Dial Daily Bread: Understanding What the Son of God Has Accomplished For Us

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Exuberance and joy are the way we live when we understand what the Son of God has accomplished for us; in other words, when we grasp the "truth of the gospel" (Gal. 2:5): "The death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, ... but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead" (Rom. 6:10-13; "dead" equals the second death).

How joyous we are when we realize that we've been delivered from some disaster. The more clearly you realize how you've escaped disaster through the merciful intervention of the Lord, the more ready you are to consecrate your all to Him. Now, "our beloved brother Paul" (cf. 2 Peter 3:15) is reminding us here that we have escaped hell, the second death. The fact that you live proves that. In such joy, "present yourselves to God." You will hold nothing back.

I read somewhere in an old, old book that every newborn baby is in fact "resurrected" as from eternal death--by virtue of Christ's giving of Himself. That's what He means when He says, "The bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. ... The bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world" (John 6:33, 51). That's gospel truth. The newborn baby doesn't realize it; many go all the way through life into old age and never realize it. Sometimes it may be because no one told them "the truth of the gospel."

Where is all this supposed pain, sorrow, and sacrifice in giving ourselves to the Lord Jesus instead of to the world?

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: August 21, 2006.
Copyright © 2015 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: A Little Book the Lord Knew We Would Need

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

It's a tiny little book tucked away in the Old Testament with a title that is actually rather forbidding: "The Lamentations of Jeremiah." Few ever read it, but it's good bedtime reading, full of encouragement and comfort.

Israel had just suffered the most awful devastation, and the Lord Himself had permitted it! The sufferings of Israel and Jerusalem would have significance for the church down to the end of time. We today are not genetically better people than the Israelites of Jeremiah's time; and we need to realize our need of repentance. The Israelites were tempted to think of the Lord as their "enemy," and when everything seems to go against us today we are tempted likewise; but He pities us and loves us.

Chapter three is in poetry: "Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness" (vss. 22, 23).

"Our beloved brother Paul" (cf. 2 Peter 3:15) tells us that our "carnal mind is enmity against God" (Rom. 8:7). Don't run out the door in discouragement: the truth never hurts when it's "in Christ." Yes, all the evil apostasy that ancient Israel exemplified in Jeremiah's day could be ours today, but for the grace of Christ, our Savior. If He were to relax His hold on us, we could repeat the apostasy of Jeremiah's day.

The Lord knew that we would need this little book. Therefore, in great thanksgiving of heart let us say with Jeremiah, "Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed; Great is Your faithfulness," O Lord!

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: March 20, 2009.

Copyright © 2015 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: Psalm 91's Anti-terrorism Promises

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Depending on how you count them, in Psalm 91 there are nineteen firm promises to save you from terrorism. With people angry all over the world, the threat of terrorism looms over our future. But the final terror, says Revelation, will come from apostate Christianity in the invention and enforcement of the "mark of the beast" (13:11-17). This chapter has been "unrolling" before our very eyes.

Psalm 91 becomes very precious, but is it fair that just anyone can claim these anti-terrorism promises? One of them reads, "Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked" (vs. 8). This might not be so bad, but what we really don't want to "look and see" is the innocent also suffering the horrors that Psalm 91 describes. Surely there must be some reasonable conditions laid down in this Psalm:

(1) It's "he who dwells in the secret place of the Most High" (vs. 1) who can claim these promises. The idea of "dwell" is similar to Jesus' idea of, "if you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you shall ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you" (John 15:7).

(2) "Because you have made the Lord ... your habitation" (Psalm 91:9). Same idea; you habitually abide in the Lord, not just 10 minutes a day. As with Paul, "For to me, to live is Christ" (Phil. 1:21).

(3) "Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him" (Psalm 91:14). Makes sense; you have given your heart to Him--not motivated by fear in an emergency, but constant, steady abiding in Him. Yes, you have learned to love prayer and reading the Word.

(4) "He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him" (vs. 15). You're in the habit of doing just that--praying continually.

