November 1, 2019

Miscellaneous Discourses in Vol II of the Works - Edwards - IV - Wisdom displayed in salvation continued

Required reading
Miscellaneous Discourses in Vol 2 of the Works by Jonathan Edwards (Available from Amazon or free here) - Continue 'Wisdom displayed in salvation' by reading Sections III to VI.

My summary
Today we continue the discourse on "To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God" (Eph. 3:10).

We continue to learn of the consequences of salvation, including:
(i) the variety and the greatness of the good procured for men;
(ii) how the angels are benefited by the salvation of men;
(iii) the glory that redounds to God as the effect of divine wisdom;
(iv) the wonderful circumstances of the attainment of our good.

What grabbed me
I always love to hear that God overrules sin and suffering for our good: 

'(1) It was wonderful that sin should be made the occasion of our greater blessedness; for sin deserves misery. By our sin we had deserved to be everlastingly miserable; but this is so turned by divine wisdom, that it is made an occasion of our being more happy.—It was a strange thing that sin should be the occasion of any thing else but misery: but divine wisdom has found out a way whereby the sinner might not only escape being miserable, but that he should be happier than before he sinned; yea, than he would have been if he had never sinned at all. And this sin and unworthiness of his, are the occasion of this greater blessedness.

(2.) It was a wonderful thing that man's own misery should be an occasion of his greater happiness. For happiness and misery are contraries; and man's misery was very great. He was under the wrath and curse of God, and condemned to everlasting burnings.—But the sin and misery of man, by this contrivance, are made an occasion of his being more happy, not only than he was before the fall, but than he would have been if he never had fallen.

Our first parents, if they had stood and persevered in perfect obedience, till God had given them the fruit of the tree of life as a seal of their reward, would probably have been advanced to higher happiness: for they before were but in a state of probation for their reward. And it is not to be supposed but that their happiness was to have been greater after they had persisted in obedience, and had actually received the reward, than it was while they were in a state of trial for it. But by the redemption of Christ, the sin and misery of the elect are made an occasion of their being brought to a higher happiness than mankind would have had if they had persisted in obedience till they had received the reward.'

Incredible. Yet true.

Next week's reading
Conclude 'Wisdom displayed in salvation'.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.

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