--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The preaching of grace can only be…" description: "\"The preaching of grace can only be protected by the preaching of repentance.\" — Dietrich Bonhoeffer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dc/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_grace_the-preaching-of-grace-can-only-be-prote_2364228.jpg" --- # The preaching of grace can only be protected by the… ![“The preaching of grace can only be protected by the preaching of repentance.” quote by Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dc/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_grace_the-preaching-of-grace-can-only-be-prote_2364228.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dc/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_grace_the-preaching-of-grace-can-only-be-prote_2364228.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dc/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_grace_the-preaching-of-grace-can-only-be-prote_2364228.jpg) > “The preaching of grace can only be protected by the preaching of repentance.” [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Grace alone is insufficient; true transformation requires repentance and moral accountability. **In simple terms:** Grace needs repentance to be effective. Key Takeaway Balance grace with sincere repentance. Themes faith repentance grace Mood reflective serious Type theological inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - spiritual counseling - church teaching - moral decision making Key Concepts theology ethics Questions to Reflect On - What does repentance mean to you? - How can grace and repentance coexist? A Different Perspective Some may view repentance as punitive rather than restorative. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace/) [Preaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preaching/) [Preaching Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preaching-grace-969631/) [Preaching Repentance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preaching-repentance-1214101/) [Protected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protected/) [Protected Preaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protected-preaching-5799822/) [Repentance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repentance/) ## Related quotes > [Some people do not like to hear much of repentance; but I think it is so necessary that if I should die in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/some-people-do-not-like-to-hear-much-of-repentance-but-i-think-it-is/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [Preaching grace produces fruit. Preaching law produces nuts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcvey/preaching-grace-produces-fruit-preaching-law-produces-nuts/) [Steve McVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mcvey/) > [But Satan, the god of all dissension, stirreth up daily new sects, and last of all (which of all other I should never have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/but-satan-the-god-of-all-dissension-stirreth-up-daily-new-sects-and/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“True Revivals always have pure preaching of Repentance, Holiness and the Cross at the center...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-strom/true-revivals-always-have-pure-preaching-of-repentance-holiness-and/) [Andrew Strom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-strom/) > [Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/cheap-grace-is-the-grace-we-bestow-on-ourselves-cheap-grace-is-the/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [In our pugilistic take-no-prisoners era, preaching grace toward those on the other side of the political fence is decidedly countercultural.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirsten-powers/in-our-pugilistic-take-no-prisoners-era-preaching-grace-toward-those/) [Kirsten Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirsten-powers/) > [Satan, the god of all dissension, stirreth up daily newsects and last of all, which of all other I should never have forseen or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/satan-the-god-of-all-dissension-stirreth-up-daily-newsects-and-last/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [You cannot preach conviction of sin unless you have suffered it. You cannot preach repentance unless you have practiced it. You cannot preach faith…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/you-cannot-preach-conviction-of-sin-unless-you-have-suffered-it-you/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [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/) > [John the Baptist, who we are told was related by blood to Jesus, was preaching the impending judgement of God, urging repentance and moral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-scott-latourette/john-the-baptist-who-we-are-told-was-related-by-blood-to-jesus-was/) [Kenneth Scott Latourette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-scott-latourette/) > [To be sure, God shall call you, and us, only at the hour that God has chosen. Until that hour, which lies in God's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/to-be-sure-god-shall-call-you-and-us-only-at-the-hour-that-god-has/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Poetry and preaching do not go well together; when the preacher mounts the pulpit the poet usually goes away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edith-hamilton/poetry-and-preaching-do-not-go-well-together-when-the-preacher-mounts/) [Edith Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edith-hamilton/) > [ T\]he church is not a place. It's not a building. It's not a preaching point. It's not a spiritual service provider. It's a people… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dever/t-he-church-is-not-a-place-it-s-not-a-building-it-s-not-a-preaching/) [Mark Dever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-dever/) > [I have long felt that the way to keep children out of trouble is to keep them interested in things. Lecturing to children is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-have-long-felt-that-the-way-to-keep-children-out-of-trouble-is-to/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. There's a reason the right does it and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/preaching-to-the-choir-actually-arms-the-choir-with-arguments-and/) [Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/) ## More by Dietrich Bonhoeffer > [So the fool, as distinct from the scoundrel, is completely self- satisfied; in fact, he can easily become dangerous, as it does not take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/so-the-fool-as-distinct-from-the-scoundrel-is-completely-self/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Why do Christians sing when they are together? The reason is, quite simply, because in singing together it is possible for them to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/why-do-christians-sing-when-they-are-together-the-reason-is-quite/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [What we shall need is not geniuses, or cynics, or misanthropes, or clever tacticians, but plain, honest, straghtforward men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/what-we-shall-need-is-not-geniuses-or-cynics-or-misanthropes-or/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [...Gratitude transforms the torment of memory of good things now gone into silent joy. 