Dial Daily Bread: What the Father Has Done for "All Men"

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Have you ever wanted to stay away from a party for fear you wouldn't be welcome? Many feel that way about going to God's "welcome party" for people who will live in His New Jerusalem. They are afraid of Him, innocently so. They would rather not even try to be saved. These people need to realize now that they are welcomed already.

The "welcome" is in Paul's letter to the Ephesians! It's spoken by the Lord through His word. He honors His word in the Bible. Jesus told the Jews that He said nothing of Himself, but only what the Father told Him. "I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak" (John 12:49). It was through the Bible, the actual Old Testament that Jesus held in His hands, that the Father spoke to Him. All the wonderful things that Jesus said in His ministry, He garnered from His reading of that Bible!

Likewise, when you let the Father speak to you through the Word, you will know the welcome is yours now as surely as when you hear Him repeat it in that coming glad day when you see Him.

We read in chapter one of Ephesians how the Father has already:

1. "Blessed us [that's everybody!] with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places." (The fact that some people refuse the "blessing" doesn't mean it hasn't been given to them.)

2. "Predestined us to adoption as sons" (but of course we can refuse).

3. Enjoyed His "good pleasure" in doing this--that's the "fun" He gets in His plan of redemption. (God deserves some "pleasure"!)

4. In Christ He has given us "redemption through His blood"--that is, past tense. The blood was shed for everybody; therefore all have been given that redemption, even if many reject it.

5. He has given us "the forgiveness of sins." The word means separated them from us. (We can be stupid and take our sins back again! They were cast into the depths of the sea like the Titanic resting deep down; but people have retrieved things out of the Titanic.)

6. He gives us as much "wisdom and prudence" as we are willing to receive (let's not shrug it off as proud "know-it-alls").

7. "He has made us accepted in the Beloved" (that's our "welcome!").

Let's not stop to question if all this is true for that could be unbelief; He has said it.

--Robert J. Wieland

From: Ephesians: You've Been "Adopted," 2005.
Copyright © 2018 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: On His Cross, Christ Built Something Out of Nothing

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Is there anywhere a human heart that by nature doesn't have a storm inside? If you are perfectly at-one-with God, you belong in Heaven. Well, at least, it's your job to help those billions who by nature share the universal human problem of alienation from God. "Why has He allowed me to suffer? Why me ... to endure injustice? Is God fair?" One may piously exude all the self-righteous phrases while deep inside unanswered questions destroy our "peace with God" (Rom. 5:1).

Here's a shocker: the closer you come to Jesus Christ, the more you will realize your problem to be. Come very close to Him, and you will "taste" the depth of the darkness He experienced on His cross when He cried out, "My God, why have You forsaken Me?"

If one has never grown up out of innocent childhood, he may never think or feel on that level; but Jesus did. "Why doesn't God do something?" is the heart-cry of the person who dares to think, not only about his own tiny little problems, but about the millions suffering from disasters and wars. And why do the poor have to suffer? And why must the innocent suffer so? "My God, My God, why have You forsaken our world?"

Back again to the cross on Calvary: in that total darkness, while He hung there in that deepest perplexity and despair, He made a choice--to believe that His Father was good even though everything was shouting in His ears that His Father was unjust. In total darkness, in the vastness of empty heart-broken space, He built a great bridge between alienated humanity and God. It's called the Atonement, the at-one-ment. If His Father has forsaken Him, He will not forsake His Father.

On His cross He built something out of nothing like He had created a universe out of nothing. At any cost, He will believe Good News. He will create Good News. You don't have to build that Bridge; all you have to do is believe that He built it.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: November 15, 1998.
Copyright © 2018 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: "Make Intercession" for Us--What Does It Mean?

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

What does it mean that Jesus as our High Priest has to "make intercession" for us before the Father (Heb. 7:25)? The word "intercession" implies that somebody is not happy and has to be interceded with on our behalf. Christ is "at the right hand of God," Paul says, "who also makes intercession for us" (Rom. 8:34). John adds his insight when he compares Christ to "an Advocate with the Father," the word "advocate" being parakletos in the Greek (1 John 2:1). Vine says the word "was used in a court of justice to denote a legal assistant, counsel for the defense, who pleads another's cause."

In other words, Jesus is a defense lawyer pleading a case "with the Father," John says. It seems that the Father is the Judge and that we are on trial before Him, and that we would lose our case if it weren't for Jesus being there in our behalf. This is 100 percent true; we would indeed lose out if it were not for our divine Lawyer working on our side.

But who is He "pleading," "interceding" with? Who needs to be "persuaded" to accept us? Does it make sense to say it's the Father? Wasn't it He who took the initiative to "so love the world that He gave His only begotten Son" for us? How could He be against us, needing Jesus to "intercede" for us? Does the Father have a club behind His back, about to let us have it, and then Jesus steps up and says, "Look, Father, at the wounds in My hands. Please be nice to these people!"? No, that doesn't make sense. The Father loves us just as much as the Son loves us! Then who is Jesus interceding with?

Is He interceding with the devil? Will he or his angels ever be persuaded to be nice to us? Hardly! Then who has to be persuaded to "accept" us, to stop condemning us? The good angels? No, they are "all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for" us, not against us (Heb. 1:14).

Then who is left who needs to be "persuaded," interceded with to accept us, except we ourselves? We are the ones who need to hold our head high, to join Paul in being "persuaded" that nothing will ever "separate us from the love of God" (Rom. 8:38, 39).

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: June 4, 2003.
Copyright © 2018 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: The Most Outrageous Deed Performed--Ever

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Even on a small scale, it had to be the most outrageous deed performed--ever. A woman, apparently unbalanced, has wasted a fortune in anointing a Jewish rabbi who had befriended her. She impulsively breaks her alabaster flask, letting its "very precious" contents go to waste (Matt. 26:7, Young's Literal Translation). Then she lets down her hair in public (not done in her culture), washes His feet with tears (never done to any other man before or since), then dries them with her hair. This strange act draws understandable criticism from the treasurer of the group, Judas Iscariot, and all the other members of the team (see John 12:4-6; Matt. 26:8).

But why did Jesus Christ, who is supposed to have great wisdom, praise her act so highly? He gives her the most sublime tribute, "She has done what she could" (Mark 14:8), meaning of course she had done all she could. Then He sets her up on His pedestal as the model Christian, the shining example of what He has come to earth to accomplish in redeeming humankind, and she receives the wondering attention of everyone down to the close of time (vs. 9).

Why this divinely inspired accolade? A good leader should keep His constituency together and appease His opposing parties. But Jesus throws His whole weight in defense of the woman, and thrashes the Twelve. Judas sees fiery indignation in His eyes; this hardens him so he goes out determined to betray the Lord of glory. Was Jesus wise in not keeping His little band together on this? He could have said nice things about both sides, even saved Himself from His hell to come.

As a photo is an imprint from a negative, so Mary's deed was a printout that displayed a true heart-response to His love, from a redeemed sinner. In defending her, Jesus was forced to defend His own wondrous cross--and that before even the ordained ministers in His little circle!

