--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If repentance were perfection, none of…" description: "\"“If repentance were perfection, none of those people repented. Repentance, however, means recognizing Jesus' authority and submitting to it, even thoug..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d4/j-d-greear-17414_divided-heart_if-repentance-were-perfection-none-of-th_362598.png" --- # If repentance were perfection, none of those people… ![“If repentance were perfection, none of those people repented. Repentance, however, means recognizing Jesus' authority and submitting to it, even though you know your heart is weak, divided, and pulled in conflicting directions. Repentance includes a plea for God to change your inconsistent divided…” quote by J.D. Greear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d4/j-d-greear-17414_divided-heart_if-repentance-were-perfection-none-of-th_362598.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d4/j-d-greear-17414_divided-heart_if-repentance-were-perfection-none-of-th_362598.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d4/j-d-greear-17414_divided-heart_if-repentance-were-perfection-none-of-th_362598.png) > ““If repentance were perfection, none of those people repented. Repentance, however, means recognizing Jesus' authority and submitting to it, even though you know your heart is weak, divided, and pulled in conflicting directions. Repentance includes a plea for God to change your inconsistent divided heart. (Psalm 86:11; Mark 9:24)”” [J.D. Greear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-greear/) ## 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 involves acknowledging Jesus’ authority, confronting a divided heart, and seeking divine transformation despite personal weakness. **In simple terms:** Repentance means submitting to Jesus and asking God to heal a conflicted heart. Key Takeaway Seek God’s help to align heart and will. Themes faith repentance authority weakness transformation Mood hopeful reflective encouraging Type advice spiritual motivational When to use this quote - personal prayer - confession - counseling - church community - spiritual retreats Key Concepts theology spiritual growth psychology humility Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance humility with personal responsibility? - What steps help maintain a sincere repentant heart? A Different Perspective The focus on divine authority may conflict with personal agency for some believers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Divided heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divided-heart/) [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) [Repentance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repentance/) [Repentance Includes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repentance-includes-3325856/) [Repentance Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repentance-means-591968/) [Repentance Perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repentance-perfection-3325857/) [Repented](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repented-328673/) [Repented Repentance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repented-repentance-3325855/) ## Related quotes > [True repentance includes sorrow for sin and contrition of heart. It breaks the heart with sighs and sobs and groans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-brooks/true-repentance-includes-sorrow-for-sin-and-contrition-of-heart-it/) [Thomas Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-brooks/) > [A divided heart offers a strange sensation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-aguirre/a-divided-heart-offers-a-strange-sensation/) [Ann Aguirre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-aguirre/) > [God will not accept a divided heart. He must be absolute monarch. There is not room in your heart for two thrones. You cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-l-moody/god-will-not-accept-a-divided-heart-he-must-be-absolute-monarch-there/) [Dwight L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-l-moody/) > [“I would be a woman soon and I would have to learn how to live with a divided heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-diamant/i-would-be-a-woman-soon-and-i-would-have-to-learn-how-to-live-with-a/) [Anita Diamant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-diamant/) > [I wanted to cry, but I realized that I was too old for that. I would be a woman soon and I would have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-wanted-to-cry-but-i-realized-that-i-was-too-old-for-that-i-would-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is no place in the kingdom of heaven for a divided heart. It is in the division that love is lost; and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-j-roberts/there-is-no-place-in-the-kingdom-of-heaven-for-a-divided-heart-it-is/) [Frances J Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-j-roberts/) > [A divided heart loses both worlds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-simpson/a-divided-heart-loses-both-worlds/) [A. B. Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-simpson/) > [“In love afairs, there is no mediator like a merry, simple-hearted child - ever ready to cement divided hearts, to span the unfriendly gulf…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/in-love-afairs-there-is-no-mediator-like-a-merry-simple-hearted-child/) [Anne Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [She was owner and captive, both, of a bitterly divided heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-gavriel-kay/she-was-owner-and-captive-both-of-a-bitterly-divided-heart/) [Guy Gavriel Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-gavriel-kay/) > [“Sin gains power over us not by its indomitable force but by our divided heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-chapell/sin-gains-power-over-us-not-by-its-indomitable-force-but-by-our/) [Bryan Chapell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-chapell/) > [... Chicago divided your heart. Leaving you loving the joint for keeps. Yet knowing it never can love you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-algren/chicago-divided-your-heart-leaving-you-loving-the-joint-for-keeps-yet/) [Nelson Algren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-algren/) > [“The undivided heart is a good thing, as long as you love somebody. In fact, a divided heart that loves someone is better than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raniero-cantalamessa/the-undivided-heart-is-a-good-thing-as-long-as-you-love-somebody-in/) [Raniero Cantalamessa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raniero-cantalamessa/) > [Why the Christian life is so difficult to many is because they have a divided heart. They are double-minded, which makes them unstable in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-g-white/why-the-christian-life-is-so-difficult-to-many-is-because-they-have-a/) [Ellen G. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-g-white/) > [“Repentance means unlearning all the self-conceit and self-will that we have been training ourselves into... It means killing part of yourself, undergoing a kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/repentance-means-unlearning-all-the-self-conceit-and-self-will-that/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [Real repentance means coming not only to be sorry for the consequences of sin but to hate sin itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barclay/real-repentance-means-coming-not-only-to-be-sorry-for-the/) [William Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barclay/) ## More by J.D. Greear > [“The gospel produces not just obedience, you see, but a new kind of obedience3—an obedience that is powered by desire. An obedience that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-greear/the-gospel-produces-not-just-obedience-you-see-but-a-new-kind-of/) [J.D. Greear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-greear/) > [“There is One who remains faithful even when we doubt; One who is a firm foundation when our steps falter; One who holds on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-greear/there-is-one-who-remains-faithful-even-when-we-doubt-one-who-is-a/) [J.D. Greear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-greear/) > [“Planting always involves risk. We release control of something we need in the hopes that it will come back to us in multiplied measure.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-greear/planting-always-involves-risk-we-release-control-of-something-we-need/) [J.D. Greear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-greear/) > [“Even after we have been saved our sinful flesh craves unrighteousness. In fact, the presence of the struggle itself can be affirmation that God’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-greear/even-after-we-have-been-saved-our-sinful-flesh-craves-unrighteousness/) [J.D. Greear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-greear/) > [“The goal of the gospel is to produce a type of people consumed with passion for God and love for others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-greear/the-goal-of-the-gospel-is-to-produce-a-type-of-people-consumed-with/) [J.D. Greear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-greear/) > [“If I’d had a good week—a real “Christian” week”—I felt close to God. When Sunday came around, I would feel like lifting my head…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-greear/if-i-d-had-a-good-week-a-real-christian-week-i-felt-close-to-god-when/) [J.D. Greear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-greear/) > [“That’s why growth in Christ is never going beyond the gospel, but going deeper into the gospel. The purest waters from the spring of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-greear/that-s-why-growth-in-christ-is-never-going-beyond-the-gospel-but/) [J.D. Greear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-greear/) > [“We’ve grown so accustomed to the voice of condemnation that we think the only thing the Holy Spirit ever says to us is, “Stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-greear/we-ve-grown-so-accustomed-to-the-voice-of-condemnation-that-we-think/) [J.D. Greear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-greear/) > [“A faithful father does not leave his kids wondering whether or not he loves them. When I have to go away on a trip,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-greear/a-faithful-father-does-not-leave-his-kids-wondering-whether-or-not-he/) [J.D. Greear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-greear/) > [“Abiding in Jesus means understanding that His acceptance of us is the same regardless of the amount of spiritual fruit we have produced.