A summary of Jonathan Edwards tests of true spirituality

1. God is at work when a person's esteem for the true Jesus is raised, 4:2-3.
      "This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus has come in the flesh, is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus, is not from God."
      "If people are being convinced of their need for Christ and led to him; if their belief that Christ appeared in history is strengthened; if they are more convinced than ever that he is the Son of God sent to save sinners; if they acknowledge that he is the only Saviour and that they need him desperately; if they appreciate him more than they did and love him too - we may be quite sure that it is the Holy Spirit at work! Why is this the case? Because the devil has a bitter and unchanging hatred for the real Jesus, especially as Saviour. He passionately hates the story of the doctrine of redemption."

2. God is at work when Satan's kingdom is attacked, 4:4-5.
      "You dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world, and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them."
      "We cannot believe that Satan would convict men of sin and awaken the conscience.... When he is out to lead men further into sin, would the devil first open their eyes to see its ugliness? Would he make them afraid of sin? Would he make them mourn over past sins? Would he show them that they need to be forgiven from sin's guilt? Would he make them careful about everything they do, to ensure there is no sin in it? Would he lead them to avoid future sins, and make them more careful to avoid the devil's temptation? If a man thinks the devil acts like this, I wonder what he uses for brains!"

3. God is at work when the people come to love the Scriptures more, 4:6.
      "We are from God and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us."
      "Would the spirit of error, wanting to deceive men, turn them to God's infallible Scriptures?.... It has often happened in history that many sects of enthusiasts have undervalued the written Word of God. They set some authority which is over the Scripture. That still happens today. But when men come to value the Scriptures more, not less, then the Spirit of God is certainly at work."

4. God is at work when men are led away from falsehood into truth, 4:6.
      "This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood."
      "It is the Holy Spirit that brings into the light, not the spirit of darkness." The point Edwards makes is that a person who is genuinely touched by the Spirit of God will evidence that touch in "truth". The "truth" that is evidenced is sound doctrine, the doctrine of the apostolic faith - the person and work of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Such a person will have a true understanding of the grace of God in Christ, of forgiveness, of salvation through faith in Christ.