Mary's enslavement to "seven devils" was hell itself. Her apparently reckless response of gratitude was totally appropriate for anyone who has been redeemed from the same hell. If we were totally aware of what we've been saved from, our gratitude would forever know no bounds. This would end lukewarmness (cf. Rev. 3:14-21).

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: August 19, 2003.
Copyright © 2018 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: The Great Nerve Center Where Christ Directs His Final Battle

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

The famous enemy of Christ (the antichrist), whose slimy trail weaves in and out through Christian history, has almost succeeded in eclipsing Christ's priestly ministry. Daniel foresaw this monstrous imposture in the vision he described in the eighth chapter of his book. His "little horn" is the same as John's "Enemy of Christ" (1 John 2:18, Contemporary English Version) the historical antichrist that "cast truth down to the ground" and "prospered" (vs. 12).

This has been Satan's supreme achievement--corrupting the gospel message from within. For Daniel's benefit an angel inquired, "How long ... the vision, ... the transgression of desolation, the giving of both the [heavenly] sanctuary and the host to be trampled under foot?" (vs. 13). The answer came in the famous 2300 day-year prophecy--"Then shall the sanctuary be cleansed [vindicated, justified, put right]" (vs. 14, King James Version).

In other words, then shall the full truth of the gospel be set free to accomplish its God-intended work in preparing a people for the coming of Christ, a work to be done on earth which is parallel to and consistent with Christ's high-priestly ministry in heaven.

The heavenly sanctuary is the great nerve center, or military headquarters, where Christ directs His final battle against Satan to its ultimate victory. It is impossible to sense the meaning of life today except in the light of that sanctuary ministry. It is vital to a correct understanding of righteousness by faith. And it is the only way to distinguish between the enemy's extremely clever counterfeit of the gospel and the truth concerning it. The sanctuary is the stage where the final great conflict of the ages will be decided and God's government vindicated.

--Robert J. Wieland

From: Gold Tried in the Fire, 1993.
Copyright © 2018 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: A Bible Teaching That Sets Apart a Unique Christian People

Dear Friends of “Dial Daily Bread,”

There is a Bible teaching not generally admitted by most Christian churches: "The Pre-Advent Judgment." It is a subject that sets apart as unique the Christian people who believe this teaching (also known as "The Investigative Judgment"). Scholars of different churches have labeled it an "extra-biblical teaching."

This derogatory label has of course been embarrassing for a people who really want to believe "the Bible and the Bible only." Isaiah 26:2, 3 leaves a lasting impression: "Open the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in. You [Lord] will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You."

However, it is impossible for anyone to believe in a "pre-Advent judgment" unless he also believes in the resurrection from the dead as the Bible presents it. When someone who believes in Jesus dies, he "sleeps in Jesus" until "the first resurrection" (1Thess. 4:16, 17; Rev. 20:5).

Then, as surely as 2 + 2 = 4, there must be some kind of judgment before that resurrection at the second coming of Jesus to determine who of those multitudes in the grave shall be the privileged ones to be called from their sleep by the awakening voice of Jesus, and who shall be left to sleep on for the 1000 years until the second resurrection [of damnation] pictured in Revelation 20:5, 7-10.

The words of Jesus establish the truth of some kind of a judgment that must take place before the second coming of Jesus: "Those who are counted worthy to attain ... the resurrection from the dead, ... can [not] die anymore, ... being sons of the resurrection" (Luke 20:35, 36). To those who will be living when Jesus returns, He says they too will experience the pre-Advent judgment, "Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy ... to stand before the Son of Man" (21:36).

Does it make sense to you? If so, "pray always."

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: July 2, 2006.
Copyright © 2018 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: The Strangest Judgment Ever Seen on This Planet

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

When "great multitudes" were following Jesus, He turned around and let them know He wasn't interested in big crowds. "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:25, 26). Hard language; what could He mean? Does He want to make it as difficult as possible for us to be His disciple? Sounds that way!

A "man" cannot follow Him unless he "hates his wife"! Or girlfriend! Or fiancée! Common sense makes clear what He means: your wife or girlfriend comes second. Yes, and all your family. The Lord Jesus comes first.

Then He went on to advise His would-be followers: Don't start building a house until you have enough to finish it. And if you're a king, don't start a war unless you know you can win it. And don't tell the world that you're My disciple unless you "forsake all that [you] have" (vss. 28-33). In other words, don't be a Laodicean lukewarm adherent; bail out completely, or else make a commitment appropriate to My taking up My cross to save you. He is right. Makes sense! He is into this for serious business. And so must we be.

To idolize any person is to break the first commandment. Adam idolized his beautiful, charming wife, Eve; he made her Number One, and led us all into sinful idolatry. Today's Laodicean idolatry makes Jesus sick at His stomach (Rev. 3:14-18), even if church membership rolls soar. Why is He so jealous of anyone who is our "idol"?

The honest truth is that He has given Himself to hell, has died our second death, has emptied Himself of His last breath--for us, to save us from utter ruin. It makes Him sick inside when we join the "great multitudes" who flock after Him while they trivialize their devotion to Him. Any honest, loving husband will be jealous if his wife is having an affair.

This hypocrisy has been going on for a long time, ever since Luke 14; it permeates Christ's last days' church. Does it make sense that He at last puts His foot down and demands that we choose one side or the other, totally?

Yes, look soon for the strangest judgment ever seen on this planet since sin began. The crowds of Luke 14 never dreamed that in a few weeks they would be propelled into demanding His crucifixion. Silently as the thief coming at midnight, the final test will overtake us. We will determine who is Number One in our hearts. We could fool ourselves that we're getting heaven on earth, and end up finding it's hell.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: July 3, 2004.
Copyright © 2018 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: Don't Think Your Sufferings Are in Vain or Pointless

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Millions of people don't know what to live for. All they can think of is entertainment, eating, drinking--anything to relieve the boredom and emptiness of life. Paul says in Ephesians 4:18: they "have their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their heart ..."

Now comes the Good News of Christ, which assures us that there is meaning to the present life--it is the prelude to eternal life in happiness and righteousness. Every day that the Lord gives us is a new opportunity to prepare to meet our Creator, and our Redeemer. If you were to meet the head of a country you would want to prepare; well, you most definitely have an appointment to meet your Creator and Redeemer face to face--the greatest moment of your life, the apex toward which every day of your life has been pointing.

Have you ever thought that the sufferings you have been called to endure are a preparation for that moment? When you at last look into the face of the Son of God, you are going to see a face that registers His experience of suffering endured for your sake. If you have never suffered in union with Him, you will be ashamed in that day.

