"Abraham and Issac", 1645, by Rembrandt van Rijn @ The National Gallary of Art in Washington, DC.
This is the 18th post in my study of Jonathan Edwards famous text, Religious Affections
We now come to Jonathan Edwards last evidence of the true Christian. The previous eleven such evidences, dealt primarily with an inner view of the true Christian.
Here, we come to an outer view. Here we see how the true Christian will behave.
It is quite evident that this particular "gracious affection" was important to Edwards, as he devotes eighty pages to this topic.
There is so much to unpack in this chapter, I have decided to break it into pieces. In this first post, let's begin by looking at Jonathan Edwards' final thesis:
"Gracious and holy affections have their exercise and fruit in Christian practice. I mean, they have that influence and power upon him who is the subject of 'em, that they cause that a practice, which is universally conformed to, and directed by Christian rules, should be the practice and business of his life.
This implies three things; (1) That his behavior or practice in the world, be universally conformed to, and directed by Christian rules. (2) That he makes a business of such a holy practice above all things; that it be a business which he is chiefly engaged in, and devoted to, and pursues with highest earnestness and diligence: so that he may be said to make this practice of religion eminently his work and business. And (3) That he persists in it to the end of life: so that it may be said, not only to be his business at certain seasons, the business of Sabbath days, or certain extraordinary times, or the business of a month, or a year, or of seven years, or his business under certain circumstances; but the business of his life; it being that business which he perseveres in through all changes, and under all trials, as long as he lives."
Let's explore this further...
#1 - That his behavior or practice in the world, be universally conformed to, and directed by Christian rules.
Galatians 5:19-21 (ESV) - "Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."
Edwards puts forth verse, after verse, after verse that makes it abundantly clear. If our lives are full of evil, then we must question ourselves in regard to our true Christianity.
Furthermore, Edwards states that merely not doing evil isn't a true test:
"And it is of importance, that it should be observed, that in order to a man's being truly said to be universally obedient, his obedience must not only consist in negatives, or in universally avoiding wicked practices, consisting in sins of commission; but he must also be universal in the positives of religion. Sins of omission are as much breaches of God's commands, as sins of commission. Christ, in Matthew 25, represents those on the left hand, as being condemned and cursed to everlasting fire, for sins of omission, "I was an hungered and ye gave me no meat," etc. A man therefore can't be said to be universally obedient, and of a Christian conversation, only because he is no thief, nor oppressor, nor fraudulent person, nor drunkard, nor tavern-haunter, nor whoremaster, nor rioter, nor nightwalker, nor unclean, nor profane in his language, nor slanderer, nor liar, nor furious, nor malicious, nor reviler: he is falsely said to be of a conversation that becomes the gospel, who goes thus far and no farther; but in order to this, it is necessary that he should also be of a serious, religious, devout, humble, meek, forgiving, peaceful, respectful, condescending, benevolent, merciful, charitable and beneficent walk and conversation. Without such things as these, he don't obey the laws of Christ, and laws that he and his apostles did abundantly insist on, as of greatest importance and necessity."
In other words, simply being "good" doesn't cut God's command, and the true Christian's heart, to be obedient. Obedience, that comes from "gracious affections", require great heart work as described in Edwards' previous eleven affections.
#2 - That he makes a business of such a holy practice above all things; that it be a business which he is chiefly engaged in, and devoted to, and pursues with highest earnestness and diligence: so that he may be said to make this practice of religion eminently his work and business.
"In order to men's being true Christians, it is necessary that they prosecute the business of religion, and the service of God with great earnestness and diligence, as the work which they devote themselves to, and make the main business of their lives. All Christ's peculiar people, not only do good works, but are zealous of good works (Titus 2:14). No man can do the service of two masters at once. They that are God's true servants, do give up themselves to his service, and make it as it were their whole work, therein employing their whole hearts, and the chief of their strength; "This one thing I do" (Philippians 3:13). Christians in their effectual calling, are not called to idleness, but to labor in God's vineyard, and spend their day in doing a great and laborious service. All true Christians comply with this call (as is implied in its being an effectual call), and do the work of Christians; which is everywhere in the New Testament compared to those exercises, wherein men are wont to exert their strength, with the greatest earnestness, as running, wrestling, fighting. All true Christians are good and faithful soldiers of Jesus Christ, and fight the good fight of faith: for none but those who do so, do ever lay hold on eternal life. Those who fight as those that beat the air, never win the crown of victory. They that run in a race, run all; but one wins the prize; and they that are slack and negligent in their course, do not so run, as that they may obtain. The kingdom of heaven is not to be taken but by violence. Without earnestness there is no getting along, in that narrow way that leads to life; and so no arriving at that state of glorious life and happiness which it leads to."
As we read this, we must remember the melted, broken heart of the true Christian first and foremost. Such a man comes at the previous statement from a completely different place. I hope, for your sake, that you have been reading along with me to understand this. This obedience doesn't stem from a parent/child relationship where there is a great pointing of the finger. The true Christian desires to be obedient, thereby showing his love to the Father.
#3 - That he persists in it to the end of life: so that it may be said, not only to be his business at certain seasons, the business of Sabbath days, or certain extraordinary times, or the business of a month, or a year, or of seven years, or his business under certain circumstances; but the business of his life; it being that business which he perseveres in through all changes, and under all trials, as long as he lives.
"By trials, here I mean, those things that occur, and that a professor meets with in his course, that do especially render his continuance in his duty, and faithfulness to God, difficult to nature. These things are from time to time called in Scripture by the name of trials, or temptations (which are words of the same signification). These are of various kinds: there are many things that render persons' continuance in the way of their duty difficult, by their tendency to cherish and foment, or to stir up and provoke their lusts and corruptions. Many things make it hard to continue in the way of duty, by their being of an alluring nature, and having a tendency to entice persons to sin; or by their tendency to take off restraints, and embolden 'em in iniquity. Other things are trials of the soundness and steadfastness of professors, by their tendency to make their duty appear terrible to 'em, and so to affright and drive 'em from it: such as the sufferings which their duty will expose 'em to; pain, ill will, contempt, and reproach, or loss of outward possessions and comforts. If persons, after they have made a profession of religion, live any considerable time, in this world which is so full of changes, and so full of evil, it can't be otherwise, than that they should meet with many trials of their sincerity and steadfastness. And besides, 'tis God's manner, in his providence, to bring trials on his professing friends and servants designedly, that he may manifest them, and may exhibit sufficient matter of conviction of the state which they are in, to their own consciences; and oftentimes, to the world."
This chapter takes us to where the rubber meets the road. The Christian life is not lived in a cave. It requires action. Furthermore, it requires constant attention to our actions, motives, and intentions.
Our human nature requires that we are in constant judgment, so it would seem, of others. As we continue in further posts, on this topic of our behaviors, it is worth reminding ourselves that we are not to judge whether someone is, or isn't a true Christian. That is for God alone.
However, we are to judge ourselves, and our brothers and sisters, in regards to our particular behaviors. And here, begin the great sound and fury of iron sharpening iron.
This last chapter is going to be a challenging ride.
More later...
