One must be lost

A man must be lost before he can be found by the grace of Christ. One must be in desperate straights before he might be saved by God’s salvation. A man must be cognizant of and convicted by his unworthiness before God will redeem his sin and use that man for God’s own glory. A […]

God as our portion

The man who has God, though he has nothing else, has everything. And the man who has everything, but does not have God, has nothing. So posited C. S. Lewis. And echoing his thoughts is Jonathan Edwards, who meditates on the importance of our readiness to let go of all possessions for the sake of […]

Your soul’s best interest

Our Scripture reading this morning included some of Solomon’s counsel to his son — Do not let your heart envy sinners, But live in the fear of the LORD always. Surely there is a future, And your hope will not be cut off. (Prov. 23:17-18) There is a relationship, this wise father advises, between an […]

God’s love for His own

Romans 7 speaks of the problem of indwelling sin in the life of the believer. He has a new disposition that wants to do good, but he still has the nature of the flesh that does the things he does not want to do (and doesn’t do the things he wants to do). But thanks […]

In due time their foot will slip

Today’s Scripture reading includes Dt. 32:35 — Vengeance is Mine, and retribution, In due time their foot will slip; For the day of their calamity is near, And the impending things are hastening upon them.’ It is this verse that served as the text for Jonathan Edwards’ well-known sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an […]

Deuteronomy and Ephesians

In the first three chapters of Ephesians, there is only one imperative — only one command by God for the Ephesians to obey. The command is in 2:11 — “remember.” Specifically, these believers were to remember their position prior to salvation — separate from Christ, excluded from Israel, strangers to the promise God made with […]

Whom have I in Heaven?

When offering the gospel, John Piper asks the question, “If you can have all the good things and blessings of Heaven, and God is not there, do you still want Heaven?” The point of the question is to elicit what the desire of the individual is — does he want God, or merely the good […]

The true spirit of prayer

What kind of spirit is most conducive to God-exalting prayer? In his sermon, “Hypocrites Deficient in the Duty of Prayer,” Jonathan Edwards provides insight into an attitude that will stimulate believers into greater dependence on the powerful sufficiency of God: The true spirit of prayer is no other than God’s own spirit dwelling in the […]

Is Christ before all in my life?

Jonathan Edwards makes a statement that begs the question, “Is Christ before all things in my life?” Which is simply another way of asking, “Do I live for God’s glory?” Or, “Do I worship God above all else, or is there some form of idolatry that is usurping the right position of God in my […]

Today’s Quote – Family (Edwards)

Jonathan Edwards, “A Farewell Sermon:” Every Christian family ought to be as it were a little church, consecrated to Christ, and wholly influenced and governed by his rules.

Today’s Quote – Suffering (Mahaney)

C. J. Mahaney, Humility: True Greatness: Those who know true joy in the midst of suffering are those who recognize that, in this life, our suffering is never as great or as serious as our sins. As Jonathan Edwards wrote, “How far less [are] the greatest afflictions that we meet with in this world…than we […]

Today’s Quote – Redemption (Edwards)

Jonathan Edwards (The End for Which God Created the World; in God’s Passion for His Glory): …the glory of God is the ultimate end of the work of redemption, which is the chief work of providence towards the moral world, as is abundantly manifest from Scripture. For the whole universe is put in subjection to […]

Book Review: The Unwavering Resolve of Jonathan Edwards

Several years ago, I attended a conference marking the 300th anniversary of the birth of Jonathan Edwards. Since that time I have acquired several helpful volumes on Edwards’ life and thought, as well as several volumes of his sermons and writings. This book, The Unwavering Resolve of Jonathan Edwards, is my latest foray into Edwards. […]

Today’s Quote – Depravity (Edwards)

Jonathan Edwards, quoted in The Unwavering Resolve of Jonathan Edwards: My wickedness, as I am in myself, has long appeared to me perfectly ineffable, and infinitely swallowing up all thought and imagination; like an infinite deluge, or infinite mountains over my head. I know not how to express better, what my sins appear to me […]

Today’s Quote – Spirituality (Lawson)

Steve Lawson, The Unwavering Resolve of Jonathan Edwards: [Jonathan] Edwards possessed a rare combination of Reformed theology, extraordinary giftedness, and fervent piety. However, it was this latter virtue — his true spirituality, marked by a fixed resolve — that positioned him to be used so mightily by God. Few have equaled his relentless pursuit of […]