Our Faith Reflects Our Concept of God
Our faith reflects our concept of God, and a high concept of God is necessary for strong faith and a strong church.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes that the destiny of individuals and nations is closely tied to their conception of God. He argues that a nation's strength is reflected in its faith, and as Rome's understanding of God weakened, so did its moral and societal fabric. Tozer asserts that faith is fundamentally rooted in the character of God, and a low view of God leads to weak faith. He warns that unbelief is a serious sin, equating it to calling God a liar, which undermines His trustworthiness. Ultimately, Tozer calls for a higher understanding of God to strengthen both personal faith and the church.
Text
All things else being equal, the destiny of a man or nation may safely be predicted from the idea of God which that man or that nation holds. No nation can rise higher than its conception of God. While Rome held to her faith in the stern old gods of the Pantheon she remained an iron kingdom. Her citizens unconsciously imitated the character of her gods, however erroneous their conception of the Deity might have been. When Rome began to think loosely about God she began to rot inwardly, and that rot never stopped till it brought her to the ground.
So it must always be with men and nations. A church is strong or weak just as it holds to a high or low idea of God. For faith rests not primarily upon promises, but upon character. A believer's faith can never rise higher than his conception of God. A promise is never better or worse than the character of the one who makes it. An inadequate conception of God must result in a weak faith, for faith depends upon the character of God just as a building rests upon its foundation.
This explains why unbelief is such a grievous sin; it is pure libel against the Lord of heaven and earth. Unbelief judges God to be unworthy of confidence and withholds its trust from Him. Can there be a more heinous sin than this? He that believeth not God hath made him a liar? (1 John 5:10). Our hearts shrink from the full implications of such a statement, but would not this seem to teach that unbelief attributes to God the character of Satan? Jesus said of Satan, He is a liar and the father of it. Unbelief says virtually the same thing of God.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Destiny of a Man or Nation is Predicted by its Concept of God
- II. A Nation's Conception of God Determines its Character
- III. A High Concept of God Results in a Strong Church
- IV. Faith Depends on the Character of God
- V. An Inadequate Concept of God Leads to Weak Faith
- VI. Unbelief is a Heinous Sin Against God
Key Quotes
“All things else being equal, the destiny of a man or nation may safely be predicted from the idea of God which that man or that nation holds.” — A.W. Tozer
“An inadequate conception of God must result in a weak faith, for faith depends upon the character of God just as a building rests upon its foundation.” — A.W. Tozer
“He that believeth not God hath made him a liar?” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- We must strive to have a high and accurate concept of God in order to have strong faith.
- Unbelief is a serious sin that attributes to God the character of Satan, making Him out to be a liar.
- Our faith depends on the character of God, and we must not settle for an inadequate concept of Him.