---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nevertheless, the central affirmation of…"
description: "\"Nevertheless, the central affirmation of the Reformation stands: through no merit of ours, but by his mercy, WE HAVE BEEN RESTORED to a right relations..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0e/brennan-manning-959_affirmation_nevertheless-the-central-affirmation-of_2344481.jpg"
---

#  Nevertheless, the central affirmation of the Reformation…

![“Nevertheless, the central affirmation of the Reformation stands: through no merit of ours, but by his mercy, WE HAVE BEEN RESTORED to a right relationship with God through the life, death, and resurrection of his beloved Son. This is the Good News, the gospel of Grace” quote by Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0e/brennan-manning-959_affirmation_nevertheless-the-central-affirmation-of_2344481.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0e/brennan-manning-959_affirmation_nevertheless-the-central-affirmation-of_2344481.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0e/brennan-manning-959_affirmation_nevertheless-the-central-affirmation-of_2344481.jpg)

> “Nevertheless, the central affirmation of the Reformation stands: through no merit of ours, but by his mercy, WE HAVE BEEN RESTORED to a right relationship with God through the life, death, and resurrection of his beloved Son. This is the Good News, the gospel of Grace”

[Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Human salvation is granted solely by divine mercy, not personal merit, through Christ's work.

**In simple terms:** Grace restores us to God.

Key Takeaway

Trust God's mercy, not your deeds.

Themes

grace salvation faith merit relationship

Mood

hopeful reverent inspirational

Type

theological scriptural encouraging

When to use this quote

- church service
- personal reflection
- teaching
- evangelism
- counseling

Key Concepts

theology reformation gospel redemption

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you experience grace daily?
- What role does personal effort play in your faith?

A Different Perspective

Assumes all accept this doctrine; some view works as essential.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Affirmation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affirmation/) [Affirmation Reformation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affirmation-reformation-5685013/) [Beloved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beloved/) [Beloved son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beloved-son/) [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Good news](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-news/) [Gospel Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gospel-grace-742654/) [Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Life / death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-death-2/) [Mercy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mercy/) [Mercy Restored](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mercy-restored-5685012/) [Merit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merit/) [Nevertheless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nevertheless/) [News](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/news/) [Ragamuffin gospel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ragamuffin-gospel/) [Reformation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reformation/) [Relationship with god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationship-with-god/) [Resurrection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resurrection/) [Son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/son/)

## Related quotes

> [God not only loves me as I am, but also knows me as I am. Because of this I don't need to apply spiritual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/god-not-only-loves-me-as-i-am-but-also-knows-me-as-i-am-because-of/)

[Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/)

> [False gods - the gods of human understanding - despise sinners, but the Father of Jesus loves all, no matter what they do. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/false-gods-the-gods-of-human-understanding-despise-sinners-but-the/)

[Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/)

> [When our inner child is not nurtured and nourished, our minds gradually close to new ideas, unprofitable commitments and the surprises of the Spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/when-our-inner-child-is-not-nurtured-and-nourished-our-minds/)

[Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/)

> [The first step in faith is to stop thinking about God at the time of prayer.-](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/the-first-step-in-faith-is-to-stop-thinking-about-god-at-the-time-of/)

[Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/)

> [A saint is not someone who is good but who experiences the goodness of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/a-saint-is-not-someone-who-is-good-but-who-experiences-the-goodness/)

[Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/)

> [There is a beautiful transparency to honest disciples who never wear a false face and do not pretend to be anything but who they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/there-is-a-beautiful-transparency-to-honest-disciples-who-never-wear/)

[Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/)

> [When we wallow in guilt, remorse, and shame over real or imagined sins of the past, we are disdaining God's gift of grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/when-we-wallow-in-guilt-remorse-and-shame-over-real-or-imagined-sins/)

[Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/)

> [The ragamuffin gospel reveals that Jesus forgives sins, including the sins of the flesh; that He is comfortable with sinners who remember how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/the-ragamuffin-gospel-reveals-that-jesus-forgives-sins-including-the/)

[Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/)

> [“Suffering, failure, loneliness, sorrow, discouragement, and death will be part of your journey, but the Kingdom of God will conquer all these horrors. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/suffering-failure-loneliness-sorrow-discouragement-and-death-will-be-2/)

[Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/)

