RESOLUTIONS

Resolved for God's Glory: Lessons from Jonathan Edwards


"And this we will do if God permits." – Hebrews 6:3

When Jonathan Edwards penned his famous 70 resolutions, he did so with a profound awareness of his own depravity and a deep dependence on God’s grace. This humility shaped his approach, reminding him—and us—that apart from Christ, we can do nothing (John 15:5).

In reflecting on Edwards’ resolutions, I can’t help but recall my own struggles with New Year’s resolutions. Compared to Edwards’ lofty, Christ-centered goals, my resolutions often seemed trivial or self-serving. Over time, I came to realize that many resolutions fail because they rest on human willpower rather than on God’s grace. This truth has led me to focus not on my strength, but on His.

The Problem with Most Resolutions
New Year’s resolutions are often grounded in law rather than grace—rules and restrictions we hope will shape us into better versions of ourselves. But no matter how much willpower we muster, our efforts often fall short. Surveys reveal that a quarter of all resolutions are abandoned by January 2nd!

Why? Because lasting change isn’t achieved by self-effort alone. Instead, it comes through reliance on God’s wisdom and grace. As Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

Learning from Edwards
At the close of 1722, a 19-year-old Jonathan Edwards, fresh out of Yale and serving as a pastor in New York City, set about writing his resolutions. The preface to his resolutions sets the tone:

"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."

This humble acknowledgment of his dependence on God offers three key lessons:

1. He recognized his own weakness and inability to keep his resolutions.
2. He sought God’s grace to empower him in living out these commitments.
3. He submitted his plans to God’s will, prioritizing God’s purposes over his own.

As we consider our own resolutions, this foundation of grace should inspire and guide us.

A Few of Edwards’ Resolutions
Edwards’ resolutions reflect a heart set on God’s glory and a life of eternal significance. Here are a few highlights:

- Resolution #1: “Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God’s glory, and to my own good, profit, and pleasure.” His ultimate aim was to glorify God and benefit others in everything he did.

- Resolution #5: “Resolved, never to lose one moment of time, but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.” Edwards was committed to stewarding his time wisely, recognizing its precious and fleeting nature.

- Resolution #56: “Resolved, never to give over, nor in the least to slacken my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.” Here, Edwards echoes the call of Romans 8:13 to put to death the deeds of the flesh, knowing sanctification is a lifelong battle.

- Resolution #65: “Resolved, very much to exercise myself in this all my life long, that is, 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 everything, and every circumstance.” This resolution beautifully captures the essence of what true confession should look like—complete transparency before the Lord. However, there are two key points to consider in light of this.

First, this openness Edwards speaks of is not selfish. True confession isn’t about easing a guilty conscience, as one might find in the Roman Catholic practice of confession. Many confessions, I fear, are rooted in selfishness, driven by a desire to unburden oneself without genuine repentance or consideration for those harmed by sin. A selfish confession neglects restitution and disregards the love of God and neighbor, focusing solely on self-relief. This kind of confession is not what Edwards had in mind. Instead, we are called to confess with a heart broken over sin, motivated by a deep love for God and a desire for true reconciliation.

Second, the kind of openness Edwards encourages flourishes within the life of a healthy local church. While Edwards doesn’t explicitly mention the church in this resolution, it’s difficult to sustain such honest confession and accountability apart from it. Scripture reminds us of the importance of exhorting one another daily within the body of Christ:

"Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’ lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end” - Hebrews 3:12-14

Confessing openly to God and walking in fellowship with others helps guard our hearts and keeps us steadfast in our pursuit of Christ. Let us strive to cultivate this kind of sincere, God-glorifying transparency in our walk with Him and within the local church.

- Resolution #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.” Edwards was said to wake up at 4 a.m. so he could study Scripture for 13 hours a day. Most of us do not have that kind of time. What we do have is the ability to prioritize time to learn God’s Word. When life gets busy with work, school, family, and so on, reading Scripture is often one of the first things to be cut from the day. But Edwards aligned his priorities so that spending time in God’s Word was at the top of his agenda. Reading and meditating on Scripture allows us to understand God more. It instructs us, admonishes us, and relays the story of God’s glory throughout history. Reading the Bible daily helps cultivate our relationship with the Lord.

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success..” – Joshua 1:8

The Eternal Perspective
Edwards resolved to live a life that mattered for eternity. Recognizing that “life is but a vapor” (James 4:14), he sought to make every moment count for God’s Kingdom. His resolutions challenge us to consider: How are we using our time, talents, and resources for God’s glory?

Have you made any New Year’s resolutions yet? Perhaps you’re inspired to spend more time in Scripture, grow in prayer, or be bolder in sharing the gospel. Whatever the goal, let’s remember Edwards’ example of relying on God’s grace and keeping Christ at the center.

"But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God." – Acts 20:24

May we resolve to live for God’s glory, keeping our eyes fixed on Christ, and trusting Him to guide and sustain us throughout the year ahead.

Soli Deo Gloria!