Tag: Jonathan Edwards

  • Justification By Faith Alone (Part 9)

    Jonathan Edwards SECTION 4Answering Objections (Cont’d) THE FOUNDATION OF FIRST ACCEPTANCE There is a vast difference between this doctrine of justification by faith alone, and what is supposed in the scheme of those who oppose it. The true doctrine lays the foundation of first acceptance with God and all actual salvation consequent upon it, wholly…

  • Justification By Faith Alone (Part 8)

    Jonathan Edwards PERSEVERANCE AFTER JUSTIFICATION (Cont’d) SECTION 4Answering Objections THE FIRST OBJECTION: We frequently find promises of eternal life and salvation (and sometimes of justification itself) suggested as a reward for virtue and obedience. Eternal life is promised to obedience. Romans 2:7, “To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory, honor,…

  • Justified By Faith Alone (Part 6)

    Jonathan Edwards PERFECT RIGHTEOUSNESS AND THE LAWS OF GOD (Cont’d) To suppose that the only thing Christ does is to make atonement for us by suffering is to make Him our Savior, but only partially. It robs Him of half His glory as Savior. If so, all that He does is deliver us from hell;…

  • Justified By Faith Alone (Part 5)

    Jonathan Edwards ABSURDITY! (Cont’d) THIRD ARGUMENT: To suppose that we are justified by our own sincere obedience or any of our own virtue or goodness is to deny the gospel grace. We must reject any scheme of justification that manifestly diminishes the grace of God, because it is the declared design of God in the…

  • Justification By Faith Alone (Part 4)

    Jonathan Edwards CONDEMNED YET ACCEPTED Wherefore? because they sought it, not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law.” It is very unreasonable, on several accounts, to suppose that when the apostle says “by their own righteousness,” he refers only their ceremonial righteousness. For when the apostle warns us against trusting…

  • Justification by Faith Alone (Part 3)

    Jonathan Edwards CONDEMNED YET ACCEPTED (Cont’d) SECOND ARGUMENT: Holy Scriptures supports and proves that faith alone justifies. In Scripture, God reveals His mind and will. Even through these revelations, we will never know how those who have offended God can come to be accepted of Him and justified in His sight. The apostle Paul is…

  • Justification By Faith Alone (Part 2)

    JUSTIFICTION BY FAITH ALONE AND WITHOUT VIRTUE AND GOODNESS OF OUR OWN The idea that we are justified only by faith, without regard for any manner of our own virtue and goodness might seem to some to be problematic for two reasons. How can we be justified by faith alone, without any virtue or goodness…

  • Justification By Faith Alone (Part 1)

    (DATED NOVEMBER 1734 – PREPARED FROM TWO SERMONS)But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (Romans 4:5) SUBJECT: We are justified only by faith in Christ, and not by any manner of goodness of our own. The following things may be noted in…

  • The Preciousness of Time and the Importance of Redeeming It (Part 2)

    Jonathan Edwards SECTION 4An Exhortation to Improve Time Consider what has been said of the preciousness of time — how much depends upon it, how short and uncertain it is, and how irrecoverable it will be when gone. If you have the right understanding of these things, you will be more careful of your time…

  • The Preciousness of Time and the Importance of Redeeming It (Part 1)

    (DECEMBER 1734)“…redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:16) Jonathan Edwards TIME IS EXCEEDINGLY PRECIOUS As Christians, we should not only study to improve the opportunities we enjoy, but also labor to reclaim others from their evil course. We should do this so that God might defer His anger, and time be redeemed…