Works done before justification
If it is objected, No, but a man, before he is justified, may feed the hungry, or clothe the naked, and these are good works, the answer is easy. He may do these even before he is justified. And these are, in one sense, good works. They are good and profitable to men. But it does not follow that they are, strictly speaking, good in themselves, or good in the sight of God.
All truly good works, to use the words of our church, follow after justification. And they are therefore good and acceptable to God in Christ, because they spring out of a true and living faith. By a parity of reason, all works done before justification are not good, in the Christian sense, inasmuch as they do not spring from faith in Jesus Christ, though from some kind of faith in God they may spring. Yes, rather, because they are not done as God has willed and commanded them to be done, we do not doubt, however strange it may appear to some, but that they have the nature of sin.
Perhaps those who doubt of this have not duly considered the weighty reason which is here assigned, why no works done before justification can be truly and properly good. The argument plainly runs thus. No works are good which are not done as God has willed and commanded them to be done. But no works done before justification are done as God has willed and commanded them to be done. Therefore no works done before justification are good.
The first proposition is self-evident. And the second, that no works done before justification are done as God has willed and commanded them to be done, will appear equally plain and undeniable if we only consider what God has willed and commanded. He has willed and commanded that all our works should be done in charity, in love, in that love to God which produces love to all mankind. But none of our works can be done in this love while the love of the Father, of God as our Father, is not in us. And this love cannot be in us until we receive the Spirit of adoption, crying in our hearts, Abba, Father.
If, therefore, God does not justify the ungodly, and him who in this sense does not work, then Christ has died in vain. Then, notwithstanding his death, no flesh living can be justified.
1771 text
5. If it be objected, “Nay, but a man, before he is justified, may feed the hungry, or clothe the naked; and these are good works:” the answer is easy. He may do these, even before he is justified. And these are, in one sense, good works; they are good and profitable to men. But it does not follow, that they are, strictly speaking, good in themselves, or good in the sight of God. All truly good works (to use the words of our church) follow after justification. And they are therefore good and acceptable to God in Christ, because they spring out of a true and living faith. By a parity of reason, all works done before justification, are not good, in the Christian sense, forasmuch as they spring not of faith in Jesus Christ (tho’ from some kind of faith in God they may spring) yea rather, for that they are not done, as God hath willed and commanded them to be done, we doubt not (how strange soever it may appear to some) but they have the nature of sin.
6. Perhaps those who doubt of this, have not duly considered the weighty reason which is here assign’d, why no works done before justification, can be truly and properly good. The argument plainly runs thus:
No works are good which are not done as God hath willed and commanded them to be done:
But no works done before justification are done as God hath willed and commanded them to be done:
Therefore no works done before justification are good.
The first proposition is self-evident. And the second, that no works done before justification, are done as God hath willed and commanded them to be done, will appear equally plain and undeniable, if we only consider God hath willed and commanded, that all our works should be done in charity, (ἐν ἀγάπη) in love, in that love to God, which produces love to all mankind. But none of our works can be done in this love, while the love of the Father (of God as our Father) is not in us. And this love cannot be in us, till we receive the Spirit of adoption, crying in our hearts, Abba, Father. If therefore God doth not justify the ungodly, and him that (in this sense) worketh not, then hath Christ died in vain; then notwithstanding his death, can no flesh living be justified.
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.