the attributes of god pdf tozer

A․W․ Tozer’s Attributes of God⁚ An Overview

A․W․ Tozer’s exploration of God’s attributes is a deep dive into the divine nature․ His works, including “The Attributes of God,” are inspired journeys focusing on various aspects of God’s character․ Through these, he emphasizes knowing God intimately, not just intellectually․

A․W․ Tozer’s exploration into the attributes of God is not merely an academic exercise but a passionate pursuit of intimacy with the divine․ His works, often stemming from his sermons, reveal a deep yearning to understand God’s nature and character․ Tozer believed that truly knowing God is the foundation of the Christian faith, a belief that permeates his writings․ He lamented the superficial understanding of God prevalent in his time, urging readers to move beyond practicalities and seek a profound knowledge of the One who gave them life․ His approach was deeply rooted in Scripture, inviting readers on an inspiring journey into the Father’s heart․ He emphasized that this pursuit is not for a select few but for every follower of Christ․ Tozer’s works challenge readers to confront their views of God and to seek a deeper, more intimate relationship based on understanding His attributes․ His writings aim to bring a sense of awe, wonder, and delight in God, encouraging readers to glorify Him and enjoy Him forever․ Tozer also highlights the need to move beyond mere knowledge to a transformative experience of God․

Volume 1⁚ Attributes of God

A․W․ Tozer’s “The Attributes of God, Volume 1” is a foundational work that delves into ten key characteristics of God, inviting readers on a journey into the Father’s heart․ This volume, originally preached as sermons, covers the infinitude and immensity of God, exploring His boundless nature and transcendence․ It further examines God’s goodness, justice, mercy, and grace, revealing a God who is both righteous and compassionate․ Tozer also addresses God’s omnipresence, immanence, holiness, and perfection, emphasizing His constant presence and absolute purity․ Through this exploration, Tozer seeks to answer the fundamental question, “What is God like?” and encourages readers to move beyond intellectual understanding to a profound personal encounter with the living God․ The book is designed to be both informative and spiritually challenging, guiding readers to a more intimate relationship with God․ It includes a study guide, facilitating deeper reflection on each attribute and its practical implications․ Tozer’s approach combines theological depth with a passionate call to worship, making this volume essential for those seeking a richer understanding of God․

God’s Infinitude and Immensity

In “The Attributes of God,” A․W․ Tozer begins by exploring God’s infinitude and immensity, two foundational aspects of His being․ God’s infinitude speaks to His limitless nature, transcending all boundaries of time, space, and understanding․ He is without beginning or end, and His existence is not confined by any created thing․ This concept challenges our finite minds to grasp the sheer boundlessness of God․ His immensity, closely related, refers to His capacity to fill all of creation, yet remaining wholly distinct from it․ Tozer emphasizes that God is not merely present everywhere, but that His presence permeates all things․ He is not limited by the universe but encompasses it entirely․ This understanding of God’s infinitude and immensity should inspire awe and humility, pushing us beyond a simplistic view of a God contained by human comprehension․ Tozer uses these attributes to awaken in us a sense of wonder and to highlight the vast difference between the Creator and His creation․ This section sets the stage for further exploration of God’s other attributes, demonstrating the incomprehensible scale of His being․

God’s Goodness, Justice, Mercy and Grace

Tozer delves into the interconnected attributes of God’s goodness, justice, mercy, and grace, portraying a holistic view of His moral character․ God’s goodness is the bedrock of His being, a perfect and unblemished standard of what is right and beneficial․ This goodness is not merely an abstract concept; it actively seeks the well-being of His creation․ Justice, as an attribute of God, ensures that He acts with absolute fairness and righteousness․ It is a reflection of His unwavering commitment to truth and moral order․ However, God’s justice is not cold and detached; it is tempered by His mercy․ Mercy is God’s compassionate response to human suffering and shortcomings; It is His tenderheartedness in the face of our failures, where He holds back the punishment we deserve․ Grace, then, is the unmerited favor of God, His willingness to offer blessings and forgiveness freely, not based on our worth but on His own loving nature․ Tozer highlights that these attributes are not in conflict but work in harmony, displaying a God who is both just and merciful, good and gracious․ He invites us to grasp the depth of these qualities, encouraging a deeper appreciation for God’s balanced and loving character․

God’s Omnipresence, Immanence, Holiness and Perfection

Tozer emphasizes that God’s omnipresence means He is present everywhere, simultaneously, in all of creation․ This is not merely a physical presence, but a spiritual reality that encompasses all of existence․ He is not confined to one place but fills the universe․ Closely related is God’s immanence, highlighting that He is not distant or detached, but actively involved within His creation․ He is near, intimately present and engaged with every aspect of our lives․ This active engagement is underscored by His holiness which signifies His absolute separateness and purity, setting Him apart from all that is created․ It’s an attribute that emphasizes God’s moral perfection, His utter lack of sin or impurity․ Finally, God’s perfection is the culmination of all His attributes, meaning that every aspect of His being, whether goodness, justice, or love, is complete and flawless․ Tozer points out that these attributes—omnipresence, immanence, holiness, and perfection—reveal a God who is both transcendent and intimately involved, awe-inspiring in His purity, and complete in His being․

