Break With This World
The Christian's break with the world is a radical and necessary step in following Christ and being conformed to His image.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes that true Christians, who genuinely love and trust Jesus Christ, must renounce the world and adopt Christ as their model for living. He points out that many believers desire comfort and peace but shy away from the radical commitment required to follow Christ fully. Tozer asserts that the world cannot fulfill its promises, and thus, a true disciple seeks to be conformed to the image of Christ, who serves as the perfect example. This longing for transformation is central to the Christian experience, driving believers to pursue a life that reflects Christ's character.
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I dare to say that Christians who have genuinely come to love and trust Jesus Christ have also renounced this world and have chosen a new model after which to pattern their lives. Further, we should say that this is the aspect of the Christian life that most people do not like. They want comfort. They want blessing. They want peace. But they recoil from this radical, revolutionary break with the world. To follow Christ in this rough and thorough-going way is too much for them! Actually, the true Christian dissents from the world because he knows that it cannot make good on its promises.
As Christ's believing disciple, he is not left without a "norm" to which he seeks to be adjusted.
The Lord Jesus Christ is Himself the norm, the ideally perfect model, and the worshiping soul yearns to be like Him. Indeed, the whole drive behind the Christian life is the longing to be conformed to the image of Christ!
Sermon Outline
- The Christian's Break with the World points: - Renouncing the World's Influence - Choosing a New Model (Christ)
- The World's Response to the Christian's Break points: - Desire for Comfort, Blessing, and Peace - Rejection of Radical Christianity
- The Christian's Norm points: - The Lord Jesus Christ as the Ideal Model - The Christian's Longing to be Conformed to Christ
Key Quotes
“To follow Christ in this rough and thorough-going way is too much for them!” — A.W. Tozer
“The whole drive behind the Christian life is the longing to be conformed to the image of Christ!” — A.W. Tozer
“The Lord Jesus Christ is Himself the norm, the ideally perfect model, and the worshiping soul yearns to be like Him.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Christians must be willing to make radical changes in their lives to follow Christ and break with the world.
- The Christian's norm for living should be the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the ideally perfect model.
- The desire to be conformed to the image of Christ should drive the Christian's life and decisions.