--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is one thing to have sin alarmed only…" description: "\"It is one thing to have sin alarmed only by convictions, and another to have it crucified by converting grace. Many, because they have been troubled in..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35f/joseph-alleine-22077_cases_it-is-one-thing-to-have-sin-alarmed-only_3101065.jpg" --- # It is one thing to have sin alarmed only by convictions… ![“It is one thing to have sin alarmed only by convictions, and another to have it crucified by converting grace. Many, because they have been troubled in conscience for their sins, think well of their case, miserably mistaking conviction for conversion.” quote by Joseph Alleine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35f/joseph-alleine-22077_cases_it-is-one-thing-to-have-sin-alarmed-only_3101065.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35f/joseph-alleine-22077_cases_it-is-one-thing-to-have-sin-alarmed-only_3101065.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/35f/joseph-alleine-22077_cases_it-is-one-thing-to-have-sin-alarmed-only_3101065.jpg) > “It is one thing to have sin alarmed only by convictions, and another to have it crucified by converting grace. Many, because they have been troubled in conscience for their sins, think well of their case, miserably mistaking conviction for conversion.” [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. The passage contrasts being motivated by personal conviction with being compelled by external grace, warning that mistaking inner conviction for true transformation leads to self‑deception. **In simple terms:** Conviction differs from genuine change; one can be misled. Key Takeaway Seek authentic transformation, not just conviction. Themes faith morality self‑deception spirituality conviction Mood introspective serious Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - personal reflection - spiritual counseling - ethical decision‑making Key Concepts theology psychology Questions to Reflect On - What distinguishes true conversion from mere conviction? - How can grace be experienced authentically? A Different Perspective Conviction alone may not produce moral behavior without inner change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Conversion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversion/) [Conviction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conviction/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Converting grace puts God on the throne, and the world at His footstool; Christ in the heart, and the world under Hisfeet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-alleine/converting-grace-puts-god-on-the-throne-and-the-world-at-his/) [Joseph Alleine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-alleine/) > [So saving grace, converting grace, for Augustine, is God's giving us a sovereign joy in God that triumphs over all other joys and therefore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/so-saving-grace-converting-grace-for-augustine-is-god-s-giving-us-a/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [The natural man cannot but resist the Lord's offering to help him; yet that resistance is infallibly overcome in the elect, by converting grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-boston/the-natural-man-cannot-but-resist-the-lord-s-offering-to-help-him-yet/) [Thomas Boston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-boston/) > [Every judgement of conscience, be it right or wrong, be it about things evil in themselves or morally indifferent, is obligatory, in such wise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/every-judgement-of-conscience-be-it-right-or-wrong-be-it-about-things/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [Men perish with whispering sins-nay, with silent sins, sins that never tell the conscience that they are sins, as often with crying sins; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-donne/men-perish-with-whispering-sins-nay-with-silent-sins-sins-that-never/) [John Donne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-donne/) > [Do not stand still disputing about your election, but set to repenting and believing. Cry to God for converting grace. Revealed things belong to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-alleine/do-not-stand-still-disputing-about-your-election-but-set-to-repenting/) [Joseph Alleine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-alleine/) > [You do not belong to you. You belong to the universe. The significance of you will remain forever obscure to you, but you may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/you-do-not-belong-to-you-you-belong-to-the-universe-the-significance/) [R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/) > [The freedom to convert is fundamental to freedom of religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-inglis/the-freedom-to-convert-is-fundamental-to-freedom-of-religion/) [Bob Inglis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-inglis/) > [There was reference made to a book written in Greek by a former Rabbi who had been converted to Christianity. There was reference to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-streicher/there-was-reference-made-to-a-book-written-in-greek-by-a-former-rabbi/) [Julius Streicher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-streicher/) > [Because of my own experience with market fluctuation, I recognize the great risks one takes on investments. This converts the Social Security safety net…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-napolitano/because-of-my-own-experience-with-market-fluctuation-i-recognize-the/) [Grace Napolitano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-napolitano/) > [Whenever you take a subject you're obsessed with or that haunts you, and make a movie about it, you're converting it into work units…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-maddin/whenever-you-take-a-subject-you-re-obsessed-with-or-that-haunts-you/) [Guy Maddin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-maddin/) > [We are witnessing the beginning of one of the great tragedies of history. The United States, in a misguided effort to reduce its oil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-r-brown/we-are-witnessing-the-beginning-of-one-of-the-great-tragedies-of/) [Lester R. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-r-brown/) > [My guess is that liberating the fossil fuel industry to frack anywhere they want will drive down the rate at which we're converting to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mckibben/my-guess-is-that-liberating-the-fossil-fuel-industry-to-frack/) [Bill McKibben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mckibben/) > [To approach a city, or even a city neighborhood, as if it were a larger architectural problem, capable of being given order by converting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-jacobs/to-approach-a-city-or-even-a-city-neighborhood-as-if-it-were-a-larger/) [Jane Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-jacobs/) > [Growing corn, which from a biological perspective had always been a process of capturing sunlight to turn into food, has in no small measure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/growing-corn-which-from-a-biological-perspective-had-always-been-a/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) ## More by Joseph Alleine > [Christ does not control his subjects by force, but is King of a willing people. They are, through His grace, freely devoted to His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-alleine/christ-does-not-control-his-subjects-by-force-but-is-king-of-a/) [Joseph Alleine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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). 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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/) [Explore all 28 Joseph Alleine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-alleine/) ## More Cases quotes > [The time that one gains cannot be accumulated in a storehouse; it is contradictory to want to save up existence, which, the fact is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/the-time-that-one-gains-cannot-be-accumulated-in-a-storehouse-it-is/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [It can sometimes make people fold into themselves and kind of run away, but I think in this case these characters are being forced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/it-can-sometimes-make-people-fold-into-themselves-and-kind-of-run/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [I'd always have grease in at least two places, in case the umpires would ask me to wipe one off. 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