I was going to write something here but I think we would be better served by listening to Jonathan Edwards. Below are his seventy resolutions, in their totality, that he penned at the young age of seventeen. These resolutions and many more of Jonathan Edwards works can be found at www.JonathanEdwards.com

Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God’s help, I do humbly entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ’s sake.

Remember to read over these Resolutions once a week.

1. Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God’s glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriad’s of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many and how great soever.

2. Resolved, to be continually endeavoring to find out some new invention and contrivance to promote the aforementioned things.

3. Resolved, if ever I shall fall and grow dull, so as to neglect to keep any part of these Resolutions, to repent of all I can remember, when I come to myself again.

4. Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer it, if I can avoid it.

5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.

6. Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.

7. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.

8. Resolved, to act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings as others; and that I will let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God.

9. Resolved, to think much on all occasions of my own dying, and of the common circumstances which attend death.

10. Resolved, when I feel pain, to think of the pains of martyrdom, and of hell.

11. Resolved, when I think of any theorem in divinity to be solved, immediately to do what I can towards solving it, if circumstances don’t hinder.

12. Resolved, if I take delight in it as a gratification of pride, or vanity, or on any such account, immediately to throw it by.

13. Resolved, to be endeavoring to find out fit objects of charity and liberality.

14. Resolved, never to do anything out of revenge.

15. Resolved, never to suffer the least motions of anger to irrational beings.

16. Resolved, never to speak evil of anyone, so that it shall tend to his dishonor, more or less, upon no account except for some real good.

17. Resolved, that I will live so as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.

18. Resolved, to live so at all times, as I think is best in my devout frames, and when I have clearest notions of things of the gospel, and another world.

19. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if I expected it would not be above an hour, before I should hear the last trump.

20. Resolved, to maintain the strictest temperance in eating and drinking.

21. Resolved, never to do anything, which if I should see in another, I should count a just occasion to despise him for, or to think any way the more meanly of him.

22. Resolved, to endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness, in the other world, as I possibly can, with all the power; might, vigor, and vehemence, yea violence, I am capable of, or can bring myself to exert, in any way that can be thought of.

23. Resolved, frequently to take some deliberate action, which seems most unlikely to be done, for the glory of God, and trace it back to the original intention, designs and ends of it; and if I find it not to be for God’s glory, to repute it as a breach of the 4th Resolution.

24. Resolved, whenever I do any conspicuously evil action, to trace it back, till I come to the original cause; and then both carefully endeavor to do so no more, and to fight and pray with all my might against the original of it.

25. Resolved, to examine carefully, and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and to direct all my forces against it.

26. Resolved, to east away such things, as I find do abate my assurance.

27. Resolved, never willfully to omit anything, except the omission be for the glory of God; and frequently to examine my omissions.

28. Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.

29. Resolved, never to count that a prayer, nor to let that pass as a prayer, nor that as a petition of a prayer, which is so made, that I cannot hope that God will answer it; nor that as a confession, which I cannot hope God will accept.

30. Resolved, to strive to my utmost every week to be brought higher in religion, and to a higher exercise of grace, than I was the week before.

31. Resolved, never to say anything at all against anybody, but when it is perfectly agreeable to the highest degree of Christian honor, and of love to mankind, agreeable to the lowest humility, and sense of my own faults and failings, and agreeable to the golden rule; often, when I have said anything against anyone, to bring it to, and try it strictly by the test of this Resolution.

32. Resolved, to be strictly and firmly faithful to my trust, that that in Prov. 20:6, “A faithful man who can find?” may not be partly fulfilled in me.

33. Resolved, always to do what I can towards making, maintaining, establishing and preserving peace, when it can be without over-balancing detriment in other respects. Dec.26, 1722.

34. Resolved, in narration’s never to speak anything but the pure and simple verity.

35. Resolved, whenever I so much question whether I have done my duty, as that my quiet and calm is thereby disturbed, to set it down, and also how the question was resolved. Dec. 18, 1722.

36. Resolved, never to speak evil of any, except I have some particular good call for it. Dec. 19, 1722.

37. Resolved, to inquire every night, as I am going to bed, wherein I have been negligent, what sin I have committed, and wherein I have denied myself: also at the end of every week, month and year. Dec.22 and 26, 1722.

