--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The shape this book has taken reflects my…" description: "\"“The shape this book has taken reflects my belief that there is need to blow the whistle on the sidelining of personal holiness that has been a general..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53f/j-i-packer-2-17620_bible_the-shape-this-book-has-taken-reflects-m_1379735.jpg" --- # The shape this book has taken reflects my belief that… ![“The shape this book has taken reflects my belief that there is need to blow the whistle on the sidelining of personal holiness that has been a general trend among Bible-centered Western Christians during my years of ministry. It is not a trend that one would have expected, since Scripture insists…” quote by J.I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53f/j-i-packer-2-17620_bible_the-shape-this-book-has-taken-reflects-m_1379735.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53f/j-i-packer-2-17620_bible_the-shape-this-book-has-taken-reflects-m_1379735.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53f/j-i-packer-2-17620_bible_the-shape-this-book-has-taken-reflects-m_1379735.jpg) > ““The shape this book has taken reflects my belief that there is need to blow the whistle on the sidelining of personal holiness that has been a general trend among Bible-centered Western Christians during my years of ministry. It is not a trend that one would have expected, since Scripture insists so strongly that Christians are called to holiness, that God is pleased with holiness but outraged by unholiness, and that without holiness none will see the Lord.”” [J.I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author argues that modern Western Christianity has neglected personal holiness, contrary to biblical teaching that holiness is essential and pleasing to God. **In simple terms:** Modern Christianity often ignores personal holiness, despite biblical emphasis. Key Takeaway Prioritize personal holiness in faith practice. Themes faith holiness biblical teaching modern church spiritual growth Mood contemplative inspirational Type theological motivational When to use this quote - church preaching - personal devotion - theological study Key Concepts sanctification obedience spiritual discipline Questions to Reflect On - What obstacles prevent believers from pursuing holiness? - How can churches revive the emphasis on personal holiness? A Different Perspective Holiness is presented as optional rather than essential. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Called Holiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/called-holiness-428836/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Holiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holiness/) [Holiness God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holiness-god-392528/) [Holiness Outraged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holiness-outraged-4776034/) [Personal Holiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-holiness-647347/) [Unholiness Holiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unholiness-holiness-4776033/) ## Related quotes > [How vast the benefits divine which we in Christ possess! We are redeemed from guilt and shame and called to holiness. But not for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustus-toplady/how-vast-the-benefits-divine-which-we-in-christ-possess-we-are/) [Augustus Toplady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustus-toplady/) > [With supernatural intuition Blessed Josemaria untiringly preached the universal call to holiness and apostolate. Christ calls everyone to become holy in the realities of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-paul-ii/with-supernatural-intuition-blessed-josemaria-untiringly-preached-the/) [Pope John Paul II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-paul-ii/) > [That opinion that personal holiness is unnecessary to final glorification is in direct opposition to every dictate of reason; to every declaration of Scripture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustus-toplady/that-opinion-that-personal-holiness-is-unnecessary-to-final/) [Augustus Toplady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustus-toplady/) > [I earnestly long for more grace and personal holiness, and more usefulness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-murray/i-earnestly-long-for-more-grace-and-personal-holiness-and-more/) [Robert E. Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-murray/) > [Each of us is accountable to God for our personal holiness. Humbling yourself by letting others into your life and allowing them to help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-leigh-demoss/each-of-us-is-accountable-to-god-for-our-personal-holiness-humbling/) [Nancy Leigh DeMoss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-leigh-demoss/) > [You cannot study the Bible diligently and earnestly without being struck by an obvious fact-the whole matter of personal holiness is highly important to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/you-cannot-study-the-bible-diligently-and-earnestly-without-being/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [“God's holiness is not an unloving holiness, and God's love is not an unholy love. It is only by keeping these two primary moral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-c-oden/god-s-holiness-is-not-an-unloving-holiness-and-god-s-love-is-not-an/) [Thomas C. Oden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-c-oden/) > [The pursuit of holiness is a joint venture between God and the Christian. No one can attain any degree of holiness without God working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/the-pursuit-of-holiness-is-a-joint-venture-between-god-and-the/) [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) > [“The holiness of God makes Him the possessor of all earthly wealth, which belongs to Him forever”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/the-holiness-of-god-makes-him-the-possessor-of-all-earthly-wealth/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [When people ask me to name the Ligonier teaching material they should use to help them grow; I tell them, 'You should start with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/when-people-ask-me-to-name-the-ligonier-teaching-material-they-should/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [“Worshiping in the beauty of holiness is an invitation to be participants in the holiness of God, not perfecters of it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-braun/worshiping-in-the-beauty-of-holiness-is-an-invitation-to-be/) [Tyler Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-braun/) > [“God’s holiness without God’s love would be unbearable. God’s love without God’s holiness would be unjust. God’s wisdom found a way to bring them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-c-oden/god-s-holiness-without-god-s-love-would-be-unbearable-god-s-love/) [Thomas C. Oden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-c-oden/) > [It does not seem proper to speak of one attribute of God as being more central and fundamental than another; but if this were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-berkhof/it-does-not-seem-proper-to-speak-of-one-attribute-of-god-as-being/) [Louis Berkhof](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-berkhof/) > [When your humanness is confronted by the magnificence and holiness of God, you are made SO aware of your need for God’s grace...Romans 12:1…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darlene-zschech/when-your-humanness-is-confronted-by-the-magnificence-and-holiness-of/) [Darlene Zschech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darlene-zschech/) > [What is sin? It is the glory of God not honored. The holiness of God not reverenced. The greatness of God not admired. