Ascription of Glory
The quality of one's worship is affected by their comfort level with the holy attributes of God, which requires a deeper understanding and repentance.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the importance of recognizing and ascribing glory to the holy attributes of God, noting that many Christians struggle with this understanding. He points out that holiness is not merely an adjective but a profound acknowledgment of God's nature. Tozer reflects on biblical figures like Abraham, David, and Paul, who, despite their goodness, had flaws and needed repentance. He urges believers to confess not only their actions but also their inherent human weaknesses, as true fellowship with God requires humility and honesty about our nature. Ultimately, God's knowledge of our hearts allows for restoration and deeper faith.
Text
I am discovering that many Christians are not really comfortable with the holy attributes of God. In such cases, I am forced to wonder about the quality of their worship. The word "holy" is much more than an adjective saying that God is a holy God. It is an ecstatic ascription of glory to the triune God. Everything that appears to be good among men and women must be discounted, for we are humans. Abraham, David and Elijah, Moses, Peter and Paul-all were good men, but each had his human flaws and weaknesses as members of Adam's race. Each had to find his own place of humble repentance.
Because God knows our hearts and our intentions, He is able to restore His believing children in the faith!
So, we should be honest and confess that much of our problem in continuing fellowship with a holy God is that many Christians only repent for what they do, rather than for what they are!
Sermon Outline
- The Problem of Uncomfortable Worship
- The Meaning of 'Holy'
- The Human Condition
- The Importance of True Repentance
- We must repent for what we are, not just what we do
- God restores His believing children through repentance
Key Quotes
“The word 'holy' is much more than an adjective saying that God is a holy God.” — A.W. Tozer
“Because God knows our hearts and our intentions, He is able to restore His believing children in the faith!” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- We must be honest about our own flaws and weaknesses in order to truly worship God.
- True repentance involves changing who we are, not just what we do.
- God is able to restore us through repentance, but we must be willing to let go of our pride and flaws.