Do not think that your sufferings are in vain, or are pointless. When you do see Jesus face to face, immediately you will catch in His eyes the recognition you will feel that He has known you every moment of your life--and yes, you have known Him too! There will be an instant recognition of camaraderie--of fellowship. He will say to you, "We have been together in our sufferings; enter into the joy of your Lord." That's going to be your eternal joy! So when you ask about your sufferings, WHY ME? remember that Good News.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: 1994 Phone Message.
Copyright © 2018 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: The Problem of Unrealized Sin

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Committee actions, polished programs, or high-pressure promotion can never truly motivate. Truth must be the vehicle, reaching human hearts, for only truth can penetrate the secret recesses of Laodicea's soul. The Lord has in reserve a means of motivation that will be fully effective. Something happened at Pentecost which fueled the early church with phenomenal spiritual energy. It must and will happen again.

That fantastic motivation flowed naturally out of a unique repentance. No sin in all time was more horrendous than that which those people were guilty of--murdering the Son of God. Mankind's deep-seated "enmity against God" had finally produced its full fruitage (cf. Rom. 8:7). But they were only our surrogates, acting on our behalf. By nature, we are no less guilty simply because by accident we were born many centuries later.

Sin has always been "enmity against God," but no one ever fully understood its dimensions until the Holy Spirit drove the truth home to the hearts of Peter's audience that fiftieth day after the resurrection (Acts 2). The realization of their guilt came over them like a flood. Theirs was no petty seeking for security or reward in heaven, nor was it a craven search to evade punishment. The cross of the ages was towering over them, and their human hearts responded to its reality.

A repentance like that of Pentecost is what Christ calls for from us today. It will come, like a lost vein of gold in the earth that must surface again in another place. Our hazy, indistinct idea of repentance can produce only what we see today--hazy, indistinct devotion, lukewarmness. Like medicine taken in quantity sufficient to produce a concentration in the bloodstream, our repentance must be comprehensive, full-range, in order for the Holy Spirit to do a fully effective work.

This full spectrum of repentance is included in "the everlasting gospel." But its clearest definition has been impossible until now, as history reaches the last of the seven churches. The original word "repentance" means a looking back from the perspective of the end: metanoia, from meta ("after"), and nous ("mind"). Thus, repentance can never be complete until the end of history. Like the great Day of Atonement, its full dimension must be a last-day experience. To that moment in time we have now come.

Unless our veiled eyes can see the depth of our sin as identical to that of Peter's congregation at Pentecost, only a veneer repentance can be possible. This in turn can produce only more generations of lukewarm church members, and thus intensify the Lord's problem. Repenting only of superficial sin leaves a deep stratum of further alienation which remains unrealized, unconfessed, and therefore unhealed. It is not enough that sin be legally forgiven; it must also be blotted out. This problem of unrealized sin pervades the entire church in all lands, and its practical effects weaken the witness of every congregation.

The good news is that the gracious Spirit of God will convict His people of that deep reality. Then He will be able to give the gift of ultimate repentance. His giving only awaits our willingness to receive. The issue is not the assurance of our own personal salvation, but the honor and vindication of the One who purchased our salvation.

--Robert J. Wieland

From: "As Many As I Love": Christ's Call to Laodicea, 1986.
Copyright © 2018 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: The Domino Effect of Spiritual Maturity

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Millions of Christians have read or heard this statement on the timing of the second coming of Christ: "Jesus came on time the first time, and we can be sure He will come on time the second time." Embedded herein is the Calvinistic idea of pre-determinism. The Father's infinite foreknowledge is thus confused with a supposed iron-clad decision on His part to send Jesus the second time at a fixed point in time, regardless of His people's preparation or lack of it.

In contrast, Scripture says the time of the second coming depends on the spiritual maturity of His corporate "body" on earth--His true church (just before His second coming it is said to "keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus," no idle or superficial designation, Rev. 14:12).

There is a kind of domino effect in a development of spiritual maturity:

(1) The "marriage of the Lamb" comes not at some predetermined triggered-mechanism of celestial time, but when "His wife has made herself ready" (Rev. 19:7, 8).

(2) That "when" is a "harvest" of spiritual maturity becoming "ripe" (Rev. 14:15, 16; Mark 4:26-29).

(3) Christ cannot dare come before "the harvest of the earth is ripe," for it would mean His beloved people would be destroyed (Heb. 12:29).

(4) This in turn means that "the church of the Laodiceans" must first "repent" of pathetic assumptions of being "rich, … wealthy, and have need of nothing," and receive the true message of righteousness and justification by faith (Rev. 3:17-19).

(5) Such an experience of spiritual maturity in turn depends on "the angel of the church" receiving what the "True Witness" has long been more than willing to bestow, for "the angels" of the seven churches are in each instance their human leadership (Rev. 1:20). Throughout 6000 years of human history leadership remains crucial, for "the church" seems unable to rise above it.

(6) This development in turn depends on the reception of the final outpouring of "the latter rain" of the Holy Spirit, a gift that Heaven has long been ready to bestow but which "the angel of the church of the Laodiceans" has apparently been unwilling to receive (see Joel 2 and Zechariah 10). We cannot blame God for being slow to act!

(7) This spiritual experience in turn is needed before the earth-enlightening message of Revelation 18:1-4 can come. Many assume that because the first coming of Christ was at a pinpoint prophetic date (prophecies of Daniel 8 and 9), so the second will occur at such a predetermined point of time.

As "the stars in their appointed courses know no haste and no delay," so the first coming was indeed "on time." But the second coming is different: He will come when His true people really want Him to come. That will require some growing up; a flower girl at the wedding is innocent, but she is not ready to be a bride.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: April 26, 2000.
Copyright © 2018 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: A Precious Insight Into the Grace of Christ

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

A college professor friend gave me a helpful illustration of how Jesus treats us all by virtue of His sacrifice on His cross. You remember, Jesus said in John 12:47, "I did not come to judge [that is, condemn] the world but to save the world." And Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:19, "God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them." Isaiah 53:6 says: "The Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." And Romans 5:16-18 reminds us that God has given "all men" not only a grace that abounds much more than sin abounds, but that grace has also given "all men" a "free gift," that is justification.

My friend explained his illustration: "In my classes, I have good students and also some not so good ones. But I pronounce no judgment on their performance until the final test is taken. Then some students pass while others fail. Up to that moment they are all treated as potential successes. This is an illustration of how God treats us 'in Christ.' He treats us all as righteous. The separation between the goats and the sheep will come only in the judgment. Then some will be found to be 'tares,' while others will have been 'wheat.'"

I thank my friend for a precious insight into the grace of Christ. One widely read author says that God has encircled the world with an atmosphere of grace as real as the air we breathe.

Are you a sinner? Have you carried a burden of guilt? Do you feel that God does not accept you? Remember the words of Jesus: "The one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out" (John 6:37). Because of Christ's sacrifice, He treats you today as though you were righteous; He accepts you "in Christ"; He has laid your iniquity on Him, imputing your sins to Him.

When He said of Jesus at the Jordan, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matt. 3:17), He was putting His divine arms around you also! Now let your life today sing a song of praise for that great salvation.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: August 20, 1998.
Copyright © 2018 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: "Lukewarmness"--The Universal Disease

Dear Friends of “Dial Daily Bread,”

Jesus Himself says that a universal disease, "lukewarmness," afflicts His true church worldwide (see Rev. 3:14-21). It's a spiritual virus that weakens the immune system of the church as a "body," making it susceptible to the alluring (and lethal) temptations the Enemy has devised for these last days.

