Daily Bread: November 2013

Friday, November 29, 2013

The Grand Hero of the Book of Revelation

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

The grand Hero of the Book of Revelation is not the BEAST, or the DRAGON, or the SERPENT, although all three figure prominently. No, its real Hero is "the Lamb" mentioned more than 25 times. He is described in "the law of first mention" as "a Lamb as it had been slain," to whom at last "every creature ... in heaven and on the earth" will sing, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain ..." (5:6, 13, 12).

With consummate dramatic skill John identifies "the Lamb" only as "the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David" (vs. 5). Not until chapter 11 does the author let an identification slip through--He is "our Lord [who] was crucified" (vs. 8). And not until verse 15 (midpoint in the Book of Revelation) does John relax the intensity of his drama and permit "the seventh angel" finally to disclose whom the "Lamb" is--"Christ." No playwright has ever captured dramatic intensity as John has.

The reader glimpses heaven and earth all breathless in anxiety as "no man in heaven, nor in earth ... was able to open the book" containing the destiny of the universe. John himself "wept much," crying uncontrollably (have you, ever? 5:1-4). Finally a voice says, don't cry; we've found someone who can "open the book," "the Lion of the tribe of Judah." John strains his eyes to see this magnificent King walk on stage, and then, lo, he sees only a bloody, mangled "Lamb."

Thus in Revelation the Holy Spirit calls the attention of Christ's world church to the Savior's sacrifice on His cross. It's time to wake up and look. The light that will eventually "lighten the earth with glory" will be a revelation of the "breadth, and length, and depth, and height" of the agape-love displayed by the Lamb at His cross, motivating every honest heart to total gratitude and dedication to Him, forever annihilating lukewarmness.

We can be sure of one thing: at this time "the SERPENT [will] cast out of his mouth ... a flood" of falsehood intended to disparage what the Lamb accomplished by His sacrifice, so the enemy can lock in forever our half-hearted lukewarmness (cf. 12:15). Behind the scenes, here is "the great controversy between Christ and Satan."

Can lukewarmness ever be healed? Satan says, No. What do you say?

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: December 3, 2000.

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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.

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Thankfulness--A Gift of God's Grace

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

There are many people who sincerely don't know what to be thankful for. For example, someone on Death Row facing certain execution. How could he exercise "thanksgiving"? Or someone diagnosed with terminal cancer? Or had a crippling stroke. Or suffered a severe accident? Or suffered a bereavement? There are so many tragedies. Can one always be thankful?

Take the person on Death Row: he or she can be deeply thankful for even a little more opportunity to open the heart to receive the grace of a Saviour. He can be thankful that his Saviour also suffered execution on His "death row," that line of three crosses. The believer's eternal life begins here and now. If you "die in the Lord" (Rev. 14:13) you have everything. Yes, celebrate "thanksgiving."

Fatal illness? You have Psalm 41, the promise that the Lord will "strengthen you upon the bed of languishing, and make your bed in your sickness" and you can pray, "Lord, be merciful unto me, and heal my soul" (vss. 3, 4). In other words, He will be closer to you than a full time R.N. on duty 24 hours every day.

Bereavement? You can remember that "Jesus wept" at a funeral, and weeps with you (John 11:35). One of His express promises is, "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you" (see John 14:18). Even in your tears you can be thankful. This will be especially dear to you in bereavement if you have consistently placed Jesus first in your life, closer even than your dearest loved one (marriage can be very dangerous if you idolize some human being "before Me," says the Lord, Ex. 20:3).

"Having food and raiment, let us therewith be content," says Paul (1 Tim. 6:8). Jeremiah's secretary, Baruch, was thankful in the disastrous fall of Jerusalem and the Captivity, that he had his life promised him "for a prey" wherever he might go (Jer. 45:5). When God's people suffered unutterably catastrophe, Jeremiah reminded them, "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed. ... Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord" (Lam. 3:22, 40).

Even the ability to feel thankful is a gift of God's grace. You learn it by reading the Bible; by acquainting yourself with the reality that the Holy Spirit wants to impress upon you. It's no joke and it's no impossibility, "In everything give thanks" (1 Thess. 5:18). If you understand the story of the cross, you'll find thanksgiving welling up in your heart forever!

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: November 29, 1999.

Monday, November 25, 2013

"Dry Bones"--Don't Overlook Ezekiel's Lesson

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Talk about vivid, intensely interesting language! The Bible tops all books.

