Galatians 1:6-9, “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”
Pastor Aiden W. Tozer (1897-1963) was a false prophet! Mr. Tozer unquestionably taught the Devil's lie of Lordship Salvation. At one time I viewed him as a great man of God, but then one day realized that he taught a false gospel. I humbly think that Tozer's teachings are arrogant, highbrow, snobbish, pompous and self-righteousness. No man is going to Heaven who preaches a perverted plan of salvation that requires human effort.
For example: Pastor Tozer errantly states:
"In the Bible the offer of pardon on the part of God is conditioned upon intention to reform on the part of man. There can be no spiritual regeneration till there has been a moral reformation" (The Best of A.W. Tozer, Book 2, pg. 115-117; Compiled by Warren W. Wiersbe).That is very wrong! Salvation is receiving, not achieving. Mr. Tozer requires sinners to "reform" themselves before they can be saved. This goes totally contrary to the plainest teachings in the inspired Holy Bible. Romans 4:5, “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Pastor Tozer is teaching works for salvation!!! Salvation is a free gift, freely given and freely received. Reformation (changing one's behavior) has absolutely nothing to do with going to Heaven.
Dr. Jack Hyles (1926-2001) fully understood this biblical truth...
“The wickedness of a life has not one thing in this world to do with where you go when you die; not one thing!” —Pastor Jack Hyles, “Religion Or Christ?”“Religion and Christ are in opposition to each other!” —Pastor Jack Hyles, “Religion Or Christ?”
I made this brief excerpt from Pastor Hyles' preceding sermon, if you'd like to hear it.
Let me quote infidel Pastor Tozer again:
"In the Bible the offer of pardon on the part of God is conditioned upon intention to reform on the part of man. There can be no spiritual regeneration till there has been a moral reformation" (The Best of A.W. Tozer, Book 2, pp. 115-117; Compiled by Warren W. Wiersbe).
Now at first glance the preceding statement from Mr. Tozer seems logical, but it cannot be supported with Scripture. If a person must be willing to reform (change) to be saved, then what about the young couple who are shacking up in fornication and have no intentions of getting married? Does Tozer mean that God will not save them unless they are willing to marry? Yes, that is exactly what Pastor Tozer foolishly taught. I marvel that men like Aiden Tozer often forget the fact that eternal life is the free gift of God (Romans 5:15-18, 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9). To truly remain a free gift, there can be no exchange or trade of sorts; but rather, you simply take it by faith in Jesus Christ.
Or how about a woman who is a drunkard, chemically addicted. Does she have to commit to attend alcohol rehab to be saved, because there's no way that a person can be delivered from chemical alcohol or drug dependency without medical treatment. Maybe some people can, but most cannot. I've suffered inexplicable afflictions (withdrawal symptoms) just trying to give up prescription Percocet, Dilaudid, Morphine Sulfate, and Oxycontin. You don't just walk away from alcohol, crystal meth and heroine addiction and all the sins associated: theft, prostitution, gangs, et cetera.
In the real world it's not that easy to just “stop sinning.” That's why a person needs Jesus Christ, that is, to get saved and then the Holy Spirit of God can begin to work in that person's life, but it TAKES TIME, depending how far gone a person has sunk into the depths of Satan (Revelation 2:24). The matter of salvation has nothing to do with a willingness to reform or change. Pastor Harry Ironside makes this abundantly clear in his excellent sermon, WHAT IS THE GOSPEL? God saves any sinner that trusts upon Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God, without any demand that the sinner be willing to change.
May I remind you of the precious Words our Lord spoke in John 6:28-29, “Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” Believe and the work is done!
Pastor Harry Ironside (1876-1951) Has it Correct
Please read the following excellent explanation of the Gospel by former Moody Memorial Church pastor, Harry A. Ironside (1876-1951)...
Aiden Tozer's False Gospel
According to Mr. Tozer's errant theology, a lost sinner who wants to get saved, but is unwilling to marry his live-in girlfriend, cannot. Tozer clearly states that a person's salvation is CONDITIONED upon one's intention to reform. This is the same heresy that Jack T. Chick teaches in his Chick tracts. This is the same heresy that John MacArthur and Ray Comfort teach. Salvation is not conditional upon anything other than a person coming as a sinner in need of the Savior. John 6:29, "Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." The only prerequisite to being saved is that you become guilty before God (Romans 3:19), and then believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to remedy those sins (Acts 16:31).
I realize that Aiden W. Tozer is a highly respected man by many people, BUT we must follow the teachings of the Word of God and not men. Psalms 118:8, "It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man." Mr. Tozer is dead wrong when he states: "There can be no spiritual regeneration till there has been a moral reformation." If we have to reform as a prerequisite to being saved, then where does the gift of God fit in? According to Romans 5:5 and 6:23, eternal life is a FREE GIFT, paid for by Jesus' precious blood (1st Peter 1:18,19). Mr. Tozer taught heresy, a false gospel called "Lordship Salvation."
The proponents of Lordship Salvation (or the notion that a person must be willing to change to be saved) allege that preachers such as myself believe that a person can get saved and then go out and live like they never found Christ at all. That is not what I believe, nor do I know anyone else who believes that. Although I do believe that a person can be saved and continue in sin without fear of losing their salvation (for the gospel is free to whosoever believes), the Bible plainly teaches in Hebrews 12:6-8 that God will chastise His children. If you do get saved and choose to continue in sin, God will chastise you and deal with you in His own manner and time. God doesn't give anyone permission to continue in sin (Romans 3:31). God gives all men the freedom to make their own choices, but no one has God's permission to sin, no one.