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-greear/abiding-in-jesus-means-understanding-that-his-acceptance-of-us-is-the/) [J.D. Greear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-greear/) > [“Likewise, we continue to follow Jesus as we struggle with sin. Repentance ushers us into a life of greater struggle, not out of one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-greear/likewise-we-continue-to-follow-jesus-as-we-struggle-with-sin/) [J.D. Greear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-greear/) > [“Repentance is not subsequent to belief; it is part of belief. It is belief in action-choice that flow out of conviction. Repentance literally means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-greear/repentance-is-not-subsequent-to-belief-it-is-part-of-belief-it-is/) [J.D. Greear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-greear/) > [“In the same way, God grows his kingdom only as we take our hands off of what little portion he’s given to us, “die”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-greear/in-the-same-way-god-grows-his-kingdom-only-as-we-take-our-hands-off/) [J.D. Greear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-greear/) > [“As Tim Keller says, the gospel is not just the ABCs of Christianity, it is the A–Z; it is not the first step in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-greear/as-tim-keller-says-the-gospel-is-not-just-the-abcs-of-christianity-it/) [J.D. Greear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-greear/) > [“His love is the soil in which all the fruits of the Spirit grow. When our roots abide there, then joy, peace, patience, kindness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-greear/his-love-is-the-soil-in-which-all-the-fruits-of-the-spirit-grow-when/) [J.D. Greear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-greear/) [Explore all 37 J.D. Greear quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-greear/) ## More Divided heart quotes > [Why the Christian life is so difficult to many is because they have a divided heart. They are double-minded, which makes them unstable in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-g-white/why-the-christian-life-is-so-difficult-to-many-is-because-they-have-a/) [Ellen G. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-g-white/) > [“The undivided heart is a good thing, as long as you love somebody. In fact, a divided heart that loves someone is better than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raniero-cantalamessa/the-undivided-heart-is-a-good-thing-as-long-as-you-love-somebody-in/) [Raniero Cantalamessa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raniero-cantalamessa/) > [... Chicago divided your heart. Leaving you loving the joint for keeps. Yet knowing it never can love you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-algren/chicago-divided-your-heart-leaving-you-loving-the-joint-for-keeps-yet/) [Nelson Algren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-algren/) > [“Sin gains power over us not by its indomitable force but by our divided heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-chapell/sin-gains-power-over-us-not-by-its-indomitable-force-but-by-our/) [Bryan Chapell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-chapell/) > [She was owner and captive, both, of a bitterly divided heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-gavriel-kay/she-was-owner-and-captive-both-of-a-bitterly-divided-heart/) [Guy Gavriel Kay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-gavriel-kay/) > [“In love afairs, there is no mediator like a merry, simple-hearted child - ever ready to cement divided hearts, to span the unfriendly gulf…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/in-love-afairs-there-is-no-mediator-like-a-merry-simple-hearted-child/) [Anne Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [A divided heart loses both worlds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-b-simpson/a-divided-heart-loses-both-worlds/) [A. B. Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-b-simpson/) > [There is no place in the kingdom of heaven for a divided heart. It is in the division that love is lost; and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-j-roberts/there-is-no-place-in-the-kingdom-of-heaven-for-a-divided-heart-it-is/) [Frances J Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-j-roberts/) > [I wanted to cry, but I realized that I was too old for that. I would be a woman soon and I would have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-wanted-to-cry-but-i-realized-that-i-was-too-old-for-that-i-would-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I would be a woman soon and I would have to learn how to live with a divided heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-diamant/i-would-be-a-woman-soon-and-i-would-have-to-learn-how-to-live-with-a/) [Anita Diamant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-diamant/) > [God will not accept a divided heart. He must be absolute monarch. There is not room in your heart for two thrones. You cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-l-moody/god-will-not-accept-a-divided-heart-he-must-be-absolute-monarch-there/) [Dwight L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-l-moody/) > [A divided heart offers a strange sensation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-aguirre/a-divided-heart-offers-a-strange-sensation/) [Ann Aguirre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-aguirre/) [Browse all 13 Divided heart quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divided-heart/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If repentance were perfection, none of those people repented. Repentance, however, means recognizing Jesus' authority and submitting to it, even though you know your heart is weak, divided, and pulled in conflicting directions. Repentance includes a plea for God to change your inconsistent divided heart. 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