“Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly, and frequently that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of them.” (Resolution 28)
This shows a great love and reverence for the Word and the God who breathed them, but also reminds us of David in the Psalms. This also reminds us of Ezra: “For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel” (7:10). Ezra was a man that had set his heart to study the law of the LORD. This is exactly what Edwards did in his resolution. The terms “steadily, constantly, and frequently” refer to a heart that has been set to study God’s Word. However, it is far more than just an intellectual perception that Edwards and Ezra wanted. They also wanted to practice the Word. In fact, those with a greater practice have a greater understanding of the Word. For example, “if anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself” (John 7:17). The study and practice of the Word is what leads to true understanding. This is also true in the medical profession. No one is allowed to practice medicine after he or she has read through a few books. That is why a doctor is usually part of a practice.
“Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. 14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. 15 Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all” (I Timothy 4:13-15). Here the text tells us what instructions Paul gave to Timothy. He told him to take pains with these things (referring back to the reading, exhortation and teaching of Scripture) so that his progress would be evident to all. Edwards wanted the progress to be noticed by himself even if no one else did.
A resolution or at least a commitment to this should be the desire of every true believer in Christ. Coming to know Scripture is not like studying a novel or even a book of history, but the study of Scripture is an act of engaging God when one has the right perspective. As Edwards says in his sermon on A Divine and Supernatural light, “Indeed a person cannot have spiritual light without the Word. But that don’t argue, that the Word properly causes that light. The mind can’t see the excellency of any doctrine, unless that doctrine be first in the mind; but the seeing the excellency of the doctrine may be immediately from the Spirit of God; though the conveying of the doctrine or proposition itself may be by the Word.” We also know that the Scriptures are called the “sword of the Spirit” (Eph 6:17), are breathed forth by the Spirit (II Timothy 3:16; Acts 1:16), and also the instrument of regeneration (James 1:18). The Word of God is, according to the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith, “the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience.”
If all the statements from the above paragraph are true, then each believer should give him or herself to the study of the Word of God. There is nothing more vital than that. The Word of God is that which the Spirit uses to bring light, to regenerate, and is the only sufficient and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience. In other words, people need to hear the Word of God to be saved. People need to hear the Word of God in order to see and believe Christ. People need to understand the Word of God in order to obey Him. While this resolution of Edwards may seem extreme to many, it really should be normal for believers. Is it normal for you?
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