--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: the paradox is that God must destroy in…" description: "\"“the paradox is that God must destroy in us, all illusions of righteousness before he can make us righteous”\" — Martin Luther" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/406/martin-luther-106_illusions_the-paradox-is-that-god-must-destroy-in_2822599.jpg" --- # the paradox is that God must destroy in us, all illusions… ![“the paradox is that God must destroy in us, all illusions of righteousness before he can make us righteous” quote by Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/406/martin-luther-106_illusions_the-paradox-is-that-god-must-destroy-in_2822599.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/406/martin-luther-106_illusions_the-paradox-is-that-god-must-destroy-in_2822599.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/406/martin-luther-106_illusions_the-paradox-is-that-god-must-destroy-in_2822599.jpg) > ““the paradox is that God must destroy in us, all illusions of righteousness before he can make us righteous”” [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Divine transformation requires destroying false self‑righteousness before true righteousness can emerge **In simple terms:** God must break false righteousness first Key Takeaway Allow God to reshape your moral core Themes spirituality transformation humility Mood contemplative hopeful Type theological inspirational When to use this quote - personal prayer - confession - spiritual counseling - ethical decision making Key Concepts theology inner renewal Questions to Reflect On - What “illusions” do you hold about yourself? - How can you invite divine change without despair? A Different Perspective May cause guilt if misinterpreted as self‑condemnation ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Illusions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusions/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Paradox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paradox/) [Righteousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/righteousness/) ## Related quotes > [“Was it not part of the secret black art of truly grand politics of revenge, of a farseeing, subterranean, slowly advancing, and premeditated revenge,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/was-it-not-part-of-the-secret-black-art-of-truly-grand-politics-of/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“The demon say’s “Do you view sexual acts between individuals of the same gender to be an abomination?”… “Do you approve,” the demon says,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/the-demon-say-s-do-you-view-sexual-acts-between-individuals-of-the/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“The paradox: is God a racist, sexist, homophobic, anti-Semetic? Or is God testing to see if I am?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/the-paradox-is-god-a-racist-sexist-homophobic-anti-semetic-or-is-god/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [The old paradox: Can God make a stone so heavy that he can't lift it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-hawking/the-old-paradox-can-god-make-a-stone-so-heavy-that-he-can-t-lift-it/) [Stephen Hawking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-hawking/) > [To love righteousness is to make it grow, not to avenge it. Throughout his life on earth, Jesus resisted every impulse to work more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/to-love-righteousness-is-to-make-it-grow-not-to-avenge-it-throughout/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [“I say it reverently, if I understand the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, this is the vision He has given me of it:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-say-it-reverently-if-i-understand-the-gospel-of-the-lord-jesus/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The abundant life begins from within and then moves outward to other individuals. If there is richness and righteousness in us, then we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/the-abundant-life-begins-from-within-and-then-moves-outward-to-other/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [I submit my tongue as an instrument of righteousness when I make it bless them that curse me and pray for them who persecute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/i-submit-my-tongue-as-an-instrument-of-righteousness-when-i-make-it/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [“George MacDonald made the following observation: Instead of crushing the power of evil by divine force; instead of compelling justice and destroying the wicked;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/george-macdonald-made-the-following-observation-instead-of-crushing/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [These humans are only of flesh, of mud, and I suggest there is one force stronger than their zeal for God: their own self-righteousness!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-peretti/these-humans-are-only-of-flesh-of-mud-and-i-suggest-there-is-one/) [Frank Peretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-peretti/) > [“When you praise God you destroy the obstacles satan puts in your way. Praise sets you up for a miracle!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-law/when-you-praise-god-you-destroy-the-obstacles-satan-puts-in-your-way/) [Terry Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-law/) > [“Mankind will not be perfect until it can create and destroy like God. It can already destroy: that's half the battle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-dumas/mankind-will-not-be-perfect-until-it-can-create-and-destroy-like-god/) [Alexander Dumas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-dumas/) > [Low views of God destroy the gospel for all who hold them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/low-views-of-god-destroy-the-gospel-for-all-who-hold-them/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [“God would never again destroy all life by a flood.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/by-margarita/god-would-never-again-destroy-all-life-by-a-flood/) by MARGARITA > [Military cemeteries around the world are packed with brainwashed dead soldiers who were convinced God was on their side. America prays for God to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/military-cemeteries-around-the-world-are-packed-with-brainwashed-dead/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) ## More by Martin Luther > [“It was easy for you to say these things, since you either knew you were not writing to Luther, but for the general public,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/it-was-easy-for-you-to-say-these-things-since-you-either-knew-you/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [In a delightful garden, sowing, planting or digging are not hardship but are done with a zeal and a certain pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/in-a-delightful-garden-sowing-planting-or-digging-are-not-hardship/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [If you could understand a single grain of wheat you would die of wonder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/if-you-could-understand-a-single-grain-of-wheat-you-would-die-of/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [He who believes in God is not careful for the morrow, but labors joyfully and with a great heart. "For He giveth His beloved,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/he-who-believes-in-god-is-not-careful-for-the-morrow-but-labors/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“God made man out of nothing, and as long as we are nothing, He can make something out of us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/god-made-man-out-of-nothing-and-as-long-as-we-are-nothing-he-can-make/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“But the truth will win out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/but-the-truth-will-win-out/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [God wants us to pray, and he wants to hear our prayers-not because we are worthy, but because he is merciful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/god-wants-us-to-pray-and-he-wants-to-hear-our-prayers-not-because-we/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [Our office...subjects us to great burdens