Dr. Thomas Cucuzza has posted a new video sermon on youtube that you might enjoy. It is entitled “There’s Room At The Cross For You.” It is linked below:
Dr. Cucuzza makes the point that the thief on the cross is a type of all of us. This is a critical point, because all of us were condemned before we believed.
John 3:18: He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
We recommend this excellent new book, Secure Forever! God’s Promise or Our Perseverance?, by Dr. Tom Cucuzza, one of my former Assistant Pastors. Available on Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com. Click the book for a link to Amazon.com.
NEW E-BOOK - Links:
Tom's Church
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Notes From A Retired Preacher 
Adam777, funny, I clicked on a link John gave, thinking a video would play in the background and it kept taking me to this page. I’m glad I did, for I did not see your Bonhoeffer comment before. There are people I knew who came to know the Lord because of a Billy Graham crusade, so Paul didn’t care, as long as the gospel was preached, their motivation (envy and strife or to add to his chains), and I don’t know if Mr. Graham started off good with bad coming later or bad and preached what was known as the gospel in order to not be discovered, I sure hope the former.
I truthfully forget sometimes where the backlash is. When I first did the article via facebook years ago when Eric Metaxas’ book was coming out, there was huge backlash, one woman made it her mission to destroy and defame me. This woman today has her own blog and frequently contributes to N T E B website. She went so far as to call the author and write him to ‘warn him’ about me. I always wonder when I faced him in that auditorium that one summer day, if his friendly look turned quite dark because of the question, or because of being angry he had not spotted my name on the audience list (we were signed up under my friend’s name). Likely the former is what happened, but when I asked him about Bonhoeffer’s denial about the physical resurrection of Christ and it being crucial to the gospel, he said it was just an ‘internet rumor’. When I told him he might want to research a couple of Bonhoeffer’s books more thoroughly, specifically Letters from Prison, the question session was over and the affable presidential breakfast host, the reformed author from Tim Keller’s church, the new head of Breakpoint after Chuck Colson died (don’t know if he is now), left suddenly.
In these times, men don’t seem to mind distorting and glossing over the truth, and when it comes to the truth of His Word, and compromising or lying about it, they need to be very afraid if they do not repent (change their mind) and believe.
In Christ!
Yes BeholdaSon,
Please know that all of us care for your spiritual welfare here and will go to no end to hopefully answer your ?’s.
Johninc,
Agreed. It is very alarming and disconcerting to see such supposed defenders of the faith compromise their positions and utilize “popular” theologian quotes in the name of filling up time in a sermon and/or being edgy. It’s especially alarming and confusing for a new believer ta boot. I admire men such as Jack Weaver (was) and appreciate how he was unapologetic about bearing witness to the truth and the Gospel. He certainly seemed to be a man of character from what I know of him.
What is especially curious Johninc is that the rhetoric that Billy Graham teaches today is no doubt works for salvation. In fact, it’s abhorrent. But there have been times in history when it seems he did actually give the Gospel with no strings attached. Interestingly enough, I have a few Billy Graham tracts at home here and they are absolutely correct and accurate as far as giving the Gospel is concerned. In fact, in them Graham establishes that all men are sinners and the wages of sin is death, and then he says one needs to “repent”. That is, that the sinner needs to stop trusting in anything else to save them and trust in Christ alone and His death on the cross to save them. And that’s it! It’s crazy.
I am almost certain that it was a children’s Billy Graham tract that I read and as a result accepted the Lord when I was a child riding in the back of my dad’s car….incredible. Could Billy Graham be one of those who is saved and has been bewitched over the years by the evil one….only the Lord knows.
HollyS,
I did read your Bonhoeffer article and I have no doubt there was a certain amount of backlash as a result of calling him out. The facts are clear though, he was not accurate. People idolize a lot of these supposed faith giants and become downright malicious when you clearly prove that they were teaching untruth.
BeholdaSon ❤
Adam – my Bonhoeffer article (which originally started on Facebook years ago), has caused some of the biggest kick back, it’s interesting, people cannot understand that it’s not about the ‘good they did’… most especially when their doctrine is poison. People LOVE quoting him all across the board because he’s a ‘hero’…
Thanks for all your responses. Appreciate it. 🙂
Adam, based on what Billy Graham teaches, I would have concern about his understanding of how one receives eternal life as well.
Adam, as a new believer a few years ago, it was very confusing and disconcerting to see so-called defenders of the gospel quote some of the people that you mentioned.
Jack Weaver called a couple of them on it, and got dismissive responses.
Ahh yes Johninc,
MANY in the supposed Grace community utilize quotes from the likes of Spurgeon, Wesley, Calvin, Luther, Bonhoeffer, and others. I listened to J Vernon McGee for the longest time and throughout different sermons it was at times different to discern what he actually believed. I do believe that he held to Grace predominantly, but there is no doubt he at times he sent mixed signals and delivered confusing messages.
