The Power of the Cross | Billy Graham Classic Sermon

FROM OUR ARCHIVES…

THE BILLY GRAHAM CLASSICS.

[applause]

NOW TONIGHT I WANT YOU
TO TURN WITH ME TO

A FAMILIAR PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE,
GALATIANS, THE 6TH CHAPTER.

GALATIANS, THE 6TH CHAPTER,
AND THE 14TH VERSE.

“BUT GOD FORBID
THAT I SHOULD GLORY,

“SAVE IN THE CROSS OF
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST,

“BY WHOM THE WORLD IS CRUCIFIED
UNTO ME, AND I UNTO THE WORLD.”

JUST AFTER THE WAR,

CLIFF BARROWS AND I
CAME TOGETHER.

HE LED THE SINGING,
AND I DID THE PREACHING.

AND HIS WIFE AND MY WIFE,
AND THE FOUR OF US,

WENT TO ENGLAND.

AND WE LIVED IN ENGLAND

DURING THE WINTER
OF 1946 AND ’47.

NOW LONDON WAS ALMOST
TOTALLY DEVASTATED.

AND ONE OF
THE THINGS I REMEMBER IS

THAT IN ALL THAT DEVASTATION
AFTER THE WAR,

AND ALL THE RUBBLE,

THERE STOOD
ST. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL.

AND ON TOP OF ST. PAUL’S
WAS A CROSS.

I REMEMBER WHEN COVENTRY
CATHEDRAL WAS BEING BUILT,

BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN DESTROYED
DURING THE WAR.

AND IT WAS NEARING
COMPLETION.

A CROSS WAS LOWERED
BY HELICOPTER

AND PLACED ON THE TOP.

A HUGE 25 FOOT WOODEN CROSS
STANDS ABOVE THE FIELDS

OF THE BURIED HORROR OF
BELSEN CONCENTRATION CAMP.

A TINY CROSS PLACED THERE
BY SIR EDMUND HILLARY,

THE FIRST MAN TO CONQUER
THE PEAK OF MOUNTAINS,

IS BURIED ON THE SNOW
AND THE ICE

AT THE SUMMIT
OF MOUNT EVEREST.

NOW YOU, MANY OF YOU,
ARE VERY RELIGIOUS,

AND YOU HAVE EMBOSSED
UPON YOUR BIBLES A CROSS,

OR YOU WEAR A CROSS
AROUND YOUR NECK.

AND THE THING THAT I WANT
TO ASK YOU TONIGHT IS THIS:

WHAT DOES THE CROSS
MEAN TO YOU?

WHY DO ALL
THE CATHOLIC CHURCHES,

AND ALL THE PROTESTANT CHURCHES,
HAVE A CROSS?

THAT’S THE ONE THING WE
AGREE ON IS THE CROSS.

THE WHOLE CHRISTIAN WORLD
LOOKS TO THE CROSS.

WHY DID PAUL SAY
THAT HE GLORIED IN IT,

MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE
IN ALL THE WORLD?

PAUL COULD HAVE GLORIED
IN HIS EDUCATION.

HE WAS ONE OF THE MOST
EDUCATED MEN OF HIS TIME.

HE COULD HAVE GLORIED
IN HIS RELIGION;

HE WAS VERY RELIGIOUS.

HE COULD HAVE GLORIED
IN HIS ABILITY

TO SPEAK SEVERAL LANGUAGES;
HE WAS FLUENT IN SEVERAL.

HE COULD HAVE GLORIED
IN THE FACT THAT

HE WAS A ROMAN CITIZEN,
BUT HE DIDN’T.

OR HE COULD HAVE GLORIED
IN CERTAIN THINGS

ABOUT JESUS CHRIST,
OTHER THAN THE CROSS.

HIS SPECTACULAR,
MIRACULOUS BIRTH,

BORN OF A VIRGIN,
THE VIRGIN MARY,

OR THE GREAT TEACHING
OF CHRIST.

EVEN TODAY, EDUCATORS SAY

THERE’S NEVER BEEN
A TEACHER LIKE JESUS CHRIST.

OR HIS GREAT SOCIAL WORK,

HIS COMPASSION FOR
THE POOR AND THE NEEDY,

HIS CONCERN FOR THE HUNGRY
AND THE SICK,

HIS AMAZING RESURRECTION
FROM THE DEAD,

HIS FUTURE GLORY, WHEN HE’S
GOING TO RULE THE WORLD.

AND HIS KINGDOM
IS GOING TO COME.

HE COULD HAVE GLORIED IN
ANY OF THOSE THINGS.

BUT HE SAID, “NO, I GLORY
ONLY IN THE CROSS.”

