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Quotes (518)

If the Holy Spirit were taken away from the New Testament church, ninety percent of what they did would come to a halt. But if the Holy Spirit were taken away from today’s church, only ten percent of what it does would cease.

– A.W. Tozer

36 thoughts on “Quotes (518)”

  1. Once again Tozer correctly diagnosed the condition of the church in his day as well as the church in our day – some 50 years before the fact.

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  2. Coram Deo can I ask you where you got this quote from? Was it from one of his books or a sermon or something? Have a couple of his books and would like to see how he expands on what he says! Sadly its very true but im afraid that too many dont realise it…..including pastors and elders in what we might deem “sound” churches.

    R.P.

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  5. grace,

    Be careful what you wish for. Many of Tozer’s writings would make Paul Washer sound almost seeker-sensitive. (I’m not saying Paul Washer is seeker-sensitive, mind you. Just saying that some of Tozer’s quotes–like this one, and this one, and this one–are rather blistering by comparison.)

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  6. And lest anyone lean toward Tozer worship, let us be reminded that he seriously neglected his family in pursuit of his ministry. Not a good example in that regard. Every man has failings – the good ones will point us to Christ.

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  7. Fourpointer, very astute! To me, Mr. Washer has increasingly seemed to be preaching what has been called by some as Lordship Salvation. That salvation has additional requirements is not true. One of my favorite quotes – “The change in your heart, sinner, is God’s part and you may be sure He will attend to that. Your part is to simply believe in Him. Whatever else is necessary in your eternal salvation, the Lord attends to when you trust in Him, or believe in Him.”

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  8. grace,

    So, are you actually saying that you don’t have to confess Jesus Christ as Lord if you want to be saved? Because if you are, you are speaking against the Scriptures, which say “If you confess Jesus Chruist as Lord and believe in your heart God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). Did you notice what the apostle said, If you confess Jesus Christ as LORD—not as “Savior.”

    That is an “if-and-then” statement. “If A and B then C.” In this case, A and B have to be true in order for C to be true. If A or B are not true, then C is not true. In other words, if one do not confess Jesus Christ as Lord, then that person is not saved.

    That’s not adding to Scripture. That’s simply saying what the Scriptures say. If you have a problem with that, then you have a problem with the word of God, because HE is the one who said it.

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  9. On the contrary, THE REQUIREMENT IS confessing Jesus Christ as Lord, not any additional requirements as set forth by Mr. Washer. BTW, I LUVVED your 7/30/09 blog on verse by verse thru Phillippians, what a RX for the world’s current problems. Selfishness is at the center of them all – divorce, economic turmoil, lust, crime, etc. Yet we have the perfect SELFLESS example in our LORD, Jesus Christ. May we all strive to confess him as our Lord and be saved!

    My quote has meaning for all of us AFTER we have confessed Jesus Christ as Lord.

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  10. grace,

    Just so I understand, what additional things does Paul Washer add to the requirements for salvation? I don’t think I’ve heard him add anything to the gospel in any sermons I have heard from him, but I may have missed something.

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  11. I like Pablo Washer, he just emphasizes the works part too much for me – like when he was talking about Matthew 7:14 and said Jesus is the “gate” and the “way” is the process of living a holy life till we die AKA works. Sounds a little too much like confessing is not enough.

    I believe that AFTER we have confessed, God will take care of us because we will never be perfect. Washer says AFTER we have confessed there is more work to do in order to be saved. That’s my issue.

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  12. In all honesty, that is really surprising to hear. I know he’s said that if a person’s love for Christ doesn’t move them to good works, or that they don’t feel the need to follow His commandments that that person should check their faith to see if it is real (see James 2:14-24; 1st John 5:2, 2nd Corinthians 13:5). But I don’t think he’s ever preached a Roman Catholic type of “salvation by works.” I may be wrong.

