--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our natural reason tells us that good…" description: "\"“Our natural reason tells us that good people finish first and cheaters never prosper. However, believers have no right to God’s common grace any more ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94a/michael-s-horton-7082_good-people_our-natural-reason-tells-us-that-good-pe_401298.jpg" --- # Our natural reason tells us that good people finish first… ![“Our natural reason tells us that good people finish first and cheaters never prosper. However, believers have no right to God’s common grace any more than they do to his saving grace. God remains free to show compassion on whomever he will, even to give breath, health, prosperity, and friends to…” quote by Michael S. Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94a/michael-s-horton-7082_good-people_our-natural-reason-tells-us-that-good-pe_401298.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94a/michael-s-horton-7082_good-people_our-natural-reason-tells-us-that-good-pe_401298.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94a/michael-s-horton-7082_good-people_our-natural-reason-tells-us-that-good-pe_401298.jpg) > ““Our natural reason tells us that good people finish first and cheaters never prosper. However, believers have no right to God’s common grace any more than they do to his saving grace. God remains free to show compassion on whomever he will, even to give breath, health, prosperity, and friends to those who breathe threats against him.”” [Michael S. Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-s-horton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human effort and moral behavior are not prerequisites for divine grace; grace is given freely regardless of merit. **In simple terms:** Good deeds don’t earn God’s favor; grace is a free gift. Key Takeaway Trust in grace, not personal merit. Themes theology justice grace Mood contemplative serious Type theological inspirational When to use this quote - church teaching - personal reflection - ethical debates Key Concepts divine sovereignty human merit faith Questions to Reflect On - How does free grace affect personal responsibility? - Can grace and justice coexist? A Different Perspective May diminish motivation for moral improvement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Good people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-people/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Saving grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saving-grace/) ## Related quotes > [Don’t cry for me, Grace. I’m not worth it. (Julian) Yes you are! (Grace) You are my saving Grace. Without you, I would never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/don-t-cry-for-me-grace-i-m-not-worth-it-julian-yes-you-are-grace-you/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [ “reconciling grace, saving grace of Jesus "\[In regards to struggles and potential in relationship\],..we are sinner with capacity to to do great damage to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-s-lane/reconciling-grace-saving-grace-of-jesus-in-regards-to-struggles-and/) [Timothy S. Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-s-lane/) > [“God not only saves us but He moves in us in the person of the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit directs us.  We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-bennett-collins/god-not-only-saves-us-but-he-moves-in-us-in-the-person-of-the-holy/) J. Bennett Collins > [“We not only have a saving grace, we not only have a keeping grace, but we have a teaching grace.  Titus 2:11-12, “For the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-bennett-collins/we-not-only-have-a-saving-grace-we-not-only-have-a-keeping-grace-but/) J. Bennett Collins > [By faith we receive the saving grace of God that delivers us from guilt and sin. In love we participate in the victorious struggle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-fackre/by-faith-we-receive-the-saving-grace-of-god-that-delivers-us-from/) [Gabriel Fackre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-fackre/) > [Even those of us who have tasted the radical saving grace of God find it intuitively difficult not to put conditions on grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/even-those-of-us-who-have-tasted-the-radical-saving-grace-of-god-find/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [What do Obama and God have in common? Neither has a birth certificate. How do they differ? God does not think he's Obama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/what-do-obama-and-god-have-in-common-neither-has-a-birth-certificate/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Real prayer is communion with God, so that there will be common thoughts between His mind and ours. What is needed is for Him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/real-prayer-is-communion-with-god-so-that-there-will-be-common/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [The children of God have more in common then they have differences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/the-children-of-god-have-more-in-common-then-they-have-differences/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [There is something in the soul that is so akin to God that it is one with Him... It has nothing in common with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/there-is-something-in-the-soul-that-is-so-akin-to-god-that-it-is-one/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) > [“In my thinking, the nature of things, the nature of God if you will, must be common to all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-anderson/in-my-thinking-the-nature-of-things-the-nature-of-god-if-you-will/) [Jeffrey R. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-anderson/) > [“Religion and God have nothing in common. If you focus on what people did in the past, you lose what God can do for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu-ph-d/religion-and-god-have-nothing-in-common-if-you-focus-on-what-people/) [Dragos Bratasanu, Ph.D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu-ph-d/) > [“The children of God have more in common than they have differences. And even the differences can be seen as an opportunity. God will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/the-children-of-god-have-more-in-common-than-they-have-differences/) [Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/) > [Nearness to God is common to us all, Because we're all created and sustained by God, But only the authentically noble Possess and live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/nearness-to-god-is-common-to-us-all-because-we-re-all-created-and/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [“As future citizens of heaven, Christians must see and avoid the idolatries and injustices of their culture, even as they continue to enjoy its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-j-keller/as-future-citizens-of-heaven-christians-must-see-and-avoid-the/) [Timothy J. Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-j-keller/) ## More by Michael S. Horton > [“The flesh of Christ is like a rich and inexhaustible fountain that pours into us the life springing forth from the Godhead into itself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-s-horton/the-flesh-of-christ-is-like-a-rich-and-inexhaustible-fountain-that/) [Michael S. Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-s-horton/) > [“All of the Reformers agreed among themselves and with Rome on the point that the Supper lies at the heart of the person of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-s-horton/all-of-the-reformers-agreed-among-themselves-and-with-rome-on-the/) [Michael S. Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-s-horton/) > [“As the pretensions of modernity are unmasked today, it is a good time for us to recover our nerve, “always being prepared to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-s-horton/as-the-pretensions-of-modernity-are-unmasked-today-it-is-a-good-time/) [Michael S. Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-s-horton/) > [“To study theology involves entering into a long, ongoing conversation, one that we did not begin. Others have been talking about God long before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-s-horton/to-study-theology-involves-entering-into-a-long-ongoing-conversation/) [Michael S. Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-s-horton/) > [“True faith calls on the name of Jesus for salvation from death, hell, sin, and Satan. Therefore, sound theology has its source in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-s-horton/true-faith-calls-on-the-name-of-jesus-for-salvation-from-death-hell/) [Michael S. Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-s-horton/) > [“Jerome does not condemn singing absolutely, but he corrects those who sing theatrically, or who sing not in order to arouse devotion but to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-s-horton/jerome-does-not-condemn-singing-absolutely-but-he-corrects-those-who/) [Michael S. Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-s-horton/) > [“Calvin showed little patience toward those—especially leaders in the church—who displayed either explicitly or implicitly that they did not take God’s Word seriously. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-s-horton/calvin-showed-little-patience-toward-those-especially-leaders-in-the/) [Michael S. Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-s-horton/) > [“In short, Calvin has been given too much blame by critics and too much credit by fans. His real genius is to be found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-s-horton/in-short-calvin-has-been-given-too-much-blame-by-critics-and-too-much/) [Michael S. Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-s-horton/) > [“Trials are the workshop of a Father, not the threats of a Judge. The arrow that looks as if it were targeting our heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-s-horton/trials-are-the-workshop-of-a-father-not-the-threats-of-a-judge-the/) [Michael S. Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-s-horton/) > [“The orthodox hold the mean between these extremes, maintaining that the providence of God is so occupied about sin as neither idly to permit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-s-horton/the-orthodox-hold-the-mean-between-these-extremes-maintaining-that/) [Michael S. Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-s-horton/) > [“This may be the most valuable and the most challenging thing we can learn from Calvin’s ecclesiology today: that the church is not something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-s-horton/this-may-be-the-most-valuable-and-the-most-challenging-thing-we-can/) [Michael S. Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-s-horton/) > [“The same word that is faith-producing and life-generating for some is for others an occasion to become more resolute in unbelief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-s-horton/the-same-word-that-is-faith-producing-and-life-generating-for-some-is/) [Michael S. Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-s-horton/) > [“We can be grateful that Jesus embraced the cross and then entered his glory instead of demanding glory first.