Whoever commits sin now
But secondly, do all who abide in Christ Jesus not walk after the flesh, but after the Spirit? Then we cannot but infer that whoever now commits sin has no part or lot in this matter. He is even now condemned by his own heart. But if our heart condemns us, if our own conscience bears witness that we are guilty, undoubtedly God does also. For he is greater than our heart, and knows all things (1 John 3:20), so that we cannot deceive him, if we can deceive ourselves.
And do not think to say, I was justified once. My sins were once forgiven me. I do not know that. Neither will I dispute whether they were or not. Perhaps, at this distance of time, it is next to impossible to know, with any tolerable degree of certainty, whether that was a true, genuine work of God, or whether you did only deceive your own soul.
But this I know, with the utmost degree of certainty. He who commits sin is of the devil. Therefore you are of your father the devil. It cannot be denied, for you do the works of your father.
Do not flatter yourself with vain hopes. Do not say to your soul, Peace, peace. For there is no peace. Cry aloud. Cry to God out of the deep, if perhaps he may hear your voice.
Come to him as at the first, as wretched and poor, as sinful, miserable, blind, and naked. And beware that you do not allow your soul to take any rest, until his pardoning love is again revealed, until he heals your backslidings, and fills you again with the faith that works by love.
1771 text
3. But, secondly: Do all they which abide in Christ Jesus, walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit? Then we cannot but infer, that whosoever now committeth sin, hath no part or lot in this matter. He is even now condemned by his own heart. But if our heart condemn us, if our own conscience beareth witness that we are guilty, undoubtedly God doth: for he is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things; so that we cannot deceive him, if we can ourselves. And think not to say, “I was justified once; my sins were once forgiven me.” I know not that: neither will I dispute whether they were or no. Perhaps, at this distance of time, ’tis next to impossible to know with any tolerable degree of certainty, whether that was a true, genuine work of God, or whether thou didst only deceive thy own soul. But this I know with the utmost degree of certainty, He that committeth sin is of the devil. Therefore thou art of thy father the devil. It cannot be denied: for the works of thy father thou dost. O flatter not thyself with vain hopes. Say not to thy soul, Peace, peace! For there is no peace. Cry aloud! Cry unto God out of the deep; if haply he may hear thy voice. Come unto him as at first, as wretched and poor, as sinful, miserable, blind and naked. And beware thou suffer thy soul to take no rest, till his pardoning love be again revealed, till he heal thy backslidings, and fill thee again with the faith that worketh by love.
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 8 in the 1771 Works. Romans 8:1.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.