The Union of Faith and Works
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the importance of moral conduct and personal holiness in the Christian life, warning against the dangers of prioritizing faith alone over works.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the inseparable connection between faith and works, arguing that true faith in Christ should naturally lead to moral conduct and holiness. He critiques the modern tendency to view faith as an alternative to action, warning that this mindset has diminished the church's moral standards and led believers astray. Tozer asserts that just as God maintained His holiness in the incarnation, He continues to work within believers to express His moral perfection through their actions. He calls for a return to the understanding that faith must manifest in good works, rather than being seen as a standalone concept.
Text
Just as in eternity God acted like Himself and when incarnated in human flesh still continued to be true to His holiness in all His conduct, so does He when He enters the nature of a believing man. This is the method by which He makes the redeemed man holy. He enters a human nature at regeneration as He once entered human nature at the incarnation and acts as becomes God, using that nature as a medium of expression for His moral perfections.
Cicero, the Roman orator, once warned his hearers that they were in danger of making philosophy a substitute for action instead of allowing it to produce action. What is true of philosophy is true also of religion. The faith of Christ was never intended to be an end in itself nor to serve instead of something else.
In the minds of some teachers faith stands in lieu of moral conduct and every inquirer after God must take his choice between the two. We are presented with the well-known either/or: either we have faith or we have works, and faith saves while works damn us. Hence the tremendous emphasis on faith and the apologetic, mincing approach to the doctrine of personal holiness in modern evangelism. This error has lowered the moral standards of the church and helped to lead us into the wilderness where we currently find ourselves.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Nature of God's Holiness
- A. God's holiness is an essential part of His nature
- B. God's holiness is not changed by incarnation or regeneration
- II. The Importance of Moral Conduct
- A. Faith and works are not mutually exclusive
- B. Moral conduct is a necessary expression of faith
- III. The Danger of Prioritizing Faith Over Works
- A. Faith without works is incomplete
- B. The emphasis on faith alone has led to moral decline in the church
Key Quotes
“The faith of Christ was never intended to be an end in itself nor to serve instead of something else.” — A.W. Tozer
“We are presented with the well-known either/or: either we have faith or we have works, and faith saves while works damn us.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- As believers, we must strive to live a life of moral conduct and personal holiness, not just relying on faith alone.
- The emphasis on faith alone has led to a lack of emphasis on moral conduct and personal holiness in modern evangelism.
- We must seek to live a life that reflects the character of God, demonstrating His holiness and moral perfections in our daily lives.