--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only motive in the world that will…" description: "\"“The only motive in the world that will keep me from sin is the knowledge that God is mine and I am his.”\" — Desmond Ford" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc8/desmond-ford-14966_motive_the-only-motive-in-the-world-that-will-k_408529.jpg" --- # The only motive in the world that will keep me from sin is… ![“The only motive in the world that will keep me from sin is the knowledge that God is mine and I am his.” quote by Desmond Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc8/desmond-ford-14966_motive_the-only-motive-in-the-world-that-will-k_408529.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc8/desmond-ford-14966_motive_the-only-motive-in-the-world-that-will-k_408529.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc8/desmond-ford-14966_motive_the-only-motive-in-the-world-that-will-k_408529.jpg) > ““The only motive in the world that will keep me from sin is the knowledge that God is mine and I am his.”” [Desmond Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-ford/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Divine ownership of believers deters sinful behavior. **In simple terms:** Knowing God belongs to you prevents sin. Key Takeaway Cultivate personal relationship with the divine. Themes faith morality spiritual identity Mood reflective inspirational Type theological motivational When to use this quote - personal prayer - church teaching - ethical decision making Key Concepts theology personal devotion ethical behavior Questions to Reflect On - Does belief alone stop wrongdoing? - How does community support reinforce this motive? A Different Perspective May overlook complex psychological factors influencing behavior. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Motive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motive/) ## Related quotes > [“Listen to yourself speak, saying, “The knowledge of God has no practical application.” Do you know why all your Christian bookstores are filled up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/listen-to-yourself-speak-saying-the-knowledge-of-god-has-no-practical/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > [The physicists have known sin; and this is a knowledge which they cannot lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-robert-oppenheimer/the-physicists-have-known-sin-and-this-is-a-knowledge-which-they/) [J. Robert Oppenheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-robert-oppenheimer/) > [In some sort of crude sense, which no vulgarity, no humor, no overstatement can quite extinguish, the physicists have known sin; and this is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-robert-oppenheimer/in-some-sort-of-crude-sense-which-no-vulgarity-no-humor-no/) [J. Robert Oppenheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-robert-oppenheimer/) > [That is the true definition of sin; when knowing right you do the lower, ah, then you sin. Where there is no knowledge, sin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-besant/that-is-the-true-definition-of-sin-when-knowing-right-you-do-the/) [Annie Besant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-besant/) > [It makes a great deal of difference whether one wills not to sin or has not the knowledge to sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-makes-a-great-deal-of-difference-whether-one-wills-not-to-sin-or/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You came empty handed, but of course that is not up to the world, will be with you'r Sin virtue, which will be sent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/you-came-empty-handed-but-of-course-that-is-not-up-to-the-world-will/) Mak\_786 > [This I know; God cannot sin, because his doing a thing makes it just, and consequently, no sin… And therefore it is blasphemy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hobbes/this-i-know-god-cannot-sin-because-his-doing-a-thing-makes-it-just/) [Thomas Hobbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hobbes/) > [There are only two bad things in this world, sin and bile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/there-are-only-two-bad-things-in-this-world-sin-and-bile/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [“Mila found comfort in this ordered world where sin explained suffering.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anouk-markovits/mila-found-comfort-in-this-ordered-world-where-sin-explained-suffering/) [Anouk Markovits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anouk-markovits/) > [There is not a day but sin foils or is foiled, prevails or is prevailed upon. It will always be so while we live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/there-is-not-a-day-but-sin-foils-or-is-foiled-prevails-or-is/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [Man indeed is the most noble, by creation, of all the creatures in the visible World; but by sin he has made himself the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/man-indeed-is-the-most-noble-by-creation-of-all-the-creatures-in-the/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [Vice and virtue chiefly imply the relation of our actions to men in this world; sin and holiness rather imply their relation to God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-watts/vice-and-virtue-chiefly-imply-the-relation-of-our-actions-to-men-in/) [Isaac Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-watts/) > [For I must write to The Times tonight, and save the world from sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-p-herbert/for-i-must-write-to-the-times-tonight-and-save-the-world-from-sin/) [A. P. Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-p-herbert/) > [The fact is that sin is the most unmanly thing in God's world. You never were made for sin and selfishness. You were made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-g-holland/the-fact-is-that-sin-is-the-most-unmanly-thing-in-god-s-world-you/) [J. G. