Forty-Six Sermons in Volume II of the Works by Jonathan Edwards (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Sermon I: God glorified in man's dependence.
Today we begin a stack of Edwards' sermons.
The first sermon is about God being glorified in man's dependence. It is based on the text: 'That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord' (1Co 1:29-31).
Firstly Edwards teaches that 'There is an absolute and universal dependence of the redeemed on God.' To demonstrate this, Edwards shows that man's good is:
(i) caused by God;
(ii) through God;
(iii) in God.
Secondly we then learn that if we are so greatly and universally dependent upon God, then he is glorified in the work of redemption.
These two doctrines are then followed by several uses:
(i) we can observe God's marvellous wisdom in redemption;
(ii) we can derogate his glory by doctrines that teach the opposite;
(iii) we can learn why faith is that by which we are redeemed;
(iv) we should exalt God alone and ascribe to him all the glory of redemption.
What grabbed me
A thoroughly Calvinistic sermon to begin our series with.
I enjoyed Edwards' comments about faith: 'Faith abases men, and exalts God; it gives all the glory of redemption to him alone. It is necessary in order to saving faith, that man should be emptied of himself, be sensible that he is “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” Humility is a great ingredient of true faith: he that truly receives redemption, receives it as a little child, “Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of heaven as a little child, he shall not enter therein.”'
Faith is an utter dependence upon God and not on oneself. Thus faith is a very sobering thing to have.
Next week's reading
Read Sermon II (Sinners in the hands of an angry God).
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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