Thank God, it's not too late to start "dwelling" and "abiding."

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: March 23, 2003.

Copyright © 2015 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: God Grant Us to Think and Feel as Jesus Does

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Jesus has never forgotten that He identified Himself with humanity. If there is war, according to Isaiah 63:9, in all the "affliction" multitudes will suffer, and Jesus will "identify." "In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them."

How does Jesus look upon this world with violent acts of terrorism taking place in various parts of the world? How does He look upon those who believe in Him scattered in "every nation, kindred, tongue, and people"? Or upon those who don't yet know how to believe in Him?

Well, "the Angel of His Presence [will] save them." He promises that "Bread will be given him, his water will be sure" (Isa 33:16). Likewise, when the world was crumbling around him, God promised the faithful Baruch: "'Do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold I will bring adversity on all flesh,' says the Lord. 'But I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go'" (Jer. 45:5). Something to be profoundly thankful for if we can humble ourselves to understand the truth as it is today.

When He was with us in the flesh, Jesus said, "The Son of Man has no where to lay His head" (Matt. 8:20). If we will "see" what the New Testament apostles sensed, we will "identify" with Him today. Share His concern for human suffering. Never eat a meal without a prayer for those who are hungry. Be thankful for a warm bath, a drink of clean water.

Most of all, fulfill His anointing "to preach good tidings [the gospel] to the poor; … to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives" (Isa. 61:1). Yes, go "about doing good and healing all who [are] oppressed by the devil" (Acts 10:38). Whatever comes, God grant us to think and feel as Jesus does, to be one with Him, to cooperate, to identify.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: October 27, 2002.

Copyright © 2015 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: A Key We Need to Discover

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

We're told to love our enemies (Luke 6:35), but how can we love someone who is difficult, and unpleasant to be around? Maybe a better way to ask the question is, How can we learn to like such a person? Or does God expect us to?

We don't want empty pretense. Acting nice to someone's face when deep inside you dislike the person isn't being like Jesus.

A good example is Mary Magdalene--possessed by "seven devils" (Mark 16:9). We know that Jesus understood the secret irritant that she had experienced. Therefore He knew that her being mean and bitter was not what she really wanted to be deep down. In fact, she had lost control and was actually saying and doing things that she herself detested. That's what it means to be "possessed." The devil--no, seven devils--had made her a captive.

You probably would have a hard time finding anyone more difficult to be near than Mary Magdalene. When Jesus met her, He understood that someone had treated her unfairly, had driven her to desperation, and had overwhelmed her with the temptation to be resentful, which she could not handle. Jesus actually put Himself in her place (that's what He has done for each of us). In fact, when He had been baptized by John the Baptist He truly took our guilt upon Himself, took the experience of repentance in our behalf.

In this simple process of becoming one of us, Jesus found the key to unlock Mary's prison door. And in so doing He transformed her into a lovable person! Maybe that's a key we need to discover.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: June 24, 2003.

Copyright © 2015 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Sabbath School Lesson 7 | "The Crisis Continues" | Pastor Paul Penno

Dial Daily Bread: How Jesus Wins Sin-alienated Hearts

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

A five-times divorcee with a heart like stone comes casually, flippantly, to Jacob's ancient well. Casting only a side glance at the Jewish Stranger, she makes sure she won't notice Him.

But He notices her. Tired, hot, and thirsty as He is from His long journey, He does not sit in silence; He is ready to win a soul. He knows precisely the right way to arouse this worldly person whose prejudice has already closed all doors--she thinks. And look what happens: in the space of a few minutes she is in tears, her cold heart melted, ready to receive joyous Good News and start a genuine new life as a missionary.

How can Jesus have such phenomenal, insightful power to win sin-alienated hearts? We can answer, "He was divine, and had something we don't have!" But He tells us, "Greater works than these [you] will do also, because I go to My Father" (John 14:12). We have come to the time when those "greater works" must be done.

Jesus wants a soul-winning evangelism explosion that will outdo anything our denominational committees have dreamed of: a worldwide network of humble church members as at the well of Sychar. His secret? We suggest: He had experienced corporate repentance.

