--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Reformed theology does NOT teach that God…" description: "\"Reformed theology does NOT teach that God brings the ELECT kicking and screaming, against their will, into His kingdom. It teaches that God so-works in..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a31/r-c-sproul-1006_christ_reformed-theology-does-not-teach-that-go_3030527.jpg" --- # Reformed theology does NOT teach that God brings the ELECT… ![“Reformed theology does NOT teach that God brings the ELECT kicking and screaming, against their will, into His kingdom. It teaches that God so-works in the hearts of the Elect as to make them willing and pleased to come to Christ. They come to Christ because they want to. They want to because God…” quote by R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a31/r-c-sproul-1006_christ_reformed-theology-does-not-teach-that-go_3030527.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a31/r-c-sproul-1006_christ_reformed-theology-does-not-teach-that-go_3030527.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a31/r-c-sproul-1006_christ_reformed-theology-does-not-teach-that-go_3030527.jpg) > “Reformed theology does NOT teach that God brings the ELECT kicking and screaming, against their will, into His kingdom. It teaches that God so-works in the hearts of the Elect as to make them willing and pleased to come to Christ. They come to Christ because they want to. They want to because God has created in their hearts a desire for Christ.” [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. Reformed theology holds that God works within the elect, creating a genuine desire for Christ, so they willingly respond to His call. **In simple terms:** God creates desire, then people choose Christ. Key Takeaway Recognize God's work in your heart before acting. Themes theology free will grace election spiritual growth Mood reflective hopeful serious Type theological inspirational When to use this quote - personal evangelism - spiritual counseling - church teaching - mission trips Key Concepts Divine sovereignty human response inner transformation Questions to Reflect On - How do you experience God's work in your desires? - Can true willingness coexist with divine election? A Different Perspective It may overlook the tension between divine sovereignty and human responsibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Kingdoms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kingdoms/) [Reformed theology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reformed-theology/) [Theology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theology/) ## Related quotes > [I think everyone who has an interest in Reformed theology, or just in Christian theology more generally, should read John Calvin Institutes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-d-crisp/i-think-everyone-who-has-an-interest-in-reformed-theology-or-just-in/) [Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-d-crisp/) > [Reformed theology belongs to this confessional tradition, and Reformed theologians and churches continue to write confessions even today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-d-crisp/reformed-theology-belongs-to-this-confessional-tradition-and-reformed/) [Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-d-crisp/) > [“Reformed theology isn't a sledgehammer with which to hit people, it's a pillow on which they can lay their weary heads.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burk-parsons/reformed-theology-isn-t-a-sledgehammer-with-which-to-hit-people-it-s/) [Burk Parsons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burk-parsons/) > [“The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/westminster-shorter-catechism/the-chief-end-of-man-is-to-glorify-god-and-enjoy-him-forever/) Westminster Shorter Catechism > [ The atonement chapter \[from the book Saving Calvinism\] shows how there are real riches in Reformed theology that most Christians today have no idea… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-d-crisp/the-atonement-chapter-from-the-book-saving-calvinism-shows-how-there/) [Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-d-crisp/) > [“Much of what passes as Reformed among our churches is not. Its sources, spirit, and methods are alien to Reformed theology, piety, and practice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-scott-clark/much-of-what-passes-as-reformed-among-our-churches-is-not-its-sources/) R. Scott Clark > [The best Reformed theology isn't just about careful arguments for theologically sophisticated conclusions. It is about how to live the Christian life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-d-crisp/the-best-reformed-theology-isn-t-just-about-careful-arguments-for/) [Oliver D. Crisp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-d-crisp/) > [Modern man has lost any sense of God's nearness, but Christianity teaches that God reveals himself through every single thing he has ever brought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/modern-man-has-lost-any-sense-of-god-s-nearness-but-christianity/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [Reformed theology so far transcends the mere five points of Calvinism that it is an entire worldview.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/reformed-theology-so-far-transcends-the-mere-five-points-of-calvinism/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [In Reformed theology, if God is not sovereign over the entire created order, then he is not sovereign at all. The term sovereignty too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/in-reformed-theology-if-god-is-not-sovereign-over-the-entire-created/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [A religion that teaches you God is something outside the world--something separate from everything you see, smell, taste, touch, and hear--is nothing but a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-religion-that-teaches-you-god-is-something-outside-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The Bible teaches us that God does not cause pain, but that He uses pain and evil to advance His cause and shape His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/the-bible-teaches-us-that-god-does-not-cause-pain-but-that-he-uses/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“Live long enough, and life teaches you that God is not your lucky rabbit foot,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-courtney-sullivan-2/live-long-enough-and-life-teaches-you-that-god-is-not-your-lucky/) [J Courtney Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-courtney-sullivan-2/) > [“The brutal fact is that in this Christian country not one person in a hundred has the faintest notion what the Church teaches about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/the-brutal-fact-is-that-in-this-christian-country-not-one-person-in-a/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [The Bible teaches that God owns the world. He distributes to every man according to His own good pleasure, conformably to general laws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-van-dyke/the-bible-teaches-that-god-owns-the-world-he-distributes-to-every-man/) [Henry Van Dyke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-van-dyke/) ## 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. 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