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-s-horton/we-can-be-grateful-that-jesus-embraced-the-cross-and-then-entered-his/) [Michael S. Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-s-horton/) > [“I’m not saying that there is something wrong with moving to the city to pursue an adrenaline-racing calling. And I understand the fact that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-s-horton/i-m-not-saying-that-there-is-something-wrong-with-moving-to-the-city/) [Michael S. Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-s-horton/) > [“We do not read the Bible somewhere off by ourselves in a corner; we read it as a community of faith, together with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-s-horton/we-do-not-read-the-bible-somewhere-off-by-ourselves-in-a-corner-we/) [Michael S. Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-s-horton/) [Explore all 95 Michael S. Horton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-s-horton/) ## More Good people quotes > [“Any discussion of money and success would be lacking if I did not state that money is neither good nor bad. In the hands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-stovall/any-discussion-of-money-and-success-would-be-lacking-if-i-did-not/) [Jim Stovall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-stovall/) > [From what I have seen, I am driven to the conclusion that religion is only good for good people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mccarthy/from-what-i-have-seen-i-am-driven-to-the-conclusion-that-religion-is/) [Mary McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mccarthy/) > [When I get a chance to play golf or go on a boat with good people, take the boat out and put some lobsters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/when-i-get-a-chance-to-play-golf-or-go-on-a-boat-with-good-people/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [I've said it before, good people are forced to do bad things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-cloud/i-ve-said-it-before-good-people-are-forced-to-do-bad-things/) [Angus Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-cloud/) > [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/) > [Constantly look for the good in people and in situations. When you find it, tell the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/constantly-look-for-the-good-in-people-and-in-situations-when-you/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Life is all about experiences and being able to work with good people is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhumika-chawla/life-is-all-about-experiences-and-being-able-to-work-with-good-people/) [Bhumika Chawla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhumika-chawla/) > [Good people do not let others suffer needlessly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/good-people-do-not-let-others-suffer-needlessly/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [Freedom and liberty lose out by default because good people are not vigilant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/freedom-and-liberty-lose-out-by-default-because-good-people-are-not/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [Good people are found not changed. Recently I read a headline that said, 'We don't teach people to be nice. We simply hire nice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/good-people-are-found-not-changed-recently-i-read-a-headline-that/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [One of the things that I miss about Canada is that even the strangers, you have an immediate rapport, there's just an understanding that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/one-of-the-things-that-i-miss-about-canada-is-that-even-the-strangers/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [“...I'd be interested in any tips you have for somebody starting out.” “Uh-huh,” I said, looking out the window. I decided, as we drove…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-jenkins-reid/i-d-be-interested-in-any-tips-you-have-for-somebody-starting-out-uh/) [Taylor Jenkins Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-jenkins-reid/) > [I've had a lot of good people, lot of good mentors, coaches along the way to get me where I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sale/i-ve-had-a-lot-of-good-people-lot-of-good-mentors-coaches-along-the/) [Chris Sale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sale/) > [On the West Coast, things are more relaxed, maybe because people have more fun outdoors. In the East, where the weather is not so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-parish/on-the-west-coast-things-are-more-relaxed-maybe-because-people-have/) [Robert Parish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-parish/) > [I want to spend my time with people who don't look to be respected. But such good people won't want to spend their time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/i-want-to-spend-my-time-with-people-who-don-t-look-to-be-respected/) [Osamu Dazai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/) [Browse all 2,064 Good people quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-people/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Our natural reason tells us that good people finish first and cheaters never prosper. However, believers have no right to God’s common grace any more than they do to his saving grace. God remains free to show compassion on whomever he will, even to give breath, health, prosperity, and friends to those who breathe threats against him.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael S. 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