Ezekiel tells how God showed him Israel as a valley filled with dry bones, "bleached by the sun,"--a vast panorama of spiritual death. Then He asked the prophet a simple question: "'Can these bones live?' I said, 'Master God, only you know that.'" It was a representation of the spiritual state of God's true church then. The primary focus of the vision is not the physical "first resurrection" and the "new earth," although that can be one application. But no one who is spiritually dead now will have a chance of coming up in the "first resurrection." It's NOW that we must experience a living conversion.

According to what Christ says in Revelation 3:14-21 of His true church in these last days, "the valley of dry bones," is disturbing. It's not ancient history.

Ezekiel could have prayed for those "dry bones" 24 hours a day for a century (endless prayer meetings!), and nothing would have happened. (Some churches fast and pray and still nothing happens to change their spiritual death.) Now note: several times in Ezekiel 37:4-12 (Peterson,The Message), the Lord told the prophet what to do: "prophesy upon these bones"--and he did. God wasn't about to resurrect them unilaterally; He demanded the prophet's help. Even the final "breath" that entered them was the fruit of Ezekiel's "prophesying" (vs. 10). They must have "the everlasting gospel." The "dry bones" must be fed with the Word.

Is your church "dead"? The children being starved? The youth? Yes--pray; but don't overlook Ezekiel's lesson--nothing will work except the proclamation of "the everlasting gospel," "the third angel's message in verity," the Word of the cross (Rev. 14:6-15). That will make the bones "live." Yes!

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: June 21, 2002.

Saturday, November 23, 2013

Questions for Jesus--Will He Respond?

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Is it possible to e-mail Jesus, to send Him a question and get an answer back?

Some will probably say "No," implying that He's too busy running the universe to bother with little e-mail messages from everyone here and there. But it seems to me that what Jesus said in the Bible indicates that the answer has to be Yes. Not that you will use Yahoo or Gmail, but if you wish to ask Jesus a question, and you are willing to think it out reasonably and you are serious as you ask it, He has promised to respond. "Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you"; all this He says (see Matt. 7:7). Sounds encouraging! But again, be serious; no fooling around thoughtlessly.

The problem is not getting His attention; the problem is getting your attention when it comes to His response. If you are playing around childishly, "let not that person think that he shall receive anything of the Lord" (James 1:7). But if you mean business, He has promised that the Holy Spirit will be sent to you as a "Comforter," the word meaning literally "One who is called to sit down beside you and never leave you" (John 14:16). And His assignment from Jesus includes answering your questions: "When He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth. ... He shall receive of Mine, and shall show it unto you" (16:13, 14).

But let us remember that God has promised specifically that He will answer our questions by directing our attention to what He says in His Word, the Bible. He will not bypass the prophets and apostles whom He sent. The Holy Spirit will direct you to the Bible; He will enlighten your mind to comprehend what it says. For example, suppose you want to send Jesus this e-mail: "Jesus, please tell me--will I be saved eternally or will I be lost?" He will answer: "Our Saviour ... will have all persons to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim. 2:3, 4). "He hath chosen [you] in Him before the foundation of the world, that [you] should be holy and without blame before Him in love [agape]: having predestined [you] unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself" (Eph. 1:4, 5).

There's your answer; but now what will you do with it? Are you willing to "come unto the knowledge of the truth," willing to study and learn? Are you also willing to be "holy and without blame"? Takes effort!

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: January 8, 2000.

Be sure to check your e-mail for "Dial Daily Bread" again tomorrow.
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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.

Thursday, November 21, 2013

There's a Final Exam Coming

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Almost all Christian churches talk about the second coming of Christ, and the possibility of the imminent end of the world. It does make good sense to talk about preparing for such an event. Can we apply good sense to preparing for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ?

There are many pastors and theologians who tell us that there is no special preparation--just live a good life and do the best you can and you'll be ready either to die or to meet Jesus and be translated when He comes.

But even youth can see that there is something special involved: there is a final exam coming, a great test that Revelation 13 says is "the mark of the beast" that in one final issue will divide the sheep from the goats forever. The "mark of the beast" will involve "great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect" (Matt. 24:24).

Never in history have God's people met such a test! Jesus said, "Ye shall be hated of all nations for My name's sake and then shall many be offended and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another" (vss. 9, 10). In other words, many who now profess to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus will then turn traitor and accept the mark of the beast. And Paul sobers us even more when he warns us, "Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall" (1 Cor. 10:12). Peter was cocksure he would never "fall," but a girl in or barely out of her teens overthrew him.

