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Jonathan Edwards’ Resolution #12

Resolved, If I take delight in it as a gratification of pride, or vanity, or on any such account, immediately to throw it by.

It was several years ago (although I cannot remember the specific time nor the source) that I read an account of Jonathan Edwards, which said that he was known for tossing away lengthy sermons he was preparing for the simple fact that personal pride had crept in while he was writing. Wow. Can you imagine putting hours, days, and—sometimes—weeks into something only to throw it by because it was no longer a toll used to glorify God and spread the gospel but turned into an article of self promotion and pride? What a conviction upon my own life! Edwards knew the depravity of pride and the pure hatred God has for it. We should look into our own lives and, I mean, take a really deep, hard look into what we take pride in. Just do not consider the materialistic things but examine yourself within your vocation, church servanthood, theological intellect, and the like. It needs to be dealt with for when we decrease, Christ increases.

And what is one of the main culprits that does not allow us to decrease for His sake and glory?

Pride.

God hates pride and does not want it to creep into our lives in any shape, way, or form. Many men of the Bible were brought down because of it; it was a snare to them. To truly take up our crosses, follow in the footsteps of Christ, promote the gospel, and grow in the knowledge of the mystery of God, we need to immediately throw this pride away.

There they cry out, but he does not answer,
because of the pride of evil men.
Job 35:12

Pride goes before destruction,
and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Proverbs 16:18

[This article is part of an ongoing series on the Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards.]

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Jonathan Edwards’ Resolution #10

Resolved, when I feel pain, to think of the pains of martyrdom, and of hell.

This one should really pierce our hearts, especially since we live behind the Orange Curtain. We live in a nation that has an abundance of blessings and streams of God’s mercy. Moreover, we live in a county that is all-the-more blessed with affluence and wealth. Great as these blessings are, this can can also be a dangerous thing. I feel in Edwards’ time (an era of growing and affluent colonialism) it was also the case.

The natural man has such a tendency to be selfish, earthly, and materialistic. Even in Orange County, where it seems we have everything the rest of the world wants, we constantly complain about our “stress” or “difficult circumstances”.  Yes, we each go through our own personal trials and tribulations, but on this side of the Atlantic, the word martyrdom hardly crosses our minds. Be thankful for that.

In keeping line with Edwards’ resolution, we as believers also think about hell too seldom. We don’t stop enough to consider what we truly have been eternally saved from. Edwards, with this 10th resolution, is in  many ways training his mind to focus on that which is not of this world but that which is rooted in eternal majesty. This absolutely brings conviction upon me and has me cringe upon my pride. To think that my pains compare to those of the blessed martyrs which suffer for the sake of Christ?! Oh, how I gravely desire to think upon their pains and the pains of the eternally unsaved before my own selfish needs.

May this resolution bring us to the foot of Him who suffered the most for us all and have us realize how childish our complaints and contentions can be. May it impress upon the soul to know, more likely than not, that these pains do not compare to those of the Christian martyrs. And, moreover, let us be reminded that our pains don’t even come close to the eternal torment which God, through the finished work of Christ, has rescued us from.

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
(Matthew 10:28)

[This article is part of an ongoing series on the Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards.]

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Jonathan Edwards’ Resolution #8

Resolved, to act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings as others; and to let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God.

Immediately, one of my favorite quotes came to mind, which is well know by many: “There, but for the grace of God, goes John Bradford.” But to bring it home it is “There, but for the grace if God goes I.” People do not like hearing that today, and it seems that it may have been similar in Jonathan Edwards time as well (but I suspect it is worse in today’s society). I am a sinner capable of murder, deceit, adultery, rape and the like; it is the sheer grace of God that keeps me from doing so.

And the same is true of you. Offended? You should not be, for man’s depravity and wickedness is so vile that it took the death of God’s only Son, perfect and blameless, to be hung on a tree to cause us to hope in the glory of God clothed is His righteousness. Powerful stuff. We Christians must take sin seriously, it is no small thing. Edwards would look upon the sins of others and it would stir up just how vile the natural man inside of him really was and would bring him to his knees before God.

