The Expulsive Power of a New Affection, By Thomas Chalmers, Foreword by John Piper (Crossway, 2020) is part of ‘Crossway Short Classics.’ They are small in size and low in price, but BIG in theological impact.

The Book

Thomas Chalmers was truly a fascinating individual. He was a brilliant theologian, scholar, and social reformer in early 19th century Scotland. Chalmers served as a pastor in the Church of Scotland and was a leader in the ‘Evangelical’ party of the Church. He was the chair of moral philosophy at the University of St. Andrews for several years, and later became professor of divinity at the University of Edinburgh. He was eventually named as a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

Chalmers was elected as the first ‘Moderator’ of the Free Church of Scotland in 1843 after many church leaders split from the Church of Scotland. It was known as the ‘Disruption of 1843’. Chalmers continued to serve as ‘Moderator’ until his death in 1847.

Someone gave me a copy of one of Chalmers’ books soon after I was saved and I thoroughly enjoyed his love for God, commitment to the Scriptures, and his superior speaking and writing abilities. So, I jumped at the opportunity to purchase a copy of The Expulsive Power of a New Affection from Crossway when I saw it for sale.

This short classic book (80 pages) is a sermon Chalmers preached from 1 John 2:15 –

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Here’s how Chalmers explained the purpose of his sermon –

There are two ways in which a practical moralist may attempt to displace from the human heart its love of the world – either by a demonstration of the world’s vanity, so as that the heart shall be prevailed upon simply to withdraw its regards from an object that is not worthy of it; or by setting forth another object, even God, as more worthy of its attachment, so as that the heart shall be prevailed upon not to resign an old affection, which shall have nothing to succeed it, but to exchange an old affection for a new one.

My purpose is to show that from the constitution of our nature, the former method is altogether incompetent and ineffectual, and that the latter method will alone suffice for the rescue and recovery of the heart from the wrong affection that domineers over it. After having accomplished this purpose, I shall attempt a few practical observations. pp 27-28

Mr. Chalmers accomplished his purpose, and more! I highly recommend this short and inexpensive book to you and your friends. I read it in less than an hour and thoroughly enjoyed the time spent with the professor. As John Piper wrote in the book’s ‘Foreward’ –

Perhaps you will decide, by the time you are done reading, that he has shed so much light on the workings of your own heart in relation to 1 John 2:15 that his illumination is, in fact, a very powerful exposition of God’s meaning. p 16

Table of Contents

Foreword by John Piper
Series Preface
Biography of Thomas Chalmers
The Expulsive Power of a New Affection

Publisher’s Description

In this powerful sermon, Thomas Chalmers inspires Christians to remove the snares and tangles of sin—not through legalistic obedience but through the power of a new and greater affection for God. Chalmers reminds God’s saints that as sojourners living in this world, true power over the trials and sins of this life is found only in desiring Jesus Christ.

Read Chapter 1

The Author

Thomas Chalmers (1780–1847) was a Scottish preacher, theologian, and author who served as professor of theology at the University of St. Andrews and the University of Edinburgh. His many writings were primarily focused on the application of Christian ethics to the social issues of his day.

[From the Crossway website]

The Expulsive Power of a New Affection, By Thomas Chalmers, Foreword by John Piper (Crossway, 2020, 80 pages).

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