Compassion Quote by John Owen
““The flesh would fain be indulged upon the account of grace: and every word that is spoken of mercy, it stands ready to catch at, and to pervert to its own corrupt aims and purposes. To apply mercy, then, to a sin not vigorously mortified, is to fulfil the end of the flesh pon the gospel.””
About This Quote
Source Sermon: The Doctrine of Grace, John Owen, 1650
Grace can be twisted to serve selfish desires, so mercy applied to unrepented sin reinforces fleshly aims rather than true transformation.
In simple terms: Grace misused fuels sin.
Key Takeaway
Guard against using mercy as excuse for sin.
Themes
theology
grace
human nature
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
theological
didactic
When to use this quote
- preaching
- personal confession
- spiritual counseling
Key Concepts
sin
repentance
spiritual warfare
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you distinguish true mercy from enabling?
- What practices keep grace from becoming self‑indulgence?
A Different Perspective
Mercy without repentance may enable sin.
