God and the Individual
The Christian message emphasizes that every individual person matters to God and is of concern to Him.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes that Jesus Christ's ministry was focused on individuals rather than statistics, highlighting God's personal love for each person. He critiques the modern tendency to view humanity as a collective, often neglecting the significance of the individual. Tozer asserts that the Christian message is fundamentally about God's love for every individual, countering the prevailing humanistic views that diminish personal worth. He encourages listeners to recognize their unique value in God's eyes and to embrace the assurance that they matter deeply to Him.
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When the eternal Son of God became the Son of Man and walked on this earth, He always called individuals to His side. Jesus did not come into the world to deal with statistics! He deals with individuals and that is why the Christian message is and always has been: "God loves the world! He loves the masses and throngs only because they are made up of individuals. He loves every individual person in the world!" In the great humanistic tide of our day, the individual is no longer the concern. We are pressed to think of the human race in a lump. We are schooled to think of the human race in terms of statistics.
In many nations, the state is made to be everything and the individual means nothing at all.
Into the very face and strength of this kind of humanism comes the Christian evangel, the good news of salvation, wondrously alight with the assurance for all who will listen: "You are an individual and you matter to God! His concern is not for genes and species but for the individuals He has created!"
Sermon Outline
- The Christian Message is Individual
- Humanism vs. Christianity
- God's Concern is with Individuals
- God's concern is not for genes and species, but for individuals
- Every individual matters to God
Key Quotes
“Jesus did not come into the world to deal with statistics!” — A.W. Tozer
“God loves the world! He loves the masses and throngs only because they are made up of individuals.” — A.W. Tozer
“You are an individual and you matter to God!” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Recognize that you are an individual who matters to God.
- Understand that God's love is for every individual person, not just the masses.
- Emphasize the importance of every individual in your relationships and interactions.