Billy Graham

[Barb]

Not sure if y'all know Dr. Billy Graham passed this morning at the age of 99 years old.

[Originalist]

He certainly had an ability to persuade people of their need of a Savior.

[MawMaw]

Yes, saw the announcement from his son, Franklin, on FB and IG. Rev. Billy
Graham was a very caring and loving man. Never heard anything bad about
him in all the years he ministered. Prayers for his family.

[Aquila]

I was saddened to hear of his passing this morning. I pray that his family find comfort and peace in this, their time of loss.

I don't believe that Billy Graham knew the fullness of Apostolic truth. But I do believe he truly loved the Lord, and walked in the fullness of what he did know and understand. I pray that God have mercy on his soul, and that God's loving grace will lead him to his eternal reward. We serve a just and loving God, and His mercy endures forever.

Rest in peace, Billy Graham.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Aquila

I was saddened to hear of his passing this morning. I pray that his family find comfort and peace in this, their time of loss.

I don't believe that Billy Graham knew the fullness of Apostolic truth. But I do believe he truly loved the Lord, and walked in the fullness of what he did know and understand. I pray that God have mercy on his soul, and that God's loving grace will lead him to his eternal reward. We serve a just and loving God, and His mercy endures forever.

Rest in peace, Billy Graham.

If the above is true? Then Heaven must be one absolute mess.

[Evang.Benincasa]

Chris honestly, you don't have to be nicer than Jesus. Originalist in a kind way made a good post "he (Billy Graham) certainly had an ability to persuade people of their need of a Savior." Fine, we move along, acknowledging that one point. Yet, we don't wish him into heaven by assuming that he had some special relationship outside of Biblical truth.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

Chris honestly, you don't have to be nicer than Jesus. Originalist in a kind way made a good post "he (Billy Graham) certainly had an ability to persuade people of their need of a Savior." Fine, we move along, acknowledging that one point. Yet, we don't wish him into heaven by assuming that he had some special relationship outside of Biblical truth.

I believe it is one thing to say that someone didn't believe in, know, or understand the fullness of what we believed to be biblical truth. It is entirely another to assume or desire their damnation. We do well to give the eternal judgment of a soul to God and to God alone.

Some might say, "What about the Bible? The Bible says...."

Ever notice that no one ever says, "Look, my interpretation of the Bible is wrong. I suggest you look into..." Everyone believes that their understanding of the Bible is absolutely true.

There are over 41,000 different denominations of Christianity in the United States alone. Each has a different "interpretation" of the Bible. Each one believes that their "interpretation" of the Bible is absolutely correct and that all others are wrong. Of course, we Apostolics are among them. We whole heartedly believe that our interpretation of the Bible is absolutely correct. But even among us there isn't absolute unity on what the Bible means on every given point. Therefore, to base one's entire faith upon a single interpretation of Scripture, and use that interpretation as a lense through which to measure others and their salvation, is to have one's faith adrift on the sea of subjective human interpretation.

While the Bible is absolutely infallible. Our understanding of it is not. Therefore, I choose to embrace the only objective reality of Scripture... there is indeed a God. And while I believe that my understanding of the Bible is more correct than many others, I am aware that my understanding of Scripture isn't perfect. But God is perfect. God is merciful. God is loving. God is just. God is also sovereign. And God alone is every man's judge. I do not wish that anyone go to Hell. And so, regarding those who pass on who do not know the Scripture as I do, I pray that God have mercy. For that is all I can do. In fact, with regards to all men, even those we might consider the most "doctrinally pure", there is no hope of salvation without God's mercy. One can dot every I and cross every T as it relates to "doctrine"... and that doesn't guarantee a thing.

The saints who make it to Heaven will only make it on account of God's mercy. And His mercy is only acquired through knowing Him. Even those who obeys Acts 2:38 in the manner that we believe it is to be obeyed must know God personally.