AND HE SAID, “GOD FORBID
THAT I SHOULD GLORY

“IN ANYTHING ELSE,
EXCEPT THE CROSS.”

WHY?

WELL, I WANT YOU TO THINK A
MOMENT AND LOOK AT THAT CROSS.

IT WAS THE MOST CRUEL
OF ALL PUNISHMENTS,

BECAUSE THE VICTIM SOMETIMES

WOULD HANG THERE
FOR SEVERAL DAYS;

IT TOOK THEM SEVERAL
DAYS TO DIE.

AND ON THIS OCCASION THEY
WERE CRUCIFYING THREE PEOPLE;

TWO THIEVES, MURDERERS,
AND JESUS IN THE MIDDLE.

THE SOLDIERS ENTERED
THE GUARDHOUSE

AND BROUGHT JESUS WITH
THE TWO OTHER CONDEMNED MEN.

THEY WERE BEATEN 33 TIMES, OR
39 TIMES, ON THEIR BARE BACKS

WITH LEATHER THONGS WITH
STEEL PELLETS ON THE END.

A CROWN OF THORNS HAD
BEEN PUT ON JESUS’ BROW.

A CROSS WAS LAID
UPON HIS BACK.

THE PROCESSION STARTED.

JERUSALEM WAS FILLED WITH
A CARNIVAL-LIKE ATMOSPHERE

AT THAT TIME.

AND THE PROCESSION WENT
THROUGH THE MAIN STREETS,

SO THAT ALL MIGHT SEE
THE CRIMINAL

AND BE WARNED OF A SIMILAR FATE
IF HE BROKE THE LAWS OF ROME.

A BIG CROWD WAS FOLLOWING.

JUST A FEW OF JESUS’
FRIENDS WERE FOLLOWING.

AND JESUS BECAME WEAKENED BY
THE LOSS OF BLOOD, AND HE FELL.

AND SO SIMON OF CYRENE,
AN AFRICAN,

HELPED HIM CARRY THE CROSS.

THE SOLDIERS WENT QUICKLY
AND METHODICALLY

ABOUT THEIR TASK OF DRIVING
HOME THE NAILS IN HIS HANDS,

AND THE SPIKE
THROUGH HIS FEET.

THE CROWD MILLS AROUND,
JEERING, “HE SAVED OTHERS;

“HIMSELF HE CANNOT SAVE.”

THEY LAUGHED, AND THEY MOCKED,
AND THEY MADE FUN OF HIM.

“COME DOWN, DO JUST
ONE MORE MIRACLE,” THEY SAID.

BUT HE DIDN’T DO IT.

HE STAYED THERE,

AND YOU KNOW WHY
HE STAYED THERE?

BECAUSE OF YOU.

BECAUSE HE LOVED YOU.

BECAUSE, YOU SEE,
ONLY IN JESUS CHRIST

CAN WE FIND
FORGIVENESS OF SINS.

HE WAS BEARING
OUR SINS ON THE CROSS.

PEOPLE ASK ME CONSTANTLY,
AS THEY WRITE,

“IS THERE ANY HOPE FOR ME?

“CAN CHRIST SAVE ME?”

PROSTITUTES, ALCOHOLICS,
ROBBERS, MURDERERS,

PRISONERS, PEOPLE FILLED
WITH RACIAL PREJUDICE,

PEOPLE WHO HOLD IN THEIR
HEARTS ANTI-SEMITISM;

“IS THERE ANY HOPE FOR ME?”

PEOPLE WHO HAVE DONE
MANY EVIL THINGS,

BOTH CORPORATELY AND PRIVATELY;

“IS THERE ANY HOPE FOR ME?”

A BISHOP OF A CHURCH IN ANOTHER
COUNTRY CAME TO ME ONE TIME,

SOME YEARS AGO NOW,
AND HE TOLD ME

THAT HE DID NOT BELIEVE
THAT HE WAS SAVED.

HE SAID, “I’VE BEEN TO
THEOLOGICAL SCHOOL IN ENGLAND.”

HE SAID, “I’VE BEEN
A BISHOP NOW,”

AND HE TOLD ME HOW MANY YEARS.

BUT HE SAID, “I HAVE SO MANY
DOUBTS THAT MY SINS ARE FORGIVEN

“AND I’M GOING TO HEAVEN.”

AND HE SAID, “I’VE COME
TO YOU, TO ASK YOU

“IF YOU WOULD PRAY FOR ME,
AND PRAY WITH ME.”

AND VERY SIMPLY I TALKED
TO HIM JUST LIKE HE WAS

A LITTLE CHILD, AS THOUGH HE HAD
NEVER HEARD THE GOSPEL BEFORE.

