Faith of Our Fathers

Episode Summary: Hebrews 9:13-14 by A.W. Tozer (Aired September 14, 2025)

Overview

In this episode, “Faith of Our Fathers” presents a sermon by A.W. Tozer focused on Hebrews 9:13-14. Tozer dives deeply into the doctrine of redemption, emphasizing the nature and unity of the Trinity in the act of salvation. His message warns against diluting theological language, clarifies key scriptural truths, and passionately calls hearers to embrace the fullness of Trinitarian redemption.

Key Discussion Points

1. The Importance of Words in Theology (03:00–08:30)

• Tozer stresses the significance of keeping traditional theological terms, likening their precision to scientific language.
• He warns that replacing core biblical words with casual or colloquial substitutes empties them of true meaning and leads to confusion.
• Notable quote:

  “Words are little pictures, and each one of them is labeled. It's the business of the devil and people to pour the meaning out of each little pitcher and then pour some other meaning in.” — A.W. Tozer (06:55)

2. Exegesis of Hebrews 9:13-14 and Foundational Truths (08:45–12:15)

• Focuses on the superiority of Christ’s blood over Old Testament sacrifices.
• Stresses that Christianity teaches truth not by authority, but because it reflects reality:

  "Christianity teaches it because it is true. If I were to stand up and say two times two equals four, it would not be true because I had stated it, but I would state it because it is true." (01:55)

• The necessity of understanding what redemption means and the implications for Christian living.

3. The Fall of Man: A Self-Evident Doctrine (12:20–15:15)

• Tozer asserts that the fallenness of humanity is readily observable and self-proving.
• Uses lively analogies (noisy, dirty boy as a “self demonstrating male”) to illustrate points made clear by experience and scripture.

4. Redemption: The Work of the Trinity Alone (15:20–22:58)

• Redemption is accomplished “by the Godhead,” not by human collaboration.
• Only God can save; humans cannot “help” God redeem, just as a child “helping” a parent in the kitchen actually adds more work.
• Notable quote:

  “You can no more help redeem yourself than you can help convert yourself or help create yourself. God does his work alone. Without any human collaboration.” (17:05)

5. The United Action of the Trinity in Redemption (22:59–26:40)

• Detailed teaching on the indivisibility of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
• Shows their unity in creation, incarnation (Annunciation), Jesus’ baptism, crucifixion, and resurrection.
• Notable quote:

  “It is impossible to think of the Father over here doing a work and the Son out there doing a work and the Spirit across there doing a work. The Spirit and the Son and the Father always work together in whatever is done.” (24:26)

6. Errors in Understanding Redemption (26:41–30:00)

• Rebukes the common misconception that God the Father is against us and Christ is for us; or that Christ convinced/“won over” an angry God.
• Shows scripturally that both Father and Son are equally loving and unified in the redemptive plan.
• Dismantles the view that only one person of the Trinity was involved in redemption.
• Memorable analogy: Tozer likens God’s pain at the crucifixion to a father’s pain at a son’s execution—suggesting the Father suffered deeply, though only the Son died. (29:40)

7. Personal Salvation: Appropriating Redemption (30:01–32:05)

• Redemption is an objective act (Christ’s sacrifice); salvation is making that act personal—“redemption appropriated.”
• All three persons of the Trinity call the lost:

  “The Son said, ‘Come unto me’; the Father draws; the Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come.’” (31:10)

8. Parables and the Trinity’s Pursuit of the Lost (32:06–34:40)

• Interprets the three parables (lost sheep, lost coin, lost son) as representing the actions of the Son, Spirit, and Father—all seeking the lost.
• Personal revelation: Tozer shares how prayer led him to see the Trinity in the parables, not just the traditional moral application.
• Notable quote:

  “There were the three persons of the Trinity. That lost boy was the lost world. That lost coin was the lost world. That lost sheep was the lost world. ... Father, Son and Holy Ghost were all looking for the loss.” (33:45)

9. Final Exhortation (34:41–36:25)

• Tozer urges believers to hold tightly to these core truths, not to be led astray by those who would “moronize” faith or empty doctrine of its content.
• Closes with a prayer, affirming the unity and action of the Trinity in saving humanity:

  “I believe that man fell and God redeemed him. And he redeemed him. All three persons of the Trinity were engaged in the holy act of redemption. The Father received the sacrifice, the Son gave it, and the Holy Ghost conveyed it.” (36:13)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On The Precision of Language (06:55):
  “It's the business of the devil and people to pour the meaning out of each little pitcher and then pour some other meaning in.”
• On God’s Work Alone (17:05):
  “You can no more help redeem yourself than you can help convert yourself or help create yourself. God does his work alone.”
• On Unity of the Trinity (24:26):
  “The Spirit and the Son and the Father always work together in whatever is done.”
• On Understanding Redemption (29:40):
  “While the maiden's Son alone, Mary's Son alone, Jesus actually died on a cross, I believe that the heart of God ached and was as deeply pained as the heart of the Holy Son.”
• On The Parables and the Trinity (33:45):
  “Father, Son and Holy Ghost were all looking for the loss. Father was waiting for his boy to come home. The Son was looking for his sheep. And this woman of spirit was looking for her silver piece, the jewelry that she was to wear around her neck.”

Important Timestamps

• 00:43 – Reading and introduction to Hebrews 9:13-14
• 03:00–08:30 – Importance of precise theological language
• 12:20 – Illustration of the fallen state of man
• 15:20–22:58 – Redemption as God’s solo work, not through human effort
• 22:59 – The Trinity’s united work in redemption (creation, incarnation, resurrection)
• 26:41 – Error correction: Father vs. Son, and all three being for us
• 30:01 – Redemption (objective) vs. Salvation (subjective)
• 32:06 – Parables as a Trinitarian illustration

Tone and Language

• Tozer’s tone is warm but uncompromising, weaving vivid analogies and personal stories with deep doctrinal reflection.
• The language is passionate, clear, and sometimes humorous, yet always reverent and aimed at persuading the listener of deep truths.

Conclusion

A.W. Tozer’s sermon on Hebrews 9:13-14, as broadcast in this episode, stresses the essential unity, love, and action of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in the work of redemption—urging believers not to let go of biblical terminology or to fall for diluted teaching. With memorable analogies, piercing wit, and heartfelt pleading, Tozer brings the listener to a place of deeper understanding and gratitude for the unified love of the Triune God.