38. Resolved, never to speak anything that is ridiculous, sportive, or matter of laughter on the Lord’s day. Sabbath evening, Dec. 23, 1722.

39. Resolved, never to do anything that I so much question the lawfulness of, as that I intend, at the same time, to consider and examine afterwards, whether it be lawful or no; except I as much question the lawfulness of the omission.

40. Resolved, to inquire every night, before I go to bed, whether I have acted in the best way I possibly could, with respect to eating and drinking. Jan. 7, 1723.

41. Resolved, to ask myself at the end of every day, week, month and year, wherein I could possibly in any respect have done better. Jan. 11, 1723.

42. Resolved, frequently to renew the dedication of myself to God, which was made at my baptism; which I solemnly renewed, when I was received into the communion of the church; and which I have solemnly re-made this twelfth day of January, 1722-23.

43. Resolved, never henceforward, till I die, to act as if I were any way my own, but entirely and altogether God’s, agreeable to what is to be found in Saturday, January 12. Jan.12, 1723.

44. Resolved, that no other end but religion, shall have any influence at all on any of my actions; and that no action shall be, in the least circumstance, any otherwise than the religious end will carry it. Jan.12, 1723.

45. Resolved, never to allow any pleasure or grief, joy or sorrow, nor any affection at all, nor any degree of affection, nor any circumstance relating to it, but what helps religion. Jan.12 and 13.1723.

46. Resolved, never to allow the least measure of any fretting uneasiness at my father or mother. Resolved to suffer no effects of it, so much as in the least alteration of speech, or motion of my eve: and to be especially careful of it, with respect to any of our family.

47. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to deny whatever is not most agreeable to a good, and universally sweet and benevolent, quiet, peaceable, contented, easy, compassionate, generous, humble, meek, modest, submissive, obliging, diligent and industrious, charitable, even, patient, moderate, forgiving, sincere temper; and to do at all times what such a temper would lead me to. Examine strictly every week, whether I have done so. Sabbath morning. May 5,1723.

48. Resolved, constantly, with the utmost niceness and diligence, and the strictest scrutiny, to be looking into the state of my soul, that I may know whether I have truly an interest in Christ or no; that when I come to die, I may not have any negligence respecting this to repent of. May 26, 1723.

49. Resolved, that this never shall be, if I can help it.

50. Resolved, I will act so as I think I shall judge would have been best, and most prudent, when I come into the future world. July 5, 1723.

51. Resolved, that I will act so, in every respect, as I think I shall wish I had done, if I should at last be damned. July 8, 1723.

52. I frequently hear persons in old age say how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again: Resolved, that I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age. July 8, 1723.

53. Resolved, to improve every opportunity, when I am in the best and happiest frame of mind, to cast and venture my soul on the Lord Jesus Christ, to trust and confide in him, and consecrate myself wholly to him; that from this I may have assurance of my safety, knowing that I confide in my Redeemer. July 8, 1723.

54. Whenever I hear anything spoken in conversation of any person, if I think it would be praiseworthy in me, Resolved to endeavor to imitate it. July 8, 1723.

55. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to act as I can think I should do, if I had already seen the happiness of heaven, and hell torments. July 8, 1723.

56. Resolved, never to give over, nor in the least to slacken my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.

57. Resolved, when I fear misfortunes and adversities, to examine whether ~ have done my duty, and resolve to do it; and let it be just as providence orders it, I will as far as I can, be concerned about nothing but my duty and my sin. June 9, and July 13 1723.

58. Resolved, not only to refrain from an air of dislike, fretfulness, and anger in conversation, but to exhibit an air of love, cheerfulness and benignity. May27, and July 13, 1723.

59. Resolved, when I am most conscious of provocations to ill nature and anger, that I will strive most to feel and act good-naturedly; yea, at such times, to manifest good nature, though I think that in other respects it would be disadvantageous, and so as would be imprudent at other times. May 12, July ii, and July 13.

60. Resolved, whenever my feelings begin to appear in the least out of order, when I am conscious of the least uneasiness within, or the least irregularity without, I will then subject myself to the strictest examination. July 4, and 13, 1723.