Without approving of the lady's sins, He understands the inner pain of her beaten-down heart and thus has found an avenue of entrance, touching a chord of music that has been silent even through four or five marriages.

But was it really mysterious, what Jesus knew? Or can we learn from Him? Yes! If we will humble our proud hearts, to follow Jesus!

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: September 28, 1997.

Copyright © 2015 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: Faith and Works--A 50/50 Deal?

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Conservative Christians for hundreds of years have discussed (even argued) the relationship between faith and works. Their favorite word used to describe it is "balance." The popular idea is that one must hold faith and works in "balance." If you talk about faith for ten minutes then you must also talk about works for ten minutes. However, a check of the concordance reveals that nowhere in the Bible is the word "balance" used to describe this relationship. In inspired writings, there is practically nothing to suggest the use of that word as being appropriate.

Scripture and inspired writings are clear "beyond question" that salvation is totally by grace through faith, and Paul even goes out of his way to add, "Not of works, lest anyone should boast" (Eph. 2:8, 9). The "balance" idea strongly suggests that salvation is by faith and by works, a 50/50 deal. Which if true, would certainly give the saved ones something to boast about: "yes, Jesus saved me, but look, I did my part too!"

One popular little book is entitled Faith And Works, the title having been added by editors long after the author's death. Yet inside the covers, the original author repeatedly speaks of the correct formula as being "faith which works."

Yes, the Bible is true; there is only one Savior, Jesus; none of us is a co-savior. It's not a 50/50 salvation trip; it's 100% salvation by Christ, received by faith. But the faith is not the "dead faith" that the apostle James decries (James 2:20). A "dead faith" can produce nothing except self-righteousness (which doesn't have a very nice fragrance!). A living faith works; it has to work; it will work; it always works. ("Works" here is a verb and not a noun.)

What is faith? How does the Bible define it? It is not a synonym for works! The devil hates the idea of salvation by faith alone, by faith which works. If in any way he can inject into our thinking the idea that faith is itself works, then he has us deceived. John 3:16 has it: "God loved," "God gave," and we "believe." Faith is a human heart response to God's loving and giving. "With the heart one believes to righteousness" (Rom. 10:10). "Beware, ... lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief" (Heb. 3:12).

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: November 6, 2007.

Copyright © 2015 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: Faith and Works--A 50/50 Deal?

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Conservative Christians for hundreds of years have discussed (even argued) the relationship between faith and works. Their favorite word used to describe it is "balance." The popular idea is that one must hold faith and works in "balance." If you talk about faith for ten minutes then you must also talk about works for ten minutes. However, a check of the concordance reveals that nowhere in the Bible is the word "balance" used to describe this relationship. In inspired writings, there is practically nothing to suggest the use of that word as being appropriate.

Scripture and inspired writings are clear "beyond question" that salvation is totally by grace through faith, and Paul even goes out of his way to add, "Not of works, lest anyone should boast" (Eph. 2:8, 9). The "balance" idea strongly suggests that salvation is by faith and by works, a 50/50 deal. Which if true, would certainly give the saved ones something to boast about: "yes, Jesus saved me, but look, I did my part too!"

One popular little book is entitled Faith And Works, the title having been added by editors long after the author's death. Yet inside the covers, the original author repeatedly speaks of the correct formula as being "faith which works."

Yes, the Bible is true; there is only one Savior, Jesus; none of us is a co-savior. It's not a 50/50 salvation trip; it's 100% salvation by Christ, received by faith. But the faith is not the "dead faith" that the apostle James decries (James 2:20). A "dead faith" can produce nothing except self-righteousness (which doesn't have a very nice fragrance!). A living faith works; it has to work; it will work; it always works. ("Works" here is a verb and not a noun.)

