Daily Bread

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Justification--A Proclamation From God Himself

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Justification is the best good news anyone will ever hear, for it is the proclamation from God Himself that sets you free from condemnation forever. It's the news that you walk out of prison. (Imagine you've been on Death Row in your state prison, and you are at last vindicated or acquitted! You'd be quite happy, wouldn't you? Now, be happier "in Christ"!)

Some are perplexed by what they assume is a contradiction in Romans 5. In verse 1 we read that we are "justified by faith," that is, by the believing that we do here and now today, experientially. It seems to say that nothing happens until we believe, and that the initiative is up to us. But in verse 9 we read that we are "justified by [Christ's] blood," and that blood was something that happened and was shed 2000 years ago when He died on His cross.

When we are "justified by faith," there are seven blessings we experience according to Romans 5: (1) "we have peace with God," (2) "we have access ... into this grace wherein we stand," (3) we "rejoice," (4) "we glory in tribulations," (5) we are no longer "ashamed," (6) "the love [agape] of God is shed abroad in our hearts," (7) "the Holy Spirit ... is given unto us."

Now the big question: are all these blessings the result of OUR doing something? Do we trigger all this? Have we taken this initiative? Or is all this the consequence of something that Christ accomplished on His cross, and now at last we have heard of it and we believe it?

It is ONE justification, accomplished totally by the Savior of the world. But appreciated, believed, experienced, by the repentant sinner, who lets it change his heart and his life. At last he lets the Holy Spirit change him; he stops resisting Him. Let that blessed one be you and me!

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: March 9, 2005.

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Friday, October 21, 2011

Wherever There's Bad News, There's Some Good News

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Wherever the Bad News is, there is also some Good News. And the Good News is better than the Bad News. How do I know this? Read Romans 5:20: "Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound." Consider how this wicked world is repeating the history of the world before the Flood of Noah: (1) The earth was filled with violence (Gen. 6:11); (2) the earth was corrupt (vs. 12); (3) the people were given to sexual license, and "took them wives of all they chose" (vs. 2); (4) they were given to sinful pleasure and debauchery (vs. 5), and (5) the wickedness of humanity in general was "great in the earth" (vs. 5).

Jesus said that just before His return, again that wickedness would be repeated in the earth: "as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, and ... knew not until the flood came and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be" (Matt. 24:38, 39). Striking similarities! Selfish depravity is everywhere. But now, where's the Good News?

In Noah's day, there was an ark provided where anybody who believed the Good News could enter in and be safe. So today, the Lord God has an ark of safety where anybody who believes the Good News can find a refuge. That ark is the fellowship of God's people in His church. You are not left alone; open your eyes of faith--there are others who share your faith in Jesus, who also love the Bible, who respond to God's call to repent; yes, you will find fellowship if your heart humbly seeks the Lord.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: March 26, 1998.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

The Grandest Revelations Since Pentecost

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

We humans build houses and then wait for people to buy them and move in. God does the opposite: He "builds" human characters of "righteousness" first and then creates "a new heaven and new earth" for them to move in to, and inhabit (2 Peter 3:13).

This "building" for them a new heaven and new earth is for Him a trifling accomplishment. He once "created ... the earth and the things that therein are" in a mere six days (Rev. 10:6; Ex. 20:11). His problem now is not creating a home for His people to live in forever; it's getting them ready to move in, for only "righteousness" can "dwell there." And He cannot create righteousness in any human heart without that person's full consent; and again, in turn, that full consent is not forthcoming so long as (in any respect) "self" is still holding sway in that heart.

This involves a deeper heart-cleansing than we like to realize. Ever since the beginning of the great Day of Atonement there has been a constant effort on God's part to lead His people to a heart-preparation for the return of Jesus. He is in earnest about that, not content for "world without end" to go on and on, generation after generation of saints going in the grave to join multitudes from Abel on. All of these wonderful saints are "guests" at the marriage supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:9). Wonderful!

But there must also be a "Bride" or there can't be a marriage. One "making herself ready" is the Heroine of this Day of Atonement. But for any bride to be happy in her marriage she must be totally at-one-with her Bridegroom. But that's impossible for any "woman" (even the figurative one, the church) unless she is totally convinced of the devoted love of her Bridegroom.

That brings us to our point: for the church to become so totally won will require the grandest revelations of "Christ and Him crucified" the church (and the world) have heard since Pentecost.

And that will be the message Elijah brings that "turns hearts" (Mal. 4:5, 6).

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: June 12, 2006.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

What Paul Means by His Word "Faith"

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

If you sense that your heart is dry as dust, like the valley of dry bones Ezekiel saw, and you want to come alive, the answer is to see what Paul saw in his Letter to the Galatians. He mentions one word 21 times--evidently it must be the most important idea he has. You MUST understand it! That word is "faith."

Now the most astute Bible student in the world is Satan himself; he fears the Bible. If people can learn to understand and love it, Satan knows his hold on them is broken. He does not like this Letter to the Galatians. So he has done his best to confuse the idea of faith. He doesn't mind if Paul talks about it here 21 times and 37 times in Romans, and you read it for 100 years so long as you don't know what Paul means by the word "faith."

