'Top Side of the Soul'
Keeping the 'top side' of the soul open to God is necessary for true forgiveness and justification.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the necessity of keeping the 'top side' of our souls open to God, allowing His light and grace to illuminate our lives. He contrasts human forgiveness, which often carries shadows of the past, with God's complete and immediate forgiveness that erases our sins. Tozer encourages believers to be willing to embrace this divine acceptance, which hinges on their openness to God's transformative power. The sermon calls for a deeper commitment to maintaining a transparent relationship with God, free from the burdens of past mistakes. Ultimately, it is through this openness that we can fully experience God's grace and renewal.
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It is certainly a reality in our day that too few men and women are willing to keep the "top side" of their souls open to God and to His light from heaven. You may wonder about such expression as the "top side" of the soul, but I do think it is in line with Bible teaching, and certainly in line with all Christian experience. The heart and soul are open to God in some people's lives, but certainly not in others. We should be aware that man's forgiveness is not always like God's. When a man makes a mistake and has to be forgiven, the shadow may still hang over him among his fellows. But when God forgives, He begins the new page right away.
Then when the devil runs up and says, "What about his past?" God replies, "What past?
He has been forgiven!" Now, I think that kind of forgiveness and justification and acceptance with God depends upon a person's willingness to keep the "top side" of the soul open to God and His saving grace!
Sermon Outline
- The Reality of a Closed Soul
- Too few people keep the 'top side' of their souls open to God
- This is a reality in our day
Key Quotes
“When God forgives, He begins the new page right away.” — A.W. Tozer
“What about his past? He has been forgiven!” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- We must be willing to receive God's light and saving grace in order to experience true forgiveness and justification.
- God's forgiveness completely erases the past, leaving no room for guilt or shame.