Are you in earnest
Do you know that in Jesus Christ neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith that works by love, but a new creation? Do you see the necessity of that inward change, that spiritual birth, that life from the dead, that holiness? And are you thoroughly convinced that without it no man shall see the Lord? Are you laboring after it? Are you giving all diligence to make your calling and election sure? Are you working out your salvation with fear and trembling, agonizing to enter in at the straight gate?
Are you in earnest about your soul? And can you tell the Searcher of hearts, You, O God, are the thing that I long for? Lord, you know all things. You know that I would love you.
You hope to be saved. But what reason do you have to give for the hope that is in you? Is it because you have done no harm? Or because you have done much good? Or because you are not like other men, but wise, or learned, or honest and morally good, esteemed by men, and of a fair reputation?
Alas, all this will never bring you to God. In his account it is lighter than vanity.
Do you know Jesus Christ, whom he has sent? Has he taught you that by grace we are saved through faith, and that not of ourselves (Ephesians 2:8)? It is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:9). Have you received the faithful saying as the whole foundation of your hope, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners? Have you learned what this means: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance? I am not sent but to the lost sheep?
Are you, let the one who hears understand, lost? Dead? Damned already? Do you know your deserts? Do you feel your needs? Are you poor in spirit, mourning for God, and refusing to be comforted?
Has the prodigal come to himself, and is he well content to be thought beside himself, out of his mind, by those who are still feeding on the husks which he has left? Are you willing to live godly in Christ Jesus, and do you therefore suffer persecution? Do men say all manner of evil against you falsely, for the Son of man's sake?
1771 text
11. Knowest thou, that in Jesus Christ, neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith that worketh by love; but a new creation? Seest thou the necessity of that inward change, that spiritual birth, that life from the dead? That holiness? And art thou throughly convinced, that without it, no man shall see the Lord? Art thou labouring after it? Giving all diligence, to make thy calling and election sure? Working out thy salvation with fear and trembling? Agonizing to enter in at the straight gate? Art thou in earnest about thy soul? And, canst thou tell the Searcher of hearts, Thou, O God, art the thing that I long for! Lord, thou knowest all things! Thou knowest that I would love thee!
12. Thou hopest to be saved――but what reason hast thou to give of the hope that is in thee? Is it because thou hast done no harm? Or, because thou hast done much good? Or, because thou art not like other men; but wise, or learned, or honest and morally good? Esteemed of men, and of a fair reputation? Alas, all this will never bring thee to God. It is in his account lighter than vanity. Dost thou know Jesus Christ whom he hath sent? Hath he taught thee, that by grace we are saved through faith? And that, not of ourselves. It is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. Hast thou received the faithful saying as the whole foundation of thy hope, Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners? Hast thou learned what that meaneth, I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance? I am not sent, but to the lost sheep? Art thou (he that heareth, let him understand!) lost, dead? Damned already?――Dost thou know thy deserts? Dost thou feel thy wants? Art thou poor in spirit? Mourning for God and refusing to be comforted? Is the prodigal come to himself, and well-content to be therefore thought beside himself, by those who are still feeding upon the husks which he hath left? Art thou willing to live godly in Christ Jesus? And dost thou therefore suffer persecution? Do men say all manner of evil against thee falsely, for the Son of man’s sake?
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 3 in the 1771 Works. Charles Wesley preached it at Oxford, 4 April 1742. Ephesians 5:14.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.