You are correct regarding Charles Stanley. And yes, the Baptist Faith and Message is contrary without a doubt.
Yes Johninnc, Charles Stanley does definitely have some mixed and backdoor lordship salvation teachings, along with the outer darkness error for unfaithful believers.
BeholdaSon, not like you really need me adding anything, since the answers above by Adam, Preston and John were well done, but I think about the book of John (I’m teaching through now), and how some disciples didn’t believe and stopped following Him, but how His 11 disciples did believe He had the words of ‘eternal life’. And later, the disciples were already declared ‘clean’ (sanctified, believers). And then comes Lazarus, and He tells His disciples He is glad He was not there, for the intent that they might ‘believe’. Believe what? And Martha? “He stinketh Lord”, but Jesus said He told her if she would believe she’d see the glory of God (before they took away the stone). Believe what? She had already said yes that she believed he was the resurrection and the life, and that He was the Christ, the Son of God that was to come into the world.
Then when He was washing the disciple’s feet in chapt. 13, He said He did not speak to them all (excluding Judas) but He had told them these things that they would believe that ‘I am He’, but they had already believed. In the next chapter, same idea, He tells them ahead of time He is going to the Father. And He does so that they might believe when it comes to pass.
In Chapt. 16, He asks them (after He already declared them clean) ‘do you now believe’, and 17 He declares again they have believed, and then when John (the beloved disciple) comes to the tomb, he believes… What? Wait? I thought they believed.
The point is, they believed who He was, that He was the Sent One (Shiloh), they believed He had he words of eternal life. But some of the stuff He was telling them, they didn’t quite yet have faith on, and yet that had nothing to do with the fact they were all His and that He would lose none of them. He gave unto them eternal life and they would NEVER perish.
So part of our continuing to believe is so that His joy remains in us, and so we will be happy when we do certain things (such as washing the feet of the saints – which I believe to symbolize many things, among them feeding them with the cleansing Word). Part of our faith, or continuing in belief, is believing certain things and we do that by abiding in His Word and abiding in Him.
Belief unto eternal life is an instantaneous act, one which a free gift, and God’s gifts are irrevocable, and also perfect (James 1:17). Hath eternal life (as was said above), Hath (echo) is to have, to hold. To possess, to own. But think on to have, to hold. Marriage vows. When we first believe, we become a part of the body of Christ, baptized into His body, flesh of His flesh, bone of His bones.
Who will remove the shinbone from Christ? Every part of the body is necessary. He loves us, and nourishes and cherishes us. We are one flesh.
Ephesians 5
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30 for we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
Adam, I think Richard Seymour is generally sound. But, like I said, a comment like this sends mixed signals. So does positively quoting Charles Spurgeon, which Seymour and many other grace preachers do.
Regarding Charles Stanley, I believe he was President of the SBC at some point. It would be virtually impossible to fit in with the SBC – at least in any kind of a leadership position – while maintaining the integrity of the gospel. The “Baptist Faith and Message,” to which the SBC adheres, is doctrinally aberrant concerning the gospel.
Johninc,
I agree completely. Only the Lord knows whether Templeton was a believer or not. And yes, if someone says they have never believed in Jesus, I also take it as they are not saved.
Johninc,
Richard Seymour’s website and his doctrinal statement appears to be very accurate. It’s amazing though how many pastors and preachers nowadays who start with the right foundation at times speak out of the other side of their mouth. I suppose it comes in part through pressure from other mainstream preachers in the Christian community who don’t hold to the truth of Grace. Such is the example of Charles Stanley. Once a very accurate preacher, he has but almost lost all semblance of salvation by Grace in his messages.
Adam, if someone says they don’t believe in Jesus, I assume they don’t. But, like you said, we can’t know whether or not they ever have.
I recall once, while visiting a Sunday school class at an (L)SBC church, the teacher said something about Charles Templeton.
Templeton was an early partner with Billy Graham in evangelical work. Templeton later declared himself an agnostic.
The Sunday school teacher said something along the lines of “there’s a place in hell for him, too.”
Templeton could have believed a false gospel, and never been saved. However, we know that scripture says that some have had their faith overthrown. If it was not possible for a Christian to lose his faith, then the Bible would contradict itself here, and in the parable of the sower (see Luke 8:13).
So, it is possible that Templeton was an eternally secure saint.
Excellent post HollyS. Thanks!