TEARS CAME STREAMING DOWN HIS
FACE, AND HE GOT ON HIS KNEES,

AND HE PRAYED A VERY
SIMPLE PRAYER,

WHICH INDICATES TO ME THAT YOU
CAN EVEN BE A CLERGYMAN,

BE IN THE CHURCH.

I KNOW A MAN IN ST. LOUIS,
PASTOR OF A LARGE CHURCH;

HE WAS CONVERTED TO CHRIST
UNDER HIS OWN PREACHING.

HE’D NEVER KNOWN CHRIST,
AND SUDDENLY

THE SPIRIT OF GOD SPOKE TO HIM.

I KNOW A MAN HERE IN
BOSTON WHO WAS PASTOR

OF A CHURCH THAT WAS DYING.

HE HAD A BRILLIANT
EDUCATION FROM

ONE OF YOUR GREAT THEOLOGICAL
SEMINARIES HERE.

AND HIS LITTLE
DAUGHTER GOT SICK,

AND HE THOUGHT SHE WAS DYING.

AND HE SAID, “LORD,” HE SAID,
“IF YOU WILL RAISE UP

“MY DAUGHTER, FROM NOW ON
I’LL TURN TO THE BIBLE

“AND PREACH NOTHING
BUT THE BIBLE.

“AND ACCEPT YOUR WORD
AS THE WORD OF FAITH.”

AND THAT HAPPENED.

WITHIN A YEAR, HIS CHURCH
WAS PACKED OUT.

NOW HE’S PASTOR OF A GREAT
CHURCH IN FLORIDA.

SOME OF YOU KNOW HIM.

PAUL GLORIED IN THE CROSS

BECAUSE IT IS THE ONLY
WAY OF SALVATION.

NOTHING ELSE WILL SAVE.

THE CROSS IS THE ONLY WAY.

“THERE IS A WAY…”
THE BIBLE SAYS.

OH, THERE ARE OTHER WAYS
OF SALVATION,

SO WE’RE TAUGHT BY MANY
TEACHERS, “THAT SEEMETH RIGHT;

“BUT THE END THEREOF IS
THE WAY OF DEATH.”

THERE’S ONLY ONE WAY–
BY THE CROSS.

AND THAT’S ONE REASON WHY
PEOPLE DON’T LIKE TO TALK ABOUT

THE CROSS, OR THE EXCLUSIVENESS
OF SALVATION.

WE LIKE TO THINK THAT
THERE ARE MANY WAYS.

AND THERE ARE MANY WAYS
THAT PEOPLE WORSHIP,

AND THERE ARE MANY WAYS
THAT PEOPLE PRAY.

AND GOD DOES HEAR THE PRAYERS
OF ALL PEOPLE,

ALL OVER THE WORLD.

WHOEVER CALLS UPON
THE NAME OF THE LORD

IS GOING TO BE HEARD.

BUT THERE’S ONLY ONE WAY
OUTLINED IN THE BIBLE.

AND I, AS A MINISTER OF THE
GOSPEL, MUST DECLARE UNTO YOU

WHAT THE APOSTLE PETER SAID,
“THERE IS THEREFORE NOW

“NO OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN
WHEREBY WE MUST BE SAVED.”

JESUS SAID, “I AM THE WAY,
THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE:

“NO MAN COMETH TO
THE FATHER, BUT BY ME.”

I DIDN’T SAY THAT;
JESUS SAID IT.

JESUS SAID,
AS I’VE ALREADY QUOTED,

“ENTER IN AT THE NARROW GATE:
FOR WIDE IS THE GATE,

“AND BROAD IS THE WAY
THAT LEADETH TO DESTRUCTION,

“AND MANY THERE BE THAT
GO IN THEREAT: BECAUSE NARROW

“IS THE GATE, AND HARD IS THE
WAY, WHICH LEADETH UNTO LIFE,

“AND FEW THERE
BE THAT FIND IT.”

NOTICE, HE SAYS
IT’S HARD.

IT’S NOT EASY
TO FOLLOW CHRIST.

YOU PAY A PRICE.

HE SAID, “IF YOU’RE NOT
WILLING TO DENY SELF AND

“TAKE UP THE CROSS,
YOU CANNOT BE MY FOLLOWER.”

YOU SEE, WE WOULD LIKE
SOMETHING CHEAP

AND SOMETHING EASY.

HIS DEMANDS WERE SO HIGH
THAT MANY PEOPLE REFUSED

TO GO WITH HIM
ANY FURTHER.

THEY’D GO SO FAR, AND
THEN THEY’D TURN AWAY.

BECAUSE HE TURNED TO
A CROWD ONE DAY AND SAID,

“COUNT THE COST.”

COUNT THE COST.

IF YOU FOLLOW ME, THAT MEANS
THAT I BECOME LORD OF YOUR LIFE.