The result? Its visible symptoms include six-days-a-week absorption in worldly entertainment or labor so that love of the Bible and devotion to Christ are crowded out (and love for one another, too). The nearer we come to what Jesus called "the end," the more invasive and compelling these temptations become.

The Book of Revelation unveils a curtain; "behold, a door opened in heaven" (4:1). And when we look, we see the world's Savior deeply embarrassed before Heaven. "Immanuel ... God with us," He is still human as well as divine. How can He claim success in His mission to "save the world" when His people, His church, remain "lukewarm" century after century? The larger His church becomes, the more serious the problem.

It appears to be the most difficult problem God has had to confront in thousands of years of world history. The solution? Legalism, denunciations, superficial "revivals," fear-induced "conversions" that last only a few weeks?

No, God has a solution--the lifting up of the cross of Christ so that His love is "comprehended" in its full “width and length and depth and height” (Eph. 3:14-21). Then "we judge thus " that when "One died," "all died" (2 Cor. 5:14). We see what He accomplished on His cross. The revelation forever heals lukewarmness. (Leave it to Satan to try to enshroud that cross in foggy confusion.)

But look, behold, see, comprehend what truly happened there!

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: May 22, 2002.
Copyright © 2018 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: The Practical Value of Christ's Nearness to Us

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Many are asking, How can I get close to Jesus? The first step is to believe how close He has come to you. Then the next step follows naturally: the honest heart that appreciates that closeness identifies with Him on His cross. The apostle Paul said (according to the original language) that his ego is "crucified with Christ" (Gal. 2:20).

Of course, this does not mean that the one who believes in Christ grovels ever after in the dust of self-depredation. His sense of self-respect is never shattered. To be "crucified with Christ" means also to be resurrected with Him; "it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me." Now one finds his truest self-respect. David says, "He pulled me out of a dangerous pit, out of the deadly quicksand. He set me safely on a rock and made me secure" (Psalm 40:2, Good News Bible).

And with pouring contempt on all our pride comes the utter repudiation of all "holier-than-thou" feelings. The closer one comes to Christ, the more sinful and unworthy he feels himself to be. We are never to judge ourselves, or give ourselves grade points. We are never to claim to be sinless, for "if we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." It is only when we continually "confess our sins, [that] He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:8, 9).

The proud and arrogant heresy of perfectionism can never rear its ugly head where the truth of Christ's righteousness is appreciated, for the song of every heart will be to glory alone in "CHRIST OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Jer. 23:6, 33:16).

--Robert J. Wieland

From: Powerful Good News, 1989.
Copyright © 2018 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: God Wants Us to Know When “The Time of the End” Will Come

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

The year-day prophecies of Daniel and Revelation are fantastic in the accuracy of their fulfillment. They coincide perfectly with the great end-time prophecy of Jesus in Matthew 24 and Luke 21. The Bible recognizes that the God of heaven has foretold events before they happened, and that He wants us to know when "the time of the end" will come and what are the "signs" of Jesus' second coming and of the "end of the age" (cf. Matt. 24:3).

Paul says it is not God's will for His people to be "in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. ... Let us watch and be sober" (1 Thess. 5:4-6). How could Jesus warn us, "It will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth" (Luke 21:35) without His word giving us guidance as to when that day is near?

If it is true that "God is love," then it must follow that He would not want to catch us "unaware." Hence we conclude that the time prophecies of Daniel and Revelation are very serious reading and deserve our close attention. It is also true, if God indeed is "love," then He does not want to perpetuate pain and suffering on this planet due to the ravages of sin. Jesus wants to come a second time, not primarily to punish wrongdoing or take vengeance on His enemies, but to rescue people who suffer, and to establish His kingdom of peace and happiness for all.

"The Ancient of days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom, ... an everlasting kingdom" (Dan. 7:22, 27). However, we can be sure that His enemy, Satan, wants to try to prove His prophecies wrong. "Son of man, what is this proverb that you people have about the land of Israel, which says, 'The days are prolonged, and every vision fails?'" (Eze. 12:22). A good answer is in Habakkuk 2:3: "At the end [the vision] will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry."

There may appear to be a "tarrying time," and those who have faith in the prophecies may think the vision "fails," and suffer disappointment, yet in immediate context comes the assurance of righteousness by faith: "The just shall live by His faith" (vs. 4). In the Great Disappointment experience in the 1840s, what held the faithful remnant was not so much mathematical calculations of time prophecies (they were true!) but their confidence that the Holy Spirit had worked in the Midnight Cry movement. God's true love was evident.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: January 5, 2000.
Copyright © 2018 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: Who Is "Peter"?

Dear Friends of “Dial Daily Bread,”

Should we be worried about whether we are "born again"? The answer is No, but should we be seriously concerned about whether we are truly converted? The answer is Yes.

Right up to the moment when the Sanhedrin condemned Jesus to death, the apostle Peter was sure that he was well converted. When Jesus told him on Thursday night that he was not, he became upset, and loudly protested his being thoroughly "born again." In his conscious understanding, he sincerely believed he was already "converted," but when a “servant girl” challenged his identity with Christ, his unconscious motivations took over and he denied Christ with vile cursing and swearing (Matt. 26:74). Peter did not know himself!

And who is "Peter"? Anyone who belongs to the seventh church of world history, "the church of the Laodiceans" (Rev. 3:14-21; more particularly, anyone who is part of "the angel of the church," its leadership). Jesus tells us frankly that "Peter" is indeed our patron "saint": "You say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy [by some assumed historical enrichment!], and have need of nothing,'--and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked."

Poor Peter made a fool of himself, thinking he was "rich" in his born-again experience and knowledge. He even argued with the all-knowing Lord, contradicting Him as if to say, "Lord, You don't know me! Give me a chance, and I'll prove to You that I am the most devoted follower You have! I've been baptized, ordained to the ministry, have cast out devils in Your name, finished my 3-1/2 years Seminary training with cum laude under You as Teacher, have my doctoral diploma, I really understand Your gospel and I teach it powerfully. Lord, do You think I need to go back to the spiritual kindergarten and start over and get 'born again' again?!! You're wrong, Lord!" Sadly, the Lord had to tell him honestly, "When you have returned to Me [are converted], strengthen your brethren" (Luke 22:32).

Why should we be concerned about our true conversion? Not because of craven fear lest we won't make it into the kingdom, but for a more important reason: lest in our unconscious selfishness we bring shame on Him in these closing hours of the great controversy between Christ and Satan. The best Laodicean in the world can well pray that prayer, "God be merciful to me a sinner!" (Luke 18:13). Edward R. Sill probably had an even better idea in his heart-wrenching poem: "O Lord, be merciful to me, a fool!"

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: June 11, 1999.
Copyright © 2018 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: The Light Flashing on Your Pathway

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

A haze of confusion perplexed the minds of the Jews in the days of Christ. Their man-made ideas were contradictory and created only spiritual discouragement in the minds of the common people. Jesus cleared it away.