The key definition is found in chapter 3, where Paul links the experience of faith with the crucifixion of Christ (vss. 1, 2). He calls it "the hearing of faith," the listening, the experience of understanding, perceiving, appreciating. Paul sees the cross as not only a legalistic maneuver on God's part to satisfy the judicial claims of the broken law (it is that, for the law demands punishment). But Paul sees far more in the crucifixion of Christ than that.

The idea behind all those 21 uses of the word "faith" is a heart-melting, heart-humbling, awe-inspiring appreciation for what led the Son of God to sacrifice Himself for us. There were many Roman crucifixions that went on all the time, but this was different. Paul was awe-struck that the infinite, divine Son of God had been murdered by humanity, and yet it was love for us that led Him to surrender to humanity's bitter hatred like that. Christ was ascending the throne of His people's hearts by the avenue of crucified love.

Life can no longer be the same for Paul. He cries out, "I am crucified with Christ!" From now on, I am "crucified unto the world and the world is crucified unto me" (2:20; 6:14). That is what Paul means by his word "faith." Unless your human heart is made of stone, it will be captivated by such love, and such faith will be yours.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: June 11, 1998.

Monday, October 17, 2011

Can You Go to Heaven as Paul's "Follower"?

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).

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 "tourist 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 skilful 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 His 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, sensual, half-worldly, half-cold half-hot person get to be "on fire" like Paul?

The answer is 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 for you 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.

Saturday, October 15, 2011

"Salvation Pain"

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

The Father gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask for Him and who will welcome Him when He comes. But let us remember: His first work when He comes will be to "convict [us] of sin" (John 16:8).

Is that painful to us? It may be, but if so, it is a salvation pain. The old Irish poet used to pray that God would enable Him to see himself "as ithirs see me." But the dear Lord in His great love for us goes a step further than Robert Burns was ready to go: He will show us ourselves as God and the heavenly unfallen host see us.

That is "salvation pain."

Some day it will be reality for every human soul, even for those who at last choose to be lost: In Revelation 20 we read of the great "second resurrection" when those who have chosen to be lost are resurrected to gather around the Great White Throne when "the books [are] opened]" (vss.11, 12). That is symbolic but very real language to describe the moment of final self-judgment when every person will see himself not only as others have seen him, but as God sees him.

The lost will not be thrown into the "lake of fire" screaming in protest; a very wise writer declared that they will "welcome destruction" that they might be hidden from the face of the Savior who died their second death for them.

Thank God for His great mercy in showing us now today what those "books of record" have to say; it's not too late today for us to repent and rejoice forevermore in God's forgiveness. That is glorious Good News!

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: August 9, 2008.

Friday, October 14, 2011

The Difference Between a Believer and an Unbeliever

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

The difference between a believer and an unbeliever is his/her prayer. Unbelievers don't need to pray; they can make it on their own. They own the world, everything goes right for them, "Verily I say unto you, they have their reward," says Jesus. But those who "believe" in Jesus have a hard time trying to make it on their own; they fit right into the category of David who continually (almost) pours out his heart in prayer in the Psalms. He has all kinds of "enemies" that he is constantly begging the Lord to defeat for him (wait a moment: don't fall for this lie that David is paranoid: from every prayer session except one [Psalm 88] he emerges joyously triumphant on top of the world in his confidence in God who has heard and answered his prayer; that's not paranoia). That's why I said that "believers" have a hard time making it on their own; they know they can't, so they rejoice in their faith to believe that they can make it with the blessing of their Savior. (And they do!)

The Bible is really full of prayer. The lady in Matthew 15:22-28 who is begging Jesus to heal her daughter "vexed with a devil" is praying; He tested and stretched her faith before He did it. The man with the son who was devil possessed in Mark 9:17-24 is praying, "Lord, if Thou canst do anything, have compassion on us and help us." Again, Jesus tested and stretched his faith, almost agonizingly, before He granted his prayer.

Prayer is meaningless unless you learn to believe (a) that there is a God who is what He says He is ("merciful and gracious, ... plenteous in mercy," Psalm 103:8), and (b) that He hears and rewards those who take the trouble to "come" to Him (Heb. 11:6). The "coming" is a serious, intelligent, well-thought out interview with the Sovereign of the universe who tells you that He is your heavenly Father and you are His child; He meets you on your own ground, as sober as you are. No games, please.

It's not my business to guarantee anything on His behalf; but from some minute personal experience I can testify that He "receiveth sinners," even "eats with" them (Luke 15:2; yes, have lunch with Him!); "forgiveth all our iniquities" (Psalm 103:3); tells us what is wrong with us and encourages us to believe we'll get straightened out (John 16:8-11); gloriously enhances our sense of self-respect (Gal. 2:20); gives us the intimations of coming immortality through faith in Christ (Rom. 8:16-19); and lifts the burden that has been weighing you down for years (Matt. 11:29-30).

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: August 1, 1999.