IF YOU FOLLOW ME, THAT MEANS
YOU BECOME MY LEARNER,

MY DISCIPLE, AND
YOU MUST DO MY COMMANDS.

YOU’VE GOT TO LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR
AS YOURSELF, IF YOU FOLLOW ME.

IF YOU FOLLOW ME,
YOU’VE GOT TO BE CONCERNED

ABOUT THE NEEDS OF THE WORLD.

IF YOU FOLLOW ME,

YOU’VE GOT TO BE WILLING
TO TAKE UP THE CROSS.

I’M GOING TO
DIE ON A CROSS.

I’M GOING TO BE EXECUTED.

THAT MEANS THAT YOU’RE WILLING
TO GO BACK TO YOUR SCHOOL,

AND BACK TO YOUR HOME,
AND BACK TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD,

AND TELL THE PEOPLE
THAT YOU KNOW CHRIST.

AND LET THEM SEE
CHRIST IN YOU.

AND THAT WON’T BE EASY.

BUT IF YOU’LL DO THAT,
HE’LL BE WITH YOU.

HE DOESN’T ASK US TO LIVE
THE CHRISTIAN LIFE ALONE;

I CANNOT LIVE
THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.

I’LL BE HONEST WITH YOU,
I CANNOT DO IT.

BUT CHRIST CAN LIVE IT
THROUGH ME, IF I WILL LET HIM.

AND HE CAN PRODUCE
THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT.

HE CAN GIVE ME A LOVE
AND A JOY AND A PEACE

THAT I’LL NEVER FIND
ANYWHERE IN THIS WORLD.

HE CAN GIVE ME THE CERTAINTY
OF MY ETERNAL LIFE.

NOW JESUS ALSO WARNED US THAT

“NOT EVERY ONE THAT SAITH
UNTO ME, LORD, LORD,

“SHALL ENTER INTO
THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN;

“BUT HE THAT DOETH THE WILL
OF MY FATHER WHO IS IN HEAVEN.

“MANY WILL SAY TO ME IN
THAT DAY, LORD, LORD,

“HAVE WE NOT PREACHED
IN YOUR NAME?

“AND IN YOUR NAME
WE HAVE CAST OUT DEMONS?

“AND IN YOUR NAME WE HAVE
DONE MANY WONDERFUL WORKS?”

“AND THEN HE SAID,
I WILL PROFESS UNTO THEM,

“I NEVER KNEW YOU: DEPART
FROM ME YE THAT WORK INIQUITY.”

YOU SEE, YOU CAN GO TO CHURCH,

YOU CAN BE A GOOD PERSON,

AND MAYBE REALLY
NEVER KNOW CHRIST.

I KNOW MANY PEOPLE
THAT LIVE MORAL LIVES

THAT ARE AGNOSTICS
AND EVEN ATHEISTS.

THERE COMES A POINT, THERE
COMES A MOMENT, SOMETIME,

SOMEWHERE, WHEN YOU MUST
RECEIVE CHRIST INTO YOUR HEART.

PAUL GLORIED IN THE CROSS
BECAUSE IT EXPRESSES

THE DEPTH OF SIN; BECAUSE IT
SHOWS THE LOVE OF GOD;

BECAUSE IT’S THE ONLY
WAY OF SALVATION; AND,

FOURTHLY, BECAUSE HE KNEW THAT
IT GAVE A NEW DYNAMIC TO LIFE.

ONCE YOU’VE BEEN TO THE CROSS,

YOU CAN NEVER BE THE SAME.

“THEREFORE IF ANY MAN

“BE IN CHRIST,

“HE IS A NEW CREATION;

“OLD THINGS ARE PASSED AWAY;

“BEHOLD, ALL THINGS

“ARE BECOME NEW,”

THE SCRIPTURE SAYS.

YOU’LL NEVER BE THE SAME

ONCE YOU COME TO CHRIST.

I REMEMBER THE NIGHT
I CAME TO CHRIST.

I STOOD WITH ABOUT THREE OR
FOUR HUNDRED OTHER PEOPLE,

MADE MY COMMITMENT
TO CHRIST.

AND WHILE I WAS STANDING THERE,
I FELT LIKE A FOOL.

I STARTED TO TURN AROUND
AND GO BACK.

A WOMAN NEXT TO ME WAS WEEPING
AND I DIDN’T HAVE ANY TEARS.

I HAD NO EMOTION AT ALL,
EXCEPT FEAR–

AFRAID OF STANDING IN
FRONT OF SO MANY PEOPLE.

BUT I WENT HOME
THAT NIGHT,

AND I REMEMBER IT WAS
A MOONLIGHT NIGHT.

AND WE LIVED ON A FARM,
AND I LOOKED OUT

ACROSS THE FIELD,
ACROSS THE WOODS.

