And when I hear it said that God is good and He will…
“And when I hear it said that God is good and He will pardon us, and then see that men cease not from evil-doing, oh, how it grieves me! The infinite goodness with which God communicates with us, sinners as we are, should constantly make us love and serve Him better; but we, on the contrary, instead of seeing in his goodness an obligation to please Him, convert it into an excuse for sin which will of a certainty lead in the end to our deeper condemnation.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The quote highlights the paradox of recognizing divine goodness while persisting in sin, turning grace into excuse rather than motivation for righteousness.
In simple terms: Seeing God's goodness should inspire better living, not justify sin.
Key Takeaway
Align actions with divine love, not excuse.
Themes
faith
morality
grace
human nature
Mood
reflective
contrite
hopeful
Type
spiritual
ethical
theological
When to use this quote
- personal repentance
- community worship
- ethical decision making
- teaching sermons
Key Concepts
theology
ethical responsibility
spiritual discipline
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we transform gratitude for God's goodness into concrete good deeds?
- What practices help prevent using grace as a license for sin?
A Different Perspective
Human nature often resists moral improvement despite divine love.