Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"
Christ IS the "Savior of the world" (John 4:42), which means that He has given Himself to be your Savior even if you feel so sinful that you don't deserve to have Him. It was "before the foundation of the world" that the Father did so, "chose" you, "predestined [you] to adoption as [children] by Jesus Christ to Himself, ... made [you] accepted in the Beloved" (Eph. 1:4-6).
But a very sincere question comes up: If we tell people this, won't they simply go on sinning all the more? Won't they say, "God is taking me to heaven with all my sins, so what's the point in obedience to His law? 'Soul, ... take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry' (Luke 12:19)"? If we tell people such "good news" as Ephesians and Romans seem to tell us, aren't we defeating the purpose of all evangelism preaching? Shouldn't we arouse people to DO something about their soul's salvation?
If craven fear is the motive we are seeking to arouse, our preaching is Old Covenant in nature, in spite of all the bright lights and pictures we may use. We'll get "results" that look nice on paper, the photos will be impressive.
If we tell people what Christ actually accomplished on His cross, the message will zero in precisely to the inner heart of every honest soul who listens. Fear will not be the basic motivation aroused; "the love of Christ constrains." There is a mighty power in that love that does what all the preachers in the world are powerless of themselves to do--truthfully presented it motivates the sinful heart of man to renounce self to be crucified with Christ.
When the sinner finally knows what to believe, he can't help but "judge ... that if One died for all, then all died." The logic appeals. He sees that he would be dead at this moment (in a second death) if that "One" had not died for him; therefore as surely as day follows night, he will refuse "[henceforth to live for himself], but for Him who died for [him] and rose again" (2 Cor. 5:14, 15).
It's an idea that will prepare a people for the second coming of Christ. You can't get closer to Him than to be crucified with Him.
--Robert J. Wieland
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: February 18, 2007.
Copyright © 2013 by "Dial Daily Bread."
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