in a Christian home will not, in itself, save one. As I have said, you may have been born in a garage, but that doesn't make you an automobile. The Christian faith is a personal thing. Notice the personal pronouns in this statement of St. Paul's: "I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me, and gave Himself for me." There was no hearsay here, no harking back to a vague tradition. Our relationship to Christ is to be personal, vital, throbbing with reality. The Bible says: "By their fruits shall ye know them." If your life is producing the fruit of the Spirit, then that is convincing evidence that you have been born of the Spirit.

   On the other hand, I know people who doubt their relationship to Christ. It is best for them to have an encounter with Christ in order to have "assurance."

It must be wonderful to have the comfort that your religion gives you. I only wish I had it, but common sense tells me better. Night after night in agony I suffer and call on God; and God has never yet said a word to this unbeliever.

If you truly call on God, then you are not "an unbeliever." However, if you are letting your "common sense" come between you and God, you are more than foolish. You may find that God has not answered you because you have closed your mind and heart to Him. Christ said: "God is a spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth." Again the Bible says: "But without faith it is impossible to please Him: For he that cometh to God must believe that He exists, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." Have you exercised this faith? I doubt very much if you understand all of the processes of digestion and metabolism of food. But you probably eat regularly, with the full assurance that your food will nourish your body. Give God the same kind of chance. Accept Him by faith. Put your trust in Him and then you will have the glorious experience of realizing that He is everything to you. Forget about "common sense" and step out in faith. Christ's death on the Cross has been foolishness and a stumbling block to those who have rejected the salvation He offers in that way. But for all who will believe, it becomes the glorious power of God.

I am married to the nicest woman on earth and have two lovely children but I have defiled myself and other people by the rottenest kind of sins. My wife has recently sold her jewelry to pay my doctor's bill and I love her dearly but I don't know how to repay what I have done. I am dying of cancer and do not have more than six months to live. I don't hope to be saved because I know hell is too good for me. Any crumb of comfort will be appreciated.

My dear friend: You may be the blackest sinner who ever drew breath, and from the rest of your letter it is obvious that you have sunk in sin just about as far as possible. But I want to assure you on the promise of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself that if you will ask Him to forgive you and trust in Him as your Saviour you will surely be saved. Christ came into the world not to save good people but sinners. Those who think they are good are just fooling themselves. But when you admit your sinful life and realize there is nothing you can do, you are in the attitude of mind to let Christ take over. Take the Gospel of John and read it from beginning to end. Then read it again and again and take every promise and apply it to yourself. In John 6:37 you will find these words spoke by our Lord: ". . . and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." This, along with many, many other promises, are given us so that we can turn in faith and assurance and receive the cleansing and forgiveness Christ wants to give all of us. In Matthew 11:28, Christ says: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." You are burdened down with a sense of sin and guilt, just turn it over to Jesus and He will completely remove it and give you a new heart and the joy of His presence in your heart.