--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Before we can begin to see the cross as…" description: "\"Before we can begin to see the cross as something done FOR us, leading us to faith and worship, we have to see it as something done BY us, leading us t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8f/c-j-mahaney-18178_claims_before-we-can-begin-to-see-the-cross-as_2026313.jpg" --- # Before we can begin to see the cross as something done FOR… ![“Before we can begin to see the cross as something done FOR us, leading us to faith and worship, we have to see it as something done BY us, leading us to repentance. Only the man or woman who is prepared to own his share in the guilt of the cross may claim his share in its grace.” quote by C. J. Mahaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8f/c-j-mahaney-18178_claims_before-we-can-begin-to-see-the-cross-as_2026313.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8f/c-j-mahaney-18178_claims_before-we-can-begin-to-see-the-cross-as_2026313.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8f/c-j-mahaney-18178_claims_before-we-can-begin-to-see-the-cross-as_2026313.jpg) > “Before we can begin to see the cross as something done FOR us, leading us to faith and worship, we have to see it as something done BY us, leading us to repentance. Only the man or woman who is prepared to own his share in the guilt of the cross may claim his share in its grace.” [C. J. Mahaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mahaney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True redemption requires personal responsibility; we must recognize our role in sin before receiving grace. **In simple terms:** Grace follows personal accountability. Key Takeaway Own your guilt to receive grace. Themes responsibility redemption faith humility Mood reflective serious Type spiritual theological When to use this quote - personal confession - church teaching - spiritual counseling - leadership training Key Concepts theology grace repentance Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance personal guilt with societal responsibility? - What practices help us own our part without despair? A Different Perspective It may overlook systemic injustice that also contributes to suffering. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace/) [Guilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilt/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Repentance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repentance/) [Worship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worship/) ## Related quotes > [There is no repentance where a man can talk lightly of sin, much less where he can speak tenderly and lovingly of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-is-no-repentance-where-a-man-can-talk-lightly-of-sin-much-less/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Christ nailed all my guilt to the cross. Sometimes, though, I needed a reminder that the nails held.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-buchanan/christ-nailed-all-my-guilt-to-the-cross-sometimes-though-i-needed-a/) Ruth Buchanan > [Before we can begin to see the cross as something done for us, we have to see it as something done by us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stott/before-we-can-begin-to-see-the-cross-as-something-done-for-us-we-have/) [John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stott/) > [“We need repentance. You see, repentance is not only going to a priest and confessing. We must free ourselves from the obsession of thoughts.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elder-thaddeus-of-vitovnica/we-need-repentance-you-see-repentance-is-not-only-going-to-a-priest/) [Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elder-thaddeus-of-vitovnica/) > [“Repentance seemed like too loose of a word. I knew I’d been wrong, but that didn’t soften the blow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-aquino/repentance-seemed-like-too-loose-of-a-word-i-knew-i-d-been-wrong-but/) [Anna Aquino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-aquino/) > [Calamity, war, famine, plague, death, adversity, disease, injury do not necessarily produce repentance. We may become better in a calamity but it does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/calamity-war-famine-plague-death-adversity-disease-injury-do-not/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [And in any preaching you do, admonish the people concerning repentance, and that nobody can be saved except he who receives the most holy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-of-assisi/and-in-any-preaching-you-do-admonish-the-people-concerning-repentance/) [Francis of Assisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-of-assisi/) > [“If ours souls are thirsty, we can draw freely, livng water from the well of salvation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/if-ours-souls-are-thirsty-we-can-draw-freely-livng-water-from-the/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I truly believe that one of the things that has been lacking in America is a spirit of repentance about the injustices of slavery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-oyelowo/i-truly-believe-that-one-of-the-things-that-has-been-lacking-in/) [David Oyelowo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-oyelowo/) > [A man does not have to feel less than human to realize his sin; oppositely, he has to realize that he gets no special…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/a-man-does-not-have-to-feel-less-than-human-to-realize-his-sin/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [“There is salvation for every soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/there-is-salvation-for-every-soul/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“With repentance comes a change of mind that effects a change of direction, since one’s orientation of life is directed in faith to God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrell-l-bock/with-repentance-comes-a-change-of-mind-that-effects-a-change-of/) Darrell L. Bock > [“To repent is depart from evil.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/to-repent-is-depart-from-evil/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [True repentance never leads to despair. Its leads home. It leads to grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg/true-repentance-never-leads-to-despair-its-leads-home-it-leads-to/) [John Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) ## More by C. J. Mahaney > [If there's anything in life that we should be passionate about, it's the gospel. And I don't mean passionate only about sharing it with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mahaney/if-there-s-anything-in-life-that-we-should-be-passionate-about-it-s/) [C. J. Mahaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mahaney/) > [What joy the gospel gives me! I can approach the throne of God with confidence-not because I've done a good job at my spiritual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mahaney/what-joy-the-gospel-gives-me-i-can-approach-the-throne-of-god-with/) [C. J. Mahaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mahaney/) > [So make it your aim and lifelong habit, when you see someone who's serving, to be reminded of the sacrifice of the Savior, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mahaney/so-make-it-your-aim-and-lifelong-habit-when-you-see-someone-who-s/) [C. J. Mahaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mahaney/) > [To learn true humility, we need more than a redefinition of greatness; we need even more than Jesus' personal example of humble service. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mahaney/to-learn-true-humility-we-need-more-than-a-redefinition-of-greatness/) [C. J. Mahaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mahaney/) > [All gifts from God are intended to direct our attention to God and create fresh affection for God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mahaney/all-gifts-from-god-are-intended-to-direct-our-attention-to-god-and/) [C. J. Mahaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mahaney/) > [Apart from the cross, condemnation is normal. Without Jesus, we all deserve to be condemned and punished for sin. But here's the good news:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mahaney/apart-from-the-cross-condemnation-is-normal-without-jesus-we-all/) [C. J. 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Mahaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mahaney/) > [Modesty is humility expressed in dress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mahaney/modesty-is-humility-expressed-in-dress/) [C. J. Mahaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mahaney/) > [We cannot free ourselves from pride and selfish ambition; a divine rescue is absolutely necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mahaney/we-cannot-free-ourselves-from-pride-and-selfish-ambition-a-divine/) [C. J. Mahaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mahaney/) > [No matter the severity of suffering we experience in this life, it will always be less that what we have deserved for our sins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mahaney/no-matter-the-severity-of-suffering-we-experience-in-this-life-it/) [C. J. Mahaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mahaney/) > [Endurance in ministry is rooted in the eternal perspective. The absence of an eternal perspective makes you vulnerable to losing heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mahaney/endurance-in-ministry-is-rooted-in-the-eternal-perspective-the/) [C. J. Mahaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mahaney/) > [Your greatest need is not a spouse. Your greatest need is to be delivered from the wrath of God - and that has already…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mahaney/your-greatest-need-is-not-a-spouse-your-greatest-need-is-to-be/) [C. J. Mahaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mahaney/) > [If you crossed Matthew Henry's path, you would quickly realize that here was someone taking thankful notice of all God was doing for him,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-mahaney/if-you-crossed-matthew-henry-s-path-you-would-quickly-realize-that/) [C. J. Mahaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-mahaney/) [Explore all 35 C. J. 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