Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"
Someone wrote asking for "a clear definition of faith and of 'agape' also." This was my answer:
(1) Agape is a different kind of love than any we know by nature. It never comes through the DNA; we're never born with it. One exception: Jesus, for "God is agape (1 John 4:8, and He was God in human flesh).
(2) It must be installed in the human heart like a radio is installed in a car (see Rom. 5:5).
(3) It's a love that is eternal, not fragile like our loves (1 Cor. 13:8).
(4) It's the love that would prefer to go to hell and be lost forever rather than let us perish (Heb. 2:9; that "death" He "tasted" is the second one; Rev. 2:11).
(5) The death that Christ died was the death under the "curse of God" (Gal. 3:13; compare Deut. 21:22, 23; that's why the Sanhedrin wanted Pilate to crucify Him, not merely stab Him with a sword or cut His head off).
(6) Therefore hell is the measure of agape; that's how far it went to save us.
(7) Popular "Christianity" cannot grasp this for they believe in natural immortality.
(8) Therefore God gives us a special mission: to proclaim what happened on the cross.
(9) When an honest heart "comprehends" this (see Eph. 3:14-21), one is moved by it, he appreciates what it cost the Son of God to save us. That heart-appreciation is the New Testament definition of faith (see Gal. 5:6; Luke 7:50). The stony heart is melted. (Read the hymn, "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.")
(10) The agape of Christ motivates the believer to live "henceforth" not for self, but unto the One who died thus for us (2 Cor. 5:14, 15). No end to sacrifices gladly borne! It's the only remedy for self-love.
(11) That means a totally new motivation that replaces the popular fear or hope-of-reward motivation.
(12) Which means living now under the new covenant.
(13) This is the essence of "the everlasting gospel" of Rev. 14:6-12 and 18:1-4. Human hearts "receive the atonement," that is, total reconciliation with God (Rom. 5:11).
(14) And you can't be "reconciled to God" and not at the same time be reconciled to His holy law.
(15) So, at last one lives a life of true obedience to all of His commandments (Rev. 14:12).
Does this make sense?
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: April 10, 2001.Copyright © 2010 by Robert J. Wieland.
Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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Please forward these messages to your friends and encourage them to subscribe. The "Dial Daily Bread" Web site resides at: http://1888message.org/dailybread/
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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.
Someone wrote asking for "a clear definition of faith and of 'agape' also." This was my answer:
(1) Agape is a different kind of love than any we know by nature. It never comes through the DNA; we're never born with it. One exception: Jesus, for "God is agape (1 John 4:8, and He was God in human flesh).
(2) It must be installed in the human heart like a radio is installed in a car (see Rom. 5:5).
(3) It's a love that is eternal, not fragile like our loves (1 Cor. 13:8).
(4) It's the love that would prefer to go to hell and be lost forever rather than let us perish (Heb. 2:9; that "death" He "tasted" is the second one; Rev. 2:11).
(5) The death that Christ died was the death under the "curse of God" (Gal. 3:13; compare Deut. 21:22, 23; that's why the Sanhedrin wanted Pilate to crucify Him, not merely stab Him with a sword or cut His head off).
(6) Therefore hell is the measure of agape; that's how far it went to save us.
(7) Popular "Christianity" cannot grasp this for they believe in natural immortality.
(8) Therefore God gives us a special mission: to proclaim what happened on the cross.
(9) When an honest heart "comprehends" this (see Eph. 3:14-21), one is moved by it, he appreciates what it cost the Son of God to save us. That heart-appreciation is the New Testament definition of faith (see Gal. 5:6; Luke 7:50). The stony heart is melted. (Read the hymn, "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.")
(10) The agape of Christ motivates the believer to live "henceforth" not for self, but unto the One who died thus for us (2 Cor. 5:14, 15). No end to sacrifices gladly borne! It's the only remedy for self-love.
(11) That means a totally new motivation that replaces the popular fear or hope-of-reward motivation.
(12) Which means living now under the new covenant.
(13) This is the essence of "the everlasting gospel" of Rev. 14:6-12 and 18:1-4. Human hearts "receive the atonement," that is, total reconciliation with God (Rom. 5:11).
(14) And you can't be "reconciled to God" and not at the same time be reconciled to His holy law.
(15) So, at last one lives a life of true obedience to all of His commandments (Rev. 14:12).
Does this make sense?
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: April 10, 2001.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/dailybread/
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.
