Faith is the term
But on what terms, then, is he justified who is altogether ungodly, and until that time does not work? On one alone, which is faith. He believes in him who justifies the ungodly. And he who believes is not condemned. Yes, he has passed from death to life.
For the righteousness, or mercy, of God is by faith of Jesus Christ, to all and upon all those who believe. God has set him forth for a propitiation, through faith in his blood, so that he might be just, and, consistently with his justice, the justifier of him who believes in Jesus. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith, without the deeds of the law, without previous obedience to the moral law, which indeed he could not, until now, perform.
That it is the moral law, and that alone, which is here intended, appears evidently from the words that follow. Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid. Yes, we establish the law.
What law do we establish by faith? Not the ritual law, and not the ceremonial law of Moses. In no way. We establish the great unchangeable law of love, the holy love of God and of our neighbor.
Faith in general is a divine, supernatural evidence or conviction of things not seen, not discoverable by our bodily senses, as being either past, future, or spiritual. Justifying faith implies not only a divine evidence or conviction that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, but a sure trust and confidence that Christ died for my sins, that he loved me and gave himself for me.
And at whatever time a sinner thus believes, whether in early childhood, in the strength of his years, or when he is old and white-haired, God justifies that ungodly one. God, for the sake of his Son, pardons and absolves him who had in him, until then, no good thing.
Repentance, indeed, God had given him before. But that repentance was neither more nor less than a deep sense of the want of all good, and the presence of all evil. And whatever good he has, or does, from that hour when he first believes in God through Christ, faith does not find, but brings. This is the fruit of faith. First the tree is good, and then the fruit is good also.
1771 text
IV. 1. But on what terms then is he justified, who is altogether ungodly, and till that time, worketh not? On one alone, which is faith. He believeth in him that justifieth the ungodly. And he that believeth is not condemned: Yea, he is passed from death unto life. For the righteousness (or mercy) of God is by faith of Jesus Christ, unto all and upon all them that believe:――Whom God hath set forth for a propitiation, through faith in his blood: that he might be just, and (consistently with his justice) the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus: therefore we conclude, that a man is justified by faith, without the deeds of the law: without previous obedience to the moral law, which indeed he could not till now perform. That it is the moral law, and that alone which is here intended, appears evidently from the words that follow. Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid! Yea, we establish the law. What law do we establish by faith? Not the ritual law: not the ceremonial law of Moses. In no wise; but the great unchangeable law of love, the holy love of God and of our neighbour.
2. Faith in general is, a divine, supernatural ἔλεγχος, evidence or conviction of things not seen, not discoverable by our bodily senses, as being either past, future or spiritual. Justifying faith implies, not only a divine evidence or conviction, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself but a sure trust and confidence, that Christ died for my sins, that he loved me and gave himself for me. And at what time soever a sinner thus believes, be it in early childhood, in the strength of his years, or when he is old and hoary-hair’d, God justifieth that ungodly one: God for the sake of his Son; pardoneth and absolveth, him who had in him till then no good thing. Repentance indeed God had given him before: but that repentance was neither more nor less, than a deep sense of the want of all good, and the presence of all evil. And whatever good he hath or doth from that hour, when he first believes in God through Christ, faith does not find but bring. This is the fruit of faith. First the tree is good, and then the fruit is good also.
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.