Why the question matters
How a sinner may be justified before God, the Lord and judge of all, is a question of no common importance to every child of man. It contains the foundation of all our hope. While we are at enmity with God, there can be no true peace, and no solid joy, either in time or in eternity. What peace can there be while our own heart condemns us? And much more, while he condemns us who is greater than our heart and knows all things (1 John 3:20)? What solid joy can there be, either in this world or in that which is to come, while the wrath of God abides on us?
And yet how little has this important question been understood? What confused notions many have had concerning it. They have been not only confused, but often utterly false, contrary to the truth as light is to darkness. They are notions absolutely inconsistent with the oracles of God, and with the whole analogy of faith.
And so, erring concerning the very foundation, they could not possibly build on it. At least they could not build gold, silver, or precious stones, which would endure when tried as by fire, but only hay and stubble, neither acceptable to God nor profitable to man.
This is in order to do justice, as far as in me lies, to the vast importance of the subject, and to save those who seek the truth in sincerity from vain jangling and strife of words. It is in order to clear the confusedness of thought into which so many have already been led by it, and to give them true and just conceptions of this great mystery of godliness. I will endeavor to show the following things.
1771 text
To him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted to him for righteousness.
1. HOW a sinner may be justified before God, the Lord and judge of all, is a question of no common importance, to every child of man. It contains the foundation of all our hope; in as much as while we are at enmity with God, there can be no true peace, no solid joy, either in time or in eternity. What peace can there be, while our own heart condemns us? And much more, he that is greater than our heart and knoweth all things? What solid joy, either in this world or that to come, while the wrath of God abideth on us?
2. And yet how little hath this important question been understood? What confused notions have many had concerning it? Indeed not only confused, but often utterly false; contrary to the truth, as light to darkness: notions absolutely inconsistent with the oracles of God, and with the whole analogy of faith. And hence, erring concerning the very foundation, they could not possibly build thereon: at least, not gold, silver, or precious stones, which would endure when tried as by fire; but only hay and stubble, neither acceptable to God, nor profitable to man.
3. In order to do justice, as far as in me lies, to the vast importance of the subject, to save those that seek the truth in sincerity, from vain jangling and strife of words, to clear the confusedness of thought, into which so many have already been led thereby, and to give them true and just conceptions of this great mystery of godliness, I shall endeavour to shew,
About this text
Rendered in modern English, to be read and heard. Open the 1771 text under each part to check the claims and the scripture.
Rendered in modern English. The 1771 panel is his own Pine printing of the Works. It is public domain.
Catalogue & scope
Sermon 5 in the 1771 Works. Romans 4:5.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.