UNTIL
WE ARE BORN AGAIN~WE ARE ENEMIES TO GOD
ROMANS 5:10
In What Respects Natural Men Are God’s Enemies
First, they are enemies in the natural relish of their souls. They have an inbred distaste of God’s perfections.” Jonathan Edwards would have been rightly horrified with the modern notion of “seeker sensitivity” where pastors tone down the message and soften the hard edges of the gospel – all to accommodate “seekers.” Rather, sinners naturally oppose God; they have an aversion to him. Edwards notes, “The natural tendency of the heart of man is to fly from God, and keep at a distance from him, as far off as possible. A natural man is averse to communion with God, and is naturally disinclined to those exercises of religion, wherein he has immediately to do with him.”
Second, their wills are contrary to his will. Never let it be said that Jonathan Edwards rejected the notion of freewill. Nothing could be further from the truth! Edwards merely embraced the biblical reality that men choose according to their strongest inclination. Of course, the general direction of the unregenerate heart is to fly from God; the general direction of the unregenerate heart is to oppose God. Sinners turn away from God, by nature. And they do so freely! Edwards adds, “God’s will and theirs are exceeding cross the one to the other … They are not loyal subjects, but enemies to God … They are enemies to God’s authority.”
Third, they are enemies to God in their affections. Edwards rightly notes that the hatred sinners have for God often lies unexpressed, secret if you will. But there is “in every natural man a seed of malice against God … wherein the heart is like a viper, hissing and spitting poison at God.” It is not surprising that some will respond negatively to the Edwardsean assertion. But Edwards merely sides with Scripture and paints a portrait of the human heart apart from grace. Their hearts, will in the final analysis be laid bare: “When wicked men come to be cast into hell, then their malice against God will appear. Then their hearts will appear as full of malice, as hell is full of fire … A natural man has a heart like the heart of the devil; only corruption is more under restraint in man than in devils.”
Fourth, they are enemies in their practice. The Puritan divine wastes no time in describing the natural bent of the unregenerate heart: “In their enmity against God, they are exceeding active. They are engaged in war against God … They oppose themselves to his honor and glory: they oppose themselves to the interest of his kingdom in the world: they oppose themselves to the will and command of God … They list under Satan’s banner, and are his willing soldiers in opposing the kingdom of God.”
JOHN EDWARDS~
ROMANS 5:10
In What Respects Natural Men Are God’s Enemies
First, they are enemies in the natural relish of their souls. They have an inbred distaste of God’s perfections.” Jonathan Edwards would have been rightly horrified with the modern notion of “seeker sensitivity” where pastors tone down the message and soften the hard edges of the gospel – all to accommodate “seekers.” Rather, sinners naturally oppose God; they have an aversion to him. Edwards notes, “The natural tendency of the heart of man is to fly from God, and keep at a distance from him, as far off as possible. A natural man is averse to communion with God, and is naturally disinclined to those exercises of religion, wherein he has immediately to do with him.”
Second, their wills are contrary to his will. Never let it be said that Jonathan Edwards rejected the notion of freewill. Nothing could be further from the truth! Edwards merely embraced the biblical reality that men choose according to their strongest inclination. Of course, the general direction of the unregenerate heart is to fly from God; the general direction of the unregenerate heart is to oppose God. Sinners turn away from God, by nature. And they do so freely! Edwards adds, “God’s will and theirs are exceeding cross the one to the other … They are not loyal subjects, but enemies to God … They are enemies to God’s authority.”
Third, they are enemies to God in their affections. Edwards rightly notes that the hatred sinners have for God often lies unexpressed, secret if you will. But there is “in every natural man a seed of malice against God … wherein the heart is like a viper, hissing and spitting poison at God.” It is not surprising that some will respond negatively to the Edwardsean assertion. But Edwards merely sides with Scripture and paints a portrait of the human heart apart from grace. Their hearts, will in the final analysis be laid bare: “When wicked men come to be cast into hell, then their malice against God will appear. Then their hearts will appear as full of malice, as hell is full of fire … A natural man has a heart like the heart of the devil; only corruption is more under restraint in man than in devils.”
Fourth, they are enemies in their practice. The Puritan divine wastes no time in describing the natural bent of the unregenerate heart: “In their enmity against God, they are exceeding active. They are engaged in war against God … They oppose themselves to his honor and glory: they oppose themselves to the interest of his kingdom in the world: they oppose themselves to the will and command of God … They list under Satan’s banner, and are his willing soldiers in opposing the kingdom of God.”
JOHN EDWARDS~
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