AND I KNEW SOMETHING HAD
HAPPENED TO ME THAT NIGHT.

I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT.

IF YOU’D ASKED ME THE NEXT DAY
WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO ME,

I COULD NOT HAVE
TOLD YOU.

I NOW KNOW.

THAT FIRST STEP WAS SO WEAK,
AND MY FAITH WAS SO WEAK,

AND I HAD SO MANY DOUBTS.

BUT, MY GOODNESS,
THE TRANSFORMATION

THAT BEGAN WORKING ITS WAY INTO
MY LIFE OVER A PERIOD OF TIME

WAS SO TREMENDOUS.

AND IT’S STILL WORKING,
AND IT’S STILL GROWING.

AND I’M STILL LEARNING,
AND IT GETS BETTER EVERY DAY.

AND THEN, FIFTHLY, FIFTHLY,

[applause]

IT’S A MOTIVATION FOR SERVICE,

A MOTIVATION FOR SERVICE.

DID YOU SEE MOTHER TERESA
GETTING THAT AWARD?

AND THEN SHE WON
THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE,

TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO…
AND SHE’S WON SO MANY AWARDS.

AND SHE SAID, “I OWE IT ALL
TO THE CROSS.”

MARTIN LUTHER KING RECEIVED
THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE,

AND THEY ASKED HIM
SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

AND HE SAID,
“IT WAS BUILT UPON

“MY FATHER’S EVANGELICAL
PREACHING.”

I KNOW HIS FATHER, AND I KNEW
MARTIN LUTHER KING, OF COURSE.

AND HIS FATHER ALWAYS
PREACHED THE GOSPEL,

AND BELIEVED IN THE CROSS, AND
SO DID MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST?

IT’S A MOTIVATION
FOR SERVICE.

WHAT MOTIVATES YOU
TO GO OUT AND HELP

THE HUNGRY, AND THE POOR,
AND THE OPPRESSED?

MY SON SPENDS HIS TIME,
A GREAT DEAL OF IT,

IN THE THIRD WORLD–HELPING
THE POOR AND THE NEEDY,

GOING TO LITTLE DISPENSARIES
AND LITTLE HOSPITALS

AND SENDING DOCTORS
TO HELP THEM.

HE WAS OUT ON ONE OF THOSE
BOATS IN THE CHINA SEA,

HELPING PICK UP THOSE
REFUGEES A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

WHAT MOTIVATES HIM?

WHY DOES HE GO TO SOME
PLACE IN AFRICA,

OR GO ALL THROUGH NEW GUINEA,
OR GO THROUGH INDIA

OR BANGLADESH, OR SOME OF
THESE PLACES TO TRY TO HELP?

BECAUSE HE LOVES CHRIST.

IT’S CHRIST THAT
MOTIVATES HIM.

WHAT MOTIVATES YOU?

OR DO YOU HAVE ANY MOTIVATION
AT ALL TO HELP OTHERS?

AND THEN PAUL GLORIED
IN THE CROSS BECAUSE

HE KNEW THAT IT GUARANTEED
A FUTURE LIFE.

THE CROSS WAS FOLLOWED
BY THE RESURRECTION.

BUT “GOD WAS IN CHRIST,

“RECONCILING THE WORLD
UNTO HIMSELF.”

AND THE SCRIPTURE TELLS US
IN A GRAND ANTHEM IN

THE BOOK OF REVELATION ,
THE 5TH CHAPTER,

“AND THEY SANG A NEW SONG,
SAYING, THOU ART WORTHY

“TO TAKE THE SCROLL AND TO OPEN
ITS SEALS, FOR THOU WAST SLAIN,

“AND HAST REDEEMED US
TO GOD BY THY BLOOD

“OUT OF EVERY KINDRED,

“AND TONGUE, AND PEOPLE,
AND NATION

“AND HAST MADE US UNTO OUR GOD
A KINGDOM OF PRIESTS:

“AND WE SHALL REIGN ON EARTH.”

WHAT A GLORIOUS FUTURE WE
HAVE BECAUSE OF THE CROSS.

SOME OF YOU ARE WATCHING
BY TELEVISION.

PICK UP THAT PHONE,
AND CALL THAT NUMBER

THAT’S THERE RIGHT NOW.

AND TALK TO THE PERSON,
AND TELL THEM YOUR NEED.

AND SHARE WITH THEM, AND
THEY WILL TALK TO YOU.

AND YOU CAN FIND CHRIST TONIGHT,
OR YOU CAN FIND HELP

FOR YOUR PROBLEM OR YOUR NEED,
WHATEVER IT IS.

NOW WHAT WAS THE ATTITUDE
OF THE CROWD

THAT WAS THERE THAT DAY?

