New Testament Christianity and Ours
The sermon emphasizes the importance of living a selfless life, as exemplified by Christ's life and death on the cross, and warns against the dangers of self-interest.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes that the cross represents not only the selfless life of Christ but also the essence of the normal Christian life, which requires self-denial and following Jesus. He warns against the inherent self-interest in human nature that can lead to spiritual loss, urging believers to evaluate their Christianity against New Testament teachings. Tozer stresses that love is the only acceptable motive for our actions before God, and cautions against disguising self-serving behaviors as godliness. He calls for a radical shift in our motives to align with the true essence of Christian living.
Text
The cross is a symbol of the selfless, others-centered life of Christ, but it does not end there. Our Lord made it also a symbol of the normal Christian life. If any man will come after me, He said, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. The teaching here is too plain to miss. The self-interest motive in our conduct, though it is inherent in fallen human nature, is nevertheless an evil and destructive thing that can lead at last only to tragic and everlasting loss. Love alone can make our conduct acceptable to God.
It is time we checked our brand of Christianity against the New Testament.
There is real danger that we may overlook this radical new motive for human conduct and go on serving our own interests under a disguise of godliness. And that is a mistake none of us can afford to make.
Sermon Outline
- The Cross as a Symbol of Selfless Life
- The Teaching of Self-Denial
- The Dangers of Self-Interest
- Self-interest is an evil and destructive thing
- Self-interest leads to tragic loss
Key Quotes
“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” — A.W. Tozer
“Love alone can make our conduct acceptable to God.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- We must deny ourselves and take up our cross to follow Christ.
- We must prioritize love and selflessness in our conduct to make it acceptable to God.
- We must be careful not to serve our own interests under a disguise of godliness.