No matter how far you’ve journeyed with Christ, Jonathan Edwards’ writings can, and likely will, help you go further. More than two and a half centuries after his death, Edwards continues to captivate minds and hearts with his intense focus on God’s glory and grace. His was a contagious passion for the gospel of Jesus Christ, as reflected in both his sermons and written works.
Most Christians who embrace the challenge of reading Edwards are typically overwhelmed and amazed by the experience. Ingesting his words has a way of enlightening the mind, warming the heart, and reviving the soul. The nominal Christian who encounters Edwards may find himself quickly maturing into a strong man of God.
But in spite of his great qualities, Edwards’ works can be incredibly
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We need Edwards, but his work is considered inaccessible by the general population. We need his voice resounding in today’s world, but his voice is difficult to decipher. We need his knowledgeable zeal for Christ, the gospel, and the glory of God, but this need remains unmet for the majority who (if they’ve heard of him at all) find his verbiage to thick and antiquated for their abilities or taste.
This explains my motivation for updating a number of his original writings into a more readable form – a form designed for those living today. My updates are nothing more than a meager attempt to solve this dilemma by presenting Edwards to the current generation in language they readily understand. In so doing, I hope the towering influence Northampton’s pastor will continue to guide many to the Savior.
As in my previous updates, I offer this important disclaimer: I am not an Edward’s scholar (or a professional scholar of any kind). I am a pastor, and these updates are presented from a pastor’s heart. In other words, I want to connect Jonathan Edwards to average Christians in our day, believing that the benefits of such a connection would be tremendous for individuals and churches