The Good News is that there is an alternative to the mark of the beast: the seal of God (Rev. 7:1-4). That involves a special work of purification of the heart: "When [Christ] shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure" (1 John 3:2, 3). On this great cosmic Day of Atonement, that precisely is the work of the great High Priest. Don't stop Him, don't resist Him. Cooperate with Him!

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: August 31, 1998.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

A Saviour Who Truly "Blots Outs All Our Iniquities"

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Suppose someone was spending millions of dollars to hire prosecuting attorneys to pursue you relentlessly, trying to expose publicly every moral misstep or misstatement in your life. I think you would join me in praying to God as did David, "Blot out all mine iniquities" (Psalm 51:9). Wouldn't it be wonderful if the prosecuting sleuths couldn't find even one thing wrong?

We know we all have a skeleton of some kind in our closets. Romans 3:10 says, "there is none righteous, no, not one." We all want vindication in a judgment. And we must all face an eventual judgment for we read in 2 Corinthians 5:10: "We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." The word "receive" means full exposure. The sweet unconsciousness of a sudden martyr's death by a bullet (such as Lincoln and Kennedy suffered) would be more desirable compared to the agony of a protracted public humiliation of one's nakedness with no merciful covering.

We must remember that appearing before "the judgment seat of Christ" does not mean that Hewants to expose us to humiliation. He has promised that He will not embarrass those who will be lost--their own record will condemn them (see John 12:47, 48); and in that judgment He will vindicate those who believe in Him (vs. 47; John 3:16-19).

Thank God for a Saviour who does truly "blot out all our iniquities"! It was He who endured the public hellish humiliation of our nakedness. Gratitude and appreciation will motivate us "henceforth" to live for Him (2 Cor. 5:14, 15).

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: August 6, 1998.

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Did Jesus Praise Anybody?

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

When He was among us personally, did Jesus praise anybody? In His parables, yes, He represented the Lord as saying "Well done, good and faithful servant" to some people, but do we have a record that He actually said that to any human among His contemporaries? He said something nice about the poor lady who gave her "two mites" to the offering in the Temple, that she had "cast in more than they all" because "she ... hath cast in all the living that she had" (Luke 21:2-4). But He said this behind her back, as it were. He told Peter that he was "blessed" because he boldly confessed his faith that Jesus is the "Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matt. 16:16, 17). But He seemed very reticent to praise people lest they become vain. That was love!

A notable exception seems to be Mary Magdalene. In her presence, He defended her before Simon and the disciples saying, "She has done a good work for Me," the word in the original meaning "exquisite" (Mark 14:6). He also said, "She has done what she could" (vs. 8). A classic understatement, for it meant that she had done all she could. He had declared that she had "faith," for it had saved her (Luke 7:50); now He added this, that her faith had "worked" to the nth degree, being a picture for us of what Paul meant in Galatians 5:6 about "faith working through love." Faith is not genuine unless it does "work." A battery is dead unless it sparks.

The final judgment (that we have all dreaded) is not whether we have a "battery," but whether it's alive. God has given to every one "the measure of faith" (Rom. 12:3); that's not the last question--but, is that faith alive and working? Cross the poles of a live battery and it will almost knock you down, even though a dead battery looks exactly the same as a live one.

So let's not waste good breath praying, "Lord, give me some faith!" because He already has given it. And it's probably a waste of breath praying Him to charge our "battery" unless we "plug it in." The Lord is a wonderful Savior, but we must cooperate with Him; there is something sensible we must do.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: June 25, 2004.

Monday, November 18, 2013

The Special Work Christ Is Doing Today

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

It's a stupendous truth that most of the world still knows almost nothing about. It concerns what Jesus Christ is doing today. Most people have a vague idea that He is doing nothing--He finished His job here 2000 years ago and now He is resting up. But the Bible pictures Him as working intensely in His job as "great High Priest" who "ever lives to make intercession" for every person who believes in Him (Heb. 7:25).

"Intercession" is hard work, not to convince an unwilling Father to be nice to us (that's totally unnecessary, He already is nice to us), and not to convince the devil to back off (he can't be convinced)--but to convince us of His love and faithfulness. You say, "I'm already convinced! I don't need such 'intercession!'" Well, are you sure? Do you know your own heart? Suppose the Book of Job becomes re-written in your life's experience: you suffer a series of misfortunes that are inexplicable (in more people's lives than you think this is happening!). Suppose disaster after disaster befalls you--are you sure you won't need some "intercession" to convince you of God's love and faithfulness?