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  13. It’s a fine line, I know, but I still listen to and process Mr. Paul’s sermons. It’s just that if I confess Jesus as Lord and then tell a lie afterward, I feel Washer is saying I’m toast, whereas I believe God’s grace and Christ’s atonement and my confession are sufficient, that IS THE GOSPEL – or am I wrong?

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  14. Grace,
    Paul Washer preaches what the bible clearly teaches about the doctrine of regeneration – works after salvation are merely evidence of it. If you are saved, you WILL strive for holiness, you will grow more Christlike, you will live a life of continual repentance. Christ Himself teaches, “If you love me, you will obey what I command” John 14:15. Also this from 1 John 2:4, ‘The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
    Merely confessing sin is NOT enough, one must turn from sin and submit to the authority and lordship of Jesus Christ in their lives. This is a ‘work’ only God Himself can bring about.
    We are commanded not to love the world, yet, you cannot distinguish many who profess Christ from those who don’t. Why? Because they have never been born from above, they have not been changed from the inside out {read Ezekiel 36:26}. What matters most? ‘Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation.’ Galatians 6:15
    Washer hammers on the doctrine of regeneration because easy believism is so very prevalent in American Christianity.

    As for requirements for salvation, there are none. There are commands, ‘repent’, be ‘born again’, ‘believe’; but, we cannot bring any of this about. Salvation is solely by God’s grace.

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  15. Anyone who says works is required to be saved or stay saved or be sanctified is in error. It is the grace of God through Christ Jesus that saved, saves, and sanctifies. I’ve not heard Washer claim one’s works finish the redemption that is in reality started and completed by Christ.

    However, in a message from 2005 or so, at a small church in north Texas, Washer was commenting about the church youth who were disrespectful to him earlier that day. While rebuking the youth at the evening service, Washer compared himself to Elisha, saying that they should reckon whom they were disrespecting, as a bear might come out the woods and eat them up. Next evening, he told the men in the front row of the meeting that he knew suffering for Christ (based on his mission work in South America) and that he was man enough to take out all them in the first row.

    Now, I have no doubt about Washer’s heart for the Lord nor his service and suffering therein. But nobody of whom God hasn’t spoken such stuff about ought to open his mouth in such a manner as did Washer that evening.

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  16. Very poignant comments Lyn and Manfred – thank you! That’s my point – I don’t believe Paul is toast because of his failings and I do believe that he has confessed Jesus as Lord. We all have the temptation to say “If you confess Jesus Christ as Lord and believe in your heart God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” and then add the caveat “UNLESS of course you don’t keep the commandments and turn away from sin, cuz then you’re not showing the fruits of REALLY TRULY CONFESSING I.E. you were just kidding and I can judge that by your weaknesses as evidenced to me that you are not REALLY saved . . . cuz a TRUE confessor who is REALLY saved would NEVER do THAT! Am I making sense or just rambling?

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  17. Grace,
    Do you think a born again believer continues on in his/her old habitual sinful ways? What distinguishes a believer from a non-believer?

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  20. Confession of Jesus as Lord only! Otherwise where do you draw the line after that ? Confession and almost perfect? confession but mild sinner? Confession and nowhere near perfect? Confession and Judas Iscariot? you tell me

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  21. So Grace, you are not a proponent of the doctrine of regeneration? I have a co-worker who professes to believe in Jesus as well, yet, she gets drunk has immoral sex, and cusses like a sailor. Is she going to heaven Grace?

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  22. I would be so bold as to say – as I have to many men – that if you say you are redeemed and there’s NO CHANGE in your appetites for sin or righteousness, no growing hate for sin or sense of your own need of Christ, you need to check your presupposition. For it’s certain that redeemed folks sin. And it’s certain that goats can act like sheep but that don’t make them so. Many have been told they were saved – as was I when I was very young – but that don’t make it true. If one is a new creature in Christ, there will be a growing disgust with himself and a growing appreciation for Christ.

    There’s no simple litmus test – speaking in tongues, etc. – but “by their fruits ye shall know them”. Is the Holy Spirit of God developing His fruit in your life? That’s the test, the one Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 13:5.

