Truce Grace Distinguished from the Experience of Devils (James 2:19) | Jonathan Edwards

Deep Dive into Truce Grace Distinguished from the Experience of Devils (James 2:19) by Jonathan EdwardsJonathan Edwards argues that experiences shared by devils, such as speculative faith and intense fear, are not reliable signs of saving grace. Drawing on James 2:19, he notes that devils believe in one God and tremble, yet they remain perfectly wicked and devoid of holiness. Edwards asserts that if an experience is of the same nature as what a devil feels, it cannot be a certain sign of a person’s salvation, because it is the quality of holiness that makes a subject holy, not the intensity of the experience itself.The sources emphasize that great speculative knowledge of divinity, scripture, and God's providence is not evidence of piety. Devils possess vast intellectual understanding because they witnessed creation and have observed human history for thousands of years; they even know experimental religion well enough to imitate it artfully. Furthermore, feeling intense terror over damnation or acknowledging the justice of God's punishment does not constitute conversion. Such "legal convictions" are merely the "business of the day of judgment" being transacted in the conscience early; even the damned will eventually have their mouths stopped by the undeniable reality of God's righteousness.Edwards further notes that earnest longings for salvation or vivid mental impressions of external glory are insufficient marks of grace. Devils themselves possess a deep sense of eternity’s importance and God’s majesty, yet they lack a submissive heart and a will bowed to God's sovereignty. Edwards concludes that the only infallible signs of grace are holy, spiritual qualities, such as love, meekness, and the "fruits of the Spirit". These gracious experiences involve a spiritual light that a carnal heart cannot receive.Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologianYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@ReformedExplainerSpotify Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1t5dz4vEgvHqUknYQfwpRI?si=e-tDRFR2Qf6By1sAcMdkdwhttps://buymeacoffee.com/edi2730