Universal Brotherhood: The Impossible Dream
A.W. Tozer's sermon argues that universal brotherhood is unattainable without divine intervention due to the pervasive nature of sin in humanity.
A.W. Tozer addresses the concept of universal brotherhood, asserting that it remains an unattainable dream when based solely on the ethics of Jesus. He argues that true brotherhood cannot be achieved without acknowledging the pervasive nature of sin, as exemplified by the biblical story of Cain and Abel. Tozer emphasizes that the teachings of Christ alone cannot overcome the deep-seated issues of jealousy, greed, and hatred that plague humanity. He concludes that the hope for individuals lies in the new birth through Christ, while the ultimate hope for humanity rests in the second coming of Christ.
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The dream of a universal brotherhood based upon the ethics of Jesus is just that-a dream. It is compounded of a few words of Christ mixed with vast numbers of uninspired words spoken by men whose yearnings are to be commended but whose wisdom is suspect. To arrive at the doctrine of brotherhood it is necessary that we reject the major portion of the New Testament and misunderstand the rest. There were once two brothers. They lived in a society that had not had time to develop the many social evils we know today.
Yet one killed the other because sin was there.
If two brothers in the morning of the world could not get on together, how can we hope that the gentle teachings of Jesus can ever bring brotherhood to a race filled with complex iniquities, where men inherit hates and where the souls of all are lacerated by jealousy, envy, egotism, greed and lust? The hope of the individual is the new birth and the acceptance of the teachings of Christ as a way of life. The hope of the race is that Christ shall come again to earth. Even so, Lord, come quickly.
Sermon Outline
- I points: - Introduction to the concept of universal brotherhood - The limitations of human ethics in achieving brotherhood - The role of sin in human relationships
- II points: - Historical examples of brotherhood failures - The impact of societal evils on relationships - The need for divine intervention
- III points: - The necessity of the new birth for individuals - The teachings of Christ as a guide for life - The hope of Christ's return for humanity
Key Quotes
“The dream of a universal brotherhood based upon the ethics of Jesus is just that-a dream.” — A.W. Tozer
“If two brothers in the morning of the world could not get on together, how can we hope that the gentle teachings of Jesus can ever bring brotherhood to a race filled with complex iniquities?” — A.W. Tozer
“The hope of the individual is the new birth and the acceptance of the teachings of Christ as a way of life.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Recognize the limitations of human efforts in achieving true brotherhood.
- Embrace the teachings of Christ as a transformative guide for personal relationships.
- Look forward to the hope of Christ's return as a means of restoring unity among humanity.