--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To teach men that they possess the…" description: "\"“To teach men that they possess the ability to turn from sin when they choose to do so is to hide the true extent of their need.”\" — Iain H. Murray" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79b/iain-h-murray-78426_calvinism_to-teach-men-that-they-possess-the-abili_2124110.jpg" --- # To teach men that they possess the ability to turn from… ![“To teach men that they possess the ability to turn from sin when they choose to do so is to hide the true extent of their need.” quote by Iain H. Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79b/iain-h-murray-78426_calvinism_to-teach-men-that-they-possess-the-abili_2124110.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79b/iain-h-murray-78426_calvinism_to-teach-men-that-they-possess-the-abili_2124110.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/79b/iain-h-murray-78426_calvinism_to-teach-men-that-they-possess-the-abili_2124110.jpg) > ““To teach men that they possess the ability to turn from sin when they choose to do so is to hide the true extent of their need.”” Iain H. Murray ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Teaching men they can change sin hides their true need for guidance. **In simple terms:** Claiming free will masks deeper dependence. Key Takeaway Recognize need for moral support. Themes free will morality dependence Mood thoughtful philosophical Type academic ethical When to use this quote - religious counseling - self‑reflection workshops Key Concepts ethical responsibility spiritual growth Questions to Reflect On - Do we truly choose our actions? - What role does guidance play in moral change? A Different Perspective Oversimplifies complex moral agency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Calvinism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calvinism/) [Election](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/election/) [Repentance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repentance/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) ## Related quotes > [You cannot hide your true self forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/you-cannot-hide-your-true-self-forever/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [When we turn from our sin, and have the blessed forgiveness of the Almighty, then we can ask Him to run things, and let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-karon/when-we-turn-from-our-sin-and-have-the-blessed-forgiveness-of-the/) [Jan Karon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-karon/) > [“When we turn to sin, whatever it is—lying, gossiping, sexual immorality—we are doing it because we are trying to solve a problem.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dee-brestin/when-we-turn-to-sin-whatever-it-is-lying-gossiping-sexual-immorality/) Dee Brestin > [“You will never turn from a sin you don’t hate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-wilkin/you-will-never-turn-from-a-sin-you-don-t-hate/) [Jen Wilkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-wilkin/) > [ “There is a joy possible in this life, he \[the apostle John\] says. Your joy can be full in this world, and it is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martyn-lloyd-jones/there-is-a-joy-possible-in-this-life-he-the-apostle-john-says-your/) [Martyn Lloyd-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martyn-lloyd-jones/) > [“An ambassador from any country is always conscious of the fact that he has a tremendous responsibility because he is the representative by whom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martyn-lloyd-jones/an-ambassador-from-any-country-is-always-conscious-of-the-fact-that/) [Martyn Lloyd-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martyn-lloyd-jones/) > [“Here is one great name - Jehovah-jireh. 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How much more serious is it to be the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-leigh-demoss/it-s-bad-enough-for-me-to-make-choices-that-hurt-my-own-relationship/) [Nancy Leigh DeMoss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-leigh-demoss/) > [I am pleased as punch no longer to believe in a god who declares reason a sin, who will not choose many noble and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-hurmence-green/i-am-pleased-as-punch-no-longer-to-believe-in-a-god-who-declares/) [Ruth Hurmence Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-hurmence-green/) > [In every sin, we choose to believe the devil's lie rather than God's truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/in-every-sin-we-choose-to-believe-the-devil-s-lie-rather-than-god-s/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [“I’m honest enough to say that I dinna care what the right and wrong of it may be, so long as you are here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/i-m-honest-enough-to-say-that-i-dinna-care-what-the-right-and-wrong/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [“Kings can choose other than to sin. They can choose death instead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-giardina/kings-can-choose-other-than-to-sin-they-can-choose-death-instead/) [Denise Giardina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-giardina/) > [If it was a sin for you to choose me . . . then I would go to the Devil himself and bless him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/if-it-was-a-sin-for-you-to-choose-me-then-i-would-go-to-the-devil/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) ## More by Iain H. Murray > [“The expository preacher is not one who 'shares his studies' with others, he is an ambassador and a messenger authoritatively delivering the Word of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-h-murray/the-expository-preacher-is-not-one-who-shares-his-studies-with-others/) Iain H. Murray > [“Last Victorian and Edwardian Britain saw a mega-change in reading habits. For the first time fiction took the primary place in book publishing, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-h-murray/last-victorian-and-edwardian-britain-saw-a-mega-change-in-reading/) Iain H. Murray Explore all 3 Iain H. Murray quotes ## More Calvinism quotes > [“Finally, the Reformers also agreed that worship should be in the vernacular and that the twofold structure of Word and sacrament be maintained. Zwingli…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-webber/finally-the-reformers-also-agreed-that-worship-should-be-in-the/) [Robert E. 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Gentle, gracious Dove, And art thou grieved in me, That sinners should restrain thy love, And say, “It is not free: It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-wesley/ah-gentle-gracious-dove-and-art-thou-grieved-in-me-that-sinners/) [Charles Wesley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-wesley/) > [Calvinism is the consistent endeavor to acknowledge the Creator as the Lord, working all things after the counsel of His will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer/calvinism-is-the-consistent-endeavor-to-acknowledge-the-creator-as/) [J. I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer/) > [The alternative of hypothetical universalism, according to which Christ's work is sufficient for all but efficient only for the elect, was alive and well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-d-crisp/the-alternative-of-hypothetical-universalism-according-to-which/) [Oliver D. 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I read all the authors of greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/during-my-academical-life-and-from-this-time-forward-i-was/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [“Jonathan Edwards, the dear old soul, who, if his doctrine is true, is now in heaven rubbing his holy hands with glee, as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/jonathan-edwards-the-dear-old-soul-who-if-his-doctrine-is-true-is-now/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) > [Calvinism that does not humble has missed its mark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-j-chantry/calvinism-that-does-not-humble-has-missed-its-mark/) [Walter J Chantry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-j-chantry/) > [For the Arminian, salvation is possible for all but certain for none. In the Calvinist position, salvation is sure for God's elect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/for-the-arminian-salvation-is-possible-for-all-but-certain-for-none/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [“Calvinism emphasizes divine sovereignty and free grace; Arminianism emphasizes human responsibility. The one restricts the saving grace to the elect: the other extends it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-schaff/calvinism-emphasizes-divine-sovereignty-and-free-grace-arminianism/) [Philip Schaff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-schaff/) > [“The Cross of Christ is the Aroma of Life for the elect and the Aroma of Death for the reprobate”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/royal-raj-s/the-cross-of-christ-is-the-aroma-of-life-for-the-elect-and-the-aroma/) [Royal Raj S](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/royal-raj-s/) [Browse all 104 Calvinism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/calvinism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“To teach men that they possess the ability to turn from sin when they choose to do so is to hide the true extent of their need.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Iain H. 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