Please keep in mind that reforming, living a consecrated life and surrendering one's life to Jesus Christ have absolutely NOTHING to do with the gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9). Eternal life is a free gift, paid for by Jesus' precious literal blood (1st Peter 1:18-19; 1st John 1:7; Revelation 1:5). Salvation is freely available to all humanity though the finished redemptive work of Christ. There are no requirements, nor strings attached, nor obligations... it is a gift, paid in full.
All you need to do is believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God Who came into the world and died, was buried, and rose again for your sins. Believe and the work is done (John 20:31). When I say “believe” I don't mean head knowledge, I mean that you make a decision that you're going to rely upon Jesus, because of what He did to pay for your sins to get you into Heaven. You trust upon the name of Jesus and you're saved. Simply believe that Jesus did it all for you.
Or how about a woman who is a drunkard, chemically addicted. Does she have to commit to attend alcohol rehab to be saved, because there's no way that a person can be delivered from chemical alcohol or drug dependency without medical treatment. Maybe some people can, but most cannot. I've suffered inexplicable afflictions (withdrawal symptoms) just trying to give up prescription Percocet, Dilaudid, Morphine Sulfate, and Oxycontin. You don't just walk away from alcohol, crystal meth and heroine addiction and all the sins associated: theft, prostitution, gangs, et cetera.
In the real world it's not that easy to just “stop sinning.” That's why a person needs Jesus Christ, that is, to get saved and then the Holy Spirit of God can begin to work in that person's life, but it TAKES TIME, depending how far gone a person has sunk into the depths of Satan (Revelation 2:24). The matter of salvation has nothing to do with a willingness to reform or change. Pastor Harry Ironside makes this abundantly clear in his excellent sermon, WHAT IS THE GOSPEL? God saves any sinner that trusts upon Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God, without any demand that the sinner be willing to change.
May I remind you of the precious Words our Lord spoke in John 6:28-29, “Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” Believe and the work is done!
Pastor Harry Ironside (1876-1951) Has it Correct
Please read the following excellent explanation of the Gospel by former Moody Memorial Church pastor, Harry A. Ironside (1876-1951)...
“The Gospel is not a call to repentance, or to amendment of our ways, to make restitution for past sins, or to promise to do better in the future. These things are proper in their place, but they do not constitute the Gospel; for the Gospel is not good advice to be obeyed, it is good news to be believed. Do not make the mistake then of thinking that the Gospel is a call to duty or a call to reformation, a call to better your condition, to behave yourself in a more perfect way than you have been doing in the past …Clearly, Ironside correctly taught a Free Grace view of the Gospel. Amen! Don't mess with the Gospel. Just believe it!
Nor is the Gospel a demand that you give up the world, that you give up your sins, that you break off bad habits, and try to cultivate good ones. You may do all these things, and yet never believe the Gospel and consequently never be saved at all.”
SOURCE: Dr. Harry A. Ironside, from the sermon: What Is The Gospel?
Aiden Tozer's False Gospel
According to Mr. Tozer's errant theology, a lost sinner who wants to get saved, but is unwilling to marry his live-in girlfriend, cannot. Tozer clearly states that a person's salvation is CONDITIONED upon one's intention to reform. This is the same heresy that Jack T. Chick teaches in his Chick tracts. This is the same heresy that John MacArthur and Ray Comfort teach. Salvation is not conditional upon anything other than a person coming as a sinner in need of the Savior. John 6:29, "Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." The only prerequisite to being saved is that you become guilty before God (Romans 3:19), and then believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to remedy those sins (Acts 16:31).
I realize that Aiden W. Tozer is a highly respected man by many people, BUT we must follow the teachings of the Word of God and not men. Psalms 118:8, "It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man." Mr. Tozer is dead wrong when he states: "There can be no spiritual regeneration till there has been a moral reformation." If we have to reform as a prerequisite to being saved, then where does the gift of God fit in? According to Romans 5:5 and 6:23, eternal life is a FREE GIFT, paid for by Jesus' precious blood (1st Peter 1:18,19). Mr. Tozer taught heresy, a false gospel called "Lordship Salvation."
The proponents of Lordship Salvation (or the notion that a person must be willing to change to be saved) allege that preachers such as myself believe that a person can get saved and then go out and live like they never found Christ at all. That is not what I believe, nor do I know anyone else who believes that. Although I do believe that a person can be saved and continue in sin without fear of losing their salvation (for the gospel is free to whosoever believes), the Bible plainly teaches in Hebrews 12:6-8 that God will chastise His children. If you do get saved and choose to continue in sin, God will chastise you and deal with you in His own manner and time. God doesn't give anyone permission to continue in sin (Romans 3:31). God gives all men the freedom to make their own choices, but no one has God's permission to sin, no one.
Please keep in mind that reforming, living a consecrated life and surrendering one's life to Jesus Christ have absolutely NOTHING to do with the gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9). Eternal life is a free gift, paid for by Jesus' precious literal blood (1st Peter 1:18-19; 1st John 1:7; Revelation 1:5). Salvation is freely available to all humanity though the finished redemptive work of Christ. There are no requirements, nor strings attached, nor obligations... it is a gift, paid in full.
All you need to do is believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God Who came into the world and died, was buried, and rose again for your sins. Believe and the work is done (John 20:31). When I say “believe” I don't mean head knowledge, I mean that you make a decision that you're going to rely upon Jesus, because of what He did to pay for your sins to get you into Heaven. You trust upon the name of Jesus and you're saved. Simply believe that Jesus did it all for you.
