Truly Gracious and Holy Affections (Gal 5:19-23) Intro
This is a study... 1. not for you to determine the signs of a hypocrite vs. the signs of a true saint 2. not for you to become able to discern the state of your own heart 3. not of the rules or marks of distinguishing true & false affections, for the purpose of undeceiving hypocrites
Exposition 1Cor 2:14, see Rom 8:6-7, Col 1:9, Eph 1:3, Col 2:18, Eph 2:3, Jude 19
First Distinguishing Mark: Affections that are truly spiritual & gracious, do arise from those influences & operations on the heart, which are spiritual, supernatural & divine. 2Pet 1:4; 1 Jn 4:12,15,16; Jn 17:21; Rom 8:10; 2Cor 6:16; Gal 2:20; Heb 12:10; Jn 17:26; Jn 17:13; Ps 36:8,9.
Second Distinguishing Mark: The true, divine, supernatural affections are affections toward God himself, and not the result of self-interest or self-love.
Christ plainly speaks of self-love as the love which wicked men have (Lk 6:32)
But Job bears the magnificent testimony, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him" (Job 13:15).
Conclusion "The first foundation of the delight a true saint has in God, is his own perfection; and the first foundation of the delight he has in Christ, is his own beauty; he appears in himself the chief among ten thousand, and altogether lovely" (Edwards, compare his own testimony). |