This post is based on a discussion between Franklin Graham an evangelical minister, and Bill O’Reilly who is a faithful Roman catholic. I have argued for years that Catholics believe in salvation by works, and not entirely on the merit of Jesus Christ, and His finished work on the cross. This is why they make a continual sacrifice called the mass. They don’t believe the work of Christ is finished. In this discussion which started off on the subject of Rob Bell’s new book where he abandons the doctrine of hell for complete universalism. During the conversation Franklin Graham pushes the idea that without Christ people will perish. He is emphasizing the historic orthodox position of the church that salvation is found only in Jesus. Jesus Himself taught this, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”(John 14:6) “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”(John 5:24)
The Bible also makes it clear that salvation CANNOT be achieved through our efforts, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”(Ephesians 2:8-9) “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.”(Titus 3:5) “So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.”(Romans 9:13) “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”(John 1:12-13)
The Scriptures teach emphatically that salvation is only found in Jesus Christ, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”(Acts 4:12) Bill O’Reilly tries to argue that all the “good people” who were killed during the holocaust must have gone to Heaven even if they rejected Jesus. This is not an unlearned catholic in fact he even went to catholic school. He is teaching a position that most in the Roman superstition believe and that is salvation is earned by our good works and those who are good people, christian or not, must be going to Heaven. This is a position rejected by Scripture. I applaud Rev. Graham for standing true to the word of God, and for being so adamant to include a Gospel presentation in the interview. He was sure to get that in there and did not get distracted from that point. Most Christians stick to the subject but he sees the opportunity to give the Gospel to millions of viewers and is not shy about it. That is what I call, “doing the work of an evangelist.”(2 Timothy 4:5)
The Gospel Beacon 