I pray for Christ to give me that type of perspective, because the more we realize how separated from God we really were due to our sin nature prior to spiritual rebirth, the more we come to love Him and His grace which has reconciled us.

But now, O Lord, you are our Father;
we are the clay, and you are our potter;
we are all the work of your hand.
(Isaiah 64:8)

[This article is part of an ongoing series on the Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards.]

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Jonathan Edwards’ Resolution # 7

Resolved, never to do anything that I should be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life.

We’ve seen the secular version of this resolution time and time again, especially within movies and TV. The good ol’ last-hour-of-my-life situation. The major difference between Edwards and the media? Centrality rooted in the gospel. The social norm shows the life and death issue as “how can I benefit myself the most and get the most out of my life in these last hours?” And what do people turn to as answers? We see everything from jumping out of planes to chasing after sex and idols, and so forth…it is whatever will benefit the flesh the most until the last breath. Edwards is posing this resolution, knowing that he will one day be standing before the Bema seat of God. I know for myself there are things I do not do which I ought to do—things that would benefit God’s kingdom except for the fact that I am afraid of the temporal consequences I will have to face. I do not believe that I am alone in feeling this. And it’s not because we go all out in order to attain salvation; rather, we zealously live for Christ because of our salvation. Oh, may we have boldness with our faith!

Do this. Think about one specific action in which you feel God calling you to do and act upon it as if it was the last hour of your life. May it be for the furtherance of the gospel which is the power of God unto salvation.

But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if onlyI may finish my course andthe ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
(Acts 20:24)

[This article is part of an ongoing series on the Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards.]

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Jonathan Edwards’ Resolution #6

Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.

And this must be done by the might of Jesus Christ, for in our own weak flesh it would not be possible. Although we live in this world, we are not of this world, since we are being sanctified by the blood of Christ. So what was his motivation behind this resolution, knowing that the aforementioned things are critical? I think Edwards held himself to this resolution so that he could make the most out of life, in terms of eternal impact–in other words, he was not set on temporal things that can come and go with the passing of a breeze. This is not living with all your might to gain money, stature and possessions, but it is to live will all your might through God’s grace, for the glory of the cross. It is to rely totally on the sufficiency of our mighty God, and to know that He will uphold us by His righteous right hand.

Live, work, praise, and pray with all your might, while you do live.

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might…
(Ecclesiastes 9:10)

[This article is part of an ongoing series on the Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards.]

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Jonathan Edwards’ Resolution #5

Resolved, never to lose one moment of time but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.

This is Edwards’ personal “glass is half full” sentiment.

When I read it, I imagine Edwards being confronted with a difficult task or decision and just looking up to ask God how he could make the best of his situation (whatever it may be). We children of God are called specifically to be joyful at all times, knowing that we have a secured place with Christ on high. We are not to be a sorrowful complainer, but rather, we should always strive to look ahead, knowing that it is by God’s sovereign hand that we keep moving forward. And we continually ask Him for wisdom and guidance on how to make each situation the most profitable and fruitful possible. We, as His chosen, must have an optimistic view on life and know with complete assurance that no matter what the situation, we can profit from it for God’s eternal glory, not our own selfish motives. What greater joy is there than to know that the believer in Christ has been saved from the eternal punishment of hell?

Therefore, do not let the days go to waste but be resolved to never lose one moment of time and rejoice in the cross and what He has done for us. Be ambassadors of God’s word and productive members of society, who through both word and deed share the good news of Christ and Him crucified.

I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
(Psalm 34:1)

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Jonathan Edwards’ Resolution #4

Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer it, if I can possibly avoid it.

All that we do in life must be for the end goal of proclaiming God’s greatness. The Westminster Shorter Catechism posed the question, “What is the chief end of man?” Their response, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.” This is precisely what the above resolution is striving towards. This is not just in action with the hands, or thoughts of the heart, but of both.