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This is the true catholic church that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/there-is-only-one-church-the-church-of-faith-ruled-by-the-word-of/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“As Christians, we needn’t be at all ashamed of some impatience, longing, opposition to what is unnatural, and our full share of desire for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/as-christians-we-needn-t-be-at-all-ashamed-of-some-impatience-longing/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Those who love their dream of a Christian community more than the Christian community itself become destroyers of that Christian community even though their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/those-who-love-their-dream-of-a-christian-community-more-than-the/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“From now on there can be no more wars of faith. The only way to overcome our enemy is by loving him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/from-now-on-there-can-be-no-more-wars-of-faith-the-only-way-to/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“The scriptures do not present us with a series of Christian types to be imitated according to choice; they preach to us in every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-scriptures-do-not-present-us-with-a-series-of-christian-types-to/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [We are not to simply bandage the wounds of victims beneath the wheels of injustice, we are to drive a spoke into the wheel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/we-are-not-to-simply-bandage-the-wounds-of-victims-beneath-the-wheels/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) [Explore all 711 Dietrich Bonhoeffer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) ## More Grace quotes > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [“There is still a certain grace in a dead festival. It has been happy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/there-is-still-a-certain-grace-in-a-dead-festival-it-has-been-happy/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Enlightenment is lightening up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-myers/enlightenment-is-lightening-up/) [Mike Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-myers/) > [“Serve in the grace of strength within thy soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/serve-in-the-grace-of-strength-within-thy-soul/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Grace does not destroy nature, it perfects it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/grace-does-not-destroy-nature-it-perfects-it/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [There are two kinds of beauty; there is a beauty which God gives at birth, and which withers as a flower. And there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-kuyper/there-are-two-kinds-of-beauty-there-is-a-beauty-which-god-gives-at/) [Abraham Kuyper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-kuyper/) > [Grace is the wonderful spirit that imbues every fiber of our being when we practice the fruits of the spirit: kindness, patience, understanding, forgiveness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-cayce/grace-is-the-wonderful-spirit-that-imbues-every-fiber-of-our-being/) [Edgar Cayce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-cayce/) > [We are puzzled and bewildered whenever we see suffering in this world because we have become accustomed to the mercy and the long-suffering of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/we-are-puzzled-and-bewildered-whenever-we-see-suffering-in-this-world/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [Asanas bring perfection in body, beauty in form, grace, strength, compactness, and the hardness and brilliance of a diamond.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patanjali/asanas-bring-perfection-in-body-beauty-in-form-grace-strength/) [Patanjali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patanjali/) > [Grace is the power of the Holy Spirit coming to us free of charge to enable you to do with ease what you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/grace-is-the-power-of-the-holy-spirit-coming-to-us-free-of-charge-to/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [ “Through the grace of a thief, one can become a thief and through the grace of a Gnani \[the enlightened one\], one can become… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/through-the-grace-of-a-thief-one-can-become-a-thief-and-through-the/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“God reproduces and lives out His image in millions of ordinary people like us. It is a supreme mystery. We are called to bear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/god-reproduces-and-lives-out-his-image-in-millions-of-ordinary-people/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [One of the noblest words in our language is "grace," defined as "unearned blessing." We live by grace far more than by anything else.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-elton-trueblood/one-of-the-noblest-words-in-our-language-is-grace-defined-as-unearned/) [D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) > [“We have grace of strength to work, to clear our cities of any dirt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-have-grace-of-strength-to-work-to-clear-our-cities-of-any-dirt/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Grace is upside-down, to-do-list wrecking, scandalous and way-too free. It's one-way love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/grace-is-upside-down-to-do-list-wrecking-scandalous-and-way-too-free/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) [Browse all 6,886 Grace quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The preaching of grace can only be protected by the preaching of repentance.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dietrich Bonhoeffer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-preaching-of-grace-can-only-be-protected-by-the-preaching-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Grace" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-preaching-of-grace-can-only-be-protected-by-the-preaching-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dc/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_grace_the-preaching-of-grace-can-only-be-prote_2364228.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dc/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_grace_the-preaching-of-grace-can-only-be-prote_2364228.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dc/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_grace_the-preaching-of-grace-can-only-be-prote_2364228.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The preaching of grace can only be protected by the preaching of repentance.” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer", "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": "Dietrich Bonhoeffer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The preaching of grace can only...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-preaching-of-grace-can-only-be-protected-by-the-preaching-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-preaching-of-grace-can-only-be-protected-by-the-preaching-of/#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 } } ] } ```