Humanity’s capacity to desire is not necessarily sinful. If we succeed in eliminating the wrong desire without giving the heart a better desire, we are setting ourselves up for failure. Pointing out the vanity of alcohol, pornography, gambling, etc., is not enough. 

I began a book study on Thomas Chalmers’ excellent sermon, “The Expulsive Power of a New Affection.” I will share some of my teaching and thoughts as I go through it with the men at my church. You can find a copy here.

Chalmers’ sermon is an exposition on 1 John 2:15, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” He begins with two ways to displace love for the world.

1. Show the heart the vanities of this world. The heart should be encouraged to give up its love of the world because it is not worthy of it.
2. The heart should be encouraged to exchange an old affection for a new one.

It is the latter way of displacing love for the world that Chalmers thinks best for actually overcoming sin and the snares of the world. He delivers it is the best option for “the rescue and recovery” of the heart from disordered affections.

Our problem is disordered love.

Chalmers presents two states of love. The first is love in a state of desire. We want what we do not have. The second is love in a state of indulgence. We have what we desire but want more. Both of these unhealthy states fuel habitual sin and addiction.

We see that love in the state of desire produces an engrossing interest in gratification. The mind wanders from its task to fantasize or reminisce about the desired object or pleasure.

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