61. Resolved, that I will not give way to that listlessness which I find unbends and relaxes my mind from being fully and fixedly set on religion, whatever excuse I may have for it-that what my listlessness inclines me to do, is best to be done, etc. May 21, and July 13, 1723.

62. Resolved, never to do anything but duty; and then according to Eph. 6:6-8, do it willingly and cheerfully as unto the Lord, and not to man; “knowing that whatever good thing any man doth, the same shall he receive of the Lord.” June 25 and July 13, 1723.

63. On the supposition, that there never was to be but one individual in the world, at any one time, who was properly a complete Christian, in all respects of a right stamp, having Christianity always shining in its true luster, and appearing excellent and lovely, from whatever part and under whatever character viewed: Resolved, to act just as I would do, if I strove with all my might to be that one, who should live in my time. Jan.14′ and July ‘3’ 1723.

64. Resolved, when I find those “groanings which cannot be uttered” (Rom. 8:26), of which the Apostle speaks, and those “breakings of soul for the longing it hath,” of which the Psalmist speaks, Psalm 119:20, that I will promote them to the utmost of my power, and that I will not be wear’, of earnestly endeavoring to vent my desires, nor of the repetitions of such earnestness. July 23, and August 10, 1723.

65. Resolved, very much to exercise myself in this all my life long, viz. with the greatest openness I am capable of, to declare my ways to God, and lay open my soul to him: all my sins, temptations, difficulties, sorrows, fears, hopes, desires, and every thing, and every circumstance; according to Dr. Manton’s 27th Sermon on Psalm 119. July 26, and Aug.10 1723.

66. Resolved, that I will endeavor always to keep a benign aspect, and air of acting and speaking in all places, and in all companies, except it should so happen that duty requires otherwise.

67. Resolved, after afflictions, to inquire, what I am the better for them, what good I have got by them, and what I might have got by them.

68. Resolved, to confess frankly to myself all that which I find in myself, either infirmity or sin; and, if it be what concerns religion, also to confess the whole case to God, and implore needed help. July 23, and August 10, 1723.

69. Resolved, always to do that, which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it. Aug. 11, 1723.

70. Let there be something of benevolence, in all that I speak. Aug. 17, 1723.

I have not posted in a little over a week this is because Allison and I have been blessed with the awesome opportunity to visit one of my best friends Chase Sears, to visit The Master’s Seminary, and attend the Resolved in Los Angeles, California. Resolved is based around the seventy resolutions made by Jonathan Edwards at age seventeen. I highly recommend that you go to their website and view the trailer for Resolved 2006. Even more highly recommended is purchasing the MP3s or CDs of both Resolved 2005 and 2006 they contain some of the finest expository preaching you will ever hear and I guarantee it will change your life.

I plan to do several posts about Resolved but first I want to tell you about what impacted me the most at Resolved. Above all, of the excellent and passionate exposition, I was most affected by the conduct and personality of C. J. Mahaney, the founder of Sovereign Grace Ministries. He is by far the humblest person I have ever met and his humility is convicting. By watching and listening to him, I was able to see what true humility in a man of God looks like. This is rare but I am going to endorse a book I have not yet read. As soon as I can I will purchase and read Humility: True Greatness by C. J. Mahaney and I hope that you too would do likewise.

7And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” 8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, 10let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead–by him this man is standing before you well. 11This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

18So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”

v.18 They could do whatever they wanted; they could speak and teach whatever they wanted to so long as it was not done in the name of Christ. Driven by ecumenism the monoculture must embrace every deity and yet acknowledge none, as antithetical as this might appear it is true. The ecumenical monoculture cannot acknowledge Christ as supreme over other Gods and in fact, because of Christ’s own claim to supremacy over all other gods the monoculture cannot acknowledge Him at all. Christ is, by His nature supreme; therefore, if the monoculture acknowledges Him it also acknowledges his supremacy. Because of this, the monoculture must oppose Christ.

