In 1722, when he was only 19 years old, Jonathan Edwards sat down and wrote out 21 resolutions in one sitting. Over the next year, he expanded that list to 70.
He read through them every week for the rest of his life.
And now, more than 250 years after his death, we’re still reading them and his influence continues.
He serves as a great example of what a deeply Christ-focused life looks like. What a life focused on sanctification looks like.
The goal is sanctification.
Psalm 1:1-6
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
• Walking, standing, & sitting suggests deepening relationships.
So we are not to be in deepening relationships with those who are wicked, sinners, and mockers, but we are to delight in God’s Word.
Meditate on it day and night. And we should walk, stand and sit with others that are also delighting in God’s Word.
Where better to do that than within a local body of believers that puts intentional focus on the Word of God?
• This is an intentional focus on the Word of God.
This is a picture of someone resolved to focus on God’s Word
And we should be too.
• Jonathan Edwards was resolved was to pursue sanctification.
Spiritual depth doesn’t have “one click ordering” like Amazon does.
It takes work.
It takes effort.
It takes time.
It takes focus.
It takes determination.
It takes resolve.
Resolution: A commitment to do something.A statement of commitment to intended reality.
Resolutions Fail because the details of how to carry them out are not planned out. Resolutions must be planned out and must have a right purpose.
• Jonathan Edward’s resolutions were all for Christ’s sake. For the sake of His glory.
Jonathan Edwards wanted to grow in sanctification and destroy sin. And it was all for the glory of God.
One of the resolutions says this:
Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly, and frequently that I find, and plainly see myself growing in the knowledge of the Scriptures.
When you’re growing in the knowledge of the Scriptures, you start thinking biblically. You think rightly about things. As we think toward 2013, we need to make sure that we’re thinking rightly about the church.
Biblically, the purpose of the church is threefold.
1. The Exaltation of Christ
One of the primary things the church should always focus on is worshiping God, especially in a corporate setting
2. The Edification of the Body
This is the body life. Believers function together and build each other up. It’s how we work together as the body. The different parts work together toward a unified goal.
3. The Evangelism of the Lost
The church is the primary vehicle that God wants to use to proclaim His Gospel.
This is why we will always be very gospel centered in all that we do.
We need to be a people who are all about knowing, believing, living, and proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The idea behind all of this is self-evaluation with the goal of greater sanctification.
So grade yourself in the following areas. You can use letter grades (A, B, C...), numerical grades (100, 95, 85, etc.), or just go “Pass/Fail.”
Spiritual Report Card
Don’t worry - you’re grading yourself...
Grade yourself in the following “subjects”
SANCTIFICATION Grade: ______
Do you have a clear understanding of sanctification?
Do you understand your own need for sanctification?
One of the primary elements in sanctification is Scripture Input. How are you doing in this vital area?
Scripture Input…
• Includes hearing, reading, studying, memorizing
and meditating on God’s Word. (John 17:17)
• Prayer for yourself, others, “stuff.” (Mark 1:35)
EXALTATION Grade: ______
Worship is something you do with your life, but corporate worship is a necessary part of the activities of the church.
Corporate Worship…
• Do you come prepared to worship?
• Are you engaged in worship?
EDIFICATION Grade: ______
This is a broad area including many things.
The summary of this is: What are you doing to build up the body?
The Body of Christ…
• Are you actively involved in the Body? (Acts 2:42)
• Are you serving & committed to the Body?
Others Focused
• Are you loving the brethren? (John 13:35)
The church is the visible demonstration of the Body of Christ.
How are you showing this?
Giving…
• Money, Time, Resources, etc. (2 Cor. 8:7)
EVANGELISM Grade: ______
Sharing the Gospel…
• Are you prepared/preparing to share
the gospel? (1 Pet. 3:15)
• Are you making efforts to share the gospel?
Matt 28:19-20 , 1 Cor. 9:16
And that’s the “where you are”
Now for the “where are you going?”
10 Questions to Ask Yourself
1. What can you could do this year to grow and increase your enjoyment of God? (what will you do?)
2. How will you intentionally approach all of your relationships rightly? (exhortation, encouragement, evangelism)
3. What’s the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?
4. In what way will you intentionally grow in your love for and devotion to Scripture, and how will you go about it? (The 2013 Challenge?)
5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?
6. How will you grow in your love for and commitment to your church?
7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?
8. How will you grow in your understanding of and love for the Gospel?
9. What specific thing can you do to improve your prayer life this year?
10. What can you plan to do this year will really matter ten years from now? In eternity?
For another great list of questions, go to http://thinkpoint.wordpress.com/2012/12/28/10-point-inventory/
To read all of the Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards, go to http://www.apuritansmind.com/the-christian-walk/jonathan-edwards-resolutions/
Remember: The goal is sanctification.
Scripture plays a role in that as well as exaltation, edification, and evangelism. And don’t miss that the driving force behind it all is the work of the Holy Spirit in your life.
As always, if you have any questions, or would like help working through any of this, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me.
Soli Deo Gloria!
Rob
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P.S. – if you haven't had a chance, check out "The 2013 Challenge" in our church newsletter. Click here to read it.
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