--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Repentance must dig the foundations, but…" description: "\"“Repentance must dig the foundations, but holiness shall erect the structure, and bring forth the top-stone. Repentance is the clearing away of the rub..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d8/charles-h-spurgeon-1432_holiness_repentance-must-dig-the-foundations-but_2189375.jpg" --- # Repentance must dig the foundations, but holiness shall… ![“Repentance must dig the foundations, but holiness shall erect the structure, and bring forth the top-stone. Repentance is the clearing away of the rubbish of the past temple of sin; holiness builds the new temple which the Lord our God shall inherit. Repentance and desires after holiness never can…” quote by Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d8/charles-h-spurgeon-1432_holiness_repentance-must-dig-the-foundations-but_2189375.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d8/charles-h-spurgeon-1432_holiness_repentance-must-dig-the-foundations-but_2189375.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d8/charles-h-spurgeon-1432_holiness_repentance-must-dig-the-foundations-but_2189375.jpg) > ““Repentance must dig the foundations, but holiness shall erect the structure, and bring forth the top-stone. Repentance is the clearing away of the rubbish of the past temple of sin; holiness builds the new temple which the Lord our God shall inherit. Repentance and desires after holiness never can be separated.”” [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True repentance clears past sins, allowing holiness to build a new, righteous life. **In simple terms:** Repentance clears sin; holiness builds a new life. Key Takeaway Purge past wrongs, then cultivate holiness. Themes repentance holiness spiritual renewal Mood reflective inspirational Type spiritual ethical When to use this quote - personal confession - spiritual discipline - community worship Key Concepts theology moral transformation Questions to Reflect On - Are you willing to let go of past failures? - What does building a new life look like for you? A Different Perspective Holiness cannot flourish without genuine repentance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Holiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holiness/) [Inherit Repentance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inherit-repentance-4763144/) [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) [Repentance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repentance/) [Repentance Clearing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repentance-clearing-4763146/) [Repentance Desires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repentance-desires-3126766/) [Repentance Dig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repentance-dig-4763143/) [Stone Repentance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stone-repentance-4763145/) ## Related quotes > [Repentance and desires after holiness never be separated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/repentance-and-desires-after-holiness-never-be-separated/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [“If my holiness is not drawing towards Him, it is not holiness of the right order, but an influence that will awaken inordinate affection…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/if-my-holiness-is-not-drawing-towards-him-it-is-not-holiness-of-the/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [We live in all we seek. 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By the word religion I have seen the lunacy of fanatics of every denomination be called the will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-monahan/i-put-no-stock-in-religion-by-the-word-religion-i-have-seen-the/) [William Monahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-monahan/) > [“The HOLY of Holiness!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-holy-of-holiness/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Total depravity means the entire absence of holiness, not the highest intensity of sin. A totally depraved man is not as bad as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-greenough-thayer-shedd/total-depravity-means-the-entire-absence-of-holiness-not-the-highest/) [William Greenough Thayer Shedd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-greenough-thayer-shedd/) > [Therefore, I see whatever exists as good, death is to me like life, sin like holiness, wisdom like foolishness, everything has to be as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/therefore-i-see-whatever-exists-as-good-death-is-to-me-like-life-sin/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [“Is there any holy beings like human beings?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/is-there-any-holy-beings-like-human-beings/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Holiness sincerity, and faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/holiness-sincerity-and-faith/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) ## More by Charles H. Spurgeon > [“Begin as you mean to go on, and go on as you began, and let the Lord be all in all to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/begin-as-you-mean-to-go-on-and-go-on-as-you-began-and-let-the-lord-be/) [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) > [“The man who talks about his experience as a Christian, who never does anything for Christ, is, I am afraid, only an idle dreamer.”–1894,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/the-man-who-talks-about-his-experience-as-a-christian-who-never-does/) [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) > [“The blood of Jesus Christ is as blessed and divine a payment for the transgressions of blaspheming Peter as for the shortcomings of loving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/the-blood-of-jesus-christ-is-as-blessed-and-divine-a-payment-for-the/) [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) > [“A certain man placed a fountain by the wayside, and he hung up a cup near to it by a little chain. He was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/a-certain-man-placed-a-fountain-by-the-wayside-and-he-hung-up-a-cup/) [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) > [“The roar of the sea may be joyous to a rejoicing spirit, but to the son of sorrow the wide, wide ocean is even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/the-roar-of-the-sea-may-be-joyous-to-a-rejoicing-spirit-but-to-the/) [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) > [“Beloved, no sin of a believer can now be an arrow mortally to wound him, no condemnation can now be a sword to kill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/beloved-no-sin-of-a-believer-can-now-be-an-arrow-mortally-to-wound/) [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) > [“The greatest of human actions will appear to be insignificant when we come to die, and especially those upon which men most pride themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/the-greatest-of-human-actions-will-appear-to-be-insignificant-when-we/) [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) > [“Paul saith, 'Not of works, lest any man should boast.' Now, faith excludes all boasting. The hand which receives charity does not say, 'I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/paul-saith-not-of-works-lest-any-man-should-boast-now-faith-excludes/) [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) > [“He made a pit and digged it. He was cunning in his plans and industrious in his labors. He stooped to the dirty work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/he-made-a-pit-and-digged-it-he-was-cunning-in-his-plans-and/) [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) > [“The Lord's mercy often rides to the door of our hearts on the black horse of affliction. Jesus uses the whole range of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/the-lord-s-mercy-often-rides-to-the-door-of-our-hearts-on-the-black/) [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) > [“Patience is the fair handmaid and daughter of faith; we cheerfully wait when we are certain that we shall not wait in vain. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/patience-is-the-fair-handmaid-and-daughter-of-faith-we-cheerfully/) [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) > [“You will find all true theology summed up in these two short sentences: salvation is all of the grace of God; damnation is all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/you-will-find-all-true-theology-summed-up-in-these-two-short/) [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) > [“Young gentlemen whose whiskers have not yet developed are authoritatively deciding that nothing can be decided, and dogmatically denouncing all dogmas. We meet them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/young-gentlemen-whose-whiskers-have-not-yet-developed-are/) [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) > [“Now, the more holy a man gets the more he cries in this fashion. While he is low down in the scale, he puts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/now-the-more-holy-a-man-gets-the-more-he-cries-in-this-fashion-while/) [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) > [“Arise, believer, and behold the Lord Jesus yoking the whole of his divine Godhead to the chariot of salvation! How vast his grace, how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/arise-believer-and-behold-the-lord-jesus-yoking-the-whole-of-his/) [Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) [Explore all 241 Charles H. Spurgeon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/) ## More Holiness quotes > [Holiness sincerity, and faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/holiness-sincerity-and-faith/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“Is there any holy beings like human beings?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/is-there-any-holy-beings-like-human-beings/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Therefore, I see whatever exists as good, death is to me like life, sin like holiness, wisdom like foolishness, everything has to be as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/therefore-i-see-whatever-exists-as-good-death-is-to-me-like-life-sin/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Total depravity means the entire absence of holiness, not the highest intensity of sin. 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It is the glory of God not honored. The holiness of God not reverenced. The greatness of God not admired. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/what-is-sin-it-is-the-glory-of-god-not-honored-the-holiness-of-god/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“I believe that people are holy because they’re made in the image of God, and a place can be holy when God is present—but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-brock/i-believe-that-people-are-holy-because-they-re-made-in-the-image-of/) [Jared Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-brock/) > [We live in all we seek. The hidden shows up in too-plain sight. 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