v.19-20 Many within modern Christianity are being dictated to by the culture rather than transforming it, this is true of everything from music to church planting/growth models and preaching. In stark contrast to this unbiblical trend, Peter offers these words “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge.” Man’s opinion is inconsequential. Our chief concern, in any and every situation, is what is right in the sight of God. Above all else, our lives must be pleasing to God. Preaching a narrow-minded, exclusive, and foolish message is right in the eyes of God regardless of what society thinks.

v.12 This is the threat of the monoculture: that through abandoning sound doctrine and embracing suicidal ecumenism no one will be saved. Salvation is in Christ alone. There is salvation in no other belief system or deity and salvation cannot be earned through good works. A frequently asked question in response to this is “What about the man on the island who has never heard about Christ?” Apart from a man on a boat with a Bible, the man on the island has no hope; he cannot earn his salvation nor does his lack of knowledge about Christ exempt him from being held accountable for his sins. The offensive message of Christ must be preached lest everyone be like that man on the island with no access to the gospel and no hope for salvation.

Today, Albert Mohler’s website points out another legal challenge to Christian schools, to which we should all pay close attention. His article: A Case to Watch — Another Challenge to Christian Schools can be read in its entirety here.

11Command and teach these things. 12Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 13Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 15Practice these things, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress. 16Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Paul begins chapter four with the warning “that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons” because their consciences have been made numb as if being seared by a hot iron. The proponents of the ecumenical monoculture and postmodern Christianity have abandoned Christ and his teachings and in turn devoted themselves to the teachings of demons. We live in that time, in verse three Paul even lists several popular false doctrines currently taught at Ephesus. The ecumenical monoculture and postmodern Christianity claims that doctrine and theology are unimportant, however, I Timothy offers several reasons why this just is not so.

v.11 Biblical Christianity and the monoculture clash over this issue. The monoculture asks, “Why, if we are all on our own spiritual journey should one man stand and speak with authority?” The pastor exists to shepherd, lead, and protect God’s flock, not merely to journey with it. A good pastor will command and teach the Word of God. The fulfillment of The Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20) is dependent upon teaching the nations to obey God’s Word. God is not an inert spiritual being; He is a despotic ruler (Acts 4) of absolute power who demands your obedience.

v.13 A good pastor devotes himself to three things. First, a good pastor must devote himself to the public reading of Scripture. Cashing in on Biblical illiteracy, many are abandoning the public reading of Scripture for skits, video clips, and stories. Any authority the pastor has is derived from God’s Word and apart from this the pastor has no authority. Second, a good pastor must devote himself to exhortation. Exhortation refers to the application of God’s word; this could take the form of a command to obey and submit, encouragement to persevere, comfort, or rebuke. Third, a good pastor must devote himself to teaching, also translated doctrine. The current trend of teaching anecdotal stories and pop psychology is abhorrently unbiblical. The pastor must systematically exposit God’s Word.

v.14 Paul is referring to Timothy’s spiritual gifts, to be used in ministry, of preaching/teaching, and evangelism. Through abandoning Christ and devoting themselves to demonic doctrines, the proponents of the monoculture and postmodern Christianity have no spiritual gifts. However, this passage exhorts Biblical pastors, and every Christian, to stay the course, to be doctrinally sound, and to use you spiritual gifts.

v.15 Paul continues his exhortation encouraging every good pastor to devote himself to these things to the point that all may see their progress. Quite simply others should notice your obedience to God’s Word.

v.16 This verse offers a promise from God coupled with an extremely severe warning. Perseverance in the Truth is a mark of genuine conversion and the pastor who perseveres in teaching sound doctrine can be used by God as an instrument to deliver the Gospel that God might save some (see John 8:31 and Romans 10:9-17). The pastor must persevere in two areas his teaching/doctrine and his conduct; he must teach and live the truth and because of this God will save some. The warning and the danger of the monoculture is this: the abandonment of Biblical doctrine is tantamount to abandoning Christ and the congregation who bases their salvation upon the doctrines of demons will not be saved. The monoculture wants to downplay the importance of doctrinal beliefs posing that they are unimportant, unnecessary, and should be abandoned to promote unity, ecumenism. This is a damning lie; sound doctrine is of the utmost importance because without the preaching of the true Word of Christ no one can be saved (Romans 10:9-17).