Volume 2⁚ Deeper Into the Father’s Heart

In “The Attributes of God, Volume 2⁚ Deeper Into the Father’s Heart,” Tozer continues his exploration of God’s character, delving into ten additional divine attributes․ This volume, often presented as a follow-up to the first, further unpacks the nature of God, encouraging readers to move beyond basic knowledge to a more profound understanding and relationship with Him․ Unlike the first volume, which focused on attributes like goodness and justice, this second part takes a deeper look at God’s self-existence, transcendence, and eternality․ It also examines His omnipotence, immutability, omniscience, wisdom, sovereignty, faithfulness, and love․ Tozer emphasizes that comprehending these attributes is vital for a vibrant and intimate walk with God․ He believed that many Christians have lost the sense of awe and wonder in their faith, and this volume aims to reignite that by giving readers a clearer, more biblical view of who God is, leading them to a deeper appreciation of their relationship with Him․ This volume challenges readers to see God not just as a concept, but as a living, active, and supremely magnificent being․

God’s Self-Existence and Transcendence

In A․W․ Tozer’s exploration of God’s attributes, the concepts of self-existence and transcendence hold significant weight․ God’s self-existence, or aseity, means He is not dependent on anything or anyone for His being; He simply is․ This contrasts sharply with all of creation, which is contingent and derived․ Tozer emphasizes that understanding this attribute is crucial for grasping God’s uniqueness and absolute independence․ Furthermore, God’s transcendence highlights His utter otherness and separation from creation․ He is not limited by the universe or subject to its laws․ This attribute underscores the vast difference between the Creator and the created․ Tozer warns against reducing God to a relatable or manageable figure; rather, He is exalted above all․ These attributes together form a foundational understanding that God is both the source of all being and utterly beyond our full comprehension․ Comprehending this moves us to deeper reverence and worship, acknowledging that God is both close and far beyond what we can imagine․

God’s Eternalness, Omnipotence, and Immutability

A․W․ Tozer, in his profound study of God’s attributes, delves into the concepts of God’s eternalness, omnipotence, and immutability․ God’s eternalness signifies that He has no beginning or end; He exists outside of time, always has, and always will․ This attribute highlights God’s timeless nature, contrasting with our temporal existence․ Moreover, God’s omnipotence underscores His limitless power; He is capable of doing all things consistent with His nature․ Tozer emphasizes that this power is not arbitrary but is always exercised in alignment with His perfect character․ Finally, God’s immutability means He is unchanging in His being, character, and purposes․ This provides a solid foundation for trust, as His love, justice, and faithfulness remain constant․ Tozer stresses that understanding these attributes helps believers to grasp the reliability and steadfastness of God․ These attributes together illustrate a God who is both transcendent and intimately involved in our lives, providing a source of unwavering strength and hope․ Knowing these truths allows us to rest in His unchanging nature․

God’s Omniscience, Wisdom, Sovereignty, Faithfulness, and Love

A․W․ Tozer masterfully explores God’s omniscience, wisdom, sovereignty, faithfulness, and love, revealing the depth of His divine character․ God’s omniscience means He possesses perfect knowledge of all things, past, present, and future․ This understanding highlights that nothing is hidden from Him, assuring believers of His complete awareness․ Furthermore, God’s wisdom is demonstrated in His perfect application of knowledge, always acting in the best way․ His sovereignty underscores that He is the supreme ruler, having absolute authority over all creation․ This attribute assures us that He is in control, even in the midst of chaos․ God’s faithfulness means He is dependable and true to His promises, which is a source of comfort and security․ Finally, God’s love is the essence of His being, motivating all of His actions․ This love is unconditional and extends to all of humanity․ Tozer emphasizes that these attributes show a God who is both all-powerful and intimately compassionate, compelling believers to draw closer to Him․ These reveal a God worthy of all praise and devotion, showing His comprehensive care for His creation․

The Importance of Knowing God’s Attributes

Understanding God’s attributes, as highlighted by A․W․ Tozer, is crucial for a vibrant and meaningful Christian life․ Knowing these attributes moves believers beyond a superficial understanding of God․ It allows for a deeper, more intimate relationship․ Tozer emphasizes that grasping God’s nature—His goodness, justice, mercy, and holiness—shapes how we relate to Him․ This understanding fosters reverence, awe, and a profound sense of wonder․ Furthermore, recognizing God’s sovereignty and faithfulness provides comfort and security in times of trouble․ It reinforces the assurance of His constant presence and unwavering love․ Tozer suggests that a proper understanding of God’s attributes is essential for authentic worship and prayer․ It enables believers to approach Him with humility and confidence․ Without this knowledge, our faith lacks depth․ It can become reduced to mere rituals and empty traditions․ Ultimately, knowing God’s attributes transforms our perspective․ It aligns our lives with His will․ It is a journey of discovering the true nature of the One we serve․

Tozer’s Emphasis on Intimacy with God

A․W․ Tozer’s writings consistently emphasize the importance of intimacy with God, positioning it as the core of the Christian experience․ He believed that knowing God’s attributes is not merely an academic exercise but a pathway to a deeper, more personal relationship․ Tozer challenged believers to move beyond a surface-level understanding of God․ He urged them to seek a profound, experiential encounter with the divine․ He often lamented the lack of genuine awe and wonder in contemporary Christianity, advocating for a return to a fervent pursuit of God․ For Tozer, knowing God was not about accumulating knowledge but about cultivating a heart that longs for communion with Him․ He believed that true faith is expressed through a passionate desire for God’s presence, evidenced in prayer, worship, and daily living․ Tozer’s call to intimacy is a timeless reminder that the Christian life is not about religious performance․ It is about a love affair with the Creator․ This intimacy, he argues, is the ultimate goal of knowing God’s attributes․ It is the heart of true spiritual fulfillment․