We cannot praise with our hands and be dead in our spirits, nor can we be alive in our hearts while our actions are that of a corpse. They must go together, the gospel must be worked out with every “manner of thing” we partake in and must tend to the glory of God. This, although difficult, should be the type of resolution that races throughout thoughts before we do or say anything. Is this glorifying to God? Does it have an eternal impact? If not, can I possibly avoid it? May all that we do and say be for His kingdom. This resolution is definitely a personal conviction for myself and it may be for you as well. By the power of the Holy Spirit, may all that we do and say be for His kingdom.

…whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)

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Jonathan Edwards’ Resolution #3

Resolved, if ever I shall fall and grow dull, so as to neglect to keep any part of these resolutions, to repent of all I can remember, when I come to myself again.

I can just see Edwards writing this third resolution, saying, “Oh, how great a sinner am I!” Right from the start he sees the need to remind himself already of what he resolved to do from number one and he must commit himself to do so. It reminds me of myself, and how great a slope I can backslide on. Praise be to God that, by His grace he holds me firm.

We, as depraved sinners, must be committed to keeping our own resolutions for God’s glory, whatever they may be. For me personally, that means printing out two sheets of paper and tacking them to my office wall, continually reminding myself why I must press on, and what the end goal is. For you it may be something completely different. Let us pray that we never become complacent, and if we do, that we repent and ask Christ for His strength and mercy to move forward with passion.

You shall therefore love the LORD your God and keep his charge, his statutes, his rules, and his commandments always. (Deuteronomy 11:18)

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Jonathan Edwards’ Resolution #2

Resolved, to be continually endeavoring to find out some new invention and contrivance to promote the forementioned things.

I love this second Resolution because you can see right into the heart of Edwards. You can see the passion he has for the gospel, and his desire to spread it in all ways possible. It is such an inspiration for myself because it seems that weeks and weeks go by and nothing changes—especially at work.

But I must be resolved to continually seek out new ways to glorify God and let His truths be known. He gave us minds that were made to think, invent, and create, but all to the glory of God. This blog, for example, is exactly one of those “contrivances”—just a couple of guys, in the beginning, putting their God-given abilities together, and up springs The Gospel for OC.

Friends, seek out Christ and ask Him to use your feet, hands, ears, and minds to promote His unconditional love by way of the cross, for the forgiveness of sins, so that whoever believes may gain everlasting life. Go and seek out new and exciting ways that spread the truth of God’s word with power and passion.

In what new ways could you increase your joy by promoting the gospel?

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. (Romans 12:1)

[This article is part of an ongoing series on the Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards.]

I was blessed several years ago with a very small but very powerful book titled “Jonathan Edwards’ Resolutions”. Jonathan Edwards, if some are not familiar with him, is considered one of the greatest—if not the greatest—American theologians that has ever lived. He was a Puritan man of the colonial times and was essential in the formation of the First Great Awakening that took place in the 1730s and 1740s.

His Resolutions were written between the years 1722 and 1723 when he was just completing his schooling and ministry training. Edwards’ most famous sermon “Sinners In The Hands of an Angry God”, which most people knew him by, has had such an effect on American society that segments of it are still read in secular high schools today, (although without surprise, the subject matter is grossly misinterpreted). He was an absolutely marvelous man and one truly after God’s own heart. He loved Christ and understood, better than most, how great a sinner he was and how great a cost Christ had paid for him.

I want to come back for just a moment and focus on these Resolutions being very small but very powerful for this is the fuel in which I will start this series. It is with the harmony of small and powerful blending together that I will attempt, to the best of my God-given ability, to post for the next 70 weeks all of Edwards’ Resolutions. I intend to keep the commentaries short, just as Edwards’ Resolutions are written. They are so short and straight-forward and deeply in God’s word. Thus, I feel my comments on each one of them should be the same.

Short posts in this series will also make it easy for all the followers of the blog to keep engaged on a weekly basis. Some of the resolutions are quite challenging to grasp, some are difficult to comment on, and others will be difficult to keep the commentary short. Regardless, my hope and prayer is that they will be as great a blessing to you personally as they will be to me as I go through them once again.

So it is only appropriate to end this introduction with Jonathan Edwards’ own opening sentence to his 70 Resolutions:

“Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God’s help, I do humbly entreat Him by His grace to enable me to keep these resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to His will, for Christ’s sake.”