I knew an old saint of God who used to pray and read his Bible every day. His wife had passed on, and I think even his kids had passed on. He'd sit in his rocking chair, rocking back and forth on the front porch, praying on most afternoons. We visited him because his health was beginning to fail and he wasn't able to attend church all the time. As I talked to him, I realized that some of his "theology" wasn't very refined. While talking to this older man, I tried to talk doctrine with him, and he'd look at me kind of strange. At one point, he said, "I don't know as much about the Bible as some men do. But, I know Jesus. He's my everything. And that's enough for me." When he said that, the Holy Ghost moved on me so strong. I realized that he truly knew God.

That experience taught me something. To know God is far different from knowing everything about Him. In fact, it is possible to know almost everything about God and not know Him personally. And, it is also possible to know God personally without knowing everything about Him.

[LongBeachCA]

Originally Posted by aquila

i believe it is one thing to say that someone didn't believe in, know, or understand the fullness of what we believed to be biblical truth. It is entirely another to assume or desire their damnation. We do well to give the eternal judgment of a soul to god and to god alone.

Some might say, "what about the bible? The bible says...."

ever notice that no one ever says, "look, my interpretation of the bible is wrong. I suggest you look into..." everyone believes that their understanding of the bible is absolutely true.

There are over 41,000 different denominations of christianity in the united states alone. Each has a different "interpretation" of the bible. Each one believes that their "interpretation" of the bible is absolutely correct and that all others are wrong. Of course, we apostolics are among them. We whole heartedly believe that our interpretation of the bible is absolutely correct. But even among us there isn't absolute unity on what the bible means on every given point. Therefore, to base one's entire faith upon a single interpretation of scripture, and use that interpretation as a lense through which to measure others and their salvation, is to have one's faith adrift on the sea of subjective human interpretation.

While the bible is absolutely infallible. Our understanding of it is not. Therefore, i choose to embrace the only objective reality of scripture... There is indeed a god. And while i believe that my understanding of the bible is more correct than many others, i am aware that my understanding of scripture isn't perfect. But god is perfect. God is merciful. God is loving. God is just. God is also sovereign. And god alone is every man's judge. I do not wish that anyone go to hell. And so, regarding those who pass on who do not know the scripture as i do, i pray that god have mercy. For that is all i can do. In fact, with regards to all men, even those we might consider the most "doctrinally pure", there is no hope of salvation without god's mercy. One can dot every i and cross every t as it relates to "doctrine"... And that doesn't guarantee a thing.

The saints who make it to heaven will only make it on account of god's mercy. And his mercy is only acquired through knowing him. Even those who obeys acts 2:38 in the manner that we believe it is to be obeyed must know god personally.

I knew an old saint of god who used to pray and read his bible every day. His wife had passed on, and i think even his kids had passed on. He'd sit in his rocking chair, rocking back and forth on the front porch, praying on most afternoons. We visited him because his health was beginning to fail and he wasn't able to attend church all the time. As i talked to him, i realized that some of his "theology" wasn't very refined. While talking to this older man, i tried to talk doctrine with him, and he'd look at me kind of strange. At one point, he said, "i don't know as much about the bible as some men do. But, i know jesus. He's my everything. And that's enough for me." when he said that, the holy ghost moved on me so strong. I realized that he truly knew god.

That experience taught me something. To know god is far different from knowing everything about him. In fact, it is possible to know almost everything about god and not know him personally. And, it is also possible to know god personally without knowing everything about him.

this was well written.

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

If the above is true? Then Heaven must be one absolute mess.

God is in absolute control. And I trust that whatever God desires to do entirely His prerogative. Why would Heaven be a mess if God alone were the final authority in determining a man's eternal destiny?

[LongBeachCA]

Originally Posted by Aquila

God is in absolute control. And I trust that whatever God desires to do entirely His prerogative. Why would Heaven be a mess if God alone were the final authority in determining a man's eternal destiny?

I THINK YOU ALL SHOULD GIVE THIS MOVIE A CHANCE ............It's called THE SHACK and it is a wonderful movie. I have been in this apostolic way since age 14 but when I seen this movie it opened up my EYE'S to something I had never thought of before.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2872518/

There is the imdb site and this movie was a big hit. It is worth the watch.