--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If the final decision for the salvation…" description: "\"If the final decision for the salvation of fallen sinners were left in the hands of fallen sinners, we would despair all hope that anyone would be save..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e1/r-c-sproul-1006_decision_if-the-final-decision-for-the-salvation_2824816.png" --- # If the final decision for the salvation of fallen sinners… ![“If the final decision for the salvation of fallen sinners were left in the hands of fallen sinners, we would despair all hope that anyone would be saved.” quote by R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e1/r-c-sproul-1006_decision_if-the-final-decision-for-the-salvation_2824816.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e1/r-c-sproul-1006_decision_if-the-final-decision-for-the-salvation_2824816.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e1/r-c-sproul-1006_decision_if-the-final-decision-for-the-salvation_2824816.png) > “If the final decision for the salvation of fallen sinners were left in the hands of fallen sinners, we would despair all hope that anyone would be saved.” [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. If sinners decide salvation, hope fades because they lack the moral capacity to choose rightly. **In simple terms:** Sinners can’t decide salvation. Key Takeaway Trust divine judgment. Themes theology salvation human nature Mood serious reflective Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - church leadership - personal faith decisions Key Concepts doctrine ethics Questions to Reflect On - Why is divine authority important? - How do we balance grace and responsibility? A Different Perspective Human agency still matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Despair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/despair/) [Salvation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/salvation/) ## Related quotes > [The Arminian view makes the final decision of our salvation rest upon a human choice, not upon a divine action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/the-arminian-view-makes-the-final-decision-of-our-salvation-rest-upon/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [I believe that we're all created in the image of God and we're all fallen sinners. And I think we can recognize that as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-d-moore/i-believe-that-we-re-all-created-in-the-image-of-god-and-we-re-all/) [Russell D. Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-d-moore/) > [The real thing that we renounce is the tenacious hope that we could be saved from being who we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/the-real-thing-that-we-renounce-is-the-tenacious-hope-that-we-could/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [For in our hope we are saved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-in-our-hope-we-are-saved/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Hope. It is the most important thing in the world. I believe that now more than ever. Hope is what saved my life, hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/hope-it-is-the-most-important-thing-in-the-world-i-believe-that-now/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [In what a delightful communion with God does that man live who habitually seeketh love! With the same mantle thrown over him from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elias-lyman-magoon/in-what-a-delightful-communion-with-god-does-that-man-live-who/) [Elias Lyman Magoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elias-lyman-magoon/) > [“Hope is the greatest gift and the greatest evil...Hope saved us and hope might yet kill us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nalini-singh/hope-is-the-greatest-gift-and-the-greatest-evil-hope-saved-us-and/) [Nalini Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nalini-singh/) > [“ACT27.20 And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/act27-20-and-when-neither-sun-nor-stars-in-many-days-appeared-and-no/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ “For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the reveal- ing \[through conversion and transformation\] of the sons of God. For the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-thomas-ashbrook/for-the-anxious-longing-of-the-creation-waits-eagerly-for-the-reveal/) [R. Thomas Ashbrook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-thomas-ashbrook/) > [ “we know that  s the whole creation  t has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23\[†\]And not only the creation, but we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-know-that-s-the-whole-creation-t-has-been-groaning-together-in-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The sin of fallen man is this: Man seeks the benefits of God while at the same time fleeing from God Himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/the-sin-of-fallen-man-is-this-man-seeks-the-benefits-of-god-while-at/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [Fallen man is free to choose what he desires, but because his desires are only wicked he lacks the moral ability to come to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/fallen-man-is-free-to-choose-what-he-desires-but-because-his-desires/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [For all the civilians saved thanks to the presence of peacekeepers, there have been those who were lost - the United Nations personnel who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-eliasson/for-all-the-civilians-saved-thanks-to-the-presence-of-peacekeepers/) [Jan Eliasson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-eliasson/) > [God Himself supplies the necessary condition to come to Jesus, that's why it is 'sola gratia,' by grace alone, that we are saved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/god-himself-supplies-the-necessary-condition-to-come-to-jesus-that-s/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [I have fallen in love with American names, the sharp names that never get fat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-vincent-benet/i-have-fallen-in-love-with-american-names-the-sharp-names-that-never/) [Stephen Vincent Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-vincent-benet/) ## More by R. C. Sproul > [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/) > [Evil may mar the divine image and cloud its brilliance, but it cannot destroy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/evil-may-mar-the-divine-image-and-cloud-its-brilliance-but-it-cannot/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [God's grace is not infinite. God is infinite, and God is gracious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/god-s-grace-is-not-infinite-god-is-infinite-and-god-is-gracious/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [God Himself supplies the necessary condition to come to Jesus, that's why it is 'sola gratia,' by grace alone, that we are saved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/god-himself-supplies-the-necessary-condition-to-come-to-jesus-that-s/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [If God is not sovereign, God is not God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/if-god-is-not-sovereign-god-is-not-god/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [When God says something, the argument is over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/when-god-says-something-the-argument-is-over/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [“There is no such “mother” as Mother Nature. Nature itself is powerless to produce life of any kind. In itself, nature is barren. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/there-is-no-such-mother-as-mother-nature-nature-itself-is-powerless/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [Right now counts forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/right-now-counts-forever/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [The complaint that church is boring is never made by people in awe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/the-complaint-that-church-is-boring-is-never-made-by-people-in-awe/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [Sin can bring pleasure, but never happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/sin-can-bring-pleasure-but-never-happiness/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [I'm afraid that in the United States of America today the prevailing doctrine of justification is not justification by faith alone. It is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/i-m-afraid-that-in-the-united-states-of-america-today-the-prevailing/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [Heaven is a place where God will personally wipe away our tears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/heaven-is-a-place-where-god-will-personally-wipe-away-our-tears/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [In the decade of the 1980s, a massive and comprehensive study of religion in American life was undertaken by the Gallup organization. The results…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/in-the-decade-of-the-1980s-a-massive-and-comprehensive-study-of/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [The rapture will not be secret but open and manifest. Its purpose will not be to whisk the elect away from the earth for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/the-rapture-will-not-be-secret-but-open-and-manifest-its-purpose-will/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [Sometimes we behave and perform with our lives, not for God, but for an audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/sometimes-we-behave-and-perform-with-our-lives-not-for-god-but-for-an/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) [Explore all 310 R. C. Sproul quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) ## More Decision quotes > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [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/) > [“How can you make an informed decision about whether to save the world if you never leave your tiny part of it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/how-can-you-make-an-informed-decision-about-whether-to-save-the-world/) [Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/) > [Love is the foundation from which your decisions about your life should be made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-the-foundation-from-which-your-decisions-about-your-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Indecision becomes decision with time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/indecision-becomes-decision-with-time/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you think of people as making decisions actively, every time we think about the cup of coffee, we say, "How much will I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/if-you-think-of-people-as-making-decisions-actively-every-time-we/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [It was a conscious decision on my part to take up fewer films. And if you're not seen that often on screen, nobody calls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-lever/it-was-a-conscious-decision-on-my-part-to-take-up-fewer-films-and-if/) [Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/) > [Decision is a risk rooted in the courage of being free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/decision-is-a-risk-rooted-in-the-courage-of-being-free/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [I never think of things rationally or intellectually. I swear, every single decision I make is just instinct and my instincts tend to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/i-never-think-of-things-rationally-or-intellectually-i-swear-every/) [Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/) > [“it is either you happen to life or life happens to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sesan-kareem/it-is-either-you-happen-to-life-or-life-happens-to-you/) [Sesan Kareem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sesan-kareem/) > [How strange that something so simple could have been instrumental in my decision to ruin one of my most relationships and friendships, and damage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/how-strange-that-something-so-simple-could-have-been-instrumental-in/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I am encouraged President Obama now says he will fulfill his constitutional obligation to seek authorization for any potential military action in Syria. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-am-encouraged-president-obama-now-says-he-will-fulfill-his/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [In New York, you are constantly faced with this very urgent decision that you have to make, about every twenty minutes...you have to decide,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cross/in-new-york-you-are-constantly-faced-with-this-very-urgent-decision/) [David Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cross/) [Browse all 9,145 Decision quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If the final decision for the salvation of fallen sinners were left in the hands of fallen sinners, we would despair all hope that anyone would be saved.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "R. C. 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