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-g-holland/) > [“There are two classes of people in this world, those who sin, and those who are sinned against; if a man must belong to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-butler/there-are-two-classes-of-people-in-this-world-those-who-sin-and-those/) [Samuel Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-butler/) ## More by Desmond Ford > [“As we travel along through life's pilgrimage, our feet become soiled by our failures and mistakes. We do not need to go and be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-ford/as-we-travel-along-through-life-s-pilgrimage-our-feet-become-soiled/) [Desmond Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-ford/) > [“True religion, according to Romans, is about faith, hope, love; about the cross of Christ, and the love of God. It is about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-ford/true-religion-according-to-romans-is-about-faith-hope-love-about-the/) [Desmond Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-ford/) > [“Sanctification only begins our being made like our Lord Jesus Christ. It is never complete in this life. There is no perfect Christian, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-ford/sanctification-only-begins-our-being-made-like-our-lord-jesus-christ/) [Desmond Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-ford/) > [“Romans is the only book in the Bible that systematically tells us of the plan of salvation. The only book. If you do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-ford/romans-is-the-only-book-in-the-bible-that-systematically-tells-us-of/) [Desmond Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-ford/) > [“Romans was written by the chief theologian of Scripture, the apostle Paul. Jesus made the atonement, but Paul explained it. The atonement couldn't be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-ford/romans-was-written-by-the-chief-theologian-of-scripture-the-apostle/) [Desmond Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-ford/) > [“Only when we know that God accepts us can we accept ourselves, and only as we accept ourselves can we accept others. The power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-ford/only-when-we-know-that-god-accepts-us-can-we-accept-ourselves-and/) [Desmond Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-ford/) > [“True religion is the union of the heart with God that brings an overflow to our relationship with other people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-ford/true-religion-is-the-union-of-the-heart-with-god-that-brings-an/) [Desmond Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-ford/) > [“The prophetic word is not intended as a minute history written in advance, but as a symbolic portrayal of what Christ has already done…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-ford/the-prophetic-word-is-not-intended-as-a-minute-history-written-in/) [Desmond Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-ford/) > [“It is fashionable to avoid talking of the wrath of God. Karl Barth for years neglected the theme and likewise most contemporary theologians. 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They reveal that God has provided for our salvation in the cross of Christ.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-ford/romans-3-21-26-are-the-most-important-verses-in-the-bible-they-reveal/) [Desmond Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-ford/) > [“It seems to me that God cannot bless us individually or as a church unless we practice His golden rule--which includes fairness and honesty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-ford/it-seems-to-me-that-god-cannot-bless-us-individually-or-as-a-church/) [Desmond Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-ford/) > [“Many denominations have as the root of their tensions the fact that administrators and scholars, leaders and laity, conservatives and liberals, diverge as to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-ford/many-denominations-have-as-the-root-of-their-tensions-the-fact-that/) [Desmond Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-ford/) > [“Romans explains how God can justify the ungodly. "Justification" is a declaration by God that we are righteous only in Christ. We need justification…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-ford/romans-explains-how-god-can-justify-the-ungodly-justification-is-a/) [Desmond Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-ford/) > [“The book of Romans goes deep, deep into our souls, and we can only stand what we see there because Romans also goes deep,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-ford/the-book-of-romans-goes-deep-deep-into-our-souls-and-we-can-only/) [Desmond Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-ford/) > [“Thus began more than a decade of friendly warfare between Ford and Brinsmead. The former illustrated his own position in summary and in contrast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-ford/thus-began-more-than-a-decade-of-friendly-warfare-between-ford-and/) [Desmond Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-ford/) [Explore all 44 Desmond Ford quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-ford/) ## More Motive quotes > [In discovering books, you became free to explore the full range of human motives, desires, secrets, and lies. All my life, people have scolded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/in-discovering-books-you-became-free-to-explore-the-full-range-of/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) > [There seems to be a kind of order in the universe…in the movement of the stars and the turning of the Earth