RELIGIOUS AFFECTIONS
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WEEK 2 - FEELINGS, BELIEFS &
AFFECTIONS
Edwards starts Religious Affections with an in-depth explanation of
what the “Affections” are. Today we’ll discover the difference between
our “Affections” and how they relate biblically to our beliefs and
emotions.
“It’s more than a Feeling
New Lights / Old Lights - New Side / Old Side
When I hear that old song
they used to play (more than
a feeling).” 1
The Extremes of Thought Concerning True Spirituality
1. True Spirituality is based on Feelings (Emotion / Experience)
Boston
“It’s less important what we believe, but that we ‘Experience God’”
“Have you experienced the (fill in the blank) “baptism of the Holy Spirit”, “full surrender”, “walking the aisle”, “Christ’s love..” etc. “Theological debates are a waste of time”
2. True Spirituality based on Right Thinking (Doctrine)
“Proper doctrine is an anchor. Feelings can not be trusted”
“We worship correctly.. not with emotionalism”
“We exposit the scriptures correctly, we don’t change”
“We do things traditionally, decently & in order”
Edwards Answer? True Spirituality of 1 Peter 1:1-8
“Grace comes not to take
away a man’s affections, but
to take them up” 2
William Fenner
English Puritan
“Whom having not seen, you love, in whom, though now you see Him not,
yet believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. 1 Peter 1:8
1. Based on Sound Doctrine: Verse 2
The basis of Peter’s exhortation is sound doctrine - Election / Predestination, Sanctification that leads to obedience
2. Accompanied with Worship & Hope: Verses 3&4
The active ingredient of true spirituality is worship /hope
3. Trials and Temptations Perfect our Faith: Verses 6&7
The perfection of our faith is done through trials
3. True Spirituality Expressed in Affections: Verse 8
Love is always the first Affection followed by Joy
“A man may be theologically
knowing and spiritually
ignorant” 3
Stephen Charnock
English Puritan
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ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL
Definition - What are Religious “Affections”
1. They are more than “feelings” yet “feelings” are always present
“Affection without action
is like Rachel, beautiful, but
barren” 4
Be “fervent in spirit” serving the Lord, Rom. 12:11. “Rejoice and be
“exceeding glad”, Matt 5:12, The sacrifices of God are a “broken spirit” ... Psalm 51:17
John Trapp
2. They are more than how we “think”, yet they always include our
rational “mind”
“Renew your mind...” Rom. 12:1, “sound mind” 2 Tim 3:5
3. They are always consistent with Truth / Doctrine
He that loves..fulfills the law Rom 13:8
“God has given to mankind
affections, for the same
purpose which he has given
all the faculties and
principles of the human
soul, viz., that they might
be subservient to man’s
chief end.”” 5
4. They are long lasting and deep
“The desire of our soul is to Your name...” Isa 26:8
5. They always produce and govern actions and lifestyle
Jonathan Edwards
“If you love me keep my commandments” John 14:15
Edwards Definition of “Affections
“Strong inclinations of the soul that are manifested in thinking, feeling
and acting” 3 In short - Who we “really are” Examples:
Love (I Cor 13), Pursuit of knowledge (Col 3:10), Hatred of sin (Psalm 97:10), Thirst
for righteousness (Matt 5:6), Joy (Gal 5:22), Mourning (Ps 34:18)... Gratitude, Zeal,
Kindeness, Humility, Peace, Patience, Self-Control, Delight in the Word,
Compassion etc., etc.
“How great cause have we
therefore to be humbled
to the dust that we are no
more affected”6
Jonathan Edwards
Affections / Beliefs / Emotions
Affections
Emotions
Affections
Beliefs
Long - Lasting
Fleeting
Deep / Soul-Spirit
Superficial / Fleshly
Always influence
Actions
Do not always
influence actions
Consistent with
Belief
Can Overpower
Influence Feelings
Often Disconnected
Strong
Often Week
Results in Change
Often No Change
Mind/Feeling/Will
Often Disconnected
RELIGIOUS AFFECTIONS
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Holy Vs. Unholy “Affections”
Holy Affections
Unholy Affections
Always Inspires:
Feeling, Thinking & Action
All Felling - No Thinking
or
All Thinking - No Feeling
or
Mere Doing without
Thinking or Feeling
Holy Affections
Unholy Affections
Love for God & Others
Hatred of Sin
Hunger & Desire for God
Joy
Gratitude toward God
Hatred of God & Others
Love of Sin
Disgust for God
Cynicism
Bitterness toward God
Examples
“There are false affections, and there are true. A man's having
much affection, does not prove that he has any true religion: but
if he has no affection it proves that he has no true religion. 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 precious and the vile.” 7
Jonathan Edwards
Religious Affections
NEXT WEEK
We will begin our study of the Affections that are “Unreliable Signs” of Grace
But the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness,
goodness, faith, meekness,
temperance: against such
there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23
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ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL
Q&A
...My Take a Ways...
What is your “gut” reaction to 1 Peter 1:8?
How does the definition of “Affections” relate to how you approach worship?
How have your “affections” changed since you have believed?
Bibliography & Notes
1. Boston, More Than A Feeling, From the Epic Records Album, Boston, 1976
2. Fenner, William, As quoted on www.puritanboard.com, http://www.puritanboard.com/f18/
william-fenner-15171/
3. Charnock, Steven, As quoted on www.thinkexist.com, http://thinkexist.com/quotes/
stephen_charnock/
4. Trapp, John, As quoted in Cradenda Agenda Magazine, Vol 1, http://www.credenda.org/
issues/1-3.php
5. Edwards, Jonathan, A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, Part 1, P. 22
6. Ibid, P. 44
7. Ibid, P. 46