The Religious Affections: Part III (Point 12b)

My thoughts (and quotes) from the twelfth point of Part III

This is the last of 12 points Edwards offers from the scriptures to differentiate between true and false religious affections. Tim Challies, who is coordinating this reading, has split this point into two parts, because it is very lengthy. This is the second.

[xii] Gracious and holy affections have their exercise and fruit in Christian practice.

[In other words, religious affections in a genuine Christian result in holiness and right Christian practice.]

The Religious Affections: Part III (Point 12a)

The Religious Affections: Part III (Point 12a)

My thoughts (and quotes) from the twelfth point of Part III

This is the last of 12 points Edwards offers from the scriptures to differentiate between true and false religious affections. Tim Challies, who is coordinating this reading, has split this point into two parts, because it is very lengthy. This is the first.

[xii] Gracious and holy affections have their exercise and fruit in Christian practice.

[In other words, religious affections in a genuine Christian result in holiness and right Christian practice.]

The Religious Affections: Part III (Point 11)

My thoughts (and quotes) from the eleventh point of Part III

[xi] Another great and very distinguishing difference between gracious affections and others is, that the higher gracious affections are raised, the more is a spiritual appetite and longing of soul after spiritual attainments increased. On the contrary false affections rest satisfied in themselves.

[In other words, true affections differ from false in the following ways:
The more a true saint loves God with a gracious love,
the more he desires to love Him, and the more uneasy is he at his want (lack) of love to Him;
the more he hates sin,
the more he desires to hate it, and laments that he has so much remaining love to it;
the more he mourns for sin,
the more he longs to mourn for sin;
the more his heart is broke,
the more he desires it should be broke:
the more he thirsts and longs after God and holiness
the more he longs to long, and breathe out his very soul in longings after God.]

The Religious Affections: Part III (Point 7 and 8)

My thoughts (and quotes) from the seventh and eighth points of Part III

[vii] Another thing wherein gracious affections are distinguished from others, is, that they are attended with a change of nature

[In other words, when the elect are saved, their very natures change]

[viii] Truly gracious affections differ from those affections that are false and delusive, in that they tend to, and are attended with, the lamb-like, dove-like spirit and temper of Jesus Christ.

[In other words, the elect receive a nature that is like that of Jesus, full of love, meekness, quietness, forgiveness and mercy  ]

The Religious Affections: Part III (Point 5)

My thoughts (and quotes) from the fifth point of Part III

[v] Truly gracious affections are attended with a reasonable and spiritual conviction of the reality and certainty of divine things.

[In other words, the right kind of belief is:

• that which is unshakably convinced,
• where the object of the faith (the gospel) is plausible and reasonable, and
• where the Holy Spirit is at work in the person producing this faith]

The Religious Affections: Part III(Point 3)

My thoughts (and quotes) from the third point of Part III

III] Those affections that are truly holy, are primarily founded on the loveliness of the moral excellency of divine things. (In other words, holy affections of the elect are excited by/founded on/taken up with what is morally excellent. In this point, Edwards introduces us to the idea that the elect are given a supernatural sense that helps them taste and relish the beauty of God’s holiness)

Two things registered in my mind after I read this passage. Firstly, I understood that it was possible for some people, who do not have some basic signs of being regenerated (especially that they are not interested in the serious study of the word of God), to be filled with gratitude and praise to God, and involve themselves in many ‘Christian’ activities. Secondly, that we all need to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling albeit with joyful amazement that it has been given to us to relish the beauty of His holiness.

The Religious Affections: Part III(Point 2)

My thoughts (and quotes) from the second point of Part III

II] The primary ground of gracious affections is the transcendently excellent and amiable nature of divine things as they are in themselves, and not any conceived relation they bear to self, or self-interest. (In other words: The elect of God are thrilled with the excellence of divine things, such as God’s glory and perfection, even before they note that this excellent God has done something for them personally)

The Religious Affections: Part III(Point 1)

My thoughts (and quotes) from the first point of Part III

I]   Affections that are truly spiritual and gracious do arise from those influences and operations on the heart which are spiritual, supernatural and divine.

The Religious Affections: Part III (Introduction)

My thoughts (and quotes) from the introduction to Part III

Before actually explaining the difference between true and false affections, Edwards wants readers to take note of three points.

1. We cannot know with certainty who is saved and who is not . . . it was never God’s design to give us any rules by which we may certainly know who of our fellow professors are His, and to make a full and clear separation between sheep and goats. On the contrary, it was God’s design to reserve this to Himself as His prerogative.
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The Religious Affections: Part II (2)

My thoughts (and quotes) from Part II

Of a total of 12 points in Part II, we covered seven points last week. This week we covered points 8 to 12.

1. The fact that one’s religious affections are intense does not tell us whether the affections are from God.
2. The fact that one’s religious affections have great effects on the body does not tell us whether the affections are from God.
   
3. The fact that one’s religious affections cause one to talk incessantly of spiritual matters does not tell us whether the affections are from God.
   
4. The fact that one’s religious affections have not been caused by one’s own effort or strength does not tell us whether the affections are from God.
5. The fact that one’s religious affections are accompanied by scripture texts that come to mind in an amazing way does not tell us whether the affections are from God.
6. The fact that one’s religious affections are accompanied with love does not tell us whether the affections are from God.
7. The fact that one’s religious affections are manifold does not tell us whether the affections are from God.

This week’s reading comprises the remaining 5 points: