---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Faith is only real when there is…"
description: "\"Faith is only real when there is obedience, never without it, and faith only becomes faith in the act of obedience.\" — Dietrich Bonhoeffer"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b68/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_faith_faith-is-only-real-when-there-is-obedien_1794302.jpg"
---

#  Faith is only real when there is obedience, never without…

![“Faith is only real when there is obedience, never without it, and faith only becomes faith in the act of obedience.” quote by Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b68/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_faith_faith-is-only-real-when-there-is-obedien_1794302.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b68/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_faith_faith-is-only-real-when-there-is-obedien_1794302.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b68/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_faith_faith-is-only-real-when-there-is-obedien_1794302.jpg)

> “Faith is only real when there is obedience, never without it, and faith only becomes faith in the act of obedience.”

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Faith becomes authentic only when expressed through obedient action; belief without deeds is empty.

**In simple terms:** Faith needs obedience to be real.

Key Takeaway

Align actions with professed beliefs.

Themes

faith obedience authenticity

Mood

thoughtful inspirational

Type

religious ethical

When to use this quote

- church life
- social justice
- personal commitment

Key Concepts

Christian ethics practical theology

Questions to Reflect On

- How does obedience shape your faith?
- When should obedience be questioned?

A Different Perspective

Obedience without discernment can lead to harmful conformity.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Faith Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith-faith/) [Faith Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith-real-1291185/) [Obedience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obedience/) [Obedience Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obedience-faith-1974863/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real Obedience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-obedience-1974864/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/)

## Related quotes

> [Faith that saves has one distinguishing quality: saving faith is a faith that produces obedience; it is a faith that brings about a way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/faith-that-saves-has-one-distinguishing-quality-saving-faith-is-a/)

[Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/)

> [“When obedience and faith are made perfect, it may be that knowledge and explanation shall be given.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-gatty/when-obedience-and-faith-are-made-perfect-it-may-be-that-knowledge/)

[Margaret Gatty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-gatty/)

> [“ROM1.5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/rom1-5-by-whom-we-have-received-grace-and-apostleship-for-obedience/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“What is it, really, that we could lose if we handed ourselves over to the discernment of faith? Would we really lose anything except…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-timothy-johnson/what-is-it-really-that-we-could-lose-if-we-handed-ourselves-over-to/)

[Luke Timothy Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-timothy-johnson/)

> [“We have received grace … through Him to bring about the obedience of faith among all the nations, on behalf of His name. Romans 1:5”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-moore/we-have-received-grace-through-him-to-bring-about-the-obedience-of/)

[Beth Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-moore/)

> [“Thought Of obedience, faith, adhesiveness; As I stand aloof and look there is to me something profoundly affecting in large masses of men following…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/thought-of-obedience-faith-adhesiveness-as-i-stand-aloof-and-look/)

[Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/)

> [The really important thing in life is not the avoidance of mistakes, but the obedience of faith. By obedience, the man is led step…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tournier/the-really-important-thing-in-life-is-not-the-avoidance-of-mistakes/)

[Paul Tournier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tournier/)

> [It isn't right to be obedient only when things go well; it is much harder to be a good, obedient soldier when things go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-keitel/it-isn-t-right-to-be-obedient-only-when-things-go-well-it-is-much/)

[Wilhelm Keitel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-keitel/)

> [I joined church by myself in a borrowed suit at 13. I had my neighbor's bible. So my walk and my faith have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niecy-nash/i-joined-church-by-myself-in-a-borrowed-suit-at-13-i-had-my-neighbor/)

[Niecy Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niecy-nash/)

> [“I craved to make my faith as real as possible, which meant being recklessly honest in His presence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-brenner/i-craved-to-make-my-faith-as-real-as-possible-which-meant-being/)

[Natalie Brenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-brenner/)

> [My goal is to help women learn to walk out their lives with real faith in a real Jesus who changes real lives forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-garrett/my-goal-is-to-help-women-learn-to-walk-out-their-lives-with-real/)

[Cynthia Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-garrett/)

> [“I have come to know that faith is a real power, not just an expression of belief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyd-k-packer/i-have-come-to-know-that-faith-is-a-real-power-not-just-an-expression/)

[Boyd K. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boyd-k-packer/)

> [“Blind faith is not real religion my friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/blind-faith-is-not-real-religion-my-friend/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [True faith, real and pure faith, cannot be practiced in moderation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-arterburn/true-faith-real-and-pure-faith-cannot-be-practiced-in-moderation/)

[Steve Arterburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-arterburn/)

> [What you see with the eyes of faith is more real than what you see with your optical eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-oyakhilome/what-you-see-with-the-eyes-of-faith-is-more-real-than-what-you-see/)

[Chris Oyakhilome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-oyakhilome/)

## More by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

> [So the fool, as distinct from the scoundrel, is completely self- satisfied; in fact, he can easily become dangerous, as it does not take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/so-the-fool-as-distinct-from-the-scoundrel-is-completely-self/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [Why do Christians sing when they are together? The reason is, quite simply, because in singing together it is possible for them to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/why-do-christians-sing-when-they-are-together-the-reason-is-quite/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [What we shall need is not geniuses, or cynics, or misanthropes, or clever tacticians, but plain, honest, straghtforward men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/what-we-shall-need-is-not-geniuses-or-cynics-or-misanthropes-or/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [...Gratitude transforms the torment of memory of good things now gone into silent joy. One bears what was lovely in the past not as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/gratitude-transforms-the-torment-of-memory-of-good-things-now-gone/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [Only he who believes is obedient and only he who is obedient believes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/only-he-who-believes-is-obedient-and-only-he-who-is-obedient-believes/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [Who can really be faithful in great things if he has not learned to be faithful in the things of daily life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/who-can-really-be-faithful-in-great-things-if-he-has-not-learned-to/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [“The church can only defend its own space by fighting, not for space, but for the salvation of the world. Otherwise the church becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-church-can-only-defend-its-own-space-by-fighting-not-for-space/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [There remains an experience of incomparable value . . . to see the great events of world history from below; from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/there-remains-an-experience-of-incomparable-value-to-see-the-great/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [“To endure the cross is not a tragedy; it is the suffering which is the fruit of an exclusive allegiance to Jesus Christ. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/to-endure-the-cross-is-not-a-tragedy-it-is-the-suffering-which-is-the/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [“There is only one church, the church of faith ruled by the word of Jesus Christ alone. This is the true catholic church that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/there-is-only-one-church-the-church-of-faith-ruled-by-the-word-of/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [“As Christians, we needn’t be at all ashamed of some impatience, longing, opposition to what is unnatural, and our full share of desire for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/as-christians-we-needn-t-be-at-all-ashamed-of-some-impatience-longing/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [Those who love their dream of a Christian community more than the Christian community itself become destroyers of that Christian community even though their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/those-who-love-their-dream-of-a-christian-community-more-than-the/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [“From now on there can be no more wars of faith. The only way to overcome our enemy is by loving him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/from-now-on-there-can-be-no-more-wars-of-faith-the-only-way-to/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [“The scriptures do not present us with a series of Christian types to be imitated according to choice; they preach to us in every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-scriptures-do-not-present-us-with-a-series-of-christian-types-to/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [We are not to simply bandage the wounds of victims beneath the wheels of injustice, we are to drive a spoke into the wheel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/we-are-not-to-simply-bandage-the-wounds-of-victims-beneath-the-wheels/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

[Explore all 711 Dietrich Bonhoeffer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

## More Faith quotes

> [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/)

[Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/)

> [Eternal Trinity... mystery deep as the sea, You could give me no greater gift than the gift of Yourself. For You are a fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/eternal-trinity-mystery-deep-as-the-sea-you-could-give-me-no-greater/)

[St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/)

> [Keep the faith, and keep going strong!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doreen-virtue/keep-the-faith-and-keep-going-strong/)

[Doreen Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doreen-virtue/)

> [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/)

[John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/)

> [Faith gives you a certain structure and meaning to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riffat-hassan/faith-gives-you-a-certain-structure-and-meaning-to-your-life/)

[Riffat Hassan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riffat-hassan/)

> [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/)

[Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/)

> [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/)

[Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/)

> [“No man is prejudiced in favour of a thing, knowing it to be wrong. He is attached to it on the belief of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/no-man-is-prejudiced-in-favour-of-a-thing-knowing-it-to-be-wrong-he/)

[Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/)

> [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/)

> [Holiness sincerity, and faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/holiness-sincerity-and-faith/)

[Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/)

> [“The only limitations for your life are the limiting beliefs in your mind. —Matt Morris”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-morris-1/the-only-limitations-for-your-life-are-the-limiting-beliefs-in-your/)

[Matt Morris (1](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-morris-1/)

> [“Just because your faith is shaken doesn’t mean the faith is shaken. The eternal truths of the Kingdom aren’t altered or affected by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-arthur/just-because-your-faith-is-shaken-doesn-t-mean-the-faith-is-shaken/)

[Sarah Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-arthur/)

> [Grit, determination, the right amount of crazy, self belief - everything it takes to be a champion. I have that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-poirier/grit-determination-the-right-amount-of-crazy-self-belief-everything/)

[Dustin Poirier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-poirier/)

> [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/)

[Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/)

> [Once you pull the trigger, you've got to throw balls aggressively and with conviction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-smith/once-you-pull-the-trigger-you-ve-got-to-throw-balls-aggressively-and/)

[Alex Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-smith/)

[Browse all 37,796 Faith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Faith is only real when there is obedience, never without it, and faith only becomes faith in the act of obedience.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Dietrich Bonhoeffer"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/faith-is-only-real-when-there-is-obedience-never-without-it-and-faith/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Faith"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/faith-is-only-real-when-there-is-obedience-never-without-it-and-faith/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b68/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_faith_faith-is-only-real-when-there-is-obedien_1794302.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b68/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_faith_faith-is-only-real-when-there-is-obedien_1794302.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b68/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_faith_faith-is-only-real-when-there-is-obedien_1794302.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Faith is only real when there is obedience, never without it, and faith only becomes faith in the act of…” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer",
                "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": "Dietrich Bonhoeffer",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Faith is only real when there...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/faith-is-only-real-when-there-is-obedience-never-without-it-and-faith/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/faith-is-only-real-when-there-is-obedience-never-without-it-and-faith/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
