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Billy Graham's explanation of what to do to be saved is at odds with New Testament teaching.
The crux of Graham's teaching, and thus the heart of the problem, is his treatment of Romans
10:13 — calling on the name of the Lord. This verse is the last of four things Graham
says we need to know to ensure our eternal destiny: "For whosoever shall call upon the name
of the Lord shall be saved" (KJV).
Graham cites the following: "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Rom. 10:13 (NIV), after giving an example prayer to pray, asking Jesus for forgiveness. But his explanation of Romans 10:13 and how to call upon the name of the Lord is incorrect. Romans 10:13 instructs sinners to call on the name of the Lord for salvation. This is far different from simply praying to Jesus. Calling on the Lord's name refers to his authority — appealing to his authority (cf. Acts 4:7-12). According to Colossians 3:17, everything we do in religion is to be done by Christ's authority. Receiving salvation is no different. We must submit to the Lord's authority to be saved. This is what Romans 10:13 is teaching. But we must go elsewhere in the New Testament to learn how to call upon the name of the Lord. Graham instructs sinners to pray for salvation. This is not how God's word teaches sinners to obtain salvation. Nowhere in the New Testament is a sinner told explicitly to pray for salvation, and there is no New Testament example of a sinner receiving pardon through prayer. Its significant that prior to Graham's model prayer for salvation, he quotes scriptures to make various points, yet for the prayer itself there is no scriptural reference. This is the case, because there is no scriptural support for telling people to be saved through prayer. So, how does the New Testament teach that a sinner calls on the name of the Lord for salvation? Two examples from the book of Acts — the book of conversions — will explain how. Romans 10:13 is a quote from Joel 2:32. Peter, in Acts chapter 2, also quotes Joel in explaining the miraculous events transpiring (vv. 16-21). He then preaches that the Jews crucified Christ, the Son of God. Some penitent Jews ask what they need to do in response to their murderous act (v. 37). Peter tells them to "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins" (v. 38, italics mine). After telling them in verse 21 that whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved, Peter instructs these Jews to call on the Lord's name by repenting and being baptized — not by praying for salvation. Paul's conversion also illustrates how to call on the Lord's name. After being stricken blind and talking to Jesus, Paul goes to Damascus to await instructions (Acts 9:6-8). Jesus sends Ananias to Paul, and Ananias finds Paul praying (Acts 9:10-11). If prayer could save it surely would've saved Paul. But when Ananias comes to Paul and finds him praying, he instructs Paul to "arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16, italics mine). Paul believed in Jesus and prayed, yet his prayer did not save him. Instead, he was told to call on the name of the Lord and have his sins washed away by baptism. Neither salvation nor entrance into the kingdom is accomplished through prayer, As Billy Graham asserts in his teachings. |