“Those who are truly converted are new men, new creatures; new, not only within, but without; they are sanctified throughout, in spirit, soul and body; old things are passed away, all things are become new; they have new hearts, new eyes, new tongues, new hands, new feet; i.e. a new conversation and practice; they walk in newness of life and continue to do so to the end of life.” — Jonathan Edwards
Jonathan Edwards’ conversion to personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ approximately occurred in March of 1721. “That change by which I was brought to those new dispositions and that new sense of things,” wrote Edwards in speaking of his conversion to Christ.
Edwards returned to his home in May or June of 1721 full of the joy and love for Jesus Christ. “Edwards’ account of what took place in 1721, as given in his (Edwards’) ‘Personal Narrative’, is the most important statement he ever wrote about himself,” explains Edwards biographer Iain Murray.
“The first instance that I remember of that sort of inward, sweet delight in God and divine things that I have lived much in since, was on reading those words (I Tim. 1:17) ‘Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever, Amen.’ As I read those words, there came into my soul, and was as it were diffused through it, a sense of the glory of the Divine Being; a new sense, quite different from any thing I ever experienced before,” Edwards describing his conversion to Christ.
“Never any words of Scripture seemed to me as these words did. I thought with myself, how excellent a Being that was, and how happy I should be, if I might enjoy that God, and be rapt up in Him in heaven, and be as it were swallowed up in Him forever!”
“I kept saying, and as it were singing over these words of Scripture to myself; and went to pray to God that I might enjoy Him, and prayed in a manner quite different from what I used to do; with a new sort of affection. But it never came into my thought, that there was any thing spiritual, or of a saving nature in this.”
Edwards began to have new comprehensions and ideas of Christ. This included the work of redemption and the glorious way of salvation in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He had an increasing, sweet sense of the things of God.
Edwards was increasingly captivated in reading and meditating upon Christ. This included the beauty and excellency of the person of Jesus along with the lovely way of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone.
“The sense I had of divine things, would often of a sudden kindle up, as it were, a sweet burning in my heart; an ardor of soul, that I know not how to express,” wrote Edwards.
May this be said of us. Pray today that the Lord would rekindle the fire and devotion within your soul for Him and for His Word. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
His Word Today 