Suppose the dear Holy Spirit convinces you of a deeper layer of sin and selfishness than you had thought was in your heart, the sense of guilt gets deeper, are you sure that your confidence in God's love and faithfulness will not need some of that "intercession"? Peter was so sure of himself, so sure he didn't need any "intercession" from Jesus; he would NEVER deny his Lord.

The idea that Christ must plead with the Father to be nice to us is in reality of pagan origin. No people in all past history will need that faithful "intercession" so much as will those who will live through the final scenes of trouble that are coming on the world just prior to Christ's return. This calls for a clearer understanding of the gospel as Good News than has been appreciated by a body of believers in past history. This will be a final experience of reconciliation with God that Paul speaks of as "the atonement" (Rom. 5:11, KJV). This is the special work Christ is doing today as our great High Priest--in human hearts all around the world who are watching and listening and seeking. It is a term synonymous with the "latter rain" outpouring of the Holy Spirit, an enriching and maturing experience.

It's Good News that the High Priest (Jesus) does this work; we let Him do it. We stop "resisting Him in His office work." But there's also a solemn downside in the news: this blessing may be received by hearts all around us and we remain ignorant of what is going on.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: March 16, 2000.

Saturday, November 16, 2013

The Only News the Lord Has for Us Is Good News

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

It sounds crazy, and it was: the nation was perishing, and the one man who knew how to save it was hated and despised, and the leaders were trying to silence him: It's the story of Jeremiah the prophet.

The people were the nation of Israel, at the time--God's true people whom He had chosen to be His "peculiar treasure," the head and not the tail of all the nations of the world.

Israel was the corporate "girl" whom the Man, the Son of God, had fallen in love with. Ezekiel 16 is a vivid chapter describing His love for "her" even in her helplessness at her birth, how He "saved" her in the wilderness, washed her, tended to her in her babyhood, watched her grow into the beautiful "girl" she became, how He arrayed her in fine clothes and how she became the most beautiful "woman" in all the world. "You were adorned with gold and silver, and clothed with linen, fine linen and brocade. ... You became a great beauty and rose to be a queen. Your beauty was famed throughout the world; it was perfect because of the spendour I bestowed on you. ...

"Relying on your beauty and exploiting your fame, you played the harlot and offered yourself freely to every passer-by. ... You committed fornication with your lustful neighbours, the Egyptians, and provoked Me to anger by your repeated harlotry" (vss. 13ff, REB).

It's the story of the nation of ancient Israel. It's also the story of each of us personally.

Each of us "has" nothing that the Lord has not given us in our personal poverty of vigor. Visit the nursing homes and see the elderly people in their wheelchairs; they were at one time handsome youth and beautiful girls.

If we didn't know how then, we can learn now, wherever we are in life: we can apply our hearts to understand Romans 12:3: the Lord gave His apostle Paul "grace" to remind each of us "not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith" (NKJV). Yes, you have faith!

The earlier in life we can appreciate this lesson the happier we will be; but it is never too late to learn the precious lesson--even in one's last moments a deep repentance can take place.

The only news the Lord has for each one of us at any time in our life is good news.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: April 17, 2008.

Friday, November 15, 2013

The Only News the Lord Has for Us Is Good News

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

The people were the nation of Israel, at the time--God's true people whom He had chosen to be His "peculiar treasure," the head and not the tail of all the nations of the world.

It's the story of the nation of ancient Israel. It's also the story of each of us personally.

The earlier in life we can appreciate this lesson the happier we will be; but it is never too late to learn the precious lesson--even in one's last moments a deep repentance can take place.

The only news the Lord has for each one of us at any time in our life is good news.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: April 17, 2008.

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Jesus' Job Description--Save the Lost World

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Who is Jesus Christ? The glib, thoughtless answer: "The Son of God." Yes, 100% true. But more:

He is also "The Son of man." The Father "sent" His Son in "the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh" (Rom. 8:3). He became One of us, eternally to bear our human nature as well as His divine nature. That also is 100% true. But what has He accomplished by this great condescension and sacrifice?

Jesus' job description, when the Father sent Him down to this dark world, was: save that lost world! He told His Father that He had "finished the work You gave Me to do" (John 17:4); yet why is the world more sinful than ever?

Christ did His work; He did "save the world." The grace of God has abounded "much more" than all the sin in the world (Rom. 5:20, 21); but people have "frustrated" that grace (see Gal. 2:21). They don't appreciate the cross where that grace was displayed. What has gone wrong?