What is faith? How does the Bible define it? It is not a synonym for works! The devil hates the idea of salvation by faith alone, by faith which works. If in any way he can inject into our thinking the idea that faith is itself works, then he has us deceived. John 3:16 has it: "God loved," "God gave," and we "believe." Faith is a human heart response to God's loving and giving. "With the heart one believes to righteousness" (Rom. 10:10). "Beware, ... lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief" (Heb. 3:12).

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: November 6, 2007.

Copyright © 2015 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: Can We Be Sure That Jesus Is Coming Again?

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

How can we know for sure that Jesus Christ is coming again, in person, literally? Someone says, "The Bible says so!" But different people interpret the Bible in different ways. Many say that the second coming of Christ has been happening all through history in the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and thereafter.

The Bible is a reasonable Book that can be understood using reasonable common sense. Jesus promised, "I will come again" (John 14:3). He promised to come literally and visibly (Matt. 24:23-27). The doctrine of His second coming is taught throughout the New Testament, in harmony and consistency.

Peter says that we are re-living the days that were before the Flood of Noah (2 Peter 3:3-14). The people in Noah's day said that it had never rained as yet, so a flood was impossible, and Noah was a foolish man to build a boat on dry land. What evidence did the Holy Spirit give the people that his message was true during those 120 years of his ministry? There were no physical signs like premature scattered rain showers to convince the unbelieving people; the sky was dry until the final storm came.

But there was one deeply convincing evidence that Noah was sent by God: the Holy Spirit gave him an understanding of "righteousness by faith" which he preached (see Heb. 11:7). It was "by faith" that Noah "prepared an ark to the saving of his household" and "condemned the world." God did not condescend to give that "world" any proof other than the gospel message, which Noah was permitted to understand and preach.

We are tempted to look for miraculous physical evidence of the certainty of Christ's return, but none of the unbelieving scientists or evolutionists can account for the miracle of agape-love, the biblical revelation of the character of God in genuine righteousness by faith. God will not "blast" people out of their self-complacency; you hear His "still small voice" speaking in the message of "the everlasting gospel" which the three angels (and a fourth!) proclaim (Rev. 14:6-15; 18:1-4). The clarity and power of this message are beyond doubt!

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: April 17, 2000.

Copyright © 2015 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: Was Jesus a Truly Historical Figure?

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

The question continues to be asked about Jesus: Was He a truly historical figure? Or was He an invention of some overzealous enthusiasts? Was He a simple Jewish rabbi whose students exaggerated Him out of proportion to become a divine person? There are scholars who trust only a tiny fraction of what the New Testament says about Him; they think that "Jesus" is a manufactured product of the Christian church.

But let's ask a few common-sense questions: His early disciples were all Jews whose greatest doctrine was that "God is One." How could the idea of Jesus being the Son of God have ever flourished as it did were it not for the reality that He was the Son of God? And why would disciples conjure up a story in which they all emerged seriously discredited?

The story they allegedly invented says they all forsook Him and fled. One betrayed Him, another denied Him with cursing and swearing, and they frequently deserved rebuke from their Master. They are represented as sometimes doing Satan's work. They all come through the story as being slow-witted and sometimes just plain fools. When in history has a group of men made up such a story about themselves and then been willing to die for its authenticity knowing it was false?

If the disciples wanted to raise a mere man to the level of the Son of God, why would they select one whose death was that of a common criminal executed in the way that unmistakably identified Him as being "cursed of God"? How can one account for this religion spreading like wildfire throughout the Roman Empire, if there was not solid truth underlying all its claims?

We face truths that are as ridiculed now as the claims of Jesus have been throughout history. It can encourage us to rethink the obstacles that the apostles had to meet as they fanned out across the Roman Empire preaching salvation in a crucified Man. We also face obstacles today. But the proclamation of the cross of Christ will vanquish hard-hearted unbelief, as it did over 2000 years ago.

In the solemn events of this cosmic Day of Atonement, the Holy Spirit is ready to bring home to the conscience the reality of the unparalleled love revealed at that cross. And Christ will be honored by the response from honest hearts the world around.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: December 5, 1999.

