--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Christ does not control his subjects by…" description: "\"Christ does not control his subjects by force, but is King of a willing people. They are, through His grace, freely devoted to His service.\" — Joseph A..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/080/joseph-alleine-22077_christ_christ-does-not-control-his-subjects-by_63194.jpg" --- # Christ does not control his subjects by force, but is King… ![“Christ does not control his subjects by force, but is King of a willing people. They are, through His grace, freely devoted to His service.” quote by Joseph Alleine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/080/joseph-alleine-22077_christ_christ-does-not-control-his-subjects-by_63194.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/080/joseph-alleine-22077_christ_christ-does-not-control-his-subjects-by_63194.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/080/joseph-alleine-22077_christ_christ-does-not-control-his-subjects-by_63194.jpg) > “Christ does not control his subjects by force, but is King of a willing people. They are, through His grace, freely devoted to His service.” [Joseph Alleine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-alleine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Christ's authority is rooted in voluntary devotion, not coercion; believers serve out of gratitude and grace. **In simple terms:** Christ leads willing hearts. Key Takeaway Grace‑based service. Themes spirituality leadership grace voluntary service Mood reverent encouraging Type theological inspirational When to use this quote - church leadership - missionary work - volunteer ministries - personal devotion Key Concepts theology of authority Practical Applications - Foster environments that encourage free commitment - Teach the concept of grace‑driven service Questions to Reflect On - What distinguishes willing service from duty? - How can communities nurture genuine devotion? A Different Perspective May overlook the role of institutional structures that can unintentionally coerce. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) [Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace/) [Kings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kings/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [One of the things I love most about Martin Luther King is that he was willing to sacrifice his popularity in favor of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/one-of-the-things-i-love-most-about-martin-luther-king-is-that-he-was/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [“The only way I can keep clear of force is by justice. Far from being willing to execute his enemies, a real king must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-h-white/the-only-way-i-can-keep-clear-of-force-is-by-justice-far-from-being/) [T.H. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-h-white/) > [With God, I can do all things! But with God and you, and the people who you can interest, by the grace of God,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-semple-mcpherson/with-god-i-can-do-all-things-but-with-god-and-you-and-the-people-who/) [Aimee Semple McPherson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-semple-mcpherson/) > [I am the biggest klutz on set. I honestly don't think I have ever been as klutzy as when I'm on set. People call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-marano/i-am-the-biggest-klutz-on-set-i-honestly-don-t-think-i-have-ever-been/) [Laura Marano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-marano/) > [I have learned to accept it, even ask for it, this 'more than I can handle.' Because in these times, God shows Himself victorious.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-davis/i-have-learned-to-accept-it-even-ask-for-it-this-more-than-i-can/) [Katie Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-davis/) > [Grace is not reserved for good people; grace underscores the goodness of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/grace-is-not-reserved-for-good-people-grace-underscores-the-goodness/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [We have messed-up lives, but we’re good people and we have grace. And even though we don’t have to do good for God to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lacey-mosley/we-have-messed-up-lives-but-we-re-good-people-and-we-have-grace-and/) [Lacey Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lacey-mosley/) > [“We the people are the United States of America. Not the military, not Washington, DC, not the president, not the Congress. They all work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-foster/we-the-people-are-the-united-states-of-america-not-the-military-not/) [Mike Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-foster/) > [“What I hope you'll remember, Grace-is that all your life there will be people who have more than you-and people who have less. Grace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priscilla-cummings/what-i-hope-you-ll-remember-grace-is-that-all-your-life-there-will-be/) Priscilla Cummings > [“The Bible is clear in its invitation to all people. Grace can be extended to all, and has nothing to do with our deserved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-davis/the-bible-is-clear-in-its-invitation-to-all-people-grace-can-be/) [Patrick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-davis/) > [Oh you weak, beautiful people who give up with such grace. What you need is someone to take hold of you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/oh-you-weak-beautiful-people-who-give-up-with-such-grace-what-you/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [There learned arts do flourish in great