Tag: Edwards
Jonathan Edwards on Hell
by Pastor Sam on Jul.15, 2010, under Everyday New Song
In his “Warnings of Future Punishment don’t Seem real to the Wicked” (1727), Edwards gives us penetrating insights into “why” people don’t care about the doctrine of Hell.
Simply, he states: DOCTRINE. The reason why men no more regard warnings of future punishment, is because it don’t seem real to them.
(FYI: Edwards’ sermons usually have clear cut divisions such as: Doctrine, Proofs, and Applications, and it’s loooooooooooooong.)
Then, he elaborates on his Doctrine:
- As to sinners that are grown up, that continue in sin, most of them will doubtless be in hell within the fifty year
- it will be a torment inflicted after a new manner, in a way that they never experienced anything like it while they were here in this world
- They hear that it will be intolerable, exceeding dreadful, that [it] will fill their souls with misery, that it will be like fire and brimstone and the like; but they nevertheless seldom think what is meant by these expressions. They never felt none of it, and never saw anybody under this punishment or that ever did endure it, and so they have no notion how dreadful it is–no, not of the hundredth part of the greatness of that misery–and so they are not terrified and affrighted by it
- They know but little what it will be to bear misery forever without change and without end.
Then, the ultimate reason why people don’t care:
Their soul’s being wholly possessed by a sinful and wicked nature hinders any truths of religion taking impression on it. The nature of the man’s soul is contrary to every truth of religion; it opposes and resists all that light. [Sin] has a great influence
For me and others in NSC, doctrine of hell is not simply a teaching. Simply because we have many unbelievers in the midst of us worshiping.
After the sermon, we had our discussion groups and many vocally expressed their unbelief in what they have just heard (this is what I go through every Sunday). “I can’t believe what you just said.” At that point, someone asks, “Pastor Sam, how could we put the fear of God (please, when we say ‘God’ we are talking about Triune God of the Bible) into their hearts?” It’s a heart-felt question because he and I know that a person he invited won’t stay around long. I as a preachers and NSC as a church, we have at most only couple of weeks before the person never returns. So for us, time is ticking and we can feel it. As I preach sermons on Hell, how can we make them not to fall into Edwards’ category?
The answer is: I can’t. We can’t. Only God can.
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:44).
Knowing that the person is born again from above, we stay faithful. We love the sinners just as Christ has loved us. And we stay patient, just as God was (is) patient with us.