> [The beauty of the ragamuffin gospel lies in the insight it offers into Jesus: the essential tenderness of His heart, His way of looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/the-beauty-of-the-ragamuffin-gospel-lies-in-the-insight-it-offers/)

[Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/)

> [All that is good is ours not by right but by the sheer bounty of a gracious God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/all-that-is-good-is-ours-not-by-right-but-by-the-sheer-bounty-of-a/)

[Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/)

> [I am deeply distressed by what I only can call in our Christian culture the idolatry of the Scriptures. For many Christians, the Bible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/i-am-deeply-distressed-by-what-i-only-can-call-in-our-christian/)

[Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/)

> [The god who exacts the last drop of blood from his Son so that his just anger, evoked by sin, may be appeased, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/the-god-who-exacts-the-last-drop-of-blood-from-his-son-so-that-his/)

[Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/)

> [The ragamuffin gospel says we can't lose, because we have nothing to lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/the-ragamuffin-gospel-says-we-can-t-lose-because-we-have-nothing-to/)

[Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/)

> [Reality, truth, and Jesus Christ are incredibly open-ended](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/reality-truth-and-jesus-christ-are-incredibly-open-ended/)

[Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/)

## More by Brennan Manning

> [Accepting the reality of our sinfulness means accepting our authentic self. Judas could not face his shadow; Peter could. The latter befriended the impostor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/accepting-the-reality-of-our-sinfulness-means-accepting-our-authentic/)

[Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/)

> [Trust is our gift back to God, and he finds it so enchanting that Jesus died for love of it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/trust-is-our-gift-back-to-god-and-he-finds-it-so-enchanting-that/)

[Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/)

> [Genuine self-acceptance is not derived from the power of positive thinking, mind games or pop psychology. IT IS AN ACT OF FAITH in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/genuine-self-acceptance-is-not-derived-from-the-power-of-positive/)

[Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/)

> [That which is denied cannot be healed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/that-which-is-denied-cannot-be-healed/)

[Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/)

> [“It is not objective proof of God’s existence that we want but the experience of God’s presence. That is the miracle we are really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/it-is-not-objective-proof-of-god-s-existence-that-we-want-but-the/)

[Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/)

> [“He who is alone with his sins is utterly alone. It may be that Christians, notwithstanding corporate worship, common prayer, and all their fellowship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/he-who-is-alone-with-his-sins-is-utterly-alone-it-may-be-that/)

[Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/)

> [God not only loves me as I am, but also knows me as I am. Because of this I don't need to apply spiritual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/god-not-only-loves-me-as-i-am-but-also-knows-me-as-i-am-because-of/)

[Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/)

> [Grace abounds in contemporary movies, books, novels, films and music. If God is not in the whirlwind, He may be in a Woody Allen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/grace-abounds-in-contemporary-movies-books-novels-films-and-music-if/)

[Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/)

> [My trust in God flows out of the experience of his loving me, day in and day out, whether the day is stormy or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/my-trust-in-god-flows-out-of-the-experience-of-his-loving-me-day-in/)

[Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/)

> [I you think you've done it, then you're wrong. Because you're not finished until you have achieved everything that you never thought you could.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/i-you-think-you-ve-done-it-then-you-re-wrong-because-you-re-not/)

[Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/)

> [May all your expectations be frustrated, may all your plans be thwarted, may all your desires be withered into nothingness, that you may experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/may-all-your-expectations-be-frustrated-may-all-your-plans-be/)

[Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/)

> [Our identity rests in God's relentless tenderness for us revealed in Jesus Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/our-identity-rests-in-god-s-relentless-tenderness-for-us-revealed-in/)

[Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/)

> [“When I get honest I admit that I am a bundle of paradoxes. I believe and I doubt, I hope and I get discouraged.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/when-i-get-honest-i-admit-that-i-am-a-bundle-of-paradoxes-i-believe/)

[Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/)

> [“At Sunday worship, as in every dimension of our existence, many of us pretend to believe we are sinners. Consequently, all we can do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/at-sunday-worship-as-in-every-dimension-of-our-existence-many-of-us/)

[Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/)

> [“You tell others about Me - that I am a loving God. Your words are glib. My words are written in the blood of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/you-tell-others-about-me-that-i-am-a-loving-god-your-words-are-glib/)

[Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/)

[Explore all 320 Brennan Manning quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/)