and labors, dangers and temptations, with little reward or gratitude from the world. But Christ himself will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/our-office-subjects-us-to-great-burdens-and-labors-dangers-and/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“Our faith in Christ does not free us from works but from false opinions concerning works, that is, from the foolish presumption that justification…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/our-faith-in-christ-does-not-free-us-from-works-but-from-false/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [The works of the righteous would be mortal sins if they would not be feared as mortal sins by the righteous themselves out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/the-works-of-the-righteous-would-be-mortal-sins-if-they-would-not-be/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [Do not suppose that abuses are eliminated by destroying the object which is abused. Men can go wrong with wine and women. Shall we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/do-not-suppose-that-abuses-are-eliminated-by-destroying-the-object/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. Romans 3:28”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/for-we-maintain-that-a-man-is-justified-by-faith-apart-from-observing/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [There are only two days on my calendar... today and the day of judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/there-are-only-two-days-on-my-calendar-today-and-the-day-of-judgment/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [ Antichrist is the pope and the Turk \[Muslim\] together. A beast full of life must have a body and soul. The spirit or soul… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/antichrist-is-the-pope-and-the-turk-muslim-together-a-beast-full-of/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [It is not the imitation that makes sons; it is sonship that makes imitators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/it-is-not-the-imitation-that-makes-sons-it-is-sonship-that-makes/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) [Explore all 1,292 Martin Luther quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) ## More Illusions quotes > [“To engage in dialogue is to serve others via whatever is real inside you; to engage in debate is to ultimately serve the illusions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oli-anderson/to-engage-in-dialogue-is-to-serve-others-via-whatever-is-real-inside/) [Oli Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oli-anderson/) > [Life and death are illusions. We are in a constant state of transformation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/life-and-death-are-illusions-we-are-in-a-constant-state-of/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [Things aren't always as they appear. I've been believing things to be a certain way because I want them to be that way. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-dennen/things-aren-t-always-as-they-appear-i-ve-been-believing-things-to-be/) [Brett Dennen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-dennen/) > [“If men could see us as we really are, they would be a little amazed; but the cleverest, the acutest men are often under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/if-men-could-see-us-as-we-really-are-they-would-be-a-little-amazed/) [Charlotte Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [“Fear best lends itself to the creation of Nature-defying illusions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-p-lovecraft-2/fear-best-lends-itself-to-the-creation-of-nature-defying-illusions/) [H.P. Lovecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-p-lovecraft-2/) > [Strange, isn't it, that no chemical will give a human being the iridescence that illusions have given them? Give me your hat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/strange-isn-t-it-that-no-chemical-will-give-a-human-being-the/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [“A great magician is not more magical than other magicians; he is just more magical in his presentation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/a-great-magician-is-not-more-magical-than-other-magicians-he-is-just/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [“The more you think about illusions, the more they'll swell up and take on form. And no longer be an illusion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/the-more-you-think-about-illusions-the-more-they-ll-swell-up-and-take/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [Of course she had some pathetic illusions about herself or she would not be able to go on living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rhys/of-course-she-had-some-pathetic-illusions-about-herself-or-she-would/) [Jean Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rhys/) > [The most important part of our lives-our sensations, emotions, desires, and aspirations-takes place in a universe of illusions which science can attenuate or destroy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-wood-krutch/the-most-important-part-of-our-lives-our-sensations-emotions-desires/) [Joseph Wood Krutch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-wood-krutch/) > [“we are set free from all the illusions we fostered for so many years of our life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelius-wencel/we-are-set-free-from-all-the-illusions-we-fostered-for-so-many-years/) [Cornelius Wencel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelius-wencel/) > [“Expectations are illusions; Pretense they hang on thin threads.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-kristian-goldmund-aumann/expectations-are-illusions-pretense-they-hang-on-thin-threads/) sir kristian goldmund aumann > [“Subhuti, someone might fill innumerable worlds with the seven treasures and give all away in gifts of alms, but if any good man or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siddh-rtha-gautama/subhuti-someone-might-fill-innumerable-worlds-with-the-seven/) [Siddhārtha Gautama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siddh-rtha-gautama/) > [“The masses have never thirsted after truth. They turn aside from evidence that is not to their taste, preferring to deify error, if error…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-le-bon/the-masses-have-never-thirsted-after-truth-they-turn-aside-from/) [Gustave Le Bon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-le-bon/) > [I have no illusions of being an icon to young girls or anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anushka-sharma/i-have-no-illusions-of-being-an-icon-to-young-girls-or-anybody/) [Anushka Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anushka-sharma/) [Browse all 587 Illusions quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusions/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“the paradox is that God must destroy in us, all illusions of righteousness before he can make us righteous”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Martin Luther" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/the-paradox-is-that-god-must-destroy-in-us-all-illusions-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Illusions" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/the-paradox-is-that-god-must-destroy-in-us-all-illusions-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/406/martin-luther-106_illusions_the-paradox-is-that-god-must-destroy-in_2822599.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/406/martin-luther-106_illusions_the-paradox-is-that-god-must-destroy-in_2822599.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/406/martin-luther-106_illusions_the-paradox-is-that-god-must-destroy-in_2822599.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“the paradox is that God must destroy in us, all illusions of righteousness before he can make us righteous” — Martin Luther", "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": "Martin Luther", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“the paradox is that God must...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/the-paradox-is-that-god-must-destroy-in-us-all-illusions-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/the-paradox-is-that-god-must-destroy-in-us-all-illusions-of/#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 } } ] } ```