On Being Inwardly Christian
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the importance of an inward Christian faith that transforms the inner person.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes that true Christian faith is an inward experience rather than an outward expression, highlighting that the essence of Christianity lies within the spirit and heart of the believer. He argues that many misunderstand the nature of faith by focusing on external solutions to internal problems, which only perpetuates the rut of the inner person. Tozer asserts that Christ dwells within us, making the inward transformation essential for genuine faith. He calls for believers to recognize that the kingdom of God is within and to seek spiritual renewal from the inside out.
Text
Fellowship, committees and clubs are all right under the right circumstances, but this kind of an answer to that kind of a problem presupposes that those who give the answer have misuderstood the problem. There are three things they misunderstand. First, they misunderstand the nature of Christian faith. Christian faith is inward, not outward. It is of the spirit and not of the flesh. The kingdom of God is within you, Christ dwells in your heart, and "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27) is the burning core of the Christian faith. So Christianity, the true Christian faith, is inward in nature--we are to be inwardly Christians.
It is inside, somewhere in the spirit, soul and heart--the inner person--that we get into the rut.
Because the problem is inward, it is ridiculous to say, "All right. The inner person, the spirit of me, the inner shrine of me, is in a rut. It isn't where it ought to be, so let's eat something."
Sermon Outline
- I points: - Understanding the Nature of Christian Faith - The Inward vs. Outward Focus - The Role of the Spirit
- II points: - The Kingdom of God Within - Christ Dwelling in Our Hearts - Hope of Glory
- III points: - Misunderstanding the Problem - The Inner Person's Struggles - Addressing Inward Issues
- IV points: - The Importance of Inner Transformation - Living as Inwardly Christians - Practical Steps for Spiritual Growth
Key Quotes
“Christian faith is inward, not outward.” — A.W. Tozer
“The kingdom of God is within you.” — A.W. Tozer
“Christ in you, the hope of glory.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Reflect on your inner spiritual state and seek transformation from within.
- Prioritize spiritual practices that nurture your inner faith over external rituals.
- Engage in community discussions that focus on inward growth rather than outward appearances.