## More Affirmation quotes

> [One of the most powerful concepts, one which is a sure cure for lack of confidence, is the thought that God is with you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/one-of-the-most-powerful-concepts-one-which-is-a-sure-cure-for-lack/)

[Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/)

> [I started with the belief that every person who came to the laboratory was free to accept or to reject the dictates of authority.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/i-started-with-the-belief-that-every-person-who-came-to-the/)

[Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/)

> [Art, if it is successful in the task of questioning reality, if it is good painting and not merely a performance of dexterity, will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-swift/art-if-it-is-successful-in-the-task-of-questioning-reality-if-it-is/)

[Patrick Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-swift/)

> [There's a certain feeling of giving, a certain feeling of generosity in love songs. When you sing a song of love, you're actually giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/there-s-a-certain-feeling-of-giving-a-certain-feeling-of-generosity/)

[Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/)

> [Communism... is the genuine resolution of the antagonism between man and nature and between man and man; it is the true resolution of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/communism-is-the-genuine-resolution-of-the-antagonism-between-man-and/)

[Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/)

> [The future teachers I try to recruit are those show have refused to let themselves be neutered in this way, either in their private…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/the-future-teachers-i-try-to-recruit-are-those-show-have-refused-to/)

[Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/)

> [Affirmations need to be used if they are to become incorporated into the fabric of your being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-maisel/affirmations-need-to-be-used-if-they-are-to-become-incorporated-into/)

[Eric Maisel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-maisel/)

> [That the sun will not rise tomorrow is no less intelligible a proposition, and implies no more contradiction, than the affirmation, that it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/that-the-sun-will-not-rise-tomorrow-is-no-less-intelligible-a/)

[David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/)

> [“Affirmation without discipline is like enthusiasm without direction.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-mininni/affirmation-without-discipline-is-like-enthusiasm-without-direction/)

[Lisa Mininni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-mininni/)

> [Whenever I'm in need of inspiration and mantras, I go straight to simple affirmations. 'I am strong', 'I am brave', 'I can do this'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/whenever-i-m-in-need-of-inspiration-and-mantras-i-go-straight-to/)

[Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/)

> [We in the Jewish community are comparatively lucky. All of traditions have anti-gay pieces but the Jewish tradition doesn't have as many anti-sexuality and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-michaelson/we-in-the-jewish-community-are-comparatively-lucky-all-of-traditions/)

[Jay Michaelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-michaelson/)

> [I have a magical work in a magical way. I give magical service for magical pay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-scovel-shinn/i-have-a-magical-work-in-a-magical-way-i-give-magical-service-for/)

[Florence Scovel Shinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-scovel-shinn/)

> [“On one side it seems there is faith in a Creator-God - and at the same time, the rejection of his creation; and on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-schmemann/on-one-side-it-seems-there-is-faith-in-a-creator-god-and-at-the-same/)

[Alexander Schmemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-schmemann/)

> [For you deal here above all with human life, and human life is sacred; no one may dare make an attempt upon it. Respect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-paul-vi/for-you-deal-here-above-all-with-human-life-and-human-life-is-sacred/)

[Pope Paul VI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-paul-vi/)

> [An affirmation is a strong, positive statement that something is already so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakti-gawain/an-affirmation-is-a-strong-positive-statement-that-something-is/)

[Shakti Gawain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakti-gawain/)

[Browse all 540 Affirmation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affirmation/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Nevertheless, the central affirmation of the Reformation stands: through no merit of ours, but by his mercy, WE HAVE BEEN RESTORED to a right relationship with God through the life, death, and resurrection of his beloved Son. This is the Good News, the gospel of Grace",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Brennan Manning"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/nevertheless-the-central-affirmation-of-the-reformation-stands/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Affirmation"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/nevertheless-the-central-affirmation-of-the-reformation-stands/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0e/brennan-manning-959_affirmation_nevertheless-the-central-affirmation-of_2344481.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0e/brennan-manning-959_affirmation_nevertheless-the-central-affirmation-of_2344481.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c0e/brennan-manning-959_affirmation_nevertheless-the-central-affirmation-of_2344481.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Nevertheless, the central affirmation of the Reformation stands: through no merit of ours, but by his mercy…” — Brennan Manning",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Brennan Manning",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Nevertheless, the central affirmation of the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/nevertheless-the-central-affirmation-of-the-reformation-stands/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/nevertheless-the-central-affirmation-of-the-reformation-stands/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