Copyright © 2015 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: A Sabbath Prayer

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

What does the Bible mean when it says that God gave us the Sabbath as a sign that He sanctifies us? (Ezek. 20:12). It's something He does for us, and in us, Sabbath by Sabbath. Have you ever devoted one to fast and pray, to "wait" before the Lord--a day of personal communicating with Him? Here is a suggested prayer for such a Sabbath.

__________________________

Father in heaven, thank You for inviting me to open my heart to You. And thank You for giving me this day as a special time to learn how You are "sanctifying" me.

Thank You for saving my soul, for giving Your Son to die my second death. Thank You that He did it, that He bore all my iniquities, and has set me free! Thank you for a love that is far greater than my little soul can appreciate--as yet. Please teach my heart to grow in understanding.

As I come to you, I choose to believe two great truths: (1) You are--You are real; and (2) You reward those who come to You by Christ (Heb. 11:6). Yes, I believe; but please "help Thou mine unbelief" (Mark 9:24). You have promised that anyone who prays that prayer can never perish.

I lay out my fears and my problems before You. I choose to wait to "listen" to what the Holy Spirit may speak to me through the avenue of Your Word, the Bible. I choose not to "faint" if You rebuke me (Heb. 12:5-11).

And I thank you in advance that You will pay attention to my prayer, and grant me the peace of heart and the confidence that I long for so much. In Jesus' name, Amen.

__________________________

Such a Sabbath will be memorable in your life. You will begin to learn to know the Lord.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: July 25, 2001.

Copyright © 2015 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: David's "Psalm of Psalms"

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

The Book of Psalms is everybody's favorite devotional reading. Those songs say things to God and about Him that we wish we could say, but we don't dare. They are openly honest, laying bare the very deepest emotions in our hearts. No matter how much we cleverly put on the appearance that "all is well," inside we are wrestling with the same problems David had.

"Why have You forsaken me?" we ask when we are going through our valley of shadows. We read of other people's miraculous answers to prayer, but "O my God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear; and in the night season ..." (22:1, 2). "Our fathers trusted in You; they trusted, and You delivered them. They cried to You, and were delivered; they trusted in You, and were not ashamed. But I ..." And then David says what we don't dare say even though we sometimes feel this way, "But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people" (vss. 4-6).

But the Psalm of Psalms that defies our understanding most is the one (the only one!) that ends in despair--Psalm 88. It says the most painful things about God of any of the Psalms. It's the near-death and near-hell category of prayer. Not the death of some elderly person who might welcome silent rest, but it's the death of a very aware young person whose bitterness is the most distressing because it is the most deeply felt: "Loved one and friend, You have put far from me, and my acquaintances into darkness" (vs. 18). (Teenagers need to read the Psalms; they are one of the groups most prone to depression today.)

David has put into words of prayer thoughts that seethe beneath the surface in hearts: "Lord, You are to blame for my divorce! You turned this person against me when he or she had told me, 'I love you!' and I believed it. There is no bitterness in life so painful to endure as 'Loved one, You have put far from me'"! ... The psychiatrists and counselors can work overtime to heal, but the wound still festers even years or decades later. "God did it, not me! It feels like He hates me!"

Read Psalm 88 again: David is not bitter, and neither do we need to be. Don't miss the huge comfort that is here: David is a type of Christ who drank a cup of hatred more bitter than any of us can taste. Through David we learn to know Him--as He is.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: August 31, 2002.

Copyright © 2015 by "Dial Daily Bread.

Dial Daily Bread: God's "Special Angel" and Symbolic Language

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Revelation does make "eminent good sense." Its origin was in the Father, who "gave" the inspired message of prophecy to Jesus Christ, who in turn processed it through "His angel" who "signified it" (that is, put it into symbolic language). This task was not intended to hide it from us or confuse us; just the opposite.

Apparently this special angel has a unique job in the processes of inspiration--to take the messages of God (that would be difficult for us humans to grasp) and present them to the various inspired Bible prophets in symbolic form--that is, language that reaches the inner thinking and feeling of hungry humans. Even children can grasp what would stump philosophers or historians.

