--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Before any sinner can be saved he must…" description: "\"“Before any sinner can be saved he must come to the place of realized weakness. This is what the conversion of the dying thief shows us. What could he ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b9/arthur-w-pink-4530_better-life_before-any-sinner-can-be-saved-he-must-c_433710.jpg" --- # Before any sinner can be saved he must come to the place… ![“Before any sinner can be saved he must come to the place of realized weakness. This is what the conversion of the dying thief shows us. What could he do? He could not walk in the paths of righteousness for there was a nail through either foot. He could not perform any good works for there was a…” quote by Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b9/arthur-w-pink-4530_better-life_before-any-sinner-can-be-saved-he-must-c_433710.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b9/arthur-w-pink-4530_better-life_before-any-sinner-can-be-saved-he-must-c_433710.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b9/arthur-w-pink-4530_better-life_before-any-sinner-can-be-saved-he-must-c_433710.jpg) > ““Before any sinner can be saved he must come to the place of realized weakness. This is what the conversion of the dying thief shows us. What could he do? He could not walk in the paths of righteousness for there was a nail through either foot. He could not perform any good works for there was a nail through either hand. He could not turn over a new leaf and live a better life for he was dying. And, my reader, those hands of yours which are so ready for self-righteous acting, and those feet of yours which are so swift to run in the way of legal obedience, must be nailed to the Cross. The sinner has to be cut off from his own workings and be made willing to be saved by Christ. A realization of your sinful condition, of your lost condition, of your helpless condition, is nothing more or less than old-fashioned conviction of sin, and this is the sole prerequisite for coming to Christ for salvation, for Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”” [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Recognition of personal weakness and sin is required before one can accept Christ’s saving work. **In simple terms:** You must admit your brokenness to be saved. Key Takeaway Acknowledge your need for divine help. Themes sin redemption humility spirituality Mood reflective serious Type theological didactic When to use this quote - personal confession - spiritual counseling - church teaching Key Concepts theology conviction grace Questions to Reflect On - What does “nailed to the Cross” mean for your own pride? - How can recognizing weakness change your actions? A Different Perspective faith;self‑examination ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Salvation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/salvation/) ## Related quotes > [The nature of Christ's salvation is woefully misrepresented by the present-day evangelist. He announces a Saviour from Hell rather than a Saviour from sin.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/the-nature-of-christ-s-salvation-is-woefully-misrepresented-by-the/) [Arthur W. 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"I am a saved sinner." That is like saying you are a married bachelor. That is like saying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/you-know-people-say-that-today-i-am-a-saved-sinner-that-is-like/) [Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/) > [“I was intrigued. I asked her what was so scary about unmerited free grace? She replied something like this: “If I was saved by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/i-was-intrigued-i-asked-her-what-was-so-scary-about-unmerited-free/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“I’m just a sinner saved by grace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/i-m-just-a-sinner-saved-by-grace/) [Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/) > [“The Big Lie in the church today is that you are nothing more than “a sinner saved by grace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/the-big-lie-in-the-church-today-is-that-you-are-nothing-more-than-a/) [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) > [“If there is not radical, concrete growth in humble love towards everyone (even your enemies), you don’t really know you are a sinner saved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-taylor/if-there-is-not-radical-concrete-growth-in-humble-love-towards/) [Justin Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-taylor/) > [I went from sinner to saved by grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demond-wilson/i-went-from-sinner-to-saved-by-grace/) [Demond Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demond-wilson/) > [“There never has been a greater act of love than that Jesus laid down his life to save sinners (John 15:13; Rom. 5:6-8).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/there-never-has-been-a-greater-act-of-love-than-that-jesus-laid-down/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners’—and I am the worst of them”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/this-saying-is-trustworthy-and-deserving-of-full-acceptance-christ/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) ## More by Arthur W. 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