--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We make a big mistake when we conclude…" description: "\"We make a big mistake when we conclude that the law is the answer to bad behavior. In fact, the law alone stirs up more of such behavior. People get wo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a16/tullian-tchividjian-1105_answers_we-make-a-big-mistake-when-we-conclude-t_2163893.jpg" --- # We make a big mistake when we conclude that the law is the… ![“We make a big mistake when we conclude that the law is the answer to bad behavior. In fact, the law alone stirs up more of such behavior. People get worse, not better, when you lay down the law. To be sure, the Spirit does use both God's law and God's gospel in our sanctification. But the law and…” quote by Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a16/tullian-tchividjian-1105_answers_we-make-a-big-mistake-when-we-conclude-t_2163893.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a16/tullian-tchividjian-1105_answers_we-make-a-big-mistake-when-we-conclude-t_2163893.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a16/tullian-tchividjian-1105_answers_we-make-a-big-mistake-when-we-conclude-t_2163893.jpg) > “We make a big mistake when we conclude that the law is the answer to bad behavior. In fact, the law alone stirs up more of such behavior. People get worse, not better, when you lay down the law. To be sure, the Spirit does use both God's law and God's gospel in our sanctification. But the law and the gospel do very different things.” [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Legalism alone cannot transform hearts; law convicts, but grace redeems, so both are needed. **In simple terms:** Law convicts, grace redeems. Key Takeaway Combine justice with compassion for true change. Themes faith law grace morality spiritual growth Mood hopeful thoughtful Type theological inspirational When to use this quote - counseling - church leadership - conflict resolution - social policy Key Concepts theology ethics human behavior redemption Questions to Reflect On - How does grace change the effect of law? - When should law be applied versus grace? A Different Perspective Relying solely on law may ignore underlying sin. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Answers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers/) [Bad behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-behavior/) [Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) [Big mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-mistake/) [Bigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Gospel Sanctification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gospel-sanctification-4603660/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Law Gospel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law-gospel-595693/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Sanctification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sanctification/) [Sanctification Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sanctification-law-4603659/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) ## Related quotes > [“We cry down the law in respect of justification, but we set it up as a rule of sanctification. The law sends us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-bolton/we-cry-down-the-law-in-respect-of-justification-but-we-set-it-up-as-a/) [Samuel Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-bolton/) > [“If we focus on our actions without addressing our hearts, we may end up merely as better behaved lovers of self (...) The hope…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-wilkin/if-we-focus-on-our-actions-without-addressing-our-hearts-we-may-end/) [Jen Wilkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-wilkin/) > [“Start with Christ (that is, the gospel) and you get sanctification in the bargain; begin with Christ and move on to something else, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-s-horton/start-with-christ-that-is-the-gospel-and-you-get-sanctification-in/) [Michael S. Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-s-horton/) > [When you fail to distinguish Law and Gospel, you lose both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/when-you-fail-to-distinguish-law-and-gospel-you-lose-both/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [What is indisputable is the fact that unbelief is the force that gives birth to all of our bad behavior and every moral failure.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/what-is-indisputable-is-the-fact-that-unbelief-is-the-force-that/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [Sanctification consists of the daily realization that in Christ we have died, and in Christ we have been raised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/sanctification-consists-of-the-daily-realization-that-in-christ-we/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [The heart of sanctification is the life which feeds on justification.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/the-heart-of-sanctification-is-the-life-which-feeds-on-justification/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [Justification and sanctification are both God's work, and while they can and must be distinguished, the Bible won't let us separate them. Both are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/justification-and-sanctification-are-both-god-s-work-and-while-they/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [There is a strange impulse in many to protect Bible characters and to use them as inspiration... as if sanctification happens as a result…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/there-is-a-strange-impulse-in-many-to-protect-bible-characters-and-to/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [“Sadly, all this has too often been forgotten, and the law which was given uniquely to Israel, and applied only to them, has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-j-gay/sadly-all-this-has-too-often-been-forgotten-and-the-law-which-was/) [David H.J. Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-j-gay/) > [If my activism, however well-motivated, drives out love, then I have misunderstood Jesus’ gospel. I am stuck with law, not the gospel of grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/if-my-activism-however-well-motivated-drives-out-love-then-i-have/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [“As we are in the Church age, which is an age of grace rather than the theocracy of Mosaic times, we are no longer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-limbaugh/as-we-are-in-the-church-age-which-is-an-age-of-grace-rather-than-the/) [David Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-limbaugh/) > [The Law and the Gospel are two keys. The Law is the key that shutteth up all men under condemnation, and the Gospel is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tyndale/the-law-and-the-gospel-are-two-keys-the-law-is-the-key-that-shutteth/) [William Tyndale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tyndale/) > [The education of youth, an employment of more consequence than making laws and preaching the gospel, because it lays the foundation on which both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-webster/the-education-of-youth-an-employment-of-more-consequence-than-making/) [Noah Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-webster/) > [This