Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"
A so-called "gospel" without Good News is a counterfeit. The recurring theme of the apostles' message is "glad tidings" (see Acts 13:32-34). This gave people no false assurance of trusting to their personal experience. The burden of their message was how faithful God is (see Rom. 8:26-39).
Our problem is our alienation from God due to our guilt and distorted view of His character. Troubles and disappointments arouse bad feelings. Why doesn't He do more to help us? Paul pleaded, "Be reconciled to God," believe the truth about His character, let the blood of Christ wash you clean, and let your enmity be healed and your guilt taken away (2 Cor. 5:20). Then faith can go to work, producing mighty works of righteousness in the life.
Now it is time to "come boldly to the throne of grace," where we are sure to find grace to help in time of need, because that need is felt by our Savior (see Heb. 4:14-16). The same temptation that presses you touches Him. His wounds are ever fresh, and He ever lives to make intercession for you.
No matter how much Satan may war against us, assaulting us where the flesh is weakest, we may abide under the shadow of the Almighty, and be filled with the fullness of God's strength.
Why is it that the sun does not slip out of its place? The powerful word of the Savior holds the sun there, and causes it to go on in its course. And that same power holds up the believer in Jesus.
Thus the gospel emphasis is not on what we must do in order to be saved, but on what we must believe. And what must we believe? Always, Good News.
--Robert J. Wieland
Excerpted from: Powerful Good News, by Robert J. Wieland.
