Billy Graham On Whether Jews And Muslims Are Saved Because They Believe In The God Of Abraham

The question has come up often on my Bible Crossfire radio program – “Will Jews and Muslims and those of other non-Christian religions be saved even though they don’t believe in Jesus?” Evidently Billy Graham thought so. Notice these two quotes from him:

· 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 they need something that they don’t have and they turn to the only light they have and I think they’re saved and they’re going to be with us in heaven. (interview with Robert Schuller, 5-31-1997)

· I used to believe that pagans in far-off countries were lost — were going to h-e-l-l — if they did not have the Gospel of Jesus Christ preached to them. I no longer believe that. … I believe that there are other ways of recognizing the existence of God—through nature, for instance—and plenty of other opportunities, therefore, of saying ‘yes’ to God. (McCall’s magazine, Jan 1978)

But what does the Bible say on the question?:

· John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

· John 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

Who are you going to believe – Billy Graham or God’s word?

And if Billy Graham was willing to compromise on this issue, might he have compromised on other issues – teaching contrary to God’s word? I can think of at least two other major issues he compromised on. Write me if you want to know what they were.