--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This same distortion appears when the…" description: "\"“This same distortion appears when the gospel is preached to the natural man. Boston was all too familiar with the instinct of the awakened individual ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d0/sinclair-b-ferguson-3915_christianity_this-same-distortion-appears-when-the-go_3174978.png" --- # This same distortion appears when the gospel is preached… ![“This same distortion appears when the gospel is preached to the natural man. Boston was all too familiar with the instinct of the awakened individual to say, “I will now try much harder, and I will do better.” It seems logical: I realize I have failed. I must reverse this failure by doing better…” quote by Sinclair B. Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d0/sinclair-b-ferguson-3915_christianity_this-same-distortion-appears-when-the-go_3174978.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d0/sinclair-b-ferguson-3915_christianity_this-same-distortion-appears-when-the-go_3174978.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d0/sinclair-b-ferguson-3915_christianity_this-same-distortion-appears-when-the-go_3174978.png) > ““This same distortion appears when the gospel is preached to the natural man. Boston was all too familiar with the instinct of the awakened individual to say, “I will now try much harder, and I will do better.” It seems logical: I realize I have failed. I must reverse this failure by doing better. But it is serpentine logic, for it simply compounds the old legal spirit.”” [Sinclair B. Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinclair-b-ferguson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The tendency to overcompensate after failure leads to legalistic thinking, worsening the problem rather than solving it. **In simple terms:** Trying harder after failure can create more problems. Key Takeaway Avoid legalistic over‑compensation; seek humility. Themes faith human nature law spirituality Mood reflective serious Type theological didactic When to use this quote - personal growth - spiritual counseling - church teaching Key Concepts legalism serpentine logic self‑deception Questions to Reflect On - How can humility replace over‑compensation? - What practices foster genuine change? A Different Perspective Legalistic effort may ignore deeper transformation needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) ## Related quotes > [You're just as good, and if you work harder, you can be better and you can be more than you think you can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-costner/you-re-just-as-good-and-if-you-work-harder-you-can-be-better-and-you/) [Kevin Costner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-costner/) > [Try harder to be better and the universe will work towards giving you more happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heart-evangelista/try-harder-to-be-better-and-the-universe-will-work-towards-giving-you/) [Heart Evangelista](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heart-evangelista/) > [“Work It Harder Make It Better Do It Faster, Makes Us stronger More Than Ever Hour After Our Work Is Never Over -Harder, Better,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daft-punk/work-it-harder-make-it-better-do-it-faster-makes-us-stronger-more-2/) [Daft Punk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daft-punk/) > [“All the time that she was trying to say goodbye, I was furious with her for not trying harder to get better.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-davis/all-the-time-that-she-was-trying-to-say-goodbye-i-was-furious-with-2/) [Jane Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-davis/) > [My mother always said to me, 'You're going to have to work harder and have to be better, and you can't take no for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halle-berry/my-mother-always-said-to-me-you-re-going-to-have-to-work-harder-and/) [Halle Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halle-berry/) > [“I promise you I will try harder to be better. 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Ferguson > [Even those of us who have weak faith have the same strong Christ as others!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinclair-b-ferguson/even-those-of-us-who-have-weak-faith-have-the-same-strong-christ-as/) [Sinclair B. Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinclair-b-ferguson/) > [“Third, hear our loss of focus on the gospel in our songs. This is no comment on musical styles and tastes, but simply an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinclair-b-ferguson/third-hear-our-loss-of-focus-on-the-gospel-in-our-songs-this-is-no/) [Sinclair B. Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinclair-b-ferguson/) > [When the New Testament speaks about the fullness of grace which we find in Christ, it does not mean only forgiveness, pardon and justification.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinclair-b-ferguson/when-the-new-testament-speaks-about-the-fullness-of-grace-which-we/) [Sinclair B. 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Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinclair-b-ferguson/) > [The only thing of my very own which I contribute to my redemption is the sin from which I need to be redeemed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinclair-b-ferguson/the-only-thing-of-my-very-own-which-i-contribute-to-my-redemption-is/) [Sinclair B. Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinclair-b-ferguson/) > [Christian contentment, therefore, is the direct fruit of having no higher ambition than to belong to the Lord and to be totally at His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinclair-b-ferguson/christian-contentment-therefore-is-the-direct-fruit-of-having-no/) [Sinclair B. Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinclair-b-ferguson/) > [You do not become a master musician by playing just as you please, by imagining that learning the scales is sheer legalism and bondage!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinclair-b-ferguson/you-do-not-become-a-master-musician-by-playing-just-as-you-please-by/) [Sinclair B. Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinclair-b-ferguson/) [Explore all 119 Sinclair B. Ferguson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinclair-b-ferguson/) ## More Christianity quotes > [Christianity was never meant to be defined by its disciplines, but by its passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/christianity-was-never-meant-to-be-defined-by-its-disciplines-but-by/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. 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