Johninc,
I agree with you completely. I remember you previously pointing that there is not one person in all of history who has ever placed their faith in Christ alone for salvation that has not received eternal life. This is completely accurate. There are those of course throughout the history of the church and contemporary who have said they are Christians and who have not trusted in Christ alone for salvation (catholics, Christian cults, etc). The only way to ascertain perhaps whether someone is saved is their answer as to why God should allow them into heaven –> Christ paid for their sin and they are trusting in Him. But, it’s precarious ground to judge another man’s salvation and I’ll leave it up to the King to judge.
Richard Seymour is clearly not understanding what Grace is or it’s implications. His lordship calvinistic tone does not go unnoticed either. Like many of his contemporaries, His application of wolves in sheep’s clothes is kind of ironic don’t ya think?
Grace —> You can’t lose what you didn’t earn. It’s free.
Here is Tom Cucuzza’s new youtube channel if any of you want to subscribe.
Preston and Adam, I agree wth both of you completely.
But, there are some who are somewhat clear on grace who send out mixed signals.
Consider the following from Richard Seymour:
“We can all point to people we have known who said they were Christians and yet who later denied the faith. Sometimes – foolishly, I am afraid – a few will say that these were Christians who lost their salvation. In reality, however, according to Scripture, they were wolves dressed up like sheep, even imitating the sheep’s baaaa!”
My comment: this would mean that anyone whose faith was overthrown was never saved. This is not consistent with scripture. A person who is saved could later deny the faith and would still be eternally secure in Christ.
BeholdaSon,
Christ told us:
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me HATH everlasting life”.
John 6:47
The Truth says that God does not give birth to temporary children and the implications of trusting in Christ are irreversible. God’s covenant in relation to Christ’s finished work and those who accept it is immutable. That is to say that for God to retract the eternal life you received upon trusting in Christ as your Saviour would be for Him to ultimately deny Christ’s finished work and it’s ability to save you FOREVER and to the uttermost – despite your behaviour. He cannot and will not do this, otherwise His death would not be the perfect sacrifice and He would not have said “It is finished” on the cross. The confirmation of said immutability is also confirmed and supported by the fact that the Bible states clearly that those who believe on Christ are SEALED by the Holy Spirit, and no one can pluck us out of Christ or the Father’s hand (Gospel of John). Preston has very accurately pointed these truths out from the selected Scriptures.
It sounds like your family is steeped in Arminianism which is contrary to the Bible’s truth of salvation by Grace alone. Those who hold to that position regrettably don’t understand the nature of Grace and what a free gift is. The truth is is that being free moral agents how else could God in His Divine Sovereignty qualify who would go to heaven or hell if He didn’t allow us to make a choice? The only other alternative is that He would have to make the decision for us which would totally defy the entire purpose of Him giving us a free will. We in essence would be robots and we’re not. The prospect of robots being forced to trust or reject Christ does not glorify God in the slightest.
If continued belief was required for salvation why do we see Christ IMMEDIATELY tell the thief on the cross upon trusting in Him that that day he would be with Christ in paradise?
Luke 23:43
In addition, Luke 7:47-50 says:
47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, ARE forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. 48 And He said unto her, Thy sins ARE forgiven. 49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? 50 And He said to the woman, Thy faith hath SAVED thee; go in peace.
The truth is that He is the one that saves to the uttermost, and is forever our advocate before the Father: “25 Wherefore HE is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing HE ever liveth to make intercession for them”.
Hebrews 7:25.
God DOES the saving through Christ, and it is IMPOSSIBLE for Him to fail. We can’t lose what we didn’t earn.
Hope this helps you my sister
Come Lord Jesus. Amen.
Adam
Beholdason,
IF that were the case, then many questions arise and bible scriptures have to be answered.
For me, the first would be 2 Timothy 2. how can one explain this???
The bible says once one believes/trusts the gospel; they are sealed. This is important in relating to 2 Timothy as the writer uses the word “seal” in that passage…
– Eph 1:13 – In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were SEALED with that holy Spirit of promise
– Eph 4:30 – And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye ARE SEALED unto the day of redemption
– 2 Cor 1:21-22 – Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;22 Who HATH ALSO SEALED US, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts
LETS GO TO 2 TIMOTHY – note – Timothy is a letter written from Paul to Timothy so the “WE” is referring to BELIEVERS.
11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
Jesus CANT deny himself. We have seen, Jesus promised not to lose one and that nothing will pluck us out of His hand. Again, Jesus CANT deny himself. He can’t make promises He doesn’t intend to keep. Let us keep reading.
– 17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;
– 18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and OVERTHROW the FAITH of some.
We see that some had their faith overthrown. This MEANS that they believed. Let’s go to the next verse. The first word is NEVERTHELESS. This is the key. The word “nevertheless” means “in spite of”. So some had their faith overthrown…NEVERTHELESS….or…..”in spite of this”….