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  23. Manfred – You make an excellent point re. Tozer and how his family apparently suffered from his focus on what he believed to be his main ministry. I cannot speak directly to his case as I am unaware of it, but I know this sin (neglecting family for the pulpit) is the scourge of many modern preachers. And it is tragic, truly tragic as it violates one of the basic tenants of Scripture; that is, “if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” (I Tim 5:8)

    Personally, I would much rather listen to a man slow of speech and rude of tongue who was a model in loving his wife as Christ loved the church and in raising his children in the fear and admonition of the Lord. A man (more properly men as I believe in plurality of elders) who had a good report within and without. One who was given to hospitality unto the saints and the lost, who loved not in word alone but in deed and truth.

    But such men you will not find on YouTube or Sermon Audio as I think we are too much like the Greeks of days gone by who esteemed men for their excellency of speech and enticing words of wisdom.

    (p.s. I’m most assuredly not disparaging anyone in particular but am speaking in generalities and just how I see things.)

    p.s. When I mean you will not find such men on YouTube and SermonAudio I mean those slow of speech who do not possess strong oratorical skills but rather excel in the other areas I noted.

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  24. Am I going to heaven if I confess Jesus, then lie a little, cheat a little, covet a little and don’t do any of the “greater” sins? I think so, cuz I’m not perfect and noone is including you and your co-worker.

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  25. Grace- Do you know what Christ says about those who confess Him with their mouths only, yet live like hell? Therefore the Lord said: “Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths And honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me’ Isaiah 29:13 I.O.W. people who say they believe in Jesus yet, willfully habitually sin against Him are still lost in sin. We are not talking sinless perfection, we are talking being born again, born from above by the power of God. It is this miracle, this new birth that only God can work in the hearts and minds of lost, dead sinners.

    Here is what the Lord Jesus Christ commands all to do, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew18:3
    The word converted means ‘to turn one’s self from one’s course of conduct, i.e. to change one’s mind {www.blueletterbible.org}. This is the call to repent, which you will find repeatedly both in the old testament and new. You simply cannot knowingly sin against God and enter into His kingdom. That isn’t to say born again believers do not stumble into sin, BUT, they will not stay there.

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  26. Brother Michael,

    Many thanks for your reply. The church my wife I belong to is blessed with 2 elders who – better than any I’ve known personally (except for Randall Easter – who I put in with my two elders in this regard) take right care of the families and guard their time with them. Both are humble and gentle with the folks in the church, both preach the Truth without compromise very effectively. Both are “tent makers” to a degree and both see church growth as qualifying elders and sending them out to plant new churches rather than the cancerous mega-church model so prevalent.

    Of my two elders, Voddie is the “better communicator”, but I dare say he would stack up well against most anyone today. I love both men and thank God for them regularly.

    Voddie and his wife home school their kids (4 of them). When a boy reaches 12 years, Voddie takes over 100% of his education. (I suspect Paul does something similar, but he is less public.) Both of these men – as far as I can see – have their priorities right, and seek to honor the Lord in all that they do and how they do it.

    It’s a wonderful blessing to be at Grace Family Baptist Church in Spring, Texas.

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  27. Amen Manfred – I’ve listened to Voddie often and from all I can see (via the internet) he is a man of his word and loves his family deeply (as of course the Lord). He truly is a gifted man and I very much loved seeing him on CNN put a feminist newscaster in her place.

    Likewise, I’m so happy you have a wonderful home; please pray that I might find one.

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  28. grace,

    I would add that if you confess Jesus and then live in the manner which you allude to with no remorse, with no change of heart, with no continued repentance, with conviction of sin, with no chastisement from the God of heaven — then the answer ACCORDING to the Word of God is, No, you are not going to heaven.

    I would highly recommend that you carefully study the little epistle of First John. One verse in particular comes to mind that is very relevant here, 1 John 2:4, “He who says I know Him and does not keep His commandments, is a liar and the truth is not in him.”

