JONATHAN EDWARDS ON THE SIGNS OF AUTHENTIC AFFECTIONS FOR JESUS

Have you ever wondered: What is the essence of true Christianity? What constitutes the essence of a life that is pleasing to God? Are there criteria by which we can distinguish between true Christians and those who only seem to be? Have you ever known someone who seemed so godly, but later abandoned everything they once held dear? Have you ever had the fearful thought that such a thing could happen to a loved one (or even you)? Have you ever struggled with assurance of salvation, or are you dealing with a friend who is? What makes for a true Christian? I am not talking about a professing Christian. I do not merely mean a church going Christian, a cultural Christian, a highly enthused Christian, a doctrine loving Christian, a social action Christian, a contemplative Christian, and on and on. I mean a born again, spirit filled, follower of Jesus Christ. Are there any tell tale signs that identify the real from the false?

Jonathan Edward's was  the great 18th century pastor from North Hampton Massachusetts who was a huge player in the great awakening during the mid eighteenth century. He witnessed many signs, supernatural phenomenon, great enthusiasm, and massive conversions. But were they all legitimate? He wrote four books about his observations experiences, and analysis of these moves of God, and his finest,  The Religious Affections is considered one of the great classics of evangelical literature. (You can access the entire critical edition from Yale University Press online for free.)

Edwards’s conclusion to what he witnessed in all that he saw is that ”True religion (Or we might say True Christianity or true conversion)  in great part, consists in holy affections”. He believed the soul has two faculties: (1) the understanding (by which the soul perceives, speculates, discerns, views,and judges things); and (2) the inclination or will (by which the soul is inclined or disinclined, pleased or displeased, approves or rejects). The affections have to do with the second faculty. Affections, according to Edwards, are “the more vigorous and sensible exercises of the inclination and will of the soul” 

Edwards sought to show that the Bible makes true affections an essential part of godliness and being a true follower of Jesus. But not all affections are created equal. Some are to be rejected and put to death while others are to be approved and cultivated: “The right way, is not to reject all affections, nor to approve all; but to distinguish between affections, approving some, and rejecting others; separating between the wheat and the chaff, the gold and the dross, the previous and the vile.". His book is an attempt to help us do precisely that.

So Edwards works through twelve “signs” that are uncertain. In other words, he explains twelve things that may look like indicators of truly gracious affections for God, but which do not prove things one way or the other. Edwards writes, “…as we ought not to reject and condemn all affections as though true religion did not at all consist in affection; so, on the other hand, we ought not to approve of all, as though every one that was religiously affected had true grace, and was therein the subject of the saving influences of the Spirit of God. The right way is to distinguish among religious affections, between one sort and another.”

Here are Edwards signs that by themselves indicates nothing with my own editorial comments with each one.

No Sign 1. The religious affections are very great, or raised very high. 1) intense affection or emotion
No Sign 2. They have great effects on the body. 2) a physical reaction to affection. 
No Sign 3. They cause those who have them, to be fluent, fervent and abundant, in talking of the things of religion. 3) talking with fluency and eagerness
No Sign 4. Persons did make ‘em themselves, or excite ‘em of their own contrivance, and by their own strength.  4) affection or emotions not excited by self-effort
No Sign 5. They come with texts of Scripture, remarkably brought to the mind. 5)affection or emotions accompanied by bible verses
No Sign 6. There is an appearance of love in them. 6) affection or emotions with the appearance of a fullness of love; which actually can be counterfeited
No Sign 7. Persons having religious affections of many kinds, accompanying one another, is not sufficient to determine whether they have any gracious affections or no. 7) experiencing many different kinds of affection or emotion, any of which can be counterfeited, especially when Satan inspires someone of great self-importance
No Sign 8. Comforts and joys seem to follow awakenings and convictions of conscience, in a certain order.8) the joy and comfort of a religious experience, which can occur without the Holy Spirit
No Sign 9. They dispose persons to spend much time in religion, and to be zealously engaged in the external duties of worship. 9) time and effort spent on religion — hypocrites have great energy
No Sign 10. They much dispose persons with their mouths to praise and glorify God. 10) verbal expressions of praise — words alone do not prove the condition of the heart
No Sign 11. They make persons that have them, exceedingly confident that what they experience is divine, and that they are in a good estate.11) self-confidence — people who have a high opinion of themselves usually are self-confident
No Sign 12. The outward manifestations of them, and the relation persons give of them, are very affecting and pleasing to the truly godly, and such as greatly gain their charity, and win their hearts.12) being able to please and inspire others through the demonstration of religious feeling

Then in the third part, Edwards sets forth twelve true signs—those things which distinguish the truly gracious and holy affections as being part of true religion again with my own editorial comments.:

True Sign 1. Arise from those influences and operations on the heart, which are spiritual, supernatural, and divine. 1) True religious affection has a divine source.
True Sign 2. Objectively grounded in the transcendentally excellent and amiable nature of divine things, as they are in themselves (and not in any conceived relation they bear to self or self-interest. 2) Religious affection is caused by the nature of God alone, not what a personal understanding of a relation to divine things means to self-interest or a sense of self-worth
True Sign 3. Primarily founded on the loveliness of the moral excellency of divine thing; a love to divine things for the beauty and sweetness of their moral excellency is the first beginning and spring of all holy affections. 3) Religious affection based on holiness focuses on the beauty of God’s righteousness
True Sign 4 Arise from the mind’s being enlightened, rightly and spiritually to understand or apprehend divine things. Spiritually gifted affection is based on a proper intellectual understanding of what is godly
True Sign 5. Attended with a reasonable and spiritual conviction of the judgment, of the reality and certainty of divine things. 4) Religious affections have a reasonable basis for a belief in the reality of what is divine
True Sign 6. Attended with evangelical humiliation (= a sense that a Christian has or his own utter insufficiency, despicableness, and odiousness, with an answerable frame of heart). 5) Spiritually gifted affection is not proud but humble
True Sign 7. Attended with a change of nature. 6) Spiritually gifted affection changes our inner-being
True Sign 8. Tend to, and are attended with, the lamb like, dove like spirit and temper of Jesus Christ; they naturally beget and promote such a spirit of love, meekness, quietness, forgiveness, and mercy, as appeared in Christ. 7) Spiritually gifted affection differs from false and delusional affections, in that they express the gentle temperament of Jesus Christ).                                                                                                                             True Sign 9. Soften the heart and are attended to and followed with a Christian tenderness of  spirit. 8) Spirit gifted affection causes us to be tender.                                                                                                                                 True Sign 10. Have beautiful symmetry and proportion. 10) Spirit gifted affections are expressed with a balanced harmony.                                                                                 True Sign 11. The higher gracious affections are raised, the more is a spiritual appetite and longing of soul after spiritual attainments increased. 11) Spirit gifted affection moves a person to become more godly, as distinguished from being satisfied with an emotional experience itself.                                                                                                             True Sign 12. Have their exercise and fruit in Christian practice. 12) Spirit gifted and holy emotions cause a person to be Christ-like in character and action.

Challenged and prayerful,
Pastor Bill