Forgiven for his sake alone
But in what sense is this righteousness imputed to believers. In this. All believers are forgiven and accepted, not for the sake of anything in them, or of anything that ever was, that is, or ever can be done by them, but wholly and solely for the sake of what Christ has done and suffered for them. I say again, not for the sake of anything in them, or done by them, of their own righteousness or works. Not for works of righteousness which we have done, but of his own mercy he saved us (Titus 3:5). By grace you are saved through faith (Ephesians 2:8). Not of works, lest anyone should boast (Ephesians 2:9), but wholly and solely for the sake of what Christ has done and suffered for us. We are justified freely by his grace, through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:24). And this is not only the means of our obtaining the favor of God, but of our continuing in it. It is thus we come to God at first. It is by the same we come to him ever after. We walk in one and the same new and living way (Hebrews 10:20), until our spirit returns to God.
1771 text
5. “But in what sense is this righteousness imputed to believers?” In this: all believers are forgiven and accepted, not for the sake of any thing in them, or of any thing that ever was, that is, or ever can be done by them, but wholly and solely for the sake of what Christ hath done and suffered for them. I say again, not for the sake of any thing in them or done by them, of their own righteousness or works. Not for works of righteousness which we have done, but of his own mercy he saved us. By grace ye are saved thro’ faith.――Not of works, lest any man should boast: but wholly and solely for the sake of what Christ hath done and suffered for us. We are justified freely, by his grace, thro’ the redemption that is in Jesus Christ. And this is not only the means of our obtaining the favour of God, but of our continuing therein. It is thus we come to God at first: it is by the same we come unto him ever after. We walk in one and the same new and living way, till our spirit returns to God.
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 20 in the 1771 Works. Jeremiah 23:6.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.