Today there are also man-made ideas that create confusion in the minds of sincere people. They wonder if the time will ever come when God's people can be united in faith and can speak to the world with one voice. Jesus made a promise that's encouraging: "Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted" (Matt. 15:13). All false ideas will be "uprooted." Oh what a joy that will be--when all of the ministers, teachers, leaders, and theologians see the truth alike in sunlit clarity!

If you are perplexed about what you can believe out of all the conflicting confusion, take heart. Jesus made another promise that is 100 percent true (sincere Jews were confused as to whether this upstart young Rabbi from Galilee was right, or whether the venerable elders from the headquarters offices were right): "If anyone wants to do His will [the Father's], he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority" (John 7:17).

If the common people would follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, saying a willing "amen" to each new ray of light flashed upon their pathway, their thinking would become clear. And there you have the Light flashing on your pathway today!

Then another wonderful promise of Jesus will be fulfilled: "I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. ... And other sheep I have which are not of this fold [untold numbers still in "Babylon"]; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd" (John 10:14, 16). It will be a little heaven on earth where God's people can go.

Come, today; and be a part of Christ's solution, not a part of His problem. Get in full unity with His truth and you'll be one with Him.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: February 26, 2004.
Copyright © 2018 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: Don't Ever Forget Where the World's Savior Came From

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

If you have ever read the Book of Judges, you have been on one of the most depressing literary journeys possible. The violence, nonsense, and cruelty are almost unimaginable (with some relief--Deborah, Gideon, and Jephthah). But what a joy to read next a story of golden purity and love, about Ruth the Moabitess.

There seems no hint that she was a scholar or even knew how to read. She has won her place in world history simply because she unselfishly loved her bereaved mother-in-law. Well, maybe more than that--she came like a helpless little bird to seek shelter under the wings of the Lord God of Israel (2:12).

Naomi displays an unusual sense of contrition in calling herself "Bitter," in that while she "went out full, and the Lord has brought me home again empty." "The Almighty has afflicted me" (1:21). Could she be repenting in a corporate sense for what may have been some perceived unbelief on the part of her deceased husband Elimelech? He had forsaken the Lord's "House of Bread" in Israel's inheritance (Bethlehem) for what he thought were the more prosperous fields of pagan Moab. And there in economic heaven he and his two sons died. Naomi would naturally wonder if God were not punishing the family for that unbelief; her painful memories were distressing.

But in that story is the nicest touch of sanctified drama. No outlandish miracle occurs, as we might expect in a story, only the outworking of human decency and kindness on the part of everybody around, including Boaz. Here are mixed together fidelity to upright principle, honorable self-denial, and then blossoming love. And suddenly the author leaves us breathless with the simple but astonishing disclosure in 4:21, 22: "Boaz begot Obed [by Ruth], Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David." Period!

Don't ever forget where Jesus, the world's Savior, came from.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: January 5, 2003.
Copyright © 2018 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: A Message of Healing for the Church

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

In former times, faithful ministers pleaded with God that the haughty hearts of church members might realize and feel deeply the meaning of redemption, and seek to learn the meekness and lowliness of Jesus.

In all churches there are serious-minded people who sense that something is wrong. They feel deeply that a revival of true godliness is the greatest and most urgent of all our needs. They see pride in the church, hypocrisy, deception, vanity of dress, frivolity, and amusement. They see a desire for supremacy. All these sins can cloud the mind so that eternal realities cannot be discerned.

Even though we now sense a lack of revival and reformation, there are beautiful pictures of success that describe the future of God's work. "This gospel ... will be preached in all the world," says Jesus confidently (Matt. 24:14; Rev. 18:1-4). "The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea" (Hab. 2:14). "I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh. ... It shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance" (Joel 2:28, 32).

Jesus likened His people to "wineskins" that cannot hold "new wine" unless they are also made new (Matt. 9:17). If through faith in Christ we will become new "wineskins," He will fill us with the "new wine" of precious New Testament truth. God will give additional light, and old truths that have long been lost will be recovered and replaced. One interest will prevail, one subject will swallow up every other--the pure, unadulterated gospel of "CHRIST OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS" (see Jer. 23:6; 33:16; Isa. 32:17)

This last message is to be simple, beautiful, and always interesting. The future in God's plan has to be good news. As we discover what that "most precious message" is, we shall find that it differs from what is commonly assumed to be "the doctrine of righteousness by faith." We shall find that popular ideas outside of the Bible have infiltrated our thinking so that Christ seems far away and distantly unconcerned about us.

The truth about Him is Good News far better than most people imagine is possible. The revelation of "Christ our righteousness" discloses Him as a Savior nigh at hand and not afar off.

--Robert J. Wieland

From: Powerful Good News, 1989.
Copyright © 2018 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: Second-hand Faith

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Sometimes we say that we are saved by our faith in Christ, and we want to emphasize this so we don't lapse into the idea that we are saved by our works. But again, we want to be careful that we grasp the truth accurately. Truth saves (John 8:32) and error produces the lethal lukewarmness that permeates the church of the Laodiceans (Rev. 3:14-21).

God's people in the last days are distinguished in Revelation as those who demonstrate two great identification marks: they (1) "keep the commandments of God and (2) the faith of Jesus" (14:12). The former is not possible to "do" except by the latter. But it never was their faith; it was something they have received from Jesus.

Thus we are not saved by our faith in Jesus, but by His faith. He alone is "the author and finisher of our faith" (Heb. 12:2). That is, in all the 6000 years of human history Christ is the one Man who has totally believed the saving truth. His faith alone works through love (Gal. 5:6).

He is the one and only human being who has fully experienced what it is to be "forsaken" of God (Matt. 27:46). No one else has been capable of sensing to the full what that means; it was He alone who has been "made ... to be sin for us" "who knew no sin" (2 Cor. 5:21). Therefore, no one else has ever "tasted" lostness as fully as He did as He hung on that cross in the darkness. It was His faith that saved Him from eternal despair! God saw fit to record the story in Psalm 22 (and also 69).

The faith that we are to exercise is therefore second-hand; we got it from Him! Rightly defined, it is a heart-appreciation of what it cost Christ to save us; it is to "comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height--to know the love [agape] of Christ which passes knowledge" (Eph. 3:18, 19). Our salvation is in "comprehending."

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: May 31, 2005.
Copyright © 2018 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: Seriously, Would You Want to "Follow" Paul?

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

On one occasion, the apostle Paul told the people, "Be ye followers of me, as I also am of Christ" (1 Cor. 11:1, King James Version).

Seriously, would you want to "follow" Paul? You wouldn't be "lukewarm" in your devotion if you did! In fact, Paul's devotion illustrates precisely that of the "144,000" who will "finish" God's work in the earth and be prepared to welcome the Son of God when He returns in glory.

