Sunday, August 15, 2010

Wisdom from Tozer

Today's Daily Tozer:

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.--Titus 2:11-12 

The fact is that the New Testament message embraces a great deal more than an offer of free pardon. It is a message of pardon, and for that may God be praised; but it is also a message of repentance. It is a message of atonement, but it is also a message of temperance and righteousness and godliness in this present world. It tells us that we must accept a Savior, but it tells us also that we must deny ungodliness and worldly lusts. The gospel message includes the idea of amendment, of separation from the world, of cross-carrying and loyalty to the kingdom of God even unto death. 

To be strictly technical, these latter truths are corollaries of the gospel, and not the gospel itself; but they are part and parcel of the total message which we are commissioned to declare....

To offer a sinner the gift of salvation based upon the work of Christ, while at the same time allowing him to retain the idea that the gift carries with it no moral implications, is to do him untold injury where it hurts him worst. 

--The Set of the Sail, 19-20. 

1 comment:

Ρωμανός ~ Romanós said...

Who can disagree with Tozer? He is one of the most Godly Church fathers of modern times.

His last paragraph reiterates the warning against the Church trafficking in cheap grace, which is the main problem with every church today.

If it'll fill the assembly hall to leave out the part of the good news which says, "If a man would be My disciple, he must take up His cross daily and follow Me," then let's not mention it. Maybe the people will find out about this on their own. Let's tell them only enough to keep them entertained.

Anathema to the hirelings!