--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our thinking goes like this: If there is…" description: "\"“Our thinking goes like this: If there is a God at all, He is certainly not holy. If He is perchance holy, He is not just. Even if He is both holy and ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/891/r-c-sproul-2-1477_god-exists_our-thinking-goes-like-this-if-there-is_1707610.jpg" --- # Our thinking goes like this: If there is a God at all, He… ![“Our thinking goes like this: If there is a God at all, He is certainly not holy. If He is perchance holy, He is not just. Even if He is both holy and just, we need not fear because His love and mercy override His holy justice. If we can stomach His holy and just character, we can rest in one…” quote by R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/891/r-c-sproul-2-1477_god-exists_our-thinking-goes-like-this-if-there-is_1707610.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/891/r-c-sproul-2-1477_god-exists_our-thinking-goes-like-this-if-there-is_1707610.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/891/r-c-sproul-2-1477_god-exists_our-thinking-goes-like-this-if-there-is_1707610.jpg) > ““Our thinking goes like this: If there is a God at all, He is certainly not holy. If He is perchance holy, He is not just. Even if He is both holy and just, we need not fear because His love and mercy override His holy justice. If we can stomach His holy and just character, we can rest in one thing: He cannot possess wrath. If we think soberly for five seconds, we must see our error. If God is holy at all, if God has an ounce of justice in His character, indeed if God exists as God, how could He possibly be anything else but angry with us? We violate His holiness; we insult His justice; we make light of His grace. These things can hardly please Him.”” [R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage argues that if God possesses both holiness and justice, His love and mercy outweigh wrath, suggesting we should not fear divine anger. **In simple terms:** God’s love and mercy dominate over wrath. Key Takeaway Trust in divine mercy, not fear. Themes theology divine nature justice holiness mercy Mood contemplative reverent Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - personal prayer - theological study - ethical reflection Key Concepts theodicy divine attributes Questions to Reflect On - How does emphasizing mercy affect moral responsibility? - Can justice exist without wrath? A Different Perspective Some traditions view divine wrath as essential; this view may downplay accountability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [God exists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-exists/) [Holiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holiness/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) ## Related quotes > [Any error about creation also leads to an error about God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/any-error-about-creation-also-leads-to-an-error-about-god/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [No human speech comes without error, if it does come without error, then it is God speaking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/no-human-speech-comes-without-error-if-it-does-come-without-error/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [Last night as I was sleeping, I dreamt - marvellous error! - That it was God I had here inside my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-machado/last-night-as-i-was-sleeping-i-dreamt-marvellous-error-that-it-was/) [Antonio Machado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-machado/) > [“I wondered if I was an error of God's planning that would be fixed at the end of my life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/i-wondered-if-i-was-an-error-of-god-s-planning-that-would-be-fixed-at/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [“The life of faith is not just about believing that God exists; it is about believing God or trusting God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-2/the-life-of-faith-is-not-just-about-believing-that-god-exists-it-is/) [R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/) > [“The idea of holiness is so central to biblical teaching that it is said of God, “Holy is his name” (Luke 1:49). His name…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-2/the-idea-of-holiness-is-so-central-to-biblical-teaching-that-it-is/) [R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/) > [“The simplistic way of not conforming is to see what is in style in our culture and then do the opposite. If short hair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-2/the-simplistic-way-of-not-conforming-is-to-see-what-is-in-style-in/) [R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/) > [“And suddenly there came a second, when somehow for the first time I saw (as if a door had opened from a dark room…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seraphim-rose/and-suddenly-there-came-a-second-when-somehow-for-the-first-time-i/) [Seraphim Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seraphim-rose/) > [“By night an atheist half believes in God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/by-night-an-atheist-half-believes-in-god/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [“You are someone else's proof that God exists." -from The Secret of Mago Castle, available October 2014”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-tinkle/you-are-someone-else-s-proof-that-god-exists-from-the-secret-of-mago/) Rebecca Tinkle > [“It's not man's job to think about whether God exists or not, especially when you know that right in front of your eyes one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eka-kurniawan/it-s-not-man-s-job-to-think-about-whether-god-exists-or-not/) [Eka Kurniawan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eka-kurniawan/) > [I don't spend much time thinking about whether God exists. I don't consider that a relevant question. It's unanswerable and irrelevant to my life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-kaminer/i-don-t-spend-much-time-thinking-about-whether-god-exists-i-don-t/) [Wendy Kaminer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-kaminer/) > [“Most witches don’t believe in gods. They know that the gods exist, of course. They even deal with them occasionally. But they don’t believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/most-witches-don-t-believe-in-gods-they-know-that-the-gods-exist-of/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [If you burn yourself out in two years of intense selfless giving, what good is that if you could have given 20 years? Set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-burn-yourself-out-in-two-years-of-intense-selfless-giving-what/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“Quotes By Transcendologist Kurt Kawohl 1941 - If the medieval practices and the medieval beliefs of Christianity, Judaism and Islam that are based on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-kawohl/quotes-by-transcendologist-kurt-kawohl-1941-if-the-medieval-practices/) Kurt Kawohl ## More by R.C. Sproul > [“If we rest our assurance on an experience and not on the Word of God, we're inviting all kinds of doubts to assail us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-2/if-we-rest-our-assurance-on-an-experience-and-not-on-the-word-of-god/) [R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/) > [“Where Adam collapsed, Jesus conquered. Where Adam compromised, Jesus refused to negotiate. Where Adam's trust in God faltered, Jesus' never wavered. The second Adam…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-2/where-adam-collapsed-jesus-conquered-where-adam-compromised-jesus/) [R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/) > [“Arrogant worship is an oxymoron, a contradiction in terms. Yet we see it throughout Scripture. The gospel was given to Adam and Eve. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-2/arrogant-worship-is-an-oxymoron-a-contradiction-in-terms-yet-we-see/) [R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/) > [“Throughout history, God has demonstrated that He is supremely trustworthy. That’s why, in one sense, nothing could be more foolish than not to trust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-2/throughout-history-god-has-demonstrated-that-he-is-supremely/) [R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/) > [“If I don't like something I read in Scripture, perhaps I simply don't understand it. If so, studying it again may help. If, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-2/if-i-don-t-like-something-i-read-in-scripture-perhaps-i-simply-don-t/) [R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/) > [“The day of one's birth is a good day for the believer, but the day of death is the greatest day that a Christian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-2/the-day-of-one-s-birth-is-a-good-day-for-the-believer-but-the-day-of/) [R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/) > [“We do not “find” God as a result of our search for him. We are found by him. The search for God does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-2/we-do-not-find-god-as-a-result-of-our-search-for-him-we-are-found-by/) [R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/) > [“We tend to remain conscious of the boundary flags for the course of this world. That slavish adherence to a course that is set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-2/we-tend-to-remain-conscious-of-the-boundary-flags-for-the-course-of/) [R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/) > [“If our decisions about how to treat others are always motivated by love for God, a singular love for God, we really do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-2/if-our-decisions-about-how-to-treat-others-are-always-motivated-by/) [R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/) > [“When we understand the character of God, when we grasp something of His holiness, then we begin to understand the radical character of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-2/when-we-understand-the-character-of-god-when-we-grasp-something-of/) [R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/) > [“For an action to be judged good by God, it must fulfill two primary requirements. The first is that the action must correspond outwardly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-2/for-an-action-to-be-judged-good-by-god-it-must-fulfill-two-primary/) [R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/) > [“The simplistic way of not conforming is to see what is in style in our culture and then do the opposite. If short hair…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-2/the-simplistic-way-of-not-conforming-is-to-see-what-is-in-style-in/) [R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/) > [“Though sin often brings immediate pleasure, it gives no lasting joy. If we understand the difference, we can avoid the pitfalls that entice the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-2/though-sin-often-brings-immediate-pleasure-it-gives-no-lasting-joy-if/) [R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/) > [“To be a Christian is to be a theologian—a student of God and his will. The church is where believers should be nurtured in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-2/to-be-a-christian-is-to-be-a-theologian-a-student-of-god-and-his-will/) [R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/) > [“We need Christ-the real Christ. A Christ born of empty speculation or created to squeeze into the philosopher's pattern simply won't do. A recycled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul-2/we-need-christ-the-real-christ-a-christ-born-of-empty-speculation-or/) [R.C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/) [Explore all 221 R.C. Sproul quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul-2/) ## More God exists quotes > [“Quotes By Transcendologist Kurt Kawohl 1941 - If the medieval practices and the medieval beliefs of Christianity, Judaism and Islam that are based on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-kawohl/quotes-by-transcendologist-kurt-kawohl-1941-if-the-medieval-practices/) Kurt Kawohl > [If you burn yourself out in two years of intense selfless giving, what good is that if you could have given 20 years? Set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-burn-yourself-out-in-two-years-of-intense-selfless-giving-what/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“Most witches don’t believe in gods. They know that the gods exist, of course. They even deal with them occasionally. But they don’t believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/most-witches-don-t-believe-in-gods-they-know-that-the-gods-exist-of/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [I don't spend much time thinking about whether God exists. I don't consider that a relevant question. It's unanswerable and irrelevant to my life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-kaminer/i-don-t-spend-much-time-thinking-about-whether-god-exists-i-don-t/) [Wendy Kaminer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-kaminer/) > [“It's not man's job to think about whether God exists or not, especially when you know that right in front of your eyes one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eka-kurniawan/it-s-not-man-s-job-to-think-about-whether-god-exists-or-not/) [Eka Kurniawan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eka-kurniawan/) > [“You are someone else's proof that God exists." -from The Secret of Mago Castle, available October 2014”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-tinkle/you-are-someone-else-s-proof-that-god-exists-from-the-secret-of-mago/) Rebecca Tinkle > [“By night an atheist half believes in God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/by-night-an-atheist-half-believes-in-god/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [“And suddenly there came a second, when somehow for the first time I saw (as if a door had opened from a dark room…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seraphim-rose/and-suddenly-there-came-a-second-when-somehow-for-the-first-time-i/) [Seraphim Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seraphim-rose/) > [What do I believe? I believe in God, if he exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/what-do-i-believe-i-believe-in-god-if-he-exists/) [Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/) > [As long as God does not intervene in the contemporary universe in such a way as to violate physical laws, science has no way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-lightman/as-long-as-god-does-not-intervene-in-the-contemporary-universe-in/) [Alan Lightman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-lightman/) > [The evidence of God exists in the roundness of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-lamb/the-evidence-of-god-exists-in-the-roundness-of-things/) [Wally Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-lamb/) > [Either God exists or He doesn't. Either I believe in God or I don't. 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Under the old Communist regime, the official…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/does-god-exist-unlike-many-people-this-had-not-been-the-great-inner/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Art means: revealing God in everything that exists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/art-means-revealing-god-in-everything-that-exists/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [The moment I realized God existed, I knew that I could not do othewise than to live for Him Alone...Faith strips the mask from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-de-foucauld/the-moment-i-realized-god-existed-i-knew-that-i-could-not-do-othewise/) [Charles de Foucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-de-foucauld/) [Browse all 353 God exists quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-exists/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Our thinking goes like this: If there is a God at all, He is certainly not holy. 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