CHRIST DYING ON THE CROSS.

FIRST, THERE WAS THE ATTITUDE
OF APATHY.

“SITTING DOWN,
THEY WATCHED HIM THERE.”

THAT’S INDIFFERENCE.

MANY HERE THIS EVENING

WHO ARE COMPLETELY
INDIFFERENT

TO WHAT I’M SAYING,
AND TO THE GOSPEL.

THE MOCKINGS, THE ABUSE,
AND THE ATROCITY OF

THAT ANCIENT PAGAN MOB WERE
LESS PAINFUL TO CHRIST

THAN THE INDIFFERENCE OF
A MODERN WORLD,

UPON WHICH THE LIGHT OF
THE GOSPEL HAS BEEN SHINING

ALL THESE YEARS.

HERE IN NEW ENGLAND,
NO PLACE IN ALL THE WORLD

HAS HAD MORE GOSPEL THAN YOU’VE
HAD IN YOUR PAST HISTORY.

HOW MANY TODAY
ARE INDIFFERENT?

“TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN,
MUCH IS REQUIRED.”

YOU SEE, MORE IS GOING
TO BE REQUIRED OF YOU,

WHERE YOU’VE HAD
THE GOSPEL FOR SO MANY YEARS

AND SO MANY BIBLES, SO MANY
CHURCHES, AND NOW THE TELEVISION

AND THE RADIO, THAN
THOSE PEOPLE IN CHINA,

OR PEOPLE IN OTHER
COUNTRIES THAT DON’T HAVE

THE GOSPEL AS FREELY
AS WE HAVE IT TODAY.

AND THEN THERE’S THE ATTITUDE
OF THE SKEPTIC AND THE CYNIC.

“AND THEY THAT PASSED BY RAILED
ON HIM, WAGGING THEIR HEADS,

“AND SAYING, AH YOU
THAT DESTROYED THE TEMPLE,

“AND YOU BUILD IT IN THREE
DAYS, SAVE YOURSELF,

“COME DOWN FROM
THE CROSS.”

AND THERE ARE SKEPTICS
HERE TONIGHT, I KNOW THAT.

WE’VE HAD MANY A SKEPTIC
COME TO THE MEETING,

AND HAVE HIS LIFE CHANGED.

I REMEMBER THE GREAT
SCIENTIST FROM

THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNEAPOLIS
WHO CAME SKEPTICAL.

BUT THREE DAYS AFTER THAT
SERVICE HE FOUND CHRIST

AND BECAME A WONDERFUL
BIBLE TEACHER

OF THE FACULTY AT
THE UNIVERSITY.

THEN THERE’S THE ATTITUDE
THAT SAVES.

“NOW THERE STOOD BY THE CROSS
OF JESUS HIS MOTHER,

“AND HIS MOTHER’S SISTER.”

AND THEN THERE WAS
THE ATTITUDE OF THE CENTURION,

WHO SAID, “TRULY, THIS IS
THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD.”

MY WIFE WAS BORN
AND REARED IN CHINA.

AND IN CHINESE,
THE WORD “COME”

IS WRITTEN WITH
THREE CHARACTERS,

EACH OF WHICH IS A CROSS
WITH A PERSON ON IT.

WE’RE TRANSLATING TONIGHT
IN CHINESE;

BOTH MANDARIN AND CANTONESE.

THE CROSS IN ALL LANGUAGES
MEANS “COME TO THE CROSS.”

FIND SALVATION.

COME TO THE CROSS
AND FIND PEACE.

COME TO THE CROSS
AND FIND FORGIVENESS.

“COME” IS THE INVITATION
OF THE WHOLE BIBLE.

“COME UNTO ME, ALL YE THAT
LABOR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN,

“AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST.”

COME TO THE CROSS.

I’M ASKING YOU TONIGHT
TO COME TO THE CROSS.

YOU SAY, “WELL, WHAT
DO I HAVE TO DO?”

THREE THINGS.

CHRIST HAS PAID THE PRICE
ON THE CROSS.

HE’S BEEN RAISED
FROM THE DEAD.

THAT IS THE HEART OF WHAT
IS CALLED THE “GOOD NEWS,”

THE GOSPEL.

THE GOOD NEWS IS
THAT GOD LOVES YOU.

HE GAVE HIS SON
TO DIE FOR YOU.

HE WILL FORGIVE YOU
OF YOUR SINS.

HE WILL GIVE YOU
ETERNAL LIFE TONIGHT.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO
WAIT TILL TOMORROW.

TONIGHT.

THAT’S THE GOOD NEWS.

BUT YOU MUST RECEIVE IT.

HOW DO YOU RECEIVE IT?

