Making the law void
It has been shown in the preceding discourse what the most usual ways are of making the law void through faith: first, not preaching it at all, which effectively makes it all void at a stroke — and this under color of preaching Christ and magnifying the gospel, though in truth it destroys both the one and the other. Second, teaching (whether directly or indirectly) that faith supersedes the necessity of holiness: that holiness is less necessary now, or a lesser degree of it necessary, than before Christ came; that it is less necessary to us because we believe than it would otherwise have been; or that Christian liberty is a liberty from any kind or degree of holiness — so perverting those great truths that we are now under the covenant of grace and not of works, that a man is justified by faith without the works of the law (Romans 3:28), and that to him who does not work but believes, his faith is counted for righteousness (Romans 4:5). Or third, doing this practically: making the law void in practice though not in principle, living or acting as if faith were designed to excuse us from holiness, allowing ourselves in sin because we are not under the law but under grace (Romans 6:14). It remains to inquire how we may follow a better pattern, how we may be able to say with the apostle, Do we then make the law void through faith? God forbid! Yes, we establish the law (Romans 3:31).
1771 text
1. IT has been shewn in the preceding discourse, which are the most usual ways of making void the law thro’ faith: namely, first, The not preaching it at all, which effectually makes it all void at a stroke: and this under colour of preaching Christ and magnifying the gospel, tho’ it be in truth, destroying both the one and the other: secondly, The teaching (whether directly or indirectly) that faith supersedes the necessity of holiness: that this is less necessary now, or a less degree of it necessary, than before Christ came: that it is less necessary to us, because we believe, than otherwise it would have been: or, that Christian liberty is a liberty from any kind or degree of holiness: (so perverting those great truths, that we are now under the covenant of grace and not of works: that a man is justified by faith, without the works of the law; and that to him that worketh not but believeth, his faith is counted for righteousness:) or, thirdly, The doing this practically; the making void the law in practice tho’ not in principle: the living or acting, as if faith was designed to excuse us from holiness: the allowing ourselves in sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace. It remains to enquire, how we may follow a better pattern, how we may be able to say with the apostle, Do we then make void the law thro’ faith? God forbid! Yea, we establish the law.
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 36 in the 1771 Works. Romans 3:31.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.