During GraceLife this past weekend, Grace Community Church (GCC) pastors Phil Johnson and Mike Riccardi shared some of John MacArthur’s last words before he died on July 14.
GraceLife is a fellowship group led by Johnson and Riccardi every Sunday morning at 9 a.m. in GCC’s family center. The leaders used this week’s fellowship to reflect on MacArthur’s legacy. The discussion included stories, personal testimonies, and what the future holds for GCC and the ministry of Grace to You.
“It was reported to me by some of those who were with John in the hours that he was ready to go to heaven [that] one of the verses that [was] on his mind [that he used] as his last words was 1 Corinthians 15:55,” Riccardi shared.
He continued, “It was reported to me that in between gasps for air, he said, ‘I feel no sting. I feel no fear.’”
What MacArthur was saying, Riccardi explained, was “it is well with my soul.”
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Johnson, who also serves as the executive director of Grace to You, shared that MacArthur hired him 43 years ago and said that MacArthur was a father figure to him.
“I loved him like I loved my own father. And I loved my dad, but I loved John the same way,” Johnson said. “It’s both saddening and also gives me great joy to know that he’s in heaven.”
Johnson explained the plan at Grace to You will continue airing MacArthur’s sermons as long as people continue to listen to them. “I honestly believe that if the Lord doesn’t return, 50 years from now, Grace to You will still be broadcasting John’s teaching, because it’s timeless,” said Johnson.
Johnson also shared a story of how MacArthur shepherded the people of GCC outside of the pulpit. Johnson said that MacArthur loved to do hospital visits and even recalled a time when MacArthur helped save the marriage of a man who was having an affair.
 pastors Phil Johnson and Mike Riccardi shared some of John MacArthur's last words before he died on July 14.){kind=link}