is that law of the Gospel; whatsoever you require that others should do to you, that do ye to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/this-is-that-law-of-the-gospel-whatsoever-you-require-that-others/) [Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/) ## More by Tullian Tchividjian > [Grace is upside-down, to-do-list wrecking, scandalous and way-too free. It's one-way love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/grace-is-upside-down-to-do-list-wrecking-scandalous-and-way-too-free/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [“There is but one good,” C. S. Lewis writes in The Great Divorce; “that is God. Everything else is good when it looks to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/there-is-but-one-good-c-s-lewis-writes-in-the-great-divorce-that-is/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [Once God saves us He doesn't move us beyond the gospel, but He moves us more deeply into the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/once-god-saves-us-he-doesn-t-move-us-beyond-the-gospel-but-he-moves/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [“An institution theoretically devoted to providing comfort to those in need (the church) is in trouble because it has embraced the same pressure cooker…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/an-institution-theoretically-devoted-to-providing-comfort-to-those-in/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [A preacher who doesn't believe he's that bad will attract people who don't think they're that bad. And that's bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/a-preacher-who-doesn-t-believe-he-s-that-bad-will-attract-people-who/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [Our assurance is anchored in the love and grace of God expressed in the glorious exchange: our sin for His righteousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/our-assurance-is-anchored-in-the-love-and-grace-of-god-expressed-in/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [I think for far too long the Church has concluded that Christians don't need the gospel, it's simple what non-Christian people need in order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/i-think-for-far-too-long-the-church-has-concluded-that-christians-don/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [While our sin reaches far, God's grace reaches farther. God came after us not to strip away our freedom but to strip away our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/while-our-sin-reaches-far-god-s-grace-reaches-farther-god-came-after/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [Jesus has done everything for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/jesus-has-done-everything-for-you/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [If you have suffered the loss of a family member to chronic disease, if you suffer debilitating seasons of depression, if you have lost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/if-you-have-suffered-the-loss-of-a-family-member-to-chronic-disease/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [Sanctification consists of the daily realization that in Christ we have died, and in Christ we have been raised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/sanctification-consists-of-the-daily-realization-that-in-christ-we/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [The ironic thing about legalism is that it not only doesn't make people work harder, it makes them give up. Moralism doesn't produce morality;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/the-ironic-thing-about-legalism-is-that-it-not-only-doesn-t-make/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [The good news of suffering is that it brings us to the end of ourselves - a purpose it has certainly served in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/the-good-news-of-suffering-is-that-it-brings-us-to-the-end-of/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [The Gospel is not ultimately a defense from pain, it is the message of God's rescue through pain. In fact, it allows us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/the-gospel-is-not-ultimately-a-defense-from-pain-it-is-the-message-of/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [God is inviting you today to appropriately grieve your pains and losses and to acknowledge the world is seriously broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/god-is-inviting-you-today-to-appropriately-grieve-your-pains-and/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) [Explore all 292 Tullian Tchividjian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) ## More Answers quotes > [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [You feed yourself. Make sure you have all the information, whether it's aesthetic, scientific, mathematical, I don't care what it is. Then you walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-feed-yourself-make-sure-you-have-all-the-information-whether-it-s/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I have long felt that the way to keep children out of trouble is to keep them interested in things. Lecturing to children is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-have-long-felt-that-the-way-to-keep-children-out-of-trouble-is-to/) [Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [“As long as you keep searching,the answers will come.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kynock/as-long-as-you-keep-searching-the-answers-will-come/) [Mitch Kynock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kynock/) > [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [There is a comfort in rituals, and rituals provide a framework for stability when you are trying to find answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-norville/there-is-a-comfort-in-rituals-and-rituals-provide-a-framework-for/) [Deborah Norville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-norville/) > [A religious person answers to God, not to the elected or non-elected official.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/a-religious-person-answers-to-god-not-to-the-elected-or-non-elected/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [Instead of asking a girl how she feels, try looking through her recently listened to songs. The lyrics are the answer to all your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-asking-a-girl-how-she-feels-try-looking-through-her/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For someone to ask 'Who did you play for' and to be able to answer a single name 'Liverpool' that would be brilliant...I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/for-someone-to-ask-who-did-you-play-for-and-to-be-able-to-answer-a/) [Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [Enjoying life isn't about finding the answers, but living the questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-margolis/enjoying-life-isn-t-about-finding-the-answers-but-living-the-questions/) [Sue Margolis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-margolis/) [Browse all 7,843 Answers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We make a big mistake when we conclude that the law is the answer to bad behavior. 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