The answer: something that popular Christianity seems unable to grasp. Even the seventh of those great churches of history ("Laodicea") reacts to the cross in a lackadaisical, careless way, "lukewarm" (Rev. 3:14-21). There is a little Greek word in the Lord's message that doesn't get through in any of the English translations--"ho," which makes Jesus say, "Of all the seven churches of history, you are the one outstandingly wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked" (vs. 17).

Both "Babylon" and Laodicea fail to grasp that Jesus died the second death of every person who has ever been born: "He by the grace of God tasted [the second] death for every person" (Heb. 2:9). Not just our "sleep." The sacrifice on the cross was infinitely greater than "we" have been able to "see." The teaching of natural immortality is the bottom-line factor that makes distortion of truth possible; it says Jesus didn't truly die the real thing, our wages of sin--death! Thus He didn't "pay it all."

No wonder the general response has been so lukewarm!

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: June 27, 2007.

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.

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

The Bible Truth of God's Cosmic Day of Atonement

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

The Bible mercifully does not teach an eternally burning hell where lost humans writhe in conscious torment. If you and I were safe in God's New Jerusalem, how could we be happy knowing that these people were in such agony? If we were loving people, we'd be in hell with them just through being compassionate! In truth, the whole universe would be hell itself--there couldn't be a spot free of the horrible plague of anguish felt by everyone.

We'd be utterly hard-hearted if we encased ourselves in isolation and forgot about them while reveling in self-centered "heavenly" enjoyment. Modern electronics makes us conscious of the world's agony today. Many people are virtually in a hell already, like that in which King David found himself after his double sin of sexual adultery and murder. The heart-pain was lethal: "Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God" (Psalm 51:14). "My bones grew old through my groaning all the day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me." "Out of the depths I have cried to you, O Lord" (32:3, 4; 130:1, NKJV).

In Christ, God has become one of us in bearing this same "blood guiltiness," for on His cross Christ was "made to be sin for us, who knew no sin" (2 Cor. 5:21). Our modern electronic age which has made us sensitive to the horror of so many people is concomitant with the Bible truth of God's cosmic Day of Atonement. That's when "the hour of His judgment is come," when the "seventh angel sounds" his trumpet (Rev. 14:7; 11:15). God feels all this agony of hell; but now we look into His sanctuary and feel for ourselves at least a little of what God feels.

The closer we come to Him (or rather, the closer we allow Him to come to us!) the more we are in sympathy with Him, and thus with our fellow men who suffer. It's a sin to live on this Day of Atonement while denying this closer fellowship with Him and with others.

But just sharing His agony is not good enough; sharing the joy of His salvation (what guilt-ridden David prayed for in Psalm 51) becomes ours, too. That means: from now on our very life is understanding and sharing that special "truth of the gospel" that comes with this grand Day of Atonement! Now we also share the Savior's joy in telling His Good News!

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: January 9, 2006.

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

The Samaritans Were Right--Jesus Has Saved the World

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

The Samaritans were right--Jesus has saved the world. "They said to the woman, 'Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world'" (John 4:42). But they were not believing the falsehood of Universalism--the false doctrine that everybody will eventually be saved. They knew that "all men" will not open their hearts to receive Him. Those who reject Jesus reject a real flesh-and-blood Savior, not merely a potential, maybe, perhaps, "would-like-to-be" Savior.

Yet how can it be that Jesus is "the Savior of the world" and yet most people do not receive Him?

There will come a "Great White Throne" at the end of the 1000 years of Revelation 20, before which will be gathered all the lost souls from all time; they will be facing what the Bible calls "the second death," the death from final judgment (Rev. 20:11-15). The great book of record will be opened; every lost person will see his own life-record, his heart opened fully to his own view and the view of the universe in judgment; it will be realistic. They will all at last see everything as it really has been.

They will see that the sin they have life-long selfishly indulged is in reality a re-crucifixion of Christ. The One who sits on the throne is the Savior Himself; each one of the lost will look in His eyes and realize too late that He was always their Best Friend, and yet their sin they clung to was the same as that of those who 2000 years ago cried out: "Crucify Him!" (A wise writer says that the lost will at that time "welcome destruction" that they might be hidden from His face, The Great Controversy, p. 543.)

