In the following 6 minute video, Dr. Jeff Mayfield clarifies a Jonathan Edwards sermon on 1 Corinthians 13: 6 [bracketed statements, emboldening and italics are mine]:
1Co 13:4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant
1Co 13:5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;
1Co 13:6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
One must be saved to pursue holiness; thereafter, as he increases in the knowledge of God, he will be moved to pursue holiness.
Consider: Col 1:21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds,
Col 1:22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,
Consider: John 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
Dr. Mayfield further explains how our new spirit moves us to pursue holiness.
The most important questions you have to ask yourself, are – 1. am I born again? and, 2. how do I grow in the knowledge of God?
Number two is easier to answer – by abiding in God’s appointed means of grace, one comes to know God as He has presented Himself to mankind on the pages of scripture via God’s means of grace: reading the word; prayer; hearing the gospel preached; taking the Lord’s supper; and fellowship around the word of God, as in Bible studies, prayer meetings, helping others and discussing His word; debating on biblical topics among yourselves to grow in understanding; singing psalms and hymns rich in doctrine….
Number one: I was born again as I read through my study Bible for the first time; hearing the gospel preached is another common way to be saved. Put yourselves in those arenas (go to a biblical church and read the word) that you might be impacted by God’s Spirit and the literal message of the gospel.
(False gospels do not save, the biblical gospel does, and there are many false gospels in the “church” today; this blog provides biblical sermons by sound preachers; it also reveals many false teachers of the Bible).
To hear more of Dr. Mayfield’s video instruction in this blog, see Categories: Jonathan Edwards; John Owens, Thomas Brooks; and Calvin’s Institutes.
Dr. Mayfield’s YouTube site is Knowing to Love (use his name also, when searching).