--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Whilst a man is persuaded that he has it…" description: "\"Whilst a man is persuaded that he has it in his power to contribute anything, be it ever so little, to his salvation, he remains in carnal self-confide..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb9/martin-luther-106_believe_whilst-a-man-is-persuaded-that-he-has-it_1535407.jpg" --- # Whilst a man is persuaded that he has it in his power to… ![“Whilst a man is persuaded that he has it in his power to contribute anything, be it ever so little, to his salvation, he remains in carnal self-confidence; he is not a self-despairer, and therefore is not duly humbled before God, he believes he may lend a helping hand in his salvation, but on the…” quote by Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb9/martin-luther-106_believe_whilst-a-man-is-persuaded-that-he-has-it_1535407.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb9/martin-luther-106_believe_whilst-a-man-is-persuaded-that-he-has-it_1535407.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb9/martin-luther-106_believe_whilst-a-man-is-persuaded-that-he-has-it_1535407.jpg) > “Whilst a man is persuaded that he has it in his power to contribute anything, be it ever so little, to his salvation, he remains in carnal self-confidence; he is not a self-despairer, and therefore is not duly humbled before God, he believes he may lend a helping hand in his salvation, but on the contrary, whoever is truly convinced that the whole work depends singly on the will of God, such a person renounces his own will and strength; he waits and prays for the operation of God, nor waits and prays in vain” [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. The quote argues that believing we can contribute to our salvation creates self‑reliance, whereas true faith means surrendering to God's will and awaiting divine action. **In simple terms:** Faith requires surrender, not self‑reliance. Key Takeaway Trust God’s work, not your own. Themes faith humility divine sovereignty self‑reliance salvation Mood reflective serene hopeful Type theological inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - personal prayer - spiritual counseling - church teaching - life decisions - ethical choices Key Concepts theology free will divine grace Questions to Reflect On - Do you rely on your own strength or God’s? - How does surrender affect your daily choices? A Different Perspective It may discourage personal responsibility and agency in moral actions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) [Gods will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gods-will/) [Helping hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping-hand/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Praying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praying/) [Salvation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/salvation/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-confidence/) [Vain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vain/) ## Related quotes > [As long as a man is persuaded that he can make even the smallest contribution to his salvation, he remains self-confident and does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/as-long-as-a-man-is-persuaded-that-he-can-make-even-the-smallest/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“A woman must be a woman and cannot be a man. She, too, is God's creature and her divine station is that she should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/a-woman-must-be-a-woman-and-cannot-be-a-man-she-too-is-god-s-creature/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“Even a man persuaded that the great powers of the heavens loved him above all else could starve. However powerful a story might be,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-abraham/even-a-man-persuaded-that-the-great-powers-of-the-heavens-loved-him/) [Daniel Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-abraham/) > [“I.D.I.O.T BY NATURE HUMBLED BY GOD !”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/royale-gray-lee/i-d-i-o-t-by-nature-humbled-by-god/) Royale Gray-Lee > [I would rather try to persuade a man to go along, because once I have persuaded him, he will stick. If I scare him,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/i-would-rather-try-to-persuade-a-man-to-go-along-because-once-i-have/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [He who wholly renounces himself, and relies not on mere human reason, will make good progress in the Scriptures; but the world comprehends them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/he-who-wholly-renounces-himself-and-relies-not-on-mere-human-reason/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [God waits for you to communicate with Him. You have instant, direct access to God. God loves mankind so much, and in a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-l-duewel/god-waits-for-you-to-communicate-with-him-you-have-instant-direct/) [Wesley L Duewel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-l-duewel/) > [God waits to win back his own flowers as gifts from man's hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/god-waits-to-win-back-his-own-flowers-as-gifts-from-man-s-hands/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [“God waits, watches, and hopes that the sun will not set on our length of days without our standing on tiptoes at the extremity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/god-waits-watches-and-hopes-that-the-sun-will-not-set-on-our-length/) [Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/) > [“We wait for God to bless us while God waits for us to accept the blessing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-thompson/we-wait-for-god-to-bless-us-while-god-waits-for-us-to-accept-the/) Betsy Thompson > [The 'kingdom of God' is not something one waits for; it has no yesterday or tomorrow, it does not come 'in a thousand years'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-kingdom-of-god-is-not-something-one-waits-for-it-has-no-yesterday/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [God waits patiently for me to wake up, grow up, come to the awareness that great works take time, that nothing truly worthwhile can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-royer/god-waits-patiently-for-me-to-wake-up-grow-up-come-to-the-awareness/) Jean Royer > [“Teilhard de Chardin wrote that we must "trust in the slow work of God." Ours is a God who waits. Who are we not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-boyle/teilhard-de-chardin-wrote-that-we-must-trust-in-the-slow-work-of-god/) [Greg Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-boyle/) > [While God waits for His temple to be built of love, men bring stones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/while-god-waits-for-his-temple-to-be-built-of-love-men-bring-stones/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [God waits for us to create him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominique-de-menil/god-waits-for-us-to-create-him/) [Dominique de Menil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominique-de-menil/) ## 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 Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. 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I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. 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It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Whilst a man is persuaded that he has it in his power to contribute anything, be it ever so little, to his salvation, he remains in carnal self-confidence; he is not a self-despairer, and therefore is not duly humbled before God, he believes he may lend a helping hand in his salvation, but on the contrary, whoever is truly convinced that the whole work depends singly on the will of God, such a person renounces his own will and strength; he waits and prays for the operation of God, nor waits and prays in vain", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Martin Luther" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/whilst-a-man-is-persuaded-that-he-has-it-in-his-power-to-contribute/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Believe" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/whilst-a-man-is-persuaded-that-he-has-it-in-his-power-to-contribute/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb9/martin-luther-106_believe_whilst-a-man-is-persuaded-that-he-has-it_1535407.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb9/martin-luther-106_believe_whilst-a-man-is-persuaded-that-he-has-it_1535407.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fb9/martin-luther-106_believe_whilst-a-man-is-persuaded-that-he-has-it_1535407.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Whilst a man is persuaded that he has it in his power to contribute anything, be it ever so little, to his…” — 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": "Whilst a man is persuaded that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/whilst-a-man-is-persuaded-that-he-has-it-in-his-power-to-contribute/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/whilst-a-man-is-persuaded-that-he-has-it-in-his-power-to-contribute/#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 } } ] } ```