Knowing With the Heart
The inward witness of true religion is a consciousness of God and spiritual things that results from faith and obedience to the Scriptures.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes that true religion is rooted in an inward witness of God, an awareness that comes from the Holy Spirit and is cultivated through faith and obedience to Scripture. This profound experience transcends mere doctrine, leading to a deep consciousness of God that is often unexplainable. Tozer reflects on how this intimate acquaintance with God was once a common expectation in Protestant churches, highlighting that even today, many believers can attest to this spiritual reality. He encourages the recognition of this inner witness as a vital aspect of the Christian faith, affirming that God continues to reveal Himself to those who seek Him earnestly.
Text
. . . there is at the root of true religion an inward witness, an awareness of God and Christ at the farthest-in core of the renewed Christian?s spirit given to him by the Spirit of God. This experience results from faith in and obedience to the Scriptures. It is the end result of Bible doctrine but it is not that doctrine. It is a consciousness of God and spiritual things too deep and wonderful to utter or even think.
If this sounds too extreme or mystical let me remind my readers that it was once an accepted and expected phenomenon in most Protestant churches. In happier and holier times conversion was held to be (among other blessed things) an immediate acquaintance with God in living, spiritual experience. This came about as the result of the Word preached in the power of the Spirit.
And let?s remember one thing more. Even today there are those who can testify that they too know what I am talking about here. We do not need to appeal to the dead past for support of our teaching. God still has His thousands who know what the inner witness is.
Sermon Outline
- The Inward Witness of True Religion
- A Historical Perspective
- The Relevance of the Inner Witness Today
- Conversion was once an immediate acquaintance with God in living, spiritual experience
- Result of the Word preached in the power of the Spirit
- There are still those who can testify to the inner witness
- No need to appeal to the past for support
Key Quotes
“A consciousness of God and spiritual things too deep and wonderful to utter or even think.” — A.W. Tozer
“Conversion was once an immediate acquaintance with God in living, spiritual experience.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Faith and obedience to the Scriptures are essential for experiencing the inward witness.
- The inward witness is a personal and intimate experience with God.
- There are still people today who can testify to the reality of the inward witness.