The Way to God Is a Person
The sermon emphasizes the importance of Jesus Christ as the path to true knowledge and understanding of God.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes that knowing God requires glorifying Him and being thankful, warning against the folly of exchanging God's glory for corruptible images. He highlights the darkness that ensues when people reject the truth of God, leading to moral decay and a desperate need for mercy. Tozer asserts that true knowledge of God and the ability to live righteously comes only through Jesus Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life. The sermon calls for a deep appreciation of Christ's role in revealing God and guiding us towards a life that pleases Him.
Text
When they knew God, they glorified him not as God, read the terrible words, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things . . . who changed the truth of God into a lie.
On and on the devastating words flow, mounting in intensity till no one with any conscience left or any fear of moral consequences can stand to look the Judge in the face, but must cast down his guilty eyes and cry, Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving-kindness: according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
Apart from the Scriptures we have no sure philosophy; apart from Jesus Christ we have no true knowledge of God; apart from the inliving Spirit we have no ability to live lives morally pleasing to God. How wonderful that Christ could say, I am the way, the truth, and the life. For this we can never be thankful enough.
Sermon Outline
- The Human Condition
- The Need for Divine Revelation
- The Path to True Knowledge
- Jesus as the Way, Truth, and Life
- The Role of Jesus Christ
- The Power of the Holy Spirit
Key Quotes
“Apart from the Scriptures we have no sure philosophy; apart from Jesus Christ we have no true knowledge of God; apart from the inliving Spirit we have no ability to live lives morally pleasing to God.” — A.W. Tozer
“How wonderful that Christ could say, I am the way, the truth, and the life.” — A.W. Tozer
“For this we can never be thankful enough.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- We must acknowledge and thank God for who He is to glorify Him.
- We need Scripture, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit to understand God and live morally pleasing lives.
- We should be thankful for the gift of Jesus Christ as the way, truth, and life.