Does God have "classes" that you can choose--that is, can you go to heaven as Paul's "follower," "first class" like Paul in his burning zeal? Or if that is distasteful to you, can you choose to go "business class," a little lower level of devotion but get there just the same? And then finally, if you just want to be a "faithful" church member and remain lukewarm, pay your tithe and offerings, and go to church once a week or so, can you go to heaven "economy class"? As long as you get there at last, what real difference will it make?

Such an idea may be Satan's last and most skillful deception. The truth is that those who welcome Jesus at His return will not be selfishly thinking of their getting to heaven and getting a reward. They will be concerned for Jesus, for His honor, for His vindication, for Him getting His reward. The plane that gets through is not going to have different classes of seats! In fact, every passenger will be a crew member.

But how does a lukewarm, half-worldly, half-cold half-hot person get to be "on fire" like Paul?

The answer is the Book of Galatians. Your human soul can be ignited and catch fire just like Paul's if only you can see what Paul saw. It would be worth a period of fasting and prayer to learn to understand and love Galatians. For sure, such a prayer is one that God would absolutely love to answer!

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: June 10, 1998.
Copyright © 2018 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: Why Would Jesus Have Faith in Human Beings?

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

We think it's a grand achievement when we can learn to have faith in Jesus; we "have passed from death to life" (1 John 4: 14).

But what about Jesus Himself having faith in human beings? That's backward thinking! We trust Him, but does He trust us? What is there trustworthy about us? And why would He need to trust us, even if we were trustworthy? He has everything, billions of angels at His beck and call, infinite resources.

The Bible does say that He believes in us and trusts us, in fact He has to if He is ever to win the great controversy with Satan. Paul asks, "What if some [Israelites] did not believe? Will their unbelief [non-faith] make the faithfulness of God without effect?" (Rom. 3:3).

When the heavenly Father sent His only begotten Son into the world as a baby, did He not trust human beings to care for Him, especially while He was an infant? Did He not trust the virgin Mary to be a faithful mother to Jesus? Did God not trust friends to care for Jesus during the years that He lived with us on this planet? (Yes, people did crucify Him, but we read of women who prepared food for Him, took care of His laundry, and friends who invited Him to be a Guest in their homes, like Lazarus and Zaccheus of Jericho).

And we read of how "the faith of Jesus" comes into focus in the last days: "Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus" (Rev. 14:12). In fact, it is the "faith of Jesus" that saves us, for He is "the author ... of our faith" (Heb. 12:2).

When He died on the cross and He felt forsaken by His Father, His faith triumphed. For at the last just before He cried out, "Father, into Your hands I commend My spirit," He chose to believe and to trust that there would be a multitude of human beings around the world who would respond to the truth of His sacrifice, and who would believe and be loyal to Him: "All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You. For the kingdom is the Lord's. ... A posterity [seed, King James Version] shall serve Him" (Psalm 22:27-30).

He forgot about His own reward; what made Him happy in those last moments was the confidence that He had won the battle, the contest was decided, and we will live forever in God's kingdom now made forever sure. Here was His total emptying of self! When He "tasted death for every man" (Heb. 2:9), it was the real thing; He died our second death. But He was happy in the confidence that He had saved us from it.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: January 1, 2000.
Copyright © 2018 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: How Can We Ever Make Contact With the "High and Lofty One"?

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

"The High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ... dwell[s] in the high and holy place," says Isaiah (57:15). How could we ever make contact with Him when He is so apparently inaccessible?

Then--wonder of wonders! He tells us where we can find access to Him: "I dwell ... with him who has a contrite and humble spirit." Would you like to meet this High and Holy One? Okay, get acquainted with someone whose spirit is contrite and humble--maybe in your workplace, or there might be some such student at your school.

The Lord has His home there with such a person. Don't let yourself be fooled; it might turn out to be the janitor. Ignore or despise him or her and you end up treating Christ like His people did long ago.

Perhaps you are the person who is of a humble spirit and you find yourself being battered in subtle ways in our modern cultural "barnyard." The Bible assures us that if there is anywhere someone who does indeed follow in the footsteps of Jesus, that person is bound to suffer some kind of persecution (ponder 2 Tim. 3:12).

What really hurts is when it turns out to be your church (that can happen!). When it does, we are driven back to Isaiah 57: "I dwell ... with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." The idea of the word is to "make alive," almost to resurrect. The word "spirit" has a small "s," which means the source of your own personality, the real you. You have something that keeps you happy and sweet even when you are persecuted.

Isaiah makes the point more clear in chapter 66: "Thus says the Lord: 'Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. ... But on this one will I look: on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word'" (vss. 1, 2).

It's the "trembling at His word" that makes God feel at home to "dwell" with you, not trembling in the sense of terror, but to be thrilled with delight in reading His word. Use your new day to get better acquainted with Him!

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: February 23, 2003.
Copyright © 2018 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: A Book the Savior Commands Us to Understand

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Daniel is the one book in the Bible that Jesus singled out, urging us to both "read" and "understand": "'When you see the "abomination of desolation," spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place' (whoever reads, let him understand)" (Matt. 24:15).

To read the book is not difficult; the problem is to understand it. But the understanding part is not "take it or leave it"; He commands us to understand it. But how can one be commanded to understand something he doesn't understand? Is understanding Daniel a duty laid upon us by our Savior?

Yes; He says "let" yourself understand it. In other words, the Holy Spirit is seeking to give you an understanding of Daniel; now don't hinder Him in what He is trying to do for you.

The particular portion of Daniel that Jesus commands us to "understand" is the prophetic portion; but it can't be only a coincidence that the narrative portions of the book are all concerned with life or death issues:

Chapter one is the test of the Hebrew boys on idolatry; chapter two is the test of understanding the king's dream; chapter three is the test of the fiery furnace; chapter five is the test of Belshazzar's feast; and chapter six is the test of the lions' den. All serious!

Then Revelation picks up the story and tells us that understanding truth will be the issue in the final test of choosing the seal of God or the mark of the beast (chapters 7 and 13). Our soul's salvation will ultimately be bound up with deciding for ourselves what is the truth of a controversial issue of understanding Daniel and Revelation--the prophecies.

Jesus could well have added, "Let him who reads tremble ..." Right now there are issues of truth that draw deeply on one's soul. There's never a vacation from the need of thinking clearly and truthfully. Every day we are facing King Nebuchadnezzar's image of gold with his fiery furnace, and also his lions' den.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: April 3, 2007.
Copyright © 2018 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: The Superpower of Revelation 13

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Does the Bible prophesy a great political Superpower to dominate the world in the last days? Yes, both Daniel and Revelation say so. And it's not a fanciful, fanatical "guru's" private interpretation that says so. (You know, Peter says, "No prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation." We must not be misled by self-appointed expositor-dreamers, but cherish that "prophetic word made more sure" and "do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts" (2 Peter 1:20, 19).

For hundreds of years serious-minded Protestant Bible scholars have understood that Daniel and Revelation describe a union of church and state that dominated the nations of Europe for 1260 years. Revelation 13 features it as the religio-politico heir to the "power, ... throne, and great authority" of the pagan Roman Empire (vss. 1-8).

