Resolved: I'm Starting Over

Today most of us will make some kind of New Year's resolution as a way of addressing our regret for being too busy, too lazy, or too self-indulgent last year. But Christian resolve ought to be profoundly deeper than dropping a few pounds or spending more time with family and friends.

The most famous list of all resolutions was crafted by a teenager named in 1722 and 1723. There were 70 in all. They were so different than the self-improvement lists we make today in our New Year’s resolutions. They centered on Christ and were fueled not be willpower but by the power of the gospel. They are also distinct in that Jonathan Edwards made them not for a year but for a lifetime.

Edwards recognized his need for gospel empowered resolve,“Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God’s help, I do humbly entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ’s sake. Remember to read over these Resolutions once a week.”

Nathan Busenitz suggests Edwards' seventy resolution into ten general categories. I have listed these categories with at least one of the Edward's resolutions and scripture that supports them.

1. To live for the glory of God.

• 4. Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God;
• Rom 11:36  For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

2. To make the most of this life, in terms of eternal impact.

• 17. Resolved, that I will live so as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.
• Mat 13:44  "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 
• Luke 9:24-25  For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.  For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?
• Matt 6:20  but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

3. To take sin seriously.

• 65. Resolved, very much to exercise myself in this all my life long, with the greatest openness I am capable of, to declare my ways to God, and lay open my soul to him: all my sins, temptations, difficulties, sorrows, fears, hopes, desires, and every thing, and every circumstance; according to Dr. Manton’s 27th Sermon on Psalm 119.
• Gal 6:7-8  Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.  For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

4. To become theologically astute.

• 28. Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.
• 2Peter 3:18  But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 
• Col 1:9  And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 
• 2Ti 3:16-17  All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. 

5. To be humble.

• 12. Resolved, if I take delight in it as a gratification of pride, or vanity, or on any such account, immediately to throw it by.
• Prov 8:13  The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. 
• James 4:6  But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." 

6. To exhibit self-control in all things.

• 40. Resolved, to inquire every night, before I go to bed, whether I have acted in the best way I possibly could, with respect to eating and drinking.
• 1Cor 9:25, 27  Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

7. To always speak with grace and truth.

• 30. Resolved, to strive to my utmost every week to be brought higher in religion, and to a higher exercise of grace, than I was the week before.
• Eph 4:15  Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
• Eph 4:29  Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 

8. To constantly develop an eternal focus.

• 9. Resolved, to think much on all occasions of my own dying, and of the common circumstances which attend death.
• 10. Resolved, when I feel pain, to think of the pains of martyrdom, and of hell.
• Col 3:1-2  If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

9. To be a faithful Christian, in prayer and dedication.

• 42. Resolved, frequently to renew the dedication of myself to God
• 44. Resolved, that no other end but religion, shall have any influence at all on any of my actions;
• Rom 12:1-2  I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 
• 2Pe 1:10-11  Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.  For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

10. To daily pursue a fervent love for Christ.

• 53. Resolved,… to cast and venture my soul on the Lord Jesus Christ, to trust and confide in him, and consecrate myself wholly to him; that from this I may have assurance of my safety, knowing that I confide in my Redeemer.
• Mat 22:37  And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 
• Eph 3:17-19  so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.