and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-anne-porter/there-seems-to-be-a-kind-of-order-in-the-universe-in-the-movement-of/) [Katherine Anne Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-anne-porter/) > [Tis e'er the wont of simple folk to prize the deed and o'erlook the motive, and of learned folk to discount the deed and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barth/tis-e-er-the-wont-of-simple-folk-to-prize-the-deed-and-o-erlook-the/) [John Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barth/) > [The sectaries of a persecuted religion, depressed by fear, animated with resentment, and perhaps heated by enthusiasm, are seldom in a proper temper of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/the-sectaries-of-a-persecuted-religion-depressed-by-fear-animated/) [Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/) > [You can drive yourself crazy trying to peer into a person's soul--or you can do the sensible thing: ask not what inner motives drive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-begala/you-can-drive-yourself-crazy-trying-to-peer-into-a-person-s-soul-or/) [Paul Begala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-begala/) > [We are thankful for good-will rather than for services, for the motive than the quantum of favor received.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/we-are-thankful-for-good-will-rather-than-for-services-for-the-motive/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [Behind many acts that are thought ridiculous there lie wise and weighty motives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/behind-many-acts-that-are-thought-ridiculous-there-lie-wise-and/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [Every man without passions has within him no principle of action, nor motive to act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-adrien-helvetius/every-man-without-passions-has-within-him-no-principle-of-action-nor/) [Claude Adrien Helvetius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-adrien-helvetius/) > [A strengthened national spirit can provide the motive power to rise our people from the depths and... pour new life and vigor in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-p-romulo/a-strengthened-national-spirit-can-provide-the-motive-power-to-rise/) [Carlos P. Romulo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-p-romulo/) > [It is hard to work for years with pure motives, and all the time be looked upon by most of those to whom our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-livingstone/it-is-hard-to-work-for-years-with-pure-motives-and-all-the-time-be/) [David Livingstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-livingstone/) > [In every enterprise ... the mind is always reasoning, and, even when we seem to act without a motive, an instinctive logic still directs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-bernard/in-every-enterprise-the-mind-is-always-reasoning-and-even-when-we/) [Claude Bernard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-bernard/) > [Growing up in that fashion is a breeding ground for insecurity and doubt; it also leaves you questioning motives. It took me a long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-runyon/growing-up-in-that-fashion-is-a-breeding-ground-for-insecurity-and/) [Damon Runyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-runyon/) > [If you are to go to Christ, do not put on your good doings and feelings, or you will get nothing. Go in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/if-you-are-to-go-to-christ-do-not-put-on-your-good-doings-and/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [we make a great fuss about national conscience, but it consists mainly in insisting upon everyone ascribing our national policy to highly moral motives,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-robinson/we-make-a-great-fuss-about-national-conscience-but-it-consists-mainly/) [Joan Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-robinson/) > [In work we act under the predominant motive of external, rational necessities; in pleasure, under the predominant motive of other, equally general necessities of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolay-chernyshevsky/in-work-we-act-under-the-predominant-motive-of-external-rational/) Nikolay Chernyshevsky [Browse all 1,345 Motive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The only motive in the world that will keep me from sin is the knowledge that God is mine and I am his.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Desmond Ford" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-ford/the-only-motive-in-the-world-that-will-keep-me-from-sin-is-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Motive" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-ford/the-only-motive-in-the-world-that-will-keep-me-from-sin-is-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc8/desmond-ford-14966_motive_the-only-motive-in-the-world-that-will-k_408529.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc8/desmond-ford-14966_motive_the-only-motive-in-the-world-that-will-k_408529.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc8/desmond-ford-14966_motive_the-only-motive-in-the-world-that-will-k_408529.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The only motive in the world that will keep me from sin is the knowledge that God is mine and I am his.” — Desmond Ford", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Desmond Ford", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-ford/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The only motive in the world...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-ford/the-only-motive-in-the-world-that-will-keep-me-from-sin-is-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-ford/the-only-motive-in-the-world-that-will-keep-me-from-sin-is-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```