honour And poets's wits are had in peerless price; Religion hath lay power, to rest upon her,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-spenser/there-learned-arts-do-flourish-in-great-honour-and-poets-s-wits-are/) [Edmund Spenser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-spenser/) > [“Out of all its squalor and human decay, its eruptions of butchery, India produced so many people of grace and beauty, ruled by elaborate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/out-of-all-its-squalor-and-human-decay-its-eruptions-of-butchery/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm willing to go further than other people on camera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-krakowski/i-m-willing-to-go-further-than-other-people-on-camera/) [Jane Krakowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-krakowski/) > [“There's another kind of being open minded, the kind that's willing to see people for who they really are and admit when you were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-delaney/there-s-another-kind-of-being-open-minded-the-kind-that-s-willing-to/) Maya Delaney ## More by Joseph Alleine > [The unsound convert takes Christ by halves. He is all for the salvation of Christ, but is not for sanctification. He is for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-alleine/the-unsound-convert-takes-christ-by-halves-he-is-all-for-the/) [Joseph Alleine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-alleine/) > [For a soul to come to Jesus, is the grandest event in its history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-alleine/for-a-soul-to-come-to-jesus-is-the-grandest-event-in-its-history/) [Joseph Alleine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-alleine/) > [with the true convert, holiness is woven into all his powers, principles, and practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-alleine/with-the-true-convert-holiness-is-woven-into-all-his-powers/) [Joseph Alleine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-alleine/) > [While we keep aloof in general statements, there is little fruit to be expected; it is the hand-fight that does execution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-alleine/while-we-keep-aloof-in-general-statements-there-is-little-fruit-to-be/) [Joseph Alleine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-alleine/) > [A man may as certainly miscarry by his seeming righteousness and supposed graces, as by gross sins; and that is, when a man doth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-alleine/a-man-may-as-certainly-miscarry-by-his-seeming-righteousness-and/) [Joseph Alleine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-alleine/) > [I will watch over My flock by night (Isaiah 27:3). Behold, I have appointed My ministers as your watchmen, as overseers who watch for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-alleine/i-will-watch-over-my-flock-by-night-isaiah-27-3-behold-i-have/) [Joseph Alleine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-alleine/) > [Satan turned Eve's eye to the apple, Achan's eye to the wedge of gold, Ahab's eye to Naboth's vineyard, and then what work did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-alleine/satan-turned-eve-s-eye-to-the-apple-achan-s-eye-to-the-wedge-of-gold/) [Joseph Alleine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-alleine/) > [The Lord Jesus Christ would have the whole world to know, that though He pardons sin, He will not protect it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-alleine/the-lord-jesus-christ-would-have-the-whole-world-to-know-that-though/) [Joseph Alleine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-alleine/) > [Though sin may be in the Christian, yet it hath no more dominion over him; he hath an unfeigned respect to all God's commandments,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-alleine/though-sin-may-be-in-the-christian-yet-it-hath-no-more-dominion-over/) [Joseph Alleine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-alleine/) > [A man may as well hew marble without tools, or paint without colors or instruments, or build without materials, as perform any acceptable service…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-alleine/a-man-may-as-well-hew-marble-without-tools-or-paint-without-colors-or/) [Joseph Alleine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-alleine/) > [Conversion is a work above man's power... Never think you can convert yourself. If ever you would be savingly converted, you must despair of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-alleine/conversion-is-a-work-above-man-s-power-never-think-you-can-convert/) [Joseph Alleine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-alleine/) > [There is no surer evidence of an unconverted state than to have the things of the world uppermost in our aim, love, and estimation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-alleine/there-is-no-surer-evidence-of-an-unconverted-state-than-to-have-the/) [Joseph Alleine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-alleine/) > [Woe unto thee if after all thy profession thou shouldst be found under the power of ignorance, lost in formality, drowned in earthly-mindedness, envenomed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-alleine/woe-unto-thee-if-after-all-thy-profession-thou-shouldst-be-found/) [Joseph Alleine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-alleine/) > [Come from your knees to the sermon, and come from the sermon to your knees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-alleine/come-from-your-knees-to-the-sermon-and-come-from-the-sermon-to-your/) [Joseph Alleine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-alleine/) > [None are drawn to Christ by their calling, nor come to him by believing, but only his sheep, those whom the Father has given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-alleine/none-are-drawn-to-christ-by-their-calling-nor-come-to-him-by/) [Joseph Alleine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-alleine/) [Explore all 28 Joseph Alleine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-alleine/) ## More Christ quotes > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [“I would even go so far as to say that the mythical character of a life is just what expresses its universal human validity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-g-jung/i-would-even-go-so-far-as-to-say-that-the-mythical-character-of-a/) [C.G. Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-g-jung/) > [Set NOT your hearts on the flowers of this world. They shall fade and die. Prize the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/set-not-your-hearts-on-the-flowers-of-this-world-they-shall-fade-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/) [Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/) > [It's going to be used in the last days to get people to come against Christ, and that's the issue: they come against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-lahaye/it-s-going-to-be-used-in-the-last-days-to-get-people-to-come-against/) [Tim LaHaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-lahaye/) > [May nothing entice me till I happily make my way to Jesus Christ! Fire, cross, struggles with wild beasts, wrenching of bones, mangling of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ignatius-of-antioch/may-nothing-entice-me-till-i-happily-make-my-way-to-jesus-christ-fire/) [Ignatius of Antioch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ignatius-of-antioch/) > [Whoever does not seek the cross of Christ doesn't seek the glory of Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-of-the-cross/whoever-does-not-seek-the-cross-of-christ-doesn-t-seek-the-glory-of/) [John of the Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-of-the-cross/) > [It was no accident, no coincidence, that the seasons came round and round year after year. It was the Lord speaking to us all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/it-was-no-accident-no-coincidence-that-the-seasons-came-round-and/) [Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/) > [Christ never preached any funeral sermons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-l-moody/christ-never-preached-any-funeral-sermons/) [Dwight L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-l-moody/) > [The emerging church movement has come to believe that the ultimate context of the spiritual aspirations of a follower of Jesus Christ is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samir-selmanovic/the-emerging-church-movement-has-come-to-believe-that-the-ultimate/) [Samir Selmanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samir-selmanovic/) > [ 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/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [One thing the young Christian should be taught as quickly as possible after his conversion is that Jesus Christ is all he needs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/one-thing-the-young-christian-should-be-taught-as-quickly-as-possible/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If you don't plan to live the Christian life totally committed to knowing your God and to walking in obedience to Him, then don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kay-arthur/if-you-don-t-plan-to-live-the-christian-life-totally-committed-to/) [Kay Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kay-arthur/) > [Lord, send Your life throughout the entire church. Visit Your church; restore sound doctrine and holy, earnest living. Take away from professing Christians their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/lord-send-your-life-throughout-the-entire-church-visit-your-church/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) [Browse all 9,006 Christ quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Christ does not control his subjects by force, but is King of a willing people. They are, through His grace, freely devoted to His service.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joseph Alleine" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-alleine/christ-does-not-control-his-subjects-by-force-but-is-king-of-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Christ" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-alleine/christ-does-not-control-his-subjects-by-force-but-is-king-of-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/080/joseph-alleine-22077_christ_christ-does-not-control-his-subjects-by_63194.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/080/joseph-alleine-22077_christ_christ-does-not-control-his-subjects-by_63194.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/080/joseph-alleine-22077_christ_christ-does-not-control-his-subjects-by_63194.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Christ does not control his subjects by force, but is King of a willing people. They are, through His grace…” — Joseph Alleine", "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": "Joseph Alleine", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-alleine/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Christ does not control his subjects...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-alleine/christ-does-not-control-his-subjects-by-force-but-is-king-of-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-alleine/christ-does-not-control-his-subjects-by-force-but-is-king-of-a/#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 } } ] } ```