Faith does not excuse pride
But does preaching this faith lead people into pride?
It may, as an accident. So every believer ought to be warned, in the words of the apostle. Because of unbelief, the natural branches were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be proud. Fear. If God did not spare the natural branches, take care that he does not spare you either. Look at the kindness and the severity of God. Severity on those who fell. Kindness toward you, if you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. And while a person continues in that kindness, he will remember Paul's words, which see this objection coming and answer it. Where, then, is boasting? It is shut out. By what law? By a law of works? No. By the law of faith. If a person were justified by his works, he would have something to boast about. There is no boasting for the one who does not work, but believes in the one who justifies the ungodly. Romans 4:5. The words before and after our text say the same thing. God, who is rich in mercy, even when we were dead in sins, made us alive together with Christ. By grace you are saved. He did it to show the immeasurable riches of his grace, in his kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you are saved, through faith, and this is not your own doing. Neither your faith nor your salvation comes from yourselves. It is the gift of God. The free gift. The gift we do not deserve. The faith through which you are saved, and the salvation which God, of his own pleasure and mere favor, joins to that faith. That you believe is one instance of his grace. That, believing, you are saved, is another. Not by works, so that no one may boast. All our works, all our righteousness before we believed, earned nothing from God but condemnation. They were so far from deserving faith, that faith, whenever it is given, is not from works. And salvation is not from the works we do after we believe, either. For then it is God who works in us. And if he gives us a reward for what he himself works, that only commends the riches of his mercy. It leaves us nothing to boast about.
1872 text
3. But does not preaching this faith lead men into pride? We answer, Accidentally it may: therefore ought every believer to be earnestly cautioned, in the words of the great Apostle "Because of unbelief," the first branches "were broken off: and thou standest by faith. Be not high-minded, but fear. If God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God! On them which fell, severity; but towards thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness; otherwise thou also shalt be cut off." And while he continues therein, he will remember those words of St. Paul, foreseeing and answering this very objection (Rom. 3:27), "Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith." If a man were justified by his works, he would have whereof to glory. But there is no glorying for him "that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly" (Rom. 4:5). To the same effect are the words both preceding and following the text (Eph. 2:4ff.): "God, who is rich in mercy, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ (by grace ye are saved), that he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves." Of yourselves cometh neither your faith nor your salvation: "it is the gift of God;" the free, undeserved gift; the faith through which ye are saved, as well as the salvation which he of his own good pleasure, his mere favour, annexes thereto. That ye believe, is one instance of his grace; that believing ye are saved, another. "Not of works, lest any man should boast." For all our works, all our righteousness, which were before our believing, merited nothing of God but condemnation; so far were they from deserving faith, which therefore, whenever given, is not of works. Neither is salvation of the works we do when we believe, for it is then God that worketh in us: and, therefore, that he giveth us a reward for what he himself worketh, only commendeth the riches of his mercy, but leaveth us nothing whereof to glory.
About this text
Rendered in modern English, to be read and heard. Open the 1872 text under each part to check the claims and the scripture.
Rendered in modern English. The 1872 panel is the public-domain sermon. Its disputed lines were checked against the University of Toronto scan of the forty-four sermons: a public robber, a common harlot, sons of perdition, the Romish delusion, and Popery.
Catalogue & scope
Sermon 1. St Mary's, Oxford, 18 June 1738. Ephesians 2:8.
Witnesses
- Copy-text Salvation by Faith, 1872 wording (English · The whole sermon, divided to match the reading)
- Checked print Forty-four Sermons, University of Toronto scan (English · Checked the robber, harlot, perdition, Romish, and Popery lines)
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.