John Wesley so understood the prophecy back in the 18th century, but confessed he could not understand who would be the second great Superpower mentioned in verses 11-18; he opposed the American Revolution and Independence of the Thirteen Colonies, never dreaming of their later meteoric historic rise to world prominence.

Revelation pictures this second Superpower as having "two horns like a lamb," understood by Protestant scholars as the twin principles of civil and religious liberty which have been the secret of the phenomenal success of the United States. But as one studies this prophetic scenario, he sees that Islam is not to become the great world super-religion; it has occupied historically the role of a tormentor of apostate Christianity (see Revelation 9), but never dominating or conquering it.

So benign has been the world's current Superpower that its customs and immigration officials have stamped passports and visas and unwittingly told its Muslim suicide bombers, "Welcome to the United States!" Revelation pictures this Superpower as at last angrily speaking "like a dragon," telling the world what to do (Rev. 13:11-14). Study Revelation!

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: October 16, 2001.
Copyright © 2018 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: Will the Church Ever Become Pure and Clean?

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Will the church on earth ever become pure and clean? Harried and bewildered church leaders (even at the very top) long for when the Holy Spirit will be honored and listened to, instead of "insulted" as inspired history says has been.

The Bible over and over says that the answer is "yes."

The Lord Jesus did not die in vain. For example, Psalm 22 assures us that as Jesus hung on His cross in the darkness crying, "Why have You forsaken Me?" He was granted the assurance that His suffering was not to be in vain: "All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You. For the kingdom is the Lord's. ... A posterity ["seed," King James Version] shall serve Him. ... They will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born" (vss. 27-31).

On His cross, Christ gained the victory over the Enemy of the universe!

But for how long will new generations continue to "be born," further postponing the time when "[Christ] shall see the travail of His soul, and be satisfied"? (Isa. 53:11). Is it always to be in a future generation that these wonderful prophesies will be fulfilled?

The prophet Daniel has assured us that in "the time of the end" "those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament [obviously "shine" without it going to their heads in pride!]; and they that turn many to righteousness [when the earth is lightened with the glory of the final message of righteousness by faith, Rev. 18:1-4], ... like the stars forever and ever" (12:4, 3).

Therefore, the remaining question is: Have we come to "the time of the end," or is it still future?

Revelation unseals Daniel: the 1260 years of papal oppression (Rev. 12:6-17) ended in 1798; we are in "the time of the end," when "the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea" (Hab. 2:14).

That "knowledge" is "the truth of the gospel " which "truth shall make you free" (Gal. 2:5; John 8:32). The truth is what happened at the cross. With no extremism but presented in perfect "balance," the church will proclaim the "third angel's message in verity" as "not to know anything ... except Jesus Christ and Him crucified" (cf. 1 Cor. 2:2).

The result: hierarchical self will at last be gladly "crucified with Christ" (cf. Gal. 2:20). Then things will move. Let it be ... now.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: October 12, 2007.
Copyright © 2018 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: What Is, and What Is Not, Genuine Love?

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

There are some two-hundred references to love in the New Testament. One says, "God is love" (1 John 4:8). If that is true, we should be preaching love a thousand times more than we do!

The problem is that the Enemy has kidnapped the New Testament idea of love (agape) from Christianity and substituted the Hellenistic, pagan idea instead (eros). Most Christians do not understand the difference. The New Testament idea of love is not soft on sin--it is the only effective antidote to it. There is nothing mushy about agape; the same God who is agape is also "a consuming fire" (Heb. 12:29). Long before the flames of the last days are let loose, that holy fire will have burned highly refined self-centeredness out of every Laodicean heart where genuine faith in Christ will let it do so.

To talk about the law without understanding agape, "brings about wrath" and actually contributes to sin. Only "agape is the fulfillment of the law" (Rom. 4:15; 13:10). It follows that the remnant church who "keep the commandments of God" will be a people virtually obsessed with agape. A wise writer has said, "The last rays of merciful light, the last message of mercy to be given to the world, is a revelation of His character of love. The children of God are to manifest His glory." That message is not soft-soap.

The all-important question in the Judgment will be, have we learned to love? Not how many "works of the law" we have toted up. Jesus separates the sheep and the goats on that one score of true love (Matt. 25:31-46). John's magnificent chapter on agape-love reveals the test of whether or not we know God: "everyone who loves is born of God, and knows God. He who does not love [with agape] does not know God" (1 John 4:7, 8).

What an unmitigated tragedy to stand at last before the Lord pleading all our "wonderful works" and prophesyings, and casting out devils, all in His name, and hear Him say to us sadly, "Sorry, it wasn't I who answered those prayers; 'I never knew you'" (Matt. 7:21-23).

What is real love, agape? We cannot understand the holy law of God without understanding it, for "God is agape."

--Robert J. Wieland

From: "Law and Love: Inseparable or Incompatible?" A Thought Paper.
Copyright © 2018 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: How a Pure Gospel Message Can Have Power

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Everywhere the early apostles preached, something happened--either a riot or a revival. The reason they could turn "the world upside down" was not their cleverness or their personalities. The power was in the content of their message.

Peter's sermon at Pentecost reveals the source of their power: they understood what the atonement implies. Not just the Jewish leaders, but all in the Gentile world were declared to be guilty of the rejection and murder of the Son of God. Pentecost was the corporate guilt of all humanity exposed. Enmity against God had blossomed into the supreme crime of eternity. The apostles minced no words in telling it (Acts 2:23-37; "corporate" pertains to the human race as one "body"). It was the proclamation of that truth which catalyzed humanity.

The latter rain gift of the Holy Spirit will come before the grain can ripen, as Pentecost was the early rain that caused it to germinate. The truth of the gospel will do the work (cf. Gal. 2:14).

Some of the human problems which the gospel of the apostles solved were the same ones that perplex psychiatrists and social scientists today. The miracles in Corinth were greater than mere physical healings (see 1 Cor. 6:9-11). These same problems afflict the human race today, but they have become worse.

These problems are not mere occasional moral lapses. Each becomes a compulsive obsession or addiction, with roots going down to people's toes. Addicts seem powerless to break their slaveries.

How were those problems solved in Corinth? Paul gives the answer in his letter to the Corinthians: by the message of justification by faith. "You were washed, ... you were sanctified, ... you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus."

--Robert J. Wieland

From: Powerful Good News, 1989.
Copyright © 2018 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: An Appeal of Jesus That's Almost Universally Disregarded

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

There are two books in the Bible that the Lord Jesus has especially appealed to His followers to "read" and "understand." And very likely, no matter what church you may attend, you rarely hear a sermon that explains those two books. The appeal of Jesus seems to be almost universally disregarded, even among His professed friends who say they're the church that keeps the commandments of God and has the faith of Jesus.

Those two special books are Daniel the prophet in the Old Testament (see Matt. 24:15), and the last book of the Bible, The Revelation (see 1:1-3).

