Joy in obedience
To conclude. Christian joy is joy in obedience, joy in loving God and keeping his commandments. And yet not in keeping them as if we were thereby to fulfill the terms of the covenant of works, as if by any works or righteousness of ours we were to procure pardon and acceptance with God. Not so. We are already pardoned and accepted through the mercy of God in Christ Jesus. Not as if we were, by our own obedience, to procure life, life from the death of sin. This also we have already through the grace of God. He has made us alive who were dead in sin. And now we are alive to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
But we rejoice in walking according to the covenant of grace, in holy love and happy obedience. We rejoice in knowing that, being justified through his grace, we have not received the grace of God in vain. God has freely reconciled us to himself, not for the sake of our willing or running, but through the blood of the Lamb. We then run, in the strength which he has given us, the way of his commandments. He has girded us with strength for the war, and we gladly fight the good fight of faith. We rejoice, through him who lives in our hearts by faith, to lay hold of eternal life.
This is our rejoicing: that as our Father is working even until now, so we also work the works of God, not by our own might or wisdom, but through the power of his Spirit freely given in Christ Jesus. And may he work in us whatever is well-pleasing in his sight! To him be the praise for ever and ever.
It may easily be observed that the preceding discourse describes the experience of those who are strong in faith. But those who are weak in faith may be discouraged by this. To prevent that, the following discourse may be of use.
1771 text
20. To conclude. Christian joy, is joy in obedience: joy in loving God and keeping his commandments. And yet not in keeping them, as if we were thereby to fulfil the terms of the covenant of works; as if by any works or righteousness of ours, we were to procure pardon and acceptance with God. Not so: we are already pardoned and accepted, through the mercy of God in Christ Jesus――Not as if we were by our own obedience to procure life, life from the death of sin. This also we have already through the grace of God. Us hath he quickened, who were dead in sin. And now we are alive to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. But we rejoice in walking, according to the covenant of grace, in holy love and happy obedience. We rejoice in knowing, That being justified through his grace, we have not received that grace of God in vain; That God having freely (not for the sake of our willing or running, but through the blood of the Lamb) reconciled us to himself, we run in the strength which he hath given us, the way of his commandments. He hath girded us with strength unto the war, and we gladly fight the good fight of faith. We rejoice, through him who liveth in our hearts by faith, to lay hold of eternal life. This is our rejoicing: that as our father worketh hitherto, so (not by our own might or wisdom, but through the power of his Spirit freely given in Christ Jesus) we also work the works of God. And may he work in us, whatsoever is well-pleasing in his sight! To whom be the praise for ever and ever!
It may easily be observed, that the preceding discourse, describes the experience of those that are strong in faith. But hereby those that are weak in faith may be discouraged: to prevent which the following discourse may be of use.
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 12 in the 1771 Works. Second Corinthians 1:12.
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. It is not a complete critical edition.