--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the spiritual life we can do nothing…" description: "\"In the spiritual life we can do nothing worthy without repentance, but the Lord has much mercy on us because of our intentions. He who compels himself ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bd/marcus-eremita-16865_can-do_in-the-spiritual-life-we-can-do-nothing_2715377.jpg" --- # In the spiritual life we can do nothing worthy without… ![“In the spiritual life we can do nothing worthy without repentance, but the Lord has much mercy on us because of our intentions. He who compels himself and holds on to repentance until the end, even if he sins is saved because he compelled himself, for the Lord promised this in the Gospel.” quote by Marcus Eremita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bd/marcus-eremita-16865_can-do_in-the-spiritual-life-we-can-do-nothing_2715377.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bd/marcus-eremita-16865_can-do_in-the-spiritual-life-we-can-do-nothing_2715377.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bd/marcus-eremita-16865_can-do_in-the-spiritual-life-we-can-do-nothing_2715377.jpg) > “In the spiritual life we can do nothing worthy without repentance, but the Lord has much mercy on us because of our intentions. He who compels himself and holds on to repentance until the end, even if he sins is saved because he compelled himself, for the Lord promised this in the Gospel.” [Marcus Eremita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-eremita/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Spiritual growth requires sincere repentance, yet divine mercy is granted when intentions are pure, and persistent repentance can lead to salvation despite ongoing sin. **In simple terms:** Repentance plus intention leads to mercy and possible salvation. Key Takeaway Cultivate sincere repentance. Themes spirituality mercy repentance Mood thoughtful hopeful Type theological inspirational When to use this quote - personal prayer - confession - spiritual counseling - ethical living Key Concepts theology guilt redemption Questions to Reflect On - Can one truly repent while continuing to sin? - What defines genuine repentance? A Different Perspective Human frailty may limit true repentance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Intention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intention/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord/) [Mercy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mercy/) [Orthodox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/orthodox/) [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Repentance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repentance/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) [Spiritual life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual-life/) ## Related quotes > [“Return, ye who walk in the commandments of the devil, in hard, and bitter, and wild licentiousness, and fear not the devil; for there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-church-fathers/return-ye-who-walk-in-the-commandments-of-the-devil-in-hard-and/) The Church Fathers > [ “But whenever a person turns \[in repentance\] to the Lord, the veil is stripped off and taken away. 2 Corinthians 3:14-16 (Amplified Bible) Now… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-mendez-ferrell/but-whenever-a-person-turns-in-repentance-to-the-lord-the-veil-is/) [Ana Mendez Ferrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-mendez-ferrell/) > [It is through repentance that the Lord Jesus Christ can work his healing miracle, infusing us with strength when we are weak, health when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/it-is-through-repentance-that-the-lord-jesus-christ-can-work-his/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [It's a mission for me to make sure that philanthropy doesn't feel like a vintage hand-me-down from mom or dad. I want people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/usher/it-s-a-mission-for-me-to-make-sure-that-philanthropy-doesn-t-feel/) [Usher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/usher/) > [The most deeply compelled action is also the freest action. By that I mean, no part of you is outside the action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/the-most-deeply-compelled-action-is-also-the-freest-action-by-that-i/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [I love different sorts of people, their stories, all the different facets, that make them, them. This is entwined with how I am compelled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gemma-cairney/i-love-different-sorts-of-people-their-stories-all-the-different/) [Gemma Cairney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gemma-cairney/) > [“The more helpless she was, the more he would feel compelled to protect her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-more-helpless-she-was-the-more-he-would-feel-compelled-to-protect/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [See with what force yon river's crystal stream Resists the weight of many a massy beam. To sink the wood the more we vainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/see-with-what-force-yon-river-s-crystal-stream-resists-the-weight-of/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [ I've written a lot of other books and this book \[Tears we cannot stop\] was different. I couldn't just say what I wanted to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/i-ve-written-a-lot-of-other-books-and-this-book-tears-we-cannot-stop/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [I found myself compelled - like this weird, shameful compulsion - to draw cute animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-barry/i-found-myself-compelled-like-this-weird-shameful-compulsion-to-draw/) [Lynda Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-barry/) > [He who is required by the necessity of his position to speak the highest things is compelled by the same necessity to exemplify the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-gregory-i/he-who-is-required-by-the-necessity-of-his-position-to-speak-the/) [Pope Gregory I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-gregory-i/) > [Untethered technology gives us the freedom to do nearly anything, anytime, anywhere. It can also enslave us - we feel compelled to use it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-stone/untethered-technology-gives-us-the-freedom-to-do-nearly-anything/) [Linda Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-stone/) > [Ordinary citizens are obliged and, if need be, compelled by force to meet their commitments. But let higher obligations of an international order be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-albert-gobat/ordinary-citizens-are-obliged-and-if-need-be-compelled-by-force-to/) [Charles Albert Gobat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-albert-gobat/) > [When I think of God's Kingdom, I am compelled to be silent because of its immensity, because God's Kingdom is none other than God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/when-i-think-of-god-s-kingdom-i-am-compelled-to-be-silent-because-of/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [We explore our environment, more than we are compelled to utter poetry, when we're toddlers. We start doing that later. Before that happens, every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/we-explore-our-environment-more-than-we-are-compelled-to-utter-poetry/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) ## More by Marcus Eremita > [Whatever we do or say without prayer always ends up either sinful or harmful and convicts us through the deeds in some mysterious way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-eremita/whatever-we-do-or-say-without-prayer-always-ends-up-either-sinful-or/) [Marcus Eremita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-eremita/) > [One who has sinned cannot escape retribution in any other way than by repentance corresponding to his sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-eremita/one-who-has-sinned-cannot-escape-retribution-in-any-other-way-than-by/) [Marcus Eremita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-eremita/) > [A man who is enticed by sinful thoughts is blinded by them, and he sees