Religious Affections

“Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory.” (1 Peter 1:8 ESV)

It's a simple prospect, is it not? We have faith and love in Christ, even though we have not seen Him.  We believe and express our worship for His glory. And in this act of worship, we find a joy that is not just inexpressible, but also uplifting and filled with glory.

To truly be devoted to Christ, we must hold what Jonathan Edwards called “ religious affections.” 1

Through our justification and sanctification, we are like refined gold. This produces a glorious rejoicing in Christ. God is most glorified through our satisfaction and religious affection for Christ.

Edwards also explained the necessity for religious affection as the foundation of biblical Christianity. Some people want Jesus to be forgiven and nothing else. They recognize their depravity and wish to be forgiven, avoiding hell. But the affection for Christ does not exist. They do not see the desire for the world; the joy of created things places the glory of God below them.

However, it's important to understand that true salvation is not just about forgiveness, but also about developing a deep, heartfelt affection for Christ, which is a sign of a genuine relationship with Him.

God’s glory must be infinitely preferred over everything. The undying, overwhelming love for God pushes the world's desire from the heart.

God is transcendently pure, which means He is completely free from sin and impurity. There is no sin, so when we prefer the glory of created things, we suppress the glory of God in our hearts. Let us remember the purity of God and strive to keep His glory above all else.

The essence of sin and the world is lawlessness. What law, the law which Christ spoke, is that we are to love God with all our hearts, souls, and minds. (Matthew 22:37) Not following this commandment is a rebellion against Christ, who said, “If you love me, you will keep my commands.” (John 14:15). People, however, love sin.

Some will take negative reflections as signs of salvation. Deeds of service are one, yet anyone can do service work without being saved. Bodily responses, including tears, may not be authentic signs of salvation. One can cry at scripture or worship songs, but one can also cry at the loss of money. Satan twists the ideas of salvation within the church either through the sinner or weak pastors who do not know Christ.

Genuine affection is not something we can manufacture for ourselves. It is developed through a supernatural heart change, which is a testament to the power of God's love. I believe the true converted heart loves Christ with a love that is without benefit. We love Christ because of who He is. We love Him as our savior and creator. Our salvation is just a secondary gift we are given for our love and worship of our holy, all-powerful, and all-knowing God.

When we love God simply because of what He has done for sinners, our focus is on us. However, when we love Christ for who He is and his priceless worth in our lives, our focus is on God. Christ is a treasure to be savored. A love that is to be cherished above all things.

Are you searching for peace and love? True peace and love can only come from our Savior, Christ Jesus. Without Him, there is no peace and only life fraught with peril. Seek Christ, and reach out to us at In Messiah with any questions you may have about salvation through

faith in Christ.

Grace and Peace

1. Edwards, Jonathan, The Works of Jonathan Edwards,  New Haven, Yale University Press, 1959