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All the great principles of our common Christianity are stated in these verses by St. Paul, so far as the experience of believers is involved.

I. CHRISTIANITY IN ITS NATURE. It renders Christians "worthy." While we guard against self-righteousness on the one hand, we should be careful against a mock humility on the other. There is a worthiness with which God is well pleased, and which is the blessed result of the working of Christianity in the soul (Colossians 1:9, 10; Revelation 3:4). Just as a tree is known by its fruits, so Christianity is known by the moral and spiritual effects it produces in those who profess it.

II. CHRISTIANITY IN ITS SOURCE. "The good pleasure of His goodness." And this absolutely alone; for none could have merited it as system of restoration. In fact, there is no merit either in unfallen angel or unfallen man, much less in fallen creatures such as we are. Christianity, then, originated in "the good pleasure of goodness," and that "goodness" was Divine.

III. CHRISTIANITY IN ITS ACTIVITY. "The work of faith." Faith is its active grace. This produces all religious affections, and this sustains all religious affections. It is as coal to the fire, as oil to the lamp.

IV. CHRISTIANITY IN ITS DESIGN. "That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you and ye in Him." A double glorification — that of the Master, and that of His servant. What, has not Christ glory enough in heaven with His Father and the holy angels? If He has, can He receive glory from such creatures as His saints? Yes. The original signifies that He can be inglorified in His saints; that is, by something within them — by the gracious work he has wrought in them.

V. CHRISTIANITY IN ITS MEASURE. "According to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ." The Father and the Son are the givers of grace, and by their names being linked together we are to understand that they will give grace in all its fulness. There is more grace in them than there can be sin in us, or in the whole world. Some sinners are allowed to run mightily on the Divine score, to manifest that, though they are beggared, Divine grace is not. Grace always rises higher in its tide than sin, and bears it down by its flow, just as the rolling tide of the sea rises higher than the streams of a river, and beats them back, with all they contain in them. Divine grace neither knows measure nor end.

(J. Burns, D. D.)

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KJV: Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:

WEB: To this end we also pray always for you, that our God may count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire of goodness and work of faith, with power;