– 19 NEVERTHELESS the foundation of God standeth sure, having THIS SEAL, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity
Did you catch it? They were STILL SEALED despite their faith being overthrown.
– read next verses to explain “depart from iniquity”. YES a believer should depart from iniquity. One reason is to build rewards of gold and silver and NOT wood hay and stubble; which will be burned at the Judgment Seat of Christ. (1 Cor 3:10-15).
– Heb 11:6 – But WITHOUT FAITH it is IMPOSSIBLE to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him
2 Timothy SUMMARY – these people whose faith were overthrown were producing NOTHING. Their faith was gone!!! They had no more faith THUS it is impossible to please God (produce). Were they saved? YES – NEVERTHELESS, having THIS SEAL, the Lord knoweth them that are HIS
The bible CANNOT contradict itself. It can’t say that if a person loses faith they are still sealed; THEN say they lost their salvation in another.
There are many other verses that need to be answered as well as “logical” questions if that “theology” is true.
blessings
beholdason, it is not just “free grace” theology that teaches that faith is not a work. That is what the Bible teaches clearly, and unequivocally.
When we believe in Jesus as Savior, we are born again – regenerated. We have eternal life that can never be lost or forfeited.
People that think they have to maintain their faith to remain saved are in serious error. In any case, they have not truly understood the irreversible nature of eternal life.
You will get varied opinions on whether people who think they can lose their salvation if they stop believing may, or may not, be saved.
Here is what Ron Shea has to say regarding your question:
Those who believe one may lose their salvation through abandoning their faith may be genuinely saved. They may believe in salvation by grace through faith, and apart from man’s works. And faith is not a work (Romans 4:16). But such persons have placed upon themselves the heavy burden of what might happen if the faith within their heart might fail. It is not to the cross that we must direct such a person. If they are trusting in Christ alone, they are surely saved. We must encourage them regarding the regeneration of the Holy Sprit. That, even “though we are faithless, he remains faithful, for He cannot deny himself.”
Question about salvation. I’ve been thinking about belief and believing. There are some verses in the bible which seem to give the impression that one must continue in faith to be saved. When I read these verses I often wonder about ‘continued belief’ as a requirement for salvation. My relatives believe this. They don’t believe works save them, but they believe that if they at one time believe and then later deny Christ… then God will not save them.
I was thinking about the fact that Free Grace theology teaches that initial belief is not a work.
So I’ve been wondering if initial belief for salvation (according to FG theology) is NOT considered a work, then why would it be incorrect to consider continued, lifelong belief a work for salvation?
In the OT were there ever examples of Israelites who believed and then ‘came back’ to trusting in God?
What happened to those whom God loved but did not return to Him?
Sincere questions.
Bobbie Jo, truth seems to have that effect on me, both tears at time and then just swelling with joy or thankfulness, or just an amazement at times of how good He is.
This was a good reminder to identify with the thief. Thinking humbly, certainly I am no better than he. Yet, through God’s grace and belief in Jesus, we can hope for a better world to come. I do try to live a good life, but in the end it amounts to sin and death without His sacrifice.
Beautiful sermon! I don’t know why I seem to cry over things more easily now. Oh well. 🙂 It’s a truly wonderful thing. What a God we have! All praise be to the Lord.
I was in a Church of Christ and they said the thief didn’t need baptized due to Christ not yet being dead. Uh….that doesn’t make sense either being as when Christ was off the cross John was baptizing, etc. It’s so simple really.
Praise be to God for the simplicity we have in Christ Jesus. We have nothing to offer to God. Silly Pharisees, salvation is given by God by faith not of works lest you continue to boast. 🙂
Thanks, Mr. Cucuzza
So good always to hear the clear and simple gospel. I loved that he used the thief on the cross as a ‘type’ of us, as I did also with Barabbas when I made this picture. Hope it’s o.k. to share, seems appropriate with Tom’s sermon.
I love this Gentleman Pastor Tom in Christ Jesus
He has a calm firm assurance of salvation in his voice allowing the scriptures to teach through him.
when a pastor is strong on the assurance of salvation in comes out in his demeanor.
Works for salvation preachers I can pick up on in their voice usually within the first 5 minutes talking to them or listening to a sermon .
Works for salvation preachers are usually really high strung and wound tight in their spirit most times the whole ministry staff is as well.
We need more sound simple biblical gospel preachers so we can see this difference
the thief – the simplicity of salvation.
2 Cor 11:3-4 – 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your MINDS should be corrupted from the SIMPLICITY that is in Christ.
4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or ANOTHER GOSPEL, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
Thanks for sharing Johninnc, re-shared.
Excellent post Johninc,
Dr. Cucuzza is an excellent pastor, preacher, and a true man of God. One most certainly that believers can look to for guidance and wisdom in everyday life and when handling and studying the Scriptures.