The Pursuit of God · Chapter
III: Removing the Veil explained
This chapter explores the concept of the veil that separates humanity from the manifest presence of God, identifying it as the self-life—composed of self-righteousness, self-pity, self-confidence, and similar sins.
What happens
This chapter explores the concept of the veil that separates humanity from the manifest presence of God, identifying it as the self-life—composed of self-righteousness, self-pity, self-confidence, and similar sins. Tozer emphasizes that this veil can only be removed through the cross's work in spiritual experience, not by mere instruction, and calls believers to yield to God's destructive work on the self so they may enter into the enjoyed presence of God.
Themes in this chapter
Surrender and Renunciation
The chapter calls for the renunciation of the self-life and the yielding to God's work of destruction through the cross.
Restoring the Creator-Creature Relation
The entire work of redemption is described as restoring the right relationship with God, bringing believers back into conscious communion.
Critique of Shallow Religion
Tozer criticizes the tolerance of self-sins in Christian leaders and the tendency to promote self under the guise of promoting Christ.
Characters to notice
- Unknown Narrator
The narrator addresses the reader as 'brethren' and speaks from a pastoral perspective, guiding thirsty souls toward God.
- Jesus Christ
Jesus is referenced as the one through whose blood believers have boldness to enter the holiest, and as the Light of the World and Bread of Life symbolized in the tabernacle.
- Adam
Adam is cited as the one who hid from God's presence after the fall, illustrating humanity's flight from the manifest presence.
- Paul
Peter is mentioned as shrinking away from Christ, crying 'Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.'
- Paul
Paul is implicitly referenced through the epistle to the Hebrews, and his teaching on the blood of Jesus is foundational to the chapter.
- Moses
Moses is alluded to in the context of the tabernacle and the veil that separated the Holy of Holies.
Key passages
“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus. Hebrews 10:19”
Because of Jesus' sacrifice, we can confidently approach God's presence.
This verse sets the foundation for the chapter's theme of entering God's presence through Christ.
“Thou hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee.”
God created us for Himself, and our inner unrest persists until we find peace in Him.
Augustine's quote is used to explain humanity's inherent longing for God.
“The whole work of God in redemption is to undo the tragic effects of that foul revolt, and to bring us back again into right and eternal relationship with Himself.”
Redemption's purpose is to reverse the damage of sin and restore our relationship with God.
This summarizes the redemptive work as restoration of the creator-creature relation.
“Self is the opaque veil that hides the Face of God from us. It can be removed only in spiritual experience, never by mere instruction.”
The self-life blocks us from seeing God, and only a spiritual encounter, not teaching, can remove it.
Tozer identifies the self as the veil and emphasizes the necessity of experiential transformation.
“We must invite the cross to do its deadly work within us. We must bring our self-sins to the cross for judgment.”
We must allow the cross to kill our self-centeredness and submit our inner sins to its judgment.
This calls for active surrender to the cross's work in the believer's life.
