On Christianity

DEAR REV. GRAHAM: My neighbor tells me I ought to believe in Jesus because He was God. But don't we all have a little bit of God within us? I have my own religious ideas, and I don't like anyone trying to lecture me or tell me what to believe.

-- S.B.

DEAR S.B.: I'm sorry if your neighbor seems to be lecturing you -- because in reality I suspect she cares about you very much and only wants to help you. The Bible says Christians should tell others about their faith "with gentleness and respect" (1 Peter 3:15).

At the same time, your neighbor has pointed to a very important truth: No one else in human history was exactly like Jesus Christ. The reason is because He wasn't only fully human, but He was also fully God. On that first Christmas, God, the Bible says, stooped down from heaven and took upon Himself our flesh. In other words, when Jesus Christ came into the world, our planet was being invaded by its Creator. This is why Jesus could say, "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father" (John 14:9).

Why did Jesus come into the world? One reason is to show us what God is like -- that He is all-loving and all-powerful. But the main reason He came was to reconcile us to God. We are separated from God, and no matter what we do or how hard we try, we cannot erase our sin or enter God's presence. But by His sacrificial death and His resurrection from the dead, Christ now offers us the free gifts of forgiveness and eternal life.

Don't let pride or anything else keep you from Jesus. God loves you, and I pray you'll respond to His love by committing your life to Christ today.

Write to Billy Graham in care of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, N.C. 28201 or visit the website at

billygraham.org

MovieStyle on 07/22/2016

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