If it had not been for this special "angel," the message contained in the book of Revelation would fill a thousand volumes. But with that special angel's help in "signifying" it, we can grasp what the Father wants us to understand. The process of revelation does not end with John putting what he saw in words onto parchment--he who "reads" or "hears" "the words of this prophecy" becomes "blessed" (Rev. 1:1-3), that is, happy for life and for eternity.

A simple, sincere prayer on your part for the same Holy Spirit who inspired the books of Daniel and Revelation to guide you in understanding them, will be answered by the One who is more than willing for you to be "blessed." Remember, it's all a "revelation of Jesus Christ," the Son of God, the world's Savior, "the Lamb of God." Let the "everlasting gospel" of righteousness by faith be interwoven with your understanding the prophecies of these two books, and your life will be forever enriched. Yes! Even in heaven to come!

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: July 14, 2002.

Copyright © 2015 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: "Bent on Backsliding"?

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

What is the cause of "backsliding"? From time immemorial it has been the problem of God's true people. Jeremiah says they have been "slidden back, ... in a perpetual backsliding" (Jer. 8:5). God says through Hosea, "My people are bent on backsliding from Me" (Hos. 11:7).

Their backsliding was apparent as early as the time of the Judges, just after the time of Moses--the story is up and down continually, mostly down, right on through the major and minor prophets of the Old Testament. Finally in 586 B.C. the kingdom of Judah (God's true people) suffered massive destruction. But even in Babylon and ever afterward, the "backsliding" went on until they rejected and murdered the Son of God.

God continually has invited His people to "return" to Him (Jer. 3:12, 14), and He has promised to "heal your backslidings" (3:22). The word does not occur in the New Testament, but the word "lukewarm" is there, just as bad, maybe worse, describing God's true people in these last days (Rev. 3:17).

Why is it that so often after we have had a wonderful series of "revival meetings" and our hearts have been stirred, that after a few weeks we find we have begun backsliding again? The world has crept in; we have gotten too busy to keep our promise to give the Lord quality time in Bible study and prayer and witnessing, and again we lose that plateau experience. Is it possible that there is a fundamental reason why this problem has gone on for thousands of years?

The problem began at Mount Sinai, from the time of Moses. From that truly "mountain-top" experience in meeting the Lord and hearing Him speak His holy law with His own voice with fire and thunder and earthquakes, in only a few weeks the people had backslidden to worshipping idols (Ex. 32:1-6). The problem: they had fastened themselves under the Old Covenant (19:8). We need the New!

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: November 14, 2004.

Copyright © 2015 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: This Is the "Day" ...

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

To this day, devout Jews observe the "day of atonement" as we read of it in Leviticus 16 and in 23:26-32. On that one day of the year, they thought of final judgment: "The tenth day of this seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement ... a holy convocation for you; you shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire to the Lord. ... Any person who is not afflicted of soul on that same day, he shall be cut off from his people."

The "afflicting" was not wearing a hair shirt, or self-torture in any way; it was a 24-hour fast, a closing of their shops, a time for deep heart-searching and prayer and humbling of one's soul before the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, a time to let the Holy Spirit bring the conviction of sin, a time for repentance.

And this happened every year, on the same day. But it all meant nothing, just as the offering of a lamb for their sins meant nothing, unless the people saw through the ceremonial "works" involved, and discerned that the slain lamb was a type of the Lamb of God slain for our sins on His cross, and that there is a cosmic, antitypical Day of Atonement for the world itself.

We are living in that "Day" now. It's the time when Jesus says, "Take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day [the final judgment] come upon you unexpectedly. ... Watch therefore, and pray always ..." (Luke 21:34, 36).

This is the "Day" when we are not motivated by selfish fear, but by heart concern for Jesus that He be glorified by his people before the world and before the universe of God, and that He come from the great controversy with Satan triumphant.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: October 24, 2005.

Copyright © 2015 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: What Exactly Is This "Day of Atonement"?

