Personal Holiness
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the importance of personal holiness, highlighting God's expectation and the provision of His Spirit to enable us to live a life that is pleasing to Him.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the critical importance of personal holiness in the life of a believer, asserting that it is not merely an option but a divine command rooted in Scripture. He challenges the modern Christian attitude that often dismisses holiness as optional, reminding us that as children of a holy God, we are called to reflect His holiness in our conduct. Tozer acknowledges the struggles believers face in pursuing holiness but assures that God's Spirit provides the strength needed to live a life pleasing to Him. He concludes with a heartfelt prayer for strength and awareness of God's presence in our daily lives.
Text
But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy." --1 Peter 1:15-16
You cannot study the Bible diligently and earnestly without being struck by an obvious fact--the whole matter of personal holiness is highly important to God!
Neither do you have to give long study to the attitudes of modern Christian believers to discern that by and large we consider the expression of true Christian holiness to be just a matter of personal option: "I have looked it over and considered it, but I don't buy it!"...
Personally, I am of the opinion that we who claim to be apostolic Christians do not have the privilege of ignoring such apostolic injunctions. I do not mean that a pastor can forbid or that a church can compel. I only mean that morally we dare not ignore this commandment, "Be holy."...
But, brethren, we are still under the holy authority of the apostolic command. Men of God have reminded us in the Word that God does ask us and expect us to be holy men and women of God, because we are the children of God, who is holy. The doctrine of holiness may have been badly and often wounded--but the provision of God by His pure and gentle and loving Spirit is still the positive answer for those who hunger and thirst for the life and spirit well-pleasing to God. I Call It Heresy!, 61-62,68.
"Oh, Lord, I fall so short! Strengthen me today, walk with me, keep me cognizant of Your presence, and guard me from any thought or action that would be displeasing to You. Amen."
Sermon Outline
- The Importance of Personal Holiness
- The State of Modern Christianity
- A Call to Holiness
- The Authority of the Apostolic Command
- The Doctrine of Holiness
- The Positive Answer of God's Spirit
Key Quotes
“You cannot study the Bible diligently and earnestly without being struck by an obvious fact--the whole matter of personal holiness is highly important to God!” — A.W. Tozer
“Men of God have reminded us in the Word that God does ask us and expect us to be holy men and women of God, because we are the children of God, who is holy.” — A.W. Tozer
“Oh, Lord, I fall so short! Strengthen me today, walk with me, keep me cognizant of Your presence, and guard me from any thought or action that would be displeasing to You. Amen.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- We must take seriously the command to be holy and make it a priority in our lives.
- We can live a life that is pleasing to God by seeking the provision of His Spirit.
- We must be aware of our own sinfulness and seek God's strength to live a life that honors Him.