The rebuke is directed primarily to its clergy ("the angel of the church of the Laodiceans") who feel proudly "rich and increased with goods, in need of nothing" when in God's sight they are THE one [in history] "wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked" ~Robert J. Wieland
"But God means what He says: no one can keep you out of heaven, except your own perverse choice." Robert J. Wieland
"Elijah the prophet is often misunderstood and unappreciated. It is true that he was a humble man from the mountains of Gilead with no official endorsement. But he was a deep and keen thinker on a level far beyond that of the leadership of Israel." ~Robert J. Wieland
"Your experience is that of many thousands of sincere Christians, but it is not real Christian experience, because it is not the experience of Christ. He “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” It was not because He was of a different nature from us, for inasmuch as the children were partakers of flesh and blood, “He also Himself likewise took part of the same” (Heb. 4:15; 2:14), and in all things was “made like unto His brethren” (vs. 17)." ~Robert J. Wieland
Now, we return to our question: does it make sense that we, sinful selfish people by nature can be changed, converted, purified, transformed, even "sanctified," by believing those "promises"? ~Robert J. Wieland
"You may suffer problems in your family (so did David, and so did Jesus), or at work, or even (could it be so?) in your church--the place where you expected peace and harmony." ~Robert J. Wieland
"The healing at the Sheep Pool in John 5 illustrates what Jesus accomplished by His sacrifice on His cross." ~Robert J. Wieland
“‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved’” Acts 16:31