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Some have asked about this great Day of Atonement, when God calls for a special repentance from His people. What exactly is it?

Simply put, it's His final work in the Most Holy Apartment of the heavenly sanctuary. Christ Himself as great High Priest is totally dedicated to bringing an end to the sin and suffering on this earth. We are called to understand, to be in full sympathy with Him.

The cosmic Day of Atonement is just what its name says--the Day of final reconciliation ("atonement" means at-one-with). It is not a difficult idea to grasp. It's when the alienated heart of humanity is at last fully reconciled to God and His holy law. Not that every human will submit to this work of "at-one-with"; many will refuse to the bitter end. But the Lord will succeed in winning a "remnant" to full oneness with Himself.

This "remnant" will demonstrate what "all men" could experience if only they would. They will at last fully appreciate Christ for what He is. They will "grow up" out of the immaturity of "children" "to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ," "speaking the truth in love [agape]" (Eph. 4:13-15). Thus, in principle, they will "judge" all humanity.

Opposed and ridiculed, they will "follow the Lamb [the crucified Christ] wherever He goes. ... In their mouth was found no guile, for they are without fault before the throne of God" (Rev. 14:1-5). This is generally thought of as just an illusion, but if it doesn't happen, Christ will forever remain embarrassed and discredited. He died specifically to achieve this goal.

The "remnant" will never be conscious that they honor Christ. The more like Him they grow to be through sanctification of the Spirit, the more unworthy will they feel themselves to be. In the final judgment they will not assume that Christ is inviting them, "Come, you blessed of My Father." They will look around expecting Him to call others, not themselves (see Matt. 25:31-40).

Fully at-one with Him, a group will overcome "even as [He] also overcame" (Rev. 3:21, KJV). His Bride will have "made herself ready" for "the marriage of the Lamb" (19:1-8). Finally, His triumph! Then at last the sacrifice of Christ will have been fully vindicated--He, not they, will be glorified.

Daniel and Revelation clearly teach that the hour of this great Day of Atonement is now.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: March 25, 2003.

Copyright © 2015 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: Revelation 13 Is Beginning to "Roll"

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

If your house is below a killer volcano that hasn’t erupted for over a hundred years, you go to bed at night feeling quite secure, don’t you? But suppose you know that suddenly it has started rumbling, wouldn’t common sense tell you to get out and live somewhere else? Or to change the metaphor, say you live beneath an avalanche that hasn’t moved for over a century, you don’t worry. But then you learn that very recently it has suddenly moved a foot or two, then what? Once that huge mass begins to break loose, you know it’s going to roll.

Daniel and Revelation tell us of future developments that will be cataclysmic. In particular, Revelation tells of two great world powers symbolized as the first “beast,” and then “another beast” (13:1, 11). The first has always “blasphemed” God’s “name” and made war with His true people and persecuted them for 1260 years of real time (in Bible prophecy, a day is symbolic of a literal year; cf. vs. 5; 12:6, 14; Num. 14:34; Ezek. 4:6).

The second starts off totally different from the first. He comes up out of a comparatively uninhabited wide expanse of land and conspicuously teaches liberty of conscience (has “two horns like a lamb”). He grows phenomenally into a world power greater than anything since the Roman Empire.

Over a century ago Senator H. W. Blair of New Hampshire introduced a bill that would have abandoned our religious liberty and forced the observance of a religious day of rest--all contrary both to the Bible and to the basic principle of the American Constitution.

Largely due to the energetic effort of two young men (E. J. Waggoner and A. T. Jones) who by pen and voice appealed for loyalty to the First Amendment, Sen. Blair’s project was defeated--but only for a time. This great nation continued to manifest its lamb-like spirit of civil and religious liberty (which included the principle of no pre-emptive attack in war).

Now the volcano has rumbled, the avalanche has shifted; this power has begun to roar “as a dragon.” Revelation 13 is at last beginning to "roll." Simple common sense now confirms what God has said all along, “Come out of [Babylon], My people” (Rev. 14:8; 18:1-4).

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: March 12, 2003.

