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True Affections Flow from a Spirit-Enlightened Mind | Jonathan Edwards

An episode of the Reformed Thinking podcast, hosted by Edison Wu, titled "True Affections Flow from a Spirit-Enlightened Mind | Jonathan Edwards" was published on June 4, 2025 and runs 39 minutes.

June 4, 2025 ·39m · Reformed Thinking

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Summary

Deep Dive into Religious Affections by Jonathan Edwards - Gracious Affections Do Arise from the Mind's Being Enlightened, Richly and Spiritually to Understand or Apprehend Divine ThingsGenuine gracious affections are rooted in spiritual understanding, which is described as a supernatural enlightenment granting the soul a "sense of the heart" for the supreme moral beauty and holiness of divine things. This spiritual knowledge is unique to regenerate individuals and involves relishing and feeling divine truths, distinct from mere intellectual grasp or natural understanding.Affections are not spiritual when they do not arise from this spiritual light. This occurs when they originate from a lack of genuine instruction, impressions on the imagination (such as visions, sounds, outward appearances, or suggested words/ideas), bodily sensations, or misapprehensions of truth. Affections based on understanding gained solely from human teaching, common (non-saving) illuminations, or those focused on the natural good in divine things rather than their holy beauty are also not spiritual. Enthusiasm, characterized by supposed immediate revelations, new meanings of Scripture, or inward suggestions of duty or facts, is seen as primarily based on imagination and lacks true spiritual discernment.Satan tempts and deludes primarily by accessing the soul through the imagination. He causes motions that excite external ideas to counterfeit the work of the Holy Spirit, appearing as an "angel of light" to introduce false religion and disrupt revivals.Affections from Scripture can be vain if they are based on the manner a text comes to mind, a misinterpretation of its meaning (like supposing it directly declares personal salvation), or treating it as giving a new meaning not already present. True spiritual affection from Scripture comes from understanding the inherent spiritual beauty and glory within its actual, intended meaning.In essence, spiritual affections are founded on a divinely given ability to perceive the inherent holiness of God and divine things; affections lacking this foundation are considered false or vain.Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologianPatreon: patreon.com/edi_reformed

Episode Description

Deep Dive into Religious Affections by Jonathan Edwards - Gracious Affections Do Arise from the Mind's Being Enlightened, Richly and Spiritually to Understand or Apprehend Divine Things


Genuine gracious affections are rooted in spiritual understanding, which is described as a supernatural enlightenment granting the soul a "sense of the heart" for the supreme moral beauty and holiness of divine things. This spiritual knowledge is unique to regenerate individuals and involves relishing and feeling divine truths, distinct from mere intellectual grasp or natural understanding.

Affections are not spiritual when they do not arise from this spiritual light. This occurs when they originate from a lack of genuine instruction, impressions on the imagination (such as visions, sounds, outward appearances, or suggested words/ideas), bodily sensations, or misapprehensions of truth. Affections based on understanding gained solely from human teaching, common (non-saving) illuminations, or those focused on the natural good in divine things rather than their holy beauty are also not spiritual. Enthusiasm, characterized by supposed immediate revelations, new meanings of Scripture, or inward suggestions of duty or facts, is seen as primarily based on imagination and lacks true spiritual discernment.

Satan tempts and deludes primarily by accessing the soul through the imagination. He causes motions that excite external ideas to counterfeit the work of the Holy Spirit, appearing as an "angel of light" to introduce false religion and disrupt revivals.

Affections from Scripture can be vain if they are based on the manner a text comes to mind, a misinterpretation of its meaning (like supposing it directly declares personal salvation), or treating it as giving a new meaning not already present. True spiritual affection from Scripture comes from understanding the inherent spiritual beauty and glory within its actual, intended meaning.

In essence, spiritual affections are founded on a divinely given ability to perceive the inherent holiness of God and divine things; affections lacking this foundation are considered false or vain.

Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologian

Patreon: patreon.com/edi_reformed

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