“The Expulsive Power of a New Affection” by Thomas Chalmers (1780-1847)

Recently, I read a sermon by Thomas Chalmers, who lived from 1780 to 1847. In this sermon, we find a few important  illustrations and explanations about how a believer is  freed from sinful, old desires and affections. What’s the key? Replacement!

The text underlying the sermon is found in 1 John 2:15: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loved the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

Thomas speaks of two kinds of love: the “love of desire” and the “love of pleasure.” When the object of love is distant and unattainable, the love manifests itself as a desire. But when the object of love is near and accessible, that love shifts to pleasure. In either case, God calls people not to love this world, but to be consumed by the love of God, which leads to loving Him and His Word. But how does this replacement happen?

A useful illustration of that of a glass from which you want to extract air.  A complex and yet  possible way is to use a vacuum pump. But there is a simpler and far more effective way: just pour water into the glass. The water will displace the air you are trying to remove. The same principle applies to spiritual life. God calls us to empty our hearts of world things, and the most effective way to do so is by filling our hearts with God.

Thomas illustrates the power of a new affection, which can effortlessly displace old  ones, as follows: A young man, often enslaved by desires and physical pleasures, finds that as he grows older, these desires are easily replaced by a stronger drive for wealth and money. Yet even this is left  behind, with age, as he taken captive by the idol of power and authority. It is widely recognized that one desire is displaced by a stronger desire. Similarly, in the spiritual life of a Christian, a stronger desire to please God and love Him displaces love for the world. A person cannot exist in a  vacuum. God has designed us to always desire to be filled with something.

For Thomas, the key to new desires and affections is, of course, the Gospel of grace! The more vividly grace is presented as an undeserved gift, the stronger the love it generates! And  so it is in our spiritual lives! We are freed from sinful emotions, desires, and affections only through a deep understanding of the Gospel, where grace grants salvation to the sinner. And that sinner is me!

And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

• Saturday, Staff and Volunteers of GFC Prayer Retreat: 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM
• Sunday services:
  • Worship Service in Russian at 9:00 AM
  • Worship Service in English at 11:15 AM
  • Worship Service followed by GFC members’ meeting at 6:00 PM