The great user-friendly megachurches downplay Daniel and Revelation. The Enemy in the great controversy between Christ and Satan has two methods of attack on this truth: (1) minimize attention, neglect the two books, make people think the prophecies are impossible to understand; (2) inspire fanatics to invent new and fantastic "interpretations" of the books that are said to be senseless and self-contradictory.

Let the Lord deliver you from both of these heresies: (1) Daniel declares that his prophecies were unsealed as "the time of the end" began (cf. 11:35; 12:4); (2) Christ Himself pronounces a special "blessing" on the one who either reads or listens to someone else read, the prophecies of the book of Revelation (1:1-3).

Both Daniel and Revelation make clear that "the time of the end" began at the end of the 1260 years of the Dark Ages, the time of papal oppression, in 1798. It was then that Daniel's prophecies were unsealed. The understanding of these prophecies of Daniel and Revelation that was held by those who emerged from that darkness is the understanding that Jesus declared would confirm God's people to the end. He said: "Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things are fulfilled" (Matt. 24:34).

The glorious light of that "other angel" of Revelation 18 was a gift that God gave to "the angel of the church of the Laodiceans" and the gift was within the lifetime of those pioneers; but the light was in a great degree kept away both from the church and from the world. The truth of why Christ has not yet come is so simple that even a young person can understand!

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: August 5, 2007.
Copyright © 2018 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: Those 144,000--Are They Special?

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

They keep popping up--those 144,000 (Revelation 7 and 14)! People are intrigued by them! Several have asked, "Are they special besides the vast number of earth's last generation who will be ready when Jesus returns? Are they an elite group? Maybe teachers or guides of the 'common people' who will also be 'translated'?"

We dare not add to what the Bible says. We must take a lowly position in trying to explain who these people are. The Holy Spirit does not stoop to satisfy mere curiosity. But we must think about the character of this special group. Why? It might be possible that the Holy Spirit is right now saying to you, "Come" and be one of those 144,000 (see Rev. 22:17; ponder what it means).

If so, would it be appropriate for us to answer Him, "No, thanks; I want to go to heaven but I don't want to be in a special group that requires such devotion and self-sacrifice"? Can we refuse any invitation the Holy Spirit may bring to us and still be ready when Jesus returns?

Or, in other words, does the Holy Spirit offer us our choice of first- or second-class tickets? If so, then some dear people would choose second class. They would say, "I don't want to experience the great devotion of those who 'follow the Lamb wherever He goes,' who stand before the throne of God 'without fault' (Rev. 14:4, 5). That's too high a standard; I don't want a great 'mansion' in heaven like the apostle Paul will have--a shack in the Holy City is all I want if I can just squeeze inside the pearly gate" (this idea is the source of widespread "lukewarmness").

A couple of questions to think about: Are there really first- and second-class tickets to heaven? Can you say "No!" to the Bridegroom-Lover and still be a "guest at the wedding"?

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: June 26, 2002.
Copyright © 2018 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: Why Repentance and Forgiveness Are So Closely Tied Together

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Repentance is not something that we can generate within ourselves at will: "Him [Christ] God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins" (Acts 5:31).

As a gift, repentance is worth more than any money could be, for it provides the only avenue of escape from our inward prison, which we detest. It is a supernaturally endowed hatred of sin and a corresponding love for righteousness. Automatically, this produces a change in the life. It is not a work that you perform. The Holy Spirit does it in you. Your "job" is to "let" Him do it, to "let" Him give His gift. Don't push Him away.

The original New Testament word for forgiveness does not mean a mere pardon, as though God blinks His eye at our sin and excuses it the way you excuse someone for stepping on your toe. The word means "taking away" the sin. God's forgiveness is powerful.

This is why repentance and forgiveness are so closely tied together. A truly repenting person can be freely forgiven by God because the repenting person now hates the sin itself, and therefore the sin is actually gone. Because Christ "gave Himself for our sins" (Gal. 1:4), they are rightfully His, and we have no right to hang on to them. Anyone who clings to his sins is robbing Christ of what He bought with His blood And where does Christ put those sins He takes away? "[He] will trample our sins underfoot and send them to the bottom of the sea!" (Micah 7:19, Good News Bible).

Any brand of justification by faith that does not include genuine forgiveness as remission of sins and salvation from sin is a counterfeit. It is not the New Testament kind. But New Testament justification by faith never produces pride or fanaticism. He who remembers Christ's cross can have no "holier-than-thou" spirit. He is always aware that he has not one iota of righteousness himself. He knows his weakness, how prone he is to respond to temptation, how easily he can fall. His loyalty to Christ is not a self-centered desire for a reward in heaven but a heartfelt longing to live to the honor and glory of His crucified Redeemer. He has found something to be concerned about that is vastly greater than his own personal security or "acceptance" with God.

Like a bride who is concerned for her husband's honor, the believer is caught up in the most thrilling motivation human hearts can ever know--sympathy with Christ in His closing work of atonement.

--Robert J. Wieland

From: Gold Tried in the Fire, 1993.
Copyright © 2018 by "Dial Daily Bread."

Dial Daily Bread: Is It Our Job to Initiate a "Relationship" With Jesus?

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

It's conventional wisdom among many that it's our job to initiate a "relationship" with the Lord Jesus, and then it's our job to "maintain" it. The basic idea seems to be that the Lord is waiting for us to hang on, and if we fall off or backslide, too bad for us. He is like a storekeeper waiting for us to find Him. If we don't, we've had it.

The truth is that we're not strong enough to make a success of hanging on. The "everlasting gospel" has better Good News for us: Our salvation does not depend on our strength in holding on to the Lord, but on our believing that the Lord is holding on to us. The Bible pleads, "Be reconciled to God" (2 Cor. 5:29). A clearer understanding of His on-going, persistent love is needed; the Good Shepherd is not waiting for the lost sheep to find his way back.

The Lord is not like a storekeeper waiting for us to come to where He is, popular and orthodox as that idea has been; He is going door to door, knocking, seeking us (Rev. 3:20). He "will seek what was lost" (Ezek. 34:16). When God so loved the world that He gave so much, He took the initiative in seeking a "relationship" with us. We didn't ask Him to do it! Further, now He seeks to maintain the "relationship" with us, "awakening [us] morning by morning," to educate us and train us (Isa. 50:4).

The Father took the initiative in waking Jesus up every morning! Does He love us less? Our problem is that we so often refuse; we pull the covers over our head, or we sleep late because we stayed up late the night before. We don't respond as Jesus did (vs. 5).

He tries to maintain that "relationship," but it is possible to wear out His patience; He Himself is infinite, but His patience is not. Anyone can insult the Lord and abuse Him only so long. "Consider the goodness and severity of God" (Rom. 11:22). It makes sense.

For each who is saved at last, it's God who took the initiative; for each who is lost at last, it will be he who took the initiative in turning away from the pleading of the Holy Spirit. You cannot fall into a ditch without the Holy Spirit warning you! But if you silence His voice so long, you become deaf to His pleading. Let's learn now to recognize that voice.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: December 23, 2006.
Copyright © 2018 by "Dial Daily Bread."