Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"
You love John and Charles Wesley's hymns? Yes! You also love Toplady's "Rock of Ages"? Yes! But did you know that John Wesley and Toplady were locked in mortal theological conflict in their day? They virtually disfellowshipped each other, although in reading their letters, I get the impression that John Wesley's spirit was closer to being sanctified than Toplady's. The issue they were debating was Arminianism versus Calvinism. Over your head? Well, it shouldn't be, because the issue has not yet been truly resolved, after these hundreds of years. If the water is over your head, it may be because you don't have your feet well planted on the Rock of ages, and that's why you are floundering and drowning.
The issue in a nutshell is this: one side said that God merely offers the gospel to people, the other side said that God gives the gospel to people. As far apart as night and day. And yet after the smoke and din of battle subsided, it was said that one side preached like the other side, and the other side prayed like the other side. Yes, you can't evade the truth: John Wesley was in many respects a Calvinist, and Arminius was more of a Calvinist than many Arminians, and Calvin himself was close to being an Arminian!
Utter confusion? Impenetrable fog? Far from it. In the 17th and 18th centuries these dear people, through no fault of their own, did not have the message that alone resolves the debate: "the third angel's message in verity" that "the Lord in His great mercy sent" to us over a century ago. It pierced through the fog into the bright sunlight of what Paul was pleased to speak of as "the truth of the gospel" (Gal. 2:5, 14). We'd better humble our hearts before the Lord and understand it ourselves, or we'll never have a message that can "lighten the earth with glory" (see Rev. 18:1-4). Are we content to join our forebears of the past six millennia and await a future generation who will be willing to experience complete reconciliation with God?
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: January 4, 1998.Copyright © 2010 by Robert J. Wieland.
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
------------------------------
Please forward these messages to your friends and encourage them to subscribe. The "Dial Daily Bread" Web site resides at: http://1888message.org/
To subscribe send an e-mail message with "subscribe" in the body of the message to: dailybread@1888message.org
------------------------------
Robert J. Wieland's inspirational "Dial Daily Bread" messages are availalbe via e-mail to anyone who wishes to receive a daily portion of uplifting Good News. "Dial Daily Bread" is FREE. Due to travel or other circumstances, there may be intervals when "Dial Daily Bread" will not be sent.
You love John and Charles Wesley's hymns? Yes! You also love Toplady's "Rock of Ages"? Yes! But did you know that John Wesley and Toplady were locked in mortal theological conflict in their day? They virtually disfellowshipped each other, although in reading their letters, I get the impression that John Wesley's spirit was closer to being sanctified than Toplady's. The issue they were debating was Arminianism versus Calvinism. Over your head? Well, it shouldn't be, because the issue has not yet been truly resolved, after these hundreds of years. If the water is over your head, it may be because you don't have your feet well planted on the Rock of ages, and that's why you are floundering and drowning.
The issue in a nutshell is this: one side said that God merely offers the gospel to people, the other side said that God gives the gospel to people. As far apart as night and day. And yet after the smoke and din of battle subsided, it was said that one side preached like the other side, and the other side prayed like the other side. Yes, you can't evade the truth: John Wesley was in many respects a Calvinist, and Arminius was more of a Calvinist than many Arminians, and Calvin himself was close to being an Arminian!
Utter confusion? Impenetrable fog? Far from it. In the 17th and 18th centuries these dear people, through no fault of their own, did not have the message that alone resolves the debate: "the third angel's message in verity" that "the Lord in His great mercy sent" to us over a century ago. It pierced through the fog into the bright sunlight of what Paul was pleased to speak of as "the truth of the gospel" (Gal. 2:5, 14). We'd better humble our hearts before the Lord and understand it ourselves, or we'll never have a message that can "lighten the earth with glory" (see Rev. 18:1-4). Are we content to join our forebears of the past six millennia and await a future generation who will be willing to experience complete reconciliation with God?
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: January 4, 1998.Copyright © 2010 by Robert J. Wieland.
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
------------------------------
Please forward these messages to your friends and encourage them to subscribe. The "Dial Daily Bread" Web site resides at: http://1888message.org/
To subscribe send an e-mail message with "subscribe" in the body of the message to: dailybread@1888message.org
------------------------------
Robert J. Wieland's inspirational "Dial Daily Bread" messages are availalbe via e-mail to anyone who wishes to receive a daily portion of uplifting Good News. "Dial Daily Bread" is FREE. Due to travel or other circumstances, there may be intervals when "Dial Daily Bread" will not be sent.
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