Summary and statement of chapters - Writerben
The specialists of the company Writerben will help in the study of various works. For example, there is the sermon “Sinners in the hands of an Angry God” by Jonathan Edwards. We will conduct a summary and provide a tutorial with detailed summaries of chapters and an analysis of the main topics, characters and quotes.
Summary "sinners in the hands of an angry god”
Who wrote Sinners in the hands of an angry God? It was preached by Jonathan Edwards in the church of the town of Enfield, Connecticut, on July 8, 1741.
Jonathan Edwards’ sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an angry God” is known all over the world. It received a special influence on people and recognition in American history.
This is a typical Puritan “awakening sermon” that warns of the judgment hanging over unbelieving people. It also speaks of the mercy of God, who saves His enemies from being immediately cast into hell. One of the important points for Edwards was that everyone felt his sermon, so he carefully selected the words so that his listeners perceived this topic as reality. To achieve this goal, he used vivid images in his explanations along with the biblical teaching. As a result of this sermon, the listeners experienced a dramatic awakening.
The sermon quickly became the most famous publication. “Sinners” is the most famous text of the period of the Great Awakening, the movement for religious revival that took place in the British colonies of North America.
The work “Sinners” consists of four parts and has the same structure as all typical sermons. Namely, the parts are the biblical text, doctrine, proof and application.
The beginning of the sermon is accompanied by the following words: “In due time, their foot will slip… when their leg shakes up.”
In this verse, God’s threat is heard to the wicked, unbelieving Israelites, who were God’s chosen people and lived under His mercy. But despite His colossal work on people, the Israelites resembled callous, reckless people. After all that was so carefully done for them, they brought bitter and poisonous fruit, as it is written in verses 32 and 33 of the same chapter.
Another truth, which is embedded in this verse, says that they, without outside help, put themselves in danger of falling, just like those who stand or walk on ice. They don’t need any interference; their own weight will tip them down.
There can be only one reason why they have not yet fallen and are not falling – the time appointed by God has not come. Therefore, it is said that when it comes, “their foot will slip.” God will no longer support them in a slippery place, He will leave them alone.
In the next section of the sermon, Edwards demonstrates the truth of his statement in the 10 listed proofs, or “Considerations”:
- God can send sinners to hell at any time if He wishes.
- Sinners deserve to go to hell. Divine justice does not prevent God from destroying sinners at any time.
- Sinners at “this” moment are undergoing God’s judgment in hell.
- Sinners are suffering the torments of hell on earth at this very moment. Sinners should not believe that because they are not physically in hell, God (in whose hands the sinners are) is not angry with them, just as He is angry with the unfortunate creatures He torments. And at this moment they feel the pain of his anger.
- Anytime God wants, Satan attacks sinners and declares them his own.
- If it were not for the presence of God holding the souls of sinners, the princes of hell would reign in the present and would plunge all sinners into hell.
- Although death may not seem inevitable at any moment, sinners should not feel safe.
- Although it is natural to take care of oneself or others, people should not feel safe from the wrath of God.
- Everything that sinners do to save themselves from the punishments of hell will be useless if they continue to reject Christ.
- God has never promised to save us from hell, except for those who are contained in Christ through the covenant of grace.
Edwards concludes the evidence section of the sermon with one convincing sentence, which summarizes point by point the 10 statements he made in support of his doctrine.
Go to the “Application”. The use of this terrible theme is possible to awaken the unconverted, to convince them that they are in danger. What you are reading applies to everyone who is outside of Christ. The world of suffering, the lake of burning fire, spread wide beneath you, is a terrible abyss, incandescent with the flames of the Lord’s wrath; this is hell, which has opened its mouth wide. And you have no way to resist or stay above it, there is only air between you and hell. All that holds you is the power and will of God.
You probably don’t realize it, you find that you are saved from hell and, not seeing the hand of the Lord in this, you hope for such values as health, taking care of your own life and all kinds of ways of self-preservation. But in reality, all is nothing. If the Lord takes His hand away, all this will not keep you from falling. Will the air hold a person?
Edwards develops four points about the wrath of God towards the wicked so that his audience can contemplate: (1) The wrath they are subjected to is the wrath of the infinite God, unimaginable in His greatness and power; (2) The wrath of God is incomprehensibly fierce and will be executed on sinners without any mercy; (3) God will make their suffering a spectacle to show the universe the full horror of His wrath; (4) The wrath of God is eternal; the punishment of the sinner is therefore infinite and unimaginable in his suffering. It is surprising that many of those who are now sitting in the pews have not yet been thrown into hell, given the depravity of their hearts.
The sermon ends with Edwards’ urgent appeal to his listeners to take advantage of the exceptional opportunity given to them to come to Christ.
The Day of Mercy is approaching, and many are flocking to the Kingdom of God from the surrounding towns, even from Suffield, Enfield’s neighbor. Edwards turns to the elderly, young adults and children of the city, urging each group not to neglect the precious season of redemption. This day is a day of favor and forgiveness for some, but others will remember it as a day of wonderful revenge. The Spirit of God is now pouring out on the earth, as it was in the time of the apostles of Christ, and He is hastily gathering those who will be saved. Those who reject the gift of grace will be blinded and cut down like a tree that refuses to bear good fruit. The sermon ends with an exhortation reminding of the faithful Jews who fled from Sodom when God turned against its ungodly inhabitants: “Hurry up and escape for your lives, do not look back, run to the Mountain, at least you will be destroyed”.