the action of sin in himself, but he can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-eremita/a-man-who-is-enticed-by-sinful-thoughts-is-blinded-by-them-and-he/) [Marcus Eremita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-eremita/) > [God tested Abraham. That is, he sent him afflictions for his benefit, not so that he could find out what sort of man he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-eremita/god-tested-abraham-that-is-he-sent-him-afflictions-for-his-benefit/) [Marcus Eremita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-eremita/) > [God values deeds according to their intentions. For it is said, "The Lord grant unto you according to your heart" (Ps. 19:5) ... Therefore,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-eremita/god-values-deeds-according-to-their-intentions-for-it-is-said-the/) [Marcus Eremita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-eremita/) > [We cannot with all our heart forgive someone who does us wrong unless we possess real knowledge. For this knowledge shows us that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-eremita/we-cannot-with-all-our-heart-forgive-someone-who-does-us-wrong-unless/) [Marcus Eremita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-eremita/) > [He who seeks forgiveness of his sins loves humility, but if he condemns another he seals his own wickedness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-eremita/he-who-seeks-forgiveness-of-his-sins-loves-humility-but-if-he/) [Marcus Eremita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-eremita/) > [If someone puts his trust in God in a matter, let him not argue with his brother about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-eremita/if-someone-puts-his-trust-in-god-in-a-matter-let-him-not-argue-with/) [Marcus Eremita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-eremita/) > [A man who hates the passion cuts off their causes. But a man who remains among their causes experiences even against his will the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-eremita/a-man-who-hates-the-passion-cuts-off-their-causes-but-a-man-who/) [Marcus Eremita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-eremita/) > [The sign of sincere love is to forgive wrongs done to us. It was with such love that the Lord loved the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-eremita/the-sign-of-sincere-love-is-to-forgive-wrongs-done-to-us-it-was-with/) [Marcus Eremita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-eremita/) > [Every sin that is left without repentance is a sin unto death, for which if even a saint shall pray, he shall not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-eremita/every-sin-that-is-left-without-repentance-is-a-sin-unto-death-for/) [Marcus Eremita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-eremita/) > [Do not desire to hear about the misfortunes of those who oppose you. For those who listen to such speech later reap the fruits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-eremita/do-not-desire-to-hear-about-the-misfortunes-of-those-who-oppose-you/) [Marcus Eremita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-eremita/) > [Because God's justice is inexorable, it is hard to obtain forgiveness for sins committed with complete deliberation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-eremita/because-god-s-justice-is-inexorable-it-is-hard-to-obtain-forgiveness/) [Marcus Eremita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-eremita/) > [We must receive the one who curses us as a messenger from God, rebuking our hidden evil thoughts, so that we, seeing our thoughts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-eremita/we-must-receive-the-one-who-curses-us-as-a-messenger-from-god/) [Marcus Eremita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-eremita/) > [Do not attempt to benefit by rebukes one who boasts of his virtues, for he loves to display himself can not be a lover…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-eremita/do-not-attempt-to-benefit-by-rebukes-one-who-boasts-of-his-virtues/) [Marcus Eremita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-eremita/) [Explore all 38 Marcus Eremita quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-eremita/) ## More Can do quotes > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [The happy medium is television. And if you find a good suitor, you can do it for years. With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/) [Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/) > [If I had a million dollars, I just wouldn't just completely set back. I'd have to get out there and show my face to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muddy-waters/if-i-had-a-million-dollars-i-just-wouldn-t-just-completely-set-back-i/) [Muddy Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muddy-waters/) > [Anybody can be Prince Charming one day a year, with the dinner and the flowers and all that. But you know what impresses me?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-howard/anybody-can-be-prince-charming-one-day-a-year-with-the-dinner-and-the/) [Ryan Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-howard/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [The amount of things you can do with a kettlebell is unsurpassed by any other training equipment - dumbbells, resistance machines, free weights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/the-amount-of-things-you-can-do-with-a-kettlebell-is-unsurpassed-by/) [Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/) > [It's nice when you've done enough movies that you can do your own anthology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/it-s-nice-when-you-ve-done-enough-movies-that-you-can-do-your-own/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [If people don't have their own vision, all they can do is 'sign-up' for someone else's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-senge/if-people-don-t-have-their-own-vision-all-they-can-do-is-sign-up-for/) [Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/) > [The one thing that flies in the face of all human history and experience, is that the government can do a superior job than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/the-one-thing-that-flies-in-the-face-of-all-human-history-and/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [...what I can do is offer myself, wholehearted and present, to walk with the people I love through the fear and the mess. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/what-i-can-do-is-offer-myself-wholehearted-and-present-to-walk-with/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [Whether that's speaking up in your job or asking for a promotion or saying, 'I think I can do that.' Using your voice in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/whether-that-s-speaking-up-in-your-job-or-asking-for-a-promotion-or/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [The average ordinary citizen can do a lot of different things when it comes to the climate crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/the-average-ordinary-citizen-can-do-a-lot-of-different-things-when-it/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [A professional is a man who can do his job when he doesn't feel like it. An amateur is a man who can't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agate/a-professional-is-a-man-who-can-do-his-job-when-he-doesn-t-feel-like/) [James Agate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agate/) > [The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, as it pleases him, for he can do all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/the-lord-gives-and-the-lord-takes-away-as-it-pleases-him-for-he-can/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [I'm not an educated man. I only know what I'm told, and I'm not told that much; I have no frame of reference for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-m-not-an-educated-man-i-only-know-what-i-m-told-and-i-m-not-told/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) Browse all 5,673 Can do quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In the spiritual life we can do nothing worthy without repentance, but the Lord has much mercy on us because of our intentions. 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