FIRST, BY REPENTING OF SIN;
THAT MEANS TO TURN,

TO CHANGE YOUR THINKING,
TO CHANGE YOUR MIND,

TO CHANGE YOUR ATTITUDE, AND
TO CHANGE YOUR WAY OF LIVING.

LET CHRIST COME, AND BE
IN CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE.

THAT’S REPENTANCE.

SAYING TO GOD, “I HAVE SINNED,
AND I’M SORRY FOR IT.

“FORGIVE ME.”

THAT’S REPENTANCE.

BUT THEN YOU MUST
BY FAITH RECEIVE HIM,

AND THAT WORD “FAITH”
MAY TRIP YOU UP.

FAITH MEANS THAT YOU TOTALLY
COMMIT TO CHRIST.

JUST AS I’M STANDING
ON THIS PLATFORM,

AND MY BODY IS COMMITTED
TO THIS PLATFORM.

SO YOU STAND WITH
YOUR WHOLE LIFE.

AND EVERYTHING YOU HAVE,
YOU PUT ON CHRIST.

YOUR HOPE IS IN HIM,
AND HIM ALONE.

HE BECOMES THE ONE THAT
YOU TRUST TOTALLY

AND COMPLETELY FOR
YOUR SALVATION.

THERE WAS A MINISTER
PREACHING

ON THE THIEF
ON THE CROSS ONCE.

SOME MAN YELLED FROM
THE CONGREGATION AND SAID,

“WHAT ABOUT THAT
THIEF ON THE CROSS?”

AND QUICK AS A FLASH, THE
MINISTER SAID, “WHICH THIEF?”

BECAUSE, YOU SEE,
ONE DIED AND WAS LOST;

AND ONE DIED AND WAS SAVED.

AND THAT’S THE ONLY STORY
OF DEATHBED REPENTANCE

IN THE WHOLE BIBLE.

SO YOU BETTER NOT WAIT.

THE BIBLE SAYS, “TODAY IS
THE DAY OF SALVATION;

“NOW IS THE ACCEPTED TIME.”

NOWHERE IN THE BIBLE DOES
IT PROMISE YOU TOMORROW.

AND JESUS SAID YOU
MUST DO IT PUBLICLY.

HE SAID, “IF YOU’RE NOT WILLING
TO ACKNOWLEDGE ME PUBLICLY

“BEFORE MEN, I WILL NOT
ACKNOWLEDGE YOU BEFORE

“MY FATHER WHICH
IS IN HEAVEN.”

THAT’S THE REASON I ASK PEOPLE
TO COME FORWARD PUBLICLY.

YOU SEE, YOUR COMING FORWARD
DOESN’T ACTUALLY SAVE YOU.

IT’S COMING FORWARD AS
A SYMBOL OF AN INWARD DECISION

YOU’RE MAKING
IN YOUR HEART.

YOU’RE COMING AND STANDING
WITH CHRIST AT THE CROSS,

AND SAYING BY COMING,
“I DO REPENT OF SIN.

“I DO WANT A CHANGE.

“I DO WANT HIS FORGIVENESS.

“I DO WANT A NEW LIFE.”

I’M GOING TO ASK YOU RIGHT
NOW TO GET UP OUT OF YOUR SEAT,

AND DO WHAT WE’VE SEEN THOUSANDS
THROUGH NEW ENGLAND DO.

I’M GOING TO ASK YOU
TO COME AND STAND

IN FRONT OF THIS PLATFORM.

AND SAY BY COMING,
“I WANT SIN FORGIVEN.

“I WANT TO KNOW WHEN
I LEAVE THIS STADIUM

“THAT CHRIST IS WITH ME, AND
THAT CHRIST HAS FORGIVEN ME,

“AND THAT I’M
GOING TO HEAVEN.”

IF YOU HAVE A DOUBT
IN YOUR MIND,

DON’T YOU LEAVE THIS STADIUM
TILL YOU’VE SETTLED IT,

BECAUSE YOU MAY NEVER
HAVE ANOTHER MOMENT

WHEN YOUR HEART IS THIS CLOSE
TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

YOU’RE NOT HERE
BY ACCIDENT.

I BELIEVE YOU’RE HERE IN
THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD.

YOU GET UP AND
COME RIGHT NOW.

WE’RE GOING TO
WAIT ON YOU.

HUNDREDS OF YOU, QUICKLY.

I’M GOING TO ASK THAT NO
ONE LEAVE THE STADIUM.

THIS IS A VERY HOLY
AND SACRED MOMENT,

AND YOU BE IN AN
ATTITUDE OF PRAYER.

YOU CAN BRING YOUR
FRIEND WITH YOU.

