What True Humility Looks Like
Jonathan Edwards Sermon Summary
The Fruits of Love
The spirit of love is a humble spirit that does the following [1]:
Such humble love will lead us to love others, giving them the honor and respect they deserve, and it will bring us to hate our own sin.
Though God’s attributes don’t include humbleness, Christ on earth demonstrated humble love. He became human (the worm of the dust), lived humbly as a servant, and remained obedient unto death on the cross. His behavior should kindle our love for Him, lead us to follow His example, and make us despise all earthly glory [11].
We should carefully examine ourselves. Our original sin is arrogant, which God detests and punishes [12].
Earnestly strive to have a humble, gentle, and loving spirit. This is the spirit of Christ on earth. Such a spirit of love will lead us to receiving His rich promises, ultimately the crown of glory in heaven [13].
Summary of a sermon by Jonathan Edwards, titled, “Charity and Its Fruits”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kenDI_9Tb88
The spirit of love is a humble spirit that does the following [1]:
- It sees God’s infinite power, holiness, and loveliness [2].
- It sees our natural meanness and filth. How unworthy and distrustful we are [3].
- It gives all the glory to God and willingly accepts His command and sovereignty [4].
- It is content with our status no matter how desperate, without envying those better off, without greed for honor, and without pursuing selfish ambition [5].
- It accepts that society has levels and is willingly to give those above us what they deserve [6].
- It confesses faults and appreciates reproval from those who have love or are good [7].
- It doesn’t show off or puff up to those below us and it doesn’t assume others will respect us [8].
- It doesn’t look down on others [9].
- It isn’t stubborn regarding our private interest but is willing to yield [10].
Such humble love will lead us to love others, giving them the honor and respect they deserve, and it will bring us to hate our own sin.
Though God’s attributes don’t include humbleness, Christ on earth demonstrated humble love. He became human (the worm of the dust), lived humbly as a servant, and remained obedient unto death on the cross. His behavior should kindle our love for Him, lead us to follow His example, and make us despise all earthly glory [11].
We should carefully examine ourselves. Our original sin is arrogant, which God detests and punishes [12].
Earnestly strive to have a humble, gentle, and loving spirit. This is the spirit of Christ on earth. Such a spirit of love will lead us to receiving His rich promises, ultimately the crown of glory in heaven [13].
Summary of a sermon by Jonathan Edwards, titled, “Charity and Its Fruits”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kenDI_9Tb88
[1] 1 Corinthians 13:4-5
[2] Psalm 113:6; Isaiah 6:5, 57:15; Job 42:5-6; Psalm 51:17; Matthew 5:3; Job 4:18-19, 15:15-16; Genesis 32:10; 2 Samuel 7:18
[3] Romans 12:3
[4] Psalm 115:1
[5] 1 Corinthians 13:4-5, Jeremiah 45:5, Romans 12:16
[6] Romans 14:7, Titus 3:1
[7] James 5:16; and Psalm 141:5
[8] 1 Corinthians 13:4-5, Matthew 23:5, Philippians 2:3, Ephesians 3:8
[9] Romans 12:16
[10] 2 Peter 2:10, 1 Corinthians 4:7, Matthew 5:40-41
[11] Philippians 2:6-8; Matthew 10:24-25, 20:25-28; John 13:13-16
[12] Habakkuk 2:4; James 4:6; 1 Timothy 3:6; Proverbs 16:5, 6:16, 29:23; 2 Samuel 22:28; Isaiah 23:9
[13] 1 Peter 3:4
[2] Psalm 113:6; Isaiah 6:5, 57:15; Job 42:5-6; Psalm 51:17; Matthew 5:3; Job 4:18-19, 15:15-16; Genesis 32:10; 2 Samuel 7:18
[3] Romans 12:3
[4] Psalm 115:1
[5] 1 Corinthians 13:4-5, Jeremiah 45:5, Romans 12:16
[6] Romans 14:7, Titus 3:1
[7] James 5:16; and Psalm 141:5
[8] 1 Corinthians 13:4-5, Matthew 23:5, Philippians 2:3, Ephesians 3:8
[9] Romans 12:16
[10] 2 Peter 2:10, 1 Corinthians 4:7, Matthew 5:40-41
[11] Philippians 2:6-8; Matthew 10:24-25, 20:25-28; John 13:13-16
[12] Habakkuk 2:4; James 4:6; 1 Timothy 3:6; Proverbs 16:5, 6:16, 29:23; 2 Samuel 22:28; Isaiah 23:9
[13] 1 Peter 3:4