12/13

While religious affections must be a part of true religion they are by no means saving grace.  The affections of our hearts towards God should not be condemned or ignored, for they are a great part of Christianity.  They should not be lifted above everything else.  We are not saved by how joyous our heart is.  You are not a Christian because you sing loud in church.

Look at the Galatians.  At one point, they had high esteem for Paul and his message about Jesus.  They rejoiced in it.  Gal. 4:14-15.  But he still said of them, Gal. 4:11.

Or look at the affections of the Israel after the Red Sea episode.  They sang out for joy after their deliverance.  Exodus 14:30-31, Ex. 15:1.  How quickly though they turned from joy to grumbling.  These same people hardened their hearts and fell in the desert.  

But the most striking example is in the life of Jesus.  On one day they cut off branches, shouted Hosanna, and laid their clothes in from of him.  Their affections were high.  But how many of those people later turned away and hid, or cried out crucify him?  The affections for him fell when he no longer road on an ass, but was a marked man by Rome and the Pharisees.

All of this nature is quelled and dead, when this Jesus stands bound, with a mock robe and a crown of thorns, to be derided, spit upon, scourged, condemned and executed. Indeed, there was a great and loud outcry concerning him among the multitude then, as well as before; but of a very different kind: it is not then, Hosanna, hosanna, but Crucify, crucify. (Edwards Religious Affections Part 2).


So our affections must be a part of our religion.  But they by no means save us.  Rather they should be a reflection of our salvation.