IF YOU’RE WITH FRIENDS
OR RELATIVES,

OR YOU’VE COME IN
ONE OF THOSE BUSES,

THEY’LL WAIT ON YOU.

YOU GET UP AND COME,
AND MAKE THIS COMMITMENT.

HERE IN BOSTON, WE’VE ALREADY
SEEN HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE.

AND YOU THAT ARE WATCHING
BY TELEVISION,

PICK UP THE TELEPHONE.

AND CALL THE PERSON
ON THE OTHER END.

AND HAVE A TALK WITH THEM.

YOU SEE THAT NUMBER THERE.

AS THESE ARE COMING
FORWARD THIS EVENING

HERE AT NICKERSON FIELD,

TAKE TIME TO CALL THAT
PHONE NUMBER ON YOUR SCREEN.

WRITE THE NUMBER DOWN AND
IF THE LINE IS BUSY, CALL BACK.

WE WANT TO HELP YOU NOW.

♪ WITH MANY A CONFLICT ♪

♪ MANY A DOUBT ♪

♪ FIGHTINGS WITHIN
AND FEARS WITHOUT ♪

♪ OH LAMB OF GOD,
I COME, I COME ♪

YOU THAT ARE
WATCHING BY TELEVISION

CAN SEE HERE IN
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS,

MANY HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE COMING

TO MAKE THEIR COMMITMENT
TO JESUS CHRIST.

YOU CAN MAKE YOUR COMMITMENT
RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE.

JUST SAY YES TO CHRIST.

PICK UP THE TELEPHONE
AND CALL THAT NUMBER.

GOD BLESS YOU.

BE SURE AND GO TO CHURCH
NEXT SUNDAY.

♪

NIGHT AFTER NIGHT,
WE’VE HAVE SEEN

HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE RESPOND
HERE IN NICKERSON FIELD

TO COMMIT THEIR LIFE TO
JESUS CHRIST.

THIS IS ALSO A MOMENT OF
DECISION FOR YOU.

MAKE THAT TELEPHONE CALL
RIGHT NOW

BY CALLING THE NUMBER
ON YOUR SCREEN.

TRAINED COUNCILORS ARE
STANDING BY READY TO HELP YOU.

IF THE LINES ARE BUSY, JUST WAIT
A FEW MOMENTS AND CALL AGAIN.

WE’LL BE THERE AS LONG AS
THE CALLS KEEP COMING IN.

BE SURE AND JOIN US AGAIN
TOMORROW NIGHT

FOR ANOTHER TELECAST FROM
THE BOSTON, NEW ENGLAND CRUSADE

AND A SPECIAL FEATURE MR. GRAHAM
WANTS TO PRESENT TO YOU.

CALL A FRIEND AND ASK THEM TO
SHARE THE PROGRAM WITH US.

UNTIL THEN, CLIFF BARROWS HERE
SAYING,

“GOODNIGHT AND
MAY GOD RICHLY BLESS YOU.”

♪ JUST AS I AM ♪

♪ THOU WILT RECEIVE ♪

♪ WILT WELCOME, PARDON,
CLEANSE, RELIEVE ♪

♪ BECAUSE THY PROMISES
I BELIEVE ♪

IF YOU JUST PRAYED THAT PRAYER
WITH MY FATHER,

OR IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS

ABOUT A RELATIONSHIP
WITH JESUS CHRIST,

WHY DON’T YOU CALL
THE NUMBER ON THE SCREEN.

THERE WILL BE SOMEONE THERE TO
TALK WITH YOU, PRAY WITH YOU AND

ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.

AND REMEMBER,
GOD LOVES YOU!

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO COMMIT
YOUR LIFE TO JESUS CHRIST,

PLEASE CALL US RIGHT NOW,
TOLL FREE AT

1-877-772-4559.

THAT’S 1-877-772-4559.

OR YOU CAN WRITE TO US AT:

BILLY GRAHAM

1 BILLY GRAHAM PARKWAY

DEPARTMENT C

CHARLOTTE, NC 28201

OR YOU CAN CONTACT US ON THE WEB
24/7 AT PEACEWITHGOD.TV.

WE’LL GET THE SAME HELPS TO YOU
THAT WE GIVE TO EVERYONE

WHO RESPONDS AT THE INVITATION.

ON BEHALF OF
FRANKLIN GRAHAM AND

THE BILLY GRAHAM
EVANGELISTIC ASSOCIATION

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS.

(Franklin Graham)
WE STILL HAVE
A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY

TO REACH A LOST
AND DYING WORLD

WITH THE TRUTH
OF GOD’S LOVE.

IT’S NOT TOO LATE.

WE’VE GOT
AN OPPORTUNITY

TO TELL OTHERS
ABOUT JESUS CHRIST.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING
TO DO WITH IT?