--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When the mask of self-righteousness has…" description: "\"When the mask of self-righteousness has been torn from us and we stand stripped of all our accustomed defenses, we are candidates for God's generous gr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38f/erwin-w-lutzer-7686_accustomed_when-the-mask-of-self-righteousness-has_1947102.png" --- # When the mask of self-righteousness has been torn from us… ![“When the mask of self-righteousness has been torn from us and we stand stripped of all our accustomed defenses, we are candidates for God's generous grace.” quote by Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38f/erwin-w-lutzer-7686_accustomed_when-the-mask-of-self-righteousness-has_1947102.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38f/erwin-w-lutzer-7686_accustomed_when-the-mask-of-self-righteousness-has_1947102.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38f/erwin-w-lutzer-7686_accustomed_when-the-mask-of-self-righteousness-has_1947102.png) > “When the mask of self-righteousness has been torn from us and we stand stripped of all our accustomed defenses, we are candidates for God's generous grace.” [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When we lose our pretenses, we become open to divine generosity. **In simple terms:** Loss of ego invites grace. Key Takeaway Embrace humility for grace. Themes spirituality humility grace Mood contemplative hopeful Type spiritual motivational When to use this quote - personal crisis - confession - meditation - counseling Key Concepts theology vulnerability transformation Questions to Reflect On - What defenses do you cling to? - How can vulnerability improve relationships? A Different Perspective Grace may be felt differently across cultures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Generous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generous/) [Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace/) [Mask](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mask/) [Righteousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/righteousness/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self righteousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-righteousness/) ## Related quotes > [It is only as we remember and embrace His generous grace toward us that we can extend it to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/it-is-only-as-we-remember-and-embrace-his-generous-grace-toward-us/) [David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/) > [Children represent God's most generous gift to us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dobson/children-represent-god-s-most-generous-gift-to-us/) [James Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dobson/) > [We spoke to God about the children, and we were afraid to ask God for specific things. We thought that it might be too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cosby/we-spoke-to-god-about-the-children-and-we-were-afraid-to-ask-god-for/) [Bill Cosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cosby/) > [What great profit you gain from God when you are generous! You give a coin and receive a kingdom; you give bread from wheat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-of-villanova/what-great-profit-you-gain-from-god-when-you-are-generous-you-give-a/) Thomas of Villanova > [God is so generous that He gave His Son and the Holy Spirit for we can be save and recieve the gift of eternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/innah-delos-angeles/god-is-so-generous-that-he-gave-his-son-and-the-holy-spirit-for-we/) [Innah Delos Angeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/innah-delos-angeles/) > [God is very generous and does not deny His grace to anyone. Indeed he gives more than what we ask of Him. Faithfulness to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-faustina-kowalska/god-is-very-generous-and-does-not-deny-his-grace-to-anyone-indeed-he/) [Mary Faustina Kowalska](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-faustina-kowalska/) > [“So we, God’s servants, go, our Master’s invitation in our hands, out to the highways and hedges. We walk through squalid refugee camps in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-mccord/so-we-god-s-servants-go-our-master-s-invitation-in-our-hands-out-to/) [Kate McCord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-mccord/) > [“God is more generous than men and will measure them by a different standard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/god-is-more-generous-than-men-and-will-measure-them-by-a-different/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [The deeper the experience of the free grace of God, the more generous we must become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/the-deeper-the-experience-of-the-free-grace-of-god-the-more-generous/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [How shall I sum up my life? I think I've been particularly lucky. Does that have something to do with faith also? I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/how-shall-i-sum-up-my-life-i-think-i-ve-been-particularly-lucky-does/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [When you are generous to others, God will always be generous with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pryncez-nika/when-you-are-generous-to-others-god-will-always-be-generous-with-you/) Pryncez\_Nika > [Good things aren't supposed to just fall into your lap. God is very generous, but He expects you to do your part first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/good-things-aren-t-supposed-to-just-fall-into-your-lap-god-is-very/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [Do not all theists insist that there can be no morality, no justice, honesty or fidelity without the belief in a Divine Power? Based…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-goldman/do-not-all-theists-insist-that-there-can-be-no-morality-no-justice-2/) [Emma Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-goldman/) > [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/) > [Self-righteousness has killed more people than smoking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccarthy/self-righteousness-has-killed-more-people-than-smoking/) [John McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccarthy/) ## More by Erwin W. Lutzer > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [God in His sovereign goodness often uses the painful and at times debilitating injury of a spear thrower to make us readier for His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/god-in-his-sovereign-goodness-often-uses-the-painful-and-at-times/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [“God created us with emotions so that we might be able to enjoy Him and His creation. Often we have been tempted to consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/god-created-us-with-emotions-so-that-we-might-be-able-to-enjoy-him/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [Christianity spread rapidly during the first century because all Christians saw themselves as responsible for disseminating the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/christianity-spread-rapidly-during-the-first-century-because-all/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [Christmas can be transformed into a celebration more attuned to honoring the One whose birthday we celebrate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/christmas-can-be-transformed-into-a-celebration-more-attuned-to/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [I thank God for the way he made you, distinct, special and unique. You were not made from a common mold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/i-thank-god-for-the-way-he-made-you-distinct-special-and-unique-you/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [“Someone has said that people live their lives “crucified between two thieves—the regrets of yesterday and the anxieties of tomorrow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/someone-has-said-that-people-live-their-lives-crucified-between-two/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [Generally, the arguments for same-sex marriage go along these lines: 'I have a civil right.' What the homosexual movement wants to do is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/generally-the-arguments-for-same-sex-marriage-go-along-these-lines-i/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [In salvation, God both declares us guilty and pays our debt. Only he can satisfy his own requirements. A savior less than God would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/in-salvation-god-both-declares-us-guilty-and-pays-our-debt-only-he/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [If there is one single reason why good people turn evil, it is because they fail to recognize God’s ownership over their kingdom, their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-there-is-one-single-reason-why-good-people-turn-evil-it-is-because/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [No matter how many pleasures Satan offers you, his ultimate intention is to ruin you. Your destruction is his highest priority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/no-matter-how-many-pleasures-satan-offers-you-his-ultimate-intention/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [Only eternal values can give meaning to temporal ones. Time must be the servant of eternity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/only-eternal-values-can-give-meaning-to-temporal-ones-time-must-be/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [Worship is not an external activity precipitated by the right environment. To worship in spirit is to draw near to God with an undivided…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/worship-is-not-an-external-activity-precipitated-by-the-right/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [Often the doorway to success is entered through the hallway of failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/often-the-doorway-to-success-is-entered-through-the-hallway-of-failure/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [Thank God for the way He made you. You are special, distinct, and unique. You were not made from a common mold. Thank Him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/thank-god-for-the-way-he-made-you-you-are-special-distinct-and-unique/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) [Explore all 86 Erwin W. 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