How much better will it be if we realize that truth today, when we can do something about it? You and I may try to evade the truth and say, we could never do that! But don't let yourself be proud; wait on your knees, alone with the Father, in prayer; ask Him to please tell you the truth about yourself. Let me assure you--He will NEVER discourage you, or condemn you! He will tell the truth, yes, but at the same time the truth will include the conviction of the Savior's love (agape), the love that died your "second death." "We see Jesus ... crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, should taste death for everyone" (Heb. 2:9); that was the second death, and "everyone" is you.

People who want to be saved eternally appreciate what He did; the lost do not, like Esau who "despised" and "sold" his birthright (Gen. 25:33, 34; Heb. 12:17). He never stopped crying thereafter.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: June 10, 2008.

Monday, November 11, 2013

Did Christ Save the Human Race?

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

What did Christ accomplish on His cross? He said He had come to save the world, and He told His Father before He died that He had done it (John 12:48; 17:4).

If what Christ accomplished by His sacrifice was only an offer that is ineffective unless and until we take the first step in believing, then our salvation depends on our own initiative. But Jesus took the initiative; He redeemed the world before we were born. We simply respond to His initiative. Esau is the Bible example of how the plan of salvation works. If the merely "offer" idea is true, then logically Esau did not HAVE the birthright; he would have had to DO something in order to get it.

Surely the Holy Spirit is leading Christian people worldwide to comprehend what happened on the cross. Only when Christ is "lifted up" there, can He "draw all men" to Himself. That truth will be the essence of the final message that will "lighten the earth with glory" (John 12:32; Rev. 18:1-4).

What does the Bible say? (a) Christ reversed the "condemnation" that Adam by his sin brought on the human race; (b) He gave the "gift" (KJV) of "justification and life for all men" (Rom. 5:18); (c) He gave the world this "gift by grace" (vss. 15, 16); (d) yes, the same "all" who sinned were "justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (3:23, 24); (e) yes, He secured for the human race a "judicial … verdict of acquittal" (5:16-18, REB); (f) yes, "the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all" (Isa. 53:6); (g) yes, "we see Jesus ... that He by the grace of God should taste death [the real thing] for every man" (Heb. 2:9); (h) yes, "the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ .. hath made us accepted in the Beloved" (Eph. 1:3-6; a wise writer said that the "us" is the entire human race [The Desire of Ages, p. 113]). (i) Esau already HAD the birthright--he didn't have to do a thing to obtain it; he threw away what had already been given him (Gen. 25:21-34; Heb. 12:17, 18).

Could the Good News be better than many Christian people believe it is? Christ DID save the human race. Don't resist and reject what He has done, and don't be like Esau and throw away what He has given you.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: April 24, 2002.

Saturday, November 09, 2013

Profound Good News in Romans

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Romans tells some News so profoundly Good that we humans can hardly take it in. Even theologians stumble over it, like the builders stumbled over the great stone that was quarried to be the headstone of Solomon's Temple (Matt. 21:42; Psalm 118:22). The problem is what Paul says: Christ became the "last" or Second Adam, reversing the condemnation that the first Adam brought on the entire human race. For "all men" He turned Adam's condemnation into justification, or a legal acquittal. "That News is too Good to be true," some objectors say.

Well, here's what Paul says:

"God's act of grace is out of all proportion to Adam's wrongdoing. For if the wrongdoing of that one man brought death upon so many [Greek, all], its effect is vastly exceeded by the grace of God and the gift that came to so many [Greek, all] by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ. And again, the gift of God is not to be compared in its effect with that one man's sin; for the judicial action, following on the one offence, resulted in a verdict of condemnation, but the act of grace .. resulted in a verdict of acquittal. ... As the result of one misdeed was condemnation for all people, so the result of one righteous act is acquittal and life for all" (5:15-18, REB). The King James Version says, "the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life."

Someone asks, "We need 'justification by faith,' but isn't this 'justification by birth'?" No more than Adam's condemnation comes upon us all "by birth"! Jesus took it all upon Himself, so that His title is, "Saviour of the world" (John 4:42). The same "all [who] have sinned" are "being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 3:23, 24). This is why He sends His rain and sunshine on the just and the unjust alike. It's why we live.

One very wise writer says, "The sinner may resist this love, may refuse; ... but if he does not resist he will be drawn to Jesus; ... to the foot of the cross in repentance." The only reason why Esau was lost is that he "despised" and "sold" the "birthright" that God gave him (Heb. 12:16, 17). Jesus does not merely want to be your Saviour; He is. Stop resisting Him.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: April 16, 2003.