--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This is exactly how those who rely on…" description: "\"“This is exactly how those who rely on their own efforts to be justified still act today. They concentrate on the good that they do, which they hope wi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd4/martin-luther-106_compassion_this-is-exactly-how-those-who-rely-on-th_452227.jpg" --- # This is exactly how those who rely on their own efforts to… ![“This is exactly how those who rely on their own efforts to be justified still act today. They concentrate on the good that they do, which they hope will please God. They don’t trust in God’s mercy and his grace. They aren’t hoping that God will forgive their sins through Christ. This” quote by Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd4/martin-luther-106_compassion_this-is-exactly-how-those-who-rely-on-th_452227.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd4/martin-luther-106_compassion_this-is-exactly-how-those-who-rely-on-th_452227.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd4/martin-luther-106_compassion_this-is-exactly-how-those-who-rely-on-th_452227.jpg) > ““This is exactly how those who rely on their own efforts to be justified still act today. They concentrate on the good that they do, which they hope will please God. They don’t trust in God’s mercy and his grace. They aren’t hoping that God will forgive their sins through Christ. This”” [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. People may act piously but still lack trust in divine mercy, seeking justification through deeds rather than grace. **In simple terms:** Good deeds alone don’t guarantee God’s forgiveness. Key Takeaway Rely on grace, not just works. Themes faith grace human effort Mood reflective serious Type theological spiritual When to use this quote - personal prayer - church teaching - ethical decision making - spiritual counseling Key Concepts justification divine mercy self‑reliance Questions to Reflect On - Do you trust in grace or your own actions? - How does reliance on works affect humility? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on works can breed legalism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Forgive Sins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgive-sins/) [God Forgive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-forgive/) [Hope God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope-god/) [Hoping God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hoping-god-1039971/) [Trust god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust-god/) ## Related quotes > [God may forgive sins, he said, but awkwardness has no forgiveness in heaven or earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/god-may-forgive-sins-he-said-but-awkwardness-has-no-forgiveness-in/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I pray to you God to forgive me from all my sins, to allow me to glorify you in every possible way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-atta/i-pray-to-you-god-to-forgive-me-from-all-my-sins-to-allow-me-to/) [Mohamed Atta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-atta/) > [Dear God, forgive me not my sins...but my sadness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dear-god-forgive-me-not-my-sins-but-my-sadness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [O God, if there is a God, forgive him his sins, if there is such a thing as sin,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/o-god-if-there-is-a-god-forgive-him-his-sins-if-there-is-such-a-thing/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [The idea that God could only forgive our sins by having his son tortured to death as a scapegoat is surely, from an objective…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/the-idea-that-god-could-only-forgive-our-sins-by-having-his-son/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Dear GOD please forgive our sins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dear-god-please-forgive-our-sins/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was raised in the valley, there were shadows and death. 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We must take advantage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/god-orders-us-to-believe-and-trust-in-his-goodness-but-at-the-same/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [Looking at the stars hoping god will heal my scars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cody-joseph/looking-at-the-stars-hoping-god-will-heal-my-scars/) [Cody Joseph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cody-joseph/) > [Keep standing, keep believing and keep hoping because God has a bright future in store for you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-laurence-torcuator/keep-standing-keep-believing-and-keep-hoping-because-god-has-a-bright/) [Mark Laurence Torcuator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-laurence-torcuator/) > [“There is no sense in trying to be good, hoping to find myself back in God's grace, when Nick's skin makes heaven seem like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mel-bossa/there-is-no-sense-in-trying-to-be-good-hoping-to-find-myself-back-in/) [Mel Bossa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mel-bossa/) > [“I figure I'll just keep on going the way I am until something starts making sense." "What if nothing ever does?" "I guess if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/i-figure-i-ll-just-keep-on-going-the-way-i-am-until-something-starts/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [“Let us then, my brethren, endure in hope. Let us devote ourselves, side-by-side with our hoping, so that the God of all the universe,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-us-then-my-brethren-endure-in-hope-let-us-devote-ourselves-side/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## 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 Compassion quotes > [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [“I fight with love and kindness as my weapons and compassion as my defense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/i-fight-with-love-and-kindness-as-my-weapons-and-compassion-as-my/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. 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If we are harsh, we believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/for-some-reason-we-are-truly-convinced-that-if-we-criticize-ourselves/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-not-have-slept-tonight-if-i-had-left-that-helpless-little/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [We are puzzled and bewildered whenever we see suffering in this world because we have become accustomed to the mercy and the long-suffering of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/we-are-puzzled-and-bewildered-whenever-we-see-suffering-in-this-world/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [“Helpers in every corner, helpers in every hood. That's how we'll make the move, to reform from rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/helpers-in-every-corner-helpers-in-every-hood-that-s-how-we-ll-make/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [There are a number of qualities which are important for mental peace, but from the little experience I have, I believe that one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-are-a-number-of-qualities-which-are-important-for-mental-peace/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [May the gods have mercy on whoever pisses them off, because Zarek and Jericho will have none for them. 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Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [“la ilaha ilallah muhammadun rasulullah, alaihi salatullah wa alihi wal ahibba "shine your mercy like the sun, and be gracious as the earth let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-al-habib/la-ilaha-ilallah-muhammadun-rasulullah-alaihi-salatullah-wa-alihi-wal/) [Talib al Habib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-al-habib/) > [The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/the-love-for-all-living-creatures-is-the-most-noble-attribute-of-man/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) [Browse all 9,892 Compassion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“This is exactly how those who rely on their own efforts to be justified still act today. 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