America's most popular preacher says salvation is by man's free will. God says salvation is by grace. He say's salvation is by God doing his part and me doing my part. The Scripture says "it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy (Rom. 9:16)." Dr. Graham says God wants to save everybody, but can't actually save anybody for fear of violating man's free will. God declares
Here's the Truth. There's no stopping Almighty God when He has chosen a sinner and predestinated to save him through the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ says, "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me." (John 6:37-39)
God is going to save sinners He has chosen in Jesus Christ because the Blood of His dear Son has atoned for our sins (Eph. 1:4-7). We owed God our eternal souls for every transgression and the Son of God stepped in and paid it all. We also owed the perfection of righteousness, and Christ seeing that we had none to give, gave us His own. There is nothing that can be added to Christ's blood and we dare not take anything away. Faith is the evidence that God hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the works began (II Tim. 1:9). "No, God didn't owe us salvation; He gave us salvation. Not because of what we've willed, done, felt, or thought. But because of everything Jesus willed, did, felt, and thought in His Holy life and death on the cross.
Sadly, to some I know the differences seem petty, but I cannot worship at the same altar as free will religion. They have an altar at the front of the stadium or in the front of the church where they deal with their god. They walk the isle and make up their mind to "allow" Jesus into their heart by repeating some man's prayer. No! No! No! Free will religion though subtly crafted to appear from heaven is the work of devils and NOT the Gospel. It denies God His glory in salvation and gives a portion to the thoughts, feelings, and decisions of sinners. Yet, salvation is not a decision, but the miracle of the new birth. Salvation is not repeating some facts about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Salvation is receiving the Risen Enthroned Lord as the Absolute Authority over your life – in both Spirit, and in truth. It is God who intervenes to break sinner's hearts and cast us off the vain throne of our imagination, or we'd all go right on to hell. He teaches us that Christ cannot share His saving glory with anyone because His Free Sovereign Redeeming Electing Transforming Love is far too Precious. (I Pet. 2:6-9)
You, poor sinner, need to do more than make a decision. You need God's mercy. You need to do more than change your lifestyle; you need the Lord Jesus Christ To come and transform you into a new creature. Listen to me dearly. Christ wouldn't have died on the cross if there was anything good in you that could take even a step towards God (Rom. 3:10-12). In order for you to take that first step towards holiness there'd have to be holiness in you. Yet, "...the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was Lost (Luke 19:10)" Herein lies your only hope. Not that you have something to give God, but That God sent His Son into this perishing world to save lost, hopeless, helpless, sin loving, God hating, rebels against His holy law. Christ delivers you from your captivity to sin and opens your eye's to see the Truth. Christ heals the heart that's been broken by the guilt and burden of every evil way. Christ takes those who know they can't keep God's law and gives them the power of faith whereby we please God and overcome the world. Christ comes to the needy sinner who calls upon His name with the conquering force sufficient to overthrow our pride and disobedience. He plants over us the victorious banner of His love – full well knowing the only power that can break our hard hearts and turn our fear into rejoicing is the mighty knowledge of His grace.
This is the teaching of the Scripture. This is the message of Grace. Christ has done it All, all to Him I owe! I know the proud and self-righteous are angered by the sound of grace. I know the indifferent will block out the urgent necessity of salvation from coming judgement with procrastination and vain reasoning. Ah, but I also know Christ delivers souls through the Truth, "because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ (II Thess. 2:13)."