Copyright © 2015 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: The Book of Hebrews--"Unfinished Business"

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

A wise teacher who helps teens has come up with a good subtitle for the book of Hebrews. He calls it, "Unfinished Business." And when you read the book, that idea surfaces repeatedly. God is doing something, accomplishing a great work as our heavenly Father, as the Son who is our great High Priest, and as the Holy Spirit who is our Comforter. But what He's doing He hasn't finished yet. Heaven is excited, anxious to see His work completed.

We see a hint of the unfinished business in chapter 2. Our brother Paul is talking about the great Cosmic Insurgency being "put under," and peace restored to the universe. Our current insurgency problems throughout the world are heart-rending--we long to see rebellion conquered so war-weary people can rest and "live" in peace.

In greater circumstances, the Rebel, Satan, has masterminded an Insurgency of gigantic worldwide proportions that affects the entire universe. And the Father has promised that He will bring order and peace through Christ. "You have put all things in subjection under His feet," He says (2:8, first part).

But the sad truth is that the gigantic job isn't finished yet: "Now we do not yet see all things put under Him" (second part). "Not yet"--there's the "unfinished business." And unless you are ready to be translated at the second coming of the Savior (1 Thess. 4:16, 17), the Holy Spirit has "unfinished business" yet to accomplish in your own human heart.

What encourages us is to know that He is carrying on this work. He had "unfinished business" with His Son Jesus--when He was born as a Baby He was "holy" (Luke 1:35), but He was "not yet" ready to save the world until He had been through an intensive course of "suffering." "Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him" (Heb. 5:8, 9). The Son who was "holy" at His birth had to become "righteous" at His death (Rom. 5:18). And "suffering" was part of His training (the angels don't have it).

Therefore, don't be surprised if He permits a little suffering to come your way!

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: October 26, 2004.

Copyright © 2015 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: Two Classes of Saints When Jesus Returns

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

The message of Christ's righteousness emphasizes the relationship between justification by faith and the Day of Atonement. But is there a difference between Martin Luther's and John Calvin's understanding of justification by faith, and the truth of Revelation 18:1-4 that "the earth [will be] lightened with His glory" just before the return of Jesus--or is there no difference? Did the 16th century Reformers grasp all of the truth of the gospel? Is salvation (full and complete) "by grace ... through faith" (Eph. 2:8), or is it partly through works?

Paul tells us that there will be two classes of saints when Jesus returns: those who are resurrected in the "first resurrection" (Rev. 20:5 and 1 Thess. 4:16, 17) and those who will be "alive and remain [and] shall be caught up together with [the resurrected saints] to meet the Lord in the air." This second group will be "translated" as Enoch and Elijah were (Heb. 11:5; 2 Kings 2:11). The question is this: will those who at last are translated be people who are smarter and have done more works? Or will they be people whose faith has grown because their understanding of the gospel has grown?

The Bible teaches that in the last days God's people will grow up "unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, ... henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, ... but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things" (Eph. 4:13-15). They will believe all the truth that the Reformers taught more than 400 years ago, but they will also believe every further revelation of light that the Holy Spirit sends. God will have a people at last who "follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth," who are "without fault before the throne of God," who "come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Rev. 14:4, 5; 1 Cor. 1:7).

These truths may be agreed upon: "The gospel ... is the power of God unto salvation" (Rom. 1:16), that "faith works by love" (Gal. 5:6), and that faith is dependent on the revelation of the love of Christ at the cross. Therefore, the "light [which] lightens the earth with glory" and makes possible every honest heart responding to the call from heaven, "Come out of [Babylon], My people" (Rev. 18:4), will be a clearer revelation of the cross of Jesus Christ.

What did He accomplish by His sacrifice? That love [agape] "constrains us; because we thus judge, that if One died for all, then were all dead: and He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again" (2 Cor. 5:14, 15). When one senses a greater "hunger and thirst for righteousness," entertainment loses its charm in comparison.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: January 1, 2001.

Copyright © 2015 by "Dial Daily Bread."