    The Desert Pastor

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  30. After confessing Jesus as Lord, I ALWAYS feel remorse when I stumble and sin. What some people are alluding is that if you confess then make mistakes over and over again (which ALL of us will even if we have confessed, correct me if I’m wrong) you will NOT be saved. Desert Pastor, the conclusion I draw from you is that if you confess Jesus, you must then prove it by not sinning again, which is IMPOSSIBLE, except for Christ there is no perfect man. Where is the line drawn? A little sin with remorse? A lot of sin with remorse? Or continual good works AKA the “way” as alluded to by Mr. Washer?

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  31. Grace,

    This is from Hebrews 12:14, ‘Pursue {meaning ‘pursue in order to find or overtake; metaphorically to follow earnestly after} peace with all people, and holiness {meaning ‘sanctification, essential purity, sanctification wrought by the Holy Spirit, ‘be holy’ meaning ‘to purify internally by renewing of the soul, to separate from profane things and dedicate to God}, without which no one will see the Lord’.
    we should pursue holiness, which means we will not live a life characterized by sin; the Spirit of God brings about this holiness within God’s people. Do not mistake the grace of God as a license to sin!

    Read this from God’s own word in 1 John chapter 3, ‘And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.’
    This does NOT mean we attain sinless perfection; however, we will not live a life characterized by sin. When a believer sins, he/she will not stay in that sin { bear in mind 1 John 1:9}. The Spirit of God brings them to repentance. We continue to strive for sweet fellowship with our God, being transformed by the renewing of our minds through the reading of His word and the work of the Spirit within.

    Will you consider listening to the sermon I posted to you earlier? I am not trying to pick a fight with you Grace, wrong teaching and understanding of grace, sin, salvation will cost many, many deceived souls for all of eternity.
    I will tell you God saved me from my sins, one of which was homosexuality. I detest my old way of life, my sinful past. It is heartbreaking to me to think how I sinned so wickedly against my God. By His power, I no longer commit sexually immoral/perverted acts. I have repented of my wickedness…again, all by His power. Do I still struggle with sin? Yes! I don’t intentionally sin, i.o.w., I don’t think ‘I’m going to pick someone up for a one night stand, all I have to do is ask God to forgive me the next day’. True repentance is a change of mind about ourselves, which leads to a changed life. As we walk with Christ we will strive daily for holiness, understanding we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

    May our Lord be gracious to you Grace

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  32. I don’t feel like you’re fighting with me lyn, so don’t worry. I listened to your audio post and it was good. You still struggle with sin and I believe you have accepted Jesus. So, it leads me to believe that confessing was your saving moment, not any of your works, good or bad since then. You accepted the free gift that Christ offers to all and that is the key. The question is, do you need to further qualify yourself with good works? or can you also disqualify your salvation with sin and bad works? There is the fine line that seems to divide the christian world, including those “carnal christians” who use the idea of saved by grace to justify their willful rebellion against God and his commandments. If someone says to me “I was saved when I accepted Jesus as Lord but then ruined it all by sinning against him so now I’m not going to heaven”, I have a hard time with that one.

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  34. From the FreeDictionary.com:

    palingenesis
    1. partial or complete regeneration.
    2. the doctrine that a soul passes through several bodies in a series of rebirths. Also palingenesia, palingenesy. — palingenetic, adj.
    See also: Birth
    1. the phase in the development of an organism in which its form and structure pass through the changes undergone in the evolution of the species.
    2. the morphological and structural changes that occur during insect development. Also palingenesia, palingenesy. — palingenetic, adj.
    See also: Form
    a belief that baptism effects a new birth or regeneration. Also palingenesy. — palingenesist, n. — palingenesian, adj.

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  36. Grace,
    Let me address your questions
    1. do you need to further qualify yourself with good works? The works a believer does are wrought by God, not as a means of qualification, but as a result of being born again.
    2. can you also disqualify your salvation with sin and bad works? 1 John 1:9, John 10:28.29, 1 John 5:13 are the key to this question

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