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 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 (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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Nancy Leigh DeMoss

On Friday, my psychiatrist-and-Christian cousin from Texas mentioned the name Nancy Leigh DeMoss and her radio program Revive Our Hearts. He said that he found her talks for women sound, and asked if I had listened to her. I had not so much as heard her name mentioned (not surprising considering that the body of ought-to-know information I do not know far outweighs what I do know).

So I listened to many of her talks on the subject of modesty, and found them very good. Click here to get to the first of these talks. I have asked my daughters, who have holidays, to listen to her archived talks available on the Internet.

(Our family has just heard Pastor Al Martin’s message entitled Validating the Gospel in Modesty. Pastor Al Martin’s message is an intense plea, a reprimand of sorts, of a concerned pastor to a congregation that loves and respects him for his many years of labour in their midst. In contrast, Nancy has a friendly approach to the issue. Both approaches are excellent in their own way.)

I read that she “receives much inspiration from Charles Spurgeon, John Piper, and Elisabeth Eliot.” This confirms to me that I would be able to relate to her theological position. I also find her books listed in the Reformation Heritage Books site. She has been featured in the Mahaney family blogsite, Girl Talk.

The subject of modesty is not a new one fro me, but I did come across some ideas for the first time. For instance, under the subject Godly Garments, she says: