Organ of Knowledge
“Faith is an organ of knowledge, and love is an organ of experience. God came to us in the incarnation; in atonement he reconciled us to Himself, and by faith and love we enter and lay hold of Him.” (A.W. Tozer)
Biology’s definition of the word “organ” helps to understand what Tozer is saying here.
Organ: A grouping of tissues into a distinct structure that performs a specialized task.
In other words, an organ has a particular purpose and is used as a means of giving information and getting things done. For example, the heart pumps blood to provide the body with oxygen and to remove carbon dioxide, and the kidneys balance fluids in the body, regulate and filter blood, and filter waste.
Faith and Love
Extending this idea to faith and love, we better understand Tozer’s intent. More importantly, we better understand the purpose of faith and love.
The purpose of faith is to know God.
The purpose of love is to experience God.
Our actions, which either reflect obedience to or rebellion against God’s will, reflect the status of our faith, and our faith reflects the status of our love.
“For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, it makes no difference to God whether we are circumcised or not circumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love.” (Galatians 5:6)
When we have faith expressed in love, we are living by the Spirit. This happens as the organ of faith and the organ of love help us to know and experience God more and more.
“But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive everything promised to use who are right with God through faith.” (Galatians 5:5)