Sinners In The Hands Of An Angry God Series

Dakota Community Church

Church History Sunday - 2

February 20, 2011

Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God

Introduction

I decided to cover this topic for our next “Church History Sunday” in October of last year. I was channel surfing when I came across an episode of Peter Youngren’s Grace TV show. Here is the description of what I saw from their video archive:

(This video was aired on Grace TV on 4 October 2010.) - Video commentary:

In its day it was controversial but today it is considered a classic. Church historians refer to it as one of the most influential sermons in North American Christianity. Its title is infamous among church goers. The content is studied world-wide at seminaries, Bible colleges and universities.

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It is seen as measuring stick to all other preaching. “Sinners in the Hands of An Angry God,” preached by Jonathan Edwards in Enfield, CT in 1741 has gone a long way to shape our modern view of God and his dealings with man’s “sin problem”.

But has this classic of modern Christian sermonizing done a disservice to the gospel? Could it be that people have accepted a man’s distorted perception of God’s interaction with the human race? Is God really an angry task-master waiting to pour out wrath and judgment on people whenever the mood strikes him?

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All this week on Encounter with Peter Youngren, tune in for the lively discussion of “Roots of Deception – One Devastating Sermon”. Peter Youngren and special guest Mike Zenker from Grace Walk Canada will explore the famous “Angry God” sermon. Discover for yourself the reality and far-reaching implications of this message and its impact on current Christian culture.

Youngren misses the mark in two ways on this video:

He fails to present the content of the sermon accurately.

He fails to understand the “sin problem” and its ramifications.

The gospel is good news but what makes it good news?

We rejoice in Christus Victor; but why do we need a victorious Christ and victorious over what?

What problem is so serious that men require saving?

What problem is so serious that the only acceptable form of salvation is Christ on a cross?

What is the source of Christ’s agony in Gethsemane?

Mark 14:32-36

They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”

35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36 “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

On the cross Jesus saved us from our sins, from slavery, from oppression and conformity to this world; He saved us from spiritual death, but most of all He saved us from the wrath of God.

Jesus drank the wine of God’s fury which is poured full strength into the cup of His wrath- for us – in our place – on that cross.

1. The Man

Jonathan Edwards was born at Windsor Farms Connecticut on October 5, 1703

He died at the age of 54 on March 22, 1758

A third generation preacher, his father was a minister and his mother was a minister’s daughter.

An only son, Edwards was the fifth of eleven children.

He was trained for college by his father and by his elder sisters, all of whom received an excellent education.

He began the study of Latin at the age of six, and before he was thirteen had acquired a good knowledge of Latin, Greek, and Hebrew.

When he was about nine he wrote an interesting letter on materialism, and when he was about twelve he wrote some remarkable papers on questions in natural philosophy.

One month before he was thirteen he entered Yale College, and was graduated, with the highest honors of his class, in 1720.

He is considered by many to be the greatest theologian America has ever produced.

On January 12, 1723, (20 years old) Jonathan Edwards made a solemn dedication of Himself to God. It was one of the defining moments of His life.

Edwards gave himself to God with these words:

I made a solemn dedication of myself to God, and wrote it down; giving up myself, and all that I had to God; to be for the future, in no respect, my own; to act as one that had no right to himself, in any respect. And solemnly vowed, to take God for my whole portion and felicity; looking on nothing else, as any part of my happiness, nor acting as if it were; and his law for the constant rule of my obedience.