QuoteProject
While sin is overflowing, [grace] pours itself forth so exuberantly, that it not only overcomes the flood of sin, but wholly absorbs it.
John Calvin
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote highlights the overwhelming nature of grace in contrast to sin, suggesting that grace can entirely negate sin's impact.

John Calvin emphasizes the power of grace as a divine force that not only counters sin but completely envelops and absorbs it. The imagery of overflowing sin being met by exuberant grace suggests that, no matter how abundant sin may appear, grace is even more abundant and capable of providing redemption and transformation.

Themes

GraceSinRedemptionOvercomingDivine

In practice

Example use cases

In a sermon about forgiveness, one might quote this to illustrate the power of grace.

More from John Calvin

Against the persecution of a tyrant the godly have no remedy but prayer.
John CalvinRead
The pastor ought to have two voices: one, for gathering the sheep; and another, for warding off and driving away wolves and thieves. The Scripture supplies him with the means of doing both.
John CalvinRead
Man is never sufficiently touched and affected by the awareness of his lowly state until he has compared himself with God's majesty.
John CalvinRead
Whomever the Lord has adopted and deemed worthy of His fellowship ought to prepare themselves for a hard, toilsome, and unquiet life, crammed with very many and various kinds of evil.
John CalvinRead
For as the aged, or those whose sight is defective, when any book, however fair, is set before them, though they perceive that there is something written, are scarcely able to make out two consecutive words, but, when aided by glasses, begin to read distinctly, so Scripture, gathering together the impressions of Deity, which, till then, lay confused in our minds, dissipates the darkness, and shows us the true God clearly.
John CalvinRead
When God wants to judge a nation, He gives them wicked rulers.
John CalvinRead

Similar quotes

What delights, what pleasures does your life offer you that outweigh the raptures of death?
NovalisRead
A finite world can support only a finite population; therefore, population growth must eventually equal zero.
Garrett HardinRead
I will be as harsh as truth and as uncompromising as justice.
William Lloyd GarrisonRead
I agree today that a man has no business trying to tell women what their characteristics are, which ones are inborn, which are more admirable, which will be best utilized by what occupations.
Benjamin SpockRead
God tries his votaries through and through but never beyond endurance. He gives them strength enough to go through the ordeal he prescribes for them.
Mahatma GandhiRead
In nature a repulsive caterpillar turns into a lovely butterfly. But with human beings it is the other way round: a lovely butterfly turns into a repulsive caterpillar.
Anton ChekhovRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.