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/what-is-sin-it-is-the-glory-of-god-not-honored-the-holiness-of-god/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) ## More by J.I. Packer > [“Trafton, by the way, has taken a lesson from Lewis and written a delightful children’s tale, The Rise and Fall of Mount Majestic (see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer-2/trafton-by-the-way-has-taken-a-lesson-from-lewis-and-written-a/) [J.I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer-2/) > [“as signs of inadequacy and weakness, they look on wealth as a source of stability and strength. Our proud hearts shrink from weakness, real…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer-2/as-signs-of-inadequacy-and-weakness-they-look-on-wealth-as-a-source/) [J.I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer-2/) > [“the nasty thing which no polite person nowadays will talk about in public. But death, even when unmentionable, remains inescapable. The one sure fact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer-2/the-nasty-thing-which-no-polite-person-nowadays-will-talk-about-in/) [J.I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer-2/) > [“The preacher should work to convert his congregation; the wife should work to save her unbelieving husband. Christians are sent to convert, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer-2/the-preacher-should-work-to-convert-his-congregation-the-wife-should/) [J.I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer-2/) > [“Humility is the product of ongoing repentance as one decides against, turns from, and by watching and praying seeks to steer clear of pride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer-2/humility-is-the-product-of-ongoing-repentance-as-one-decides-against/) [J.I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer-2/) > [“Taste and see that the LORD is good,” says the psalmist (Ps 34:8). To “taste” is, as we say, to “try” a mouthful of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer-2/taste-and-see-that-the-lord-is-good-says-the-psalmist-ps-34-8-to/) [J.I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer-2/) > [“Historical exegesis is only the preliminary part of interpretation; application is its essence. Exegesis without application should not be called interpretation at all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer-2/historical-exegesis-is-only-the-preliminary-part-of-interpretation/) [J.I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer-2/) > [“There is something exceedingly improving to the mind in a contemplation of the Divinity. It is a subject so vast, that all our thoughts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer-2/there-is-something-exceedingly-improving-to-the-mind-in-a/) [J.I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer-2/) > [“the Son of God told his disciples to baptize “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer-2/the-son-of-god-told-his-disciples-to-baptize-in-the-name-of-the/) [J.I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer-2/) > [“so we are cruel to ourselves if we try to live in this world without knowing about the God whose world it is and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer-2/so-we-are-cruel-to-ourselves-if-we-try-to-live-in-this-world-without/) [J.I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer-2/) > [“Nor is it the spirit of those Christians - alas, they are many - whose ambition in life seems limited to building a nice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer-2/nor-is-it-the-spirit-of-those-christians-alas-they-are-many-whose/) [J.I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer-2/) > [“Meditation is the activity of calling to mind, and thinking over, and dwelling on, and applying to oneself, the various things that one knows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer-2/meditation-is-the-activity-of-calling-to-mind-and-thinking-over-and/) [J.I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer-2/) > [“You sum up the whole of New Testament religion if you describe it as the knowledge of God as one’s holy Father. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer-2/you-sum-up-the-whole-of-new-testament-religion-if-you-describe-it-as/) [J.I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer-2/) > [“Many have found it hard to see what claim the law can have on the Christian. We are free from the law, they say;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer-2/many-have-found-it-hard-to-see-what-claim-the-law-can-have-on-the/) [J.I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer-2/) > [“What we have to grasp, then, is that the bad conscience of the natural man is not at all the same thing as conviction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer-2/what-we-have-to-grasp-then-is-that-the-bad-conscience-of-the-natural/) [J.I. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer-2/) [Explore all 36 J.I. Packer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer-2/) ## More Bible quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“The Devil can cite Scripture for his purpose, Sergeant,’ Anthony Payne replied. ‘That is from The Merchant of Venice, but it holds great truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arnold/the-devil-can-cite-scripture-for-his-purpose-sergeant-anthony-payne/) [Michael Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arnold/) > [When you put your hand on the Bible, you are saying something much stronger than just telling your peers that you're going to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-greenwood/when-you-put-your-hand-on-the-bible-you-are-saying-something-much/) [Lee Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-greenwood/) > [“Scripture also teaches that human beings are morally responsible creatures”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-peterson/scripture-also-teaches-that-human-beings-are-morally-responsible/) [Robert A. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-peterson/) > [“The wife of a junior officer cooped up in a horrible canvas partition in steerage for five months wrote: "I had enjoyed much peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-taylor/the-wife-of-a-junior-officer-cooped-up-in-a-horrible-canvas-partition/) [Stephen Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-taylor/) > [O Word of God incarnate . . . It is the golden casket Where gems of truth are stored; It is the heaven-drawn picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walsham-how/o-word-of-god-incarnate-it-is-the-golden-casket-where-gems-of-truth/) [Walsham How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walsham-how/) > [How can I trust that the Bible is reliable?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/how-can-i-trust-that-the-bible-is-reliable/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [Every plant which my heavenly father has not planted with be uprooted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/every-plant-which-my-heavenly-father-has-not-planted-with-be-uprooted/) [Jesus Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-christ/) > [Where I come from you're not raised to think on your own. It's not that you're pushed to read the Bible. The Bible is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abel-ferrara/where-i-come-from-you-re-not-raised-to-think-on-your-own-it-s-not/) [Abel Ferrara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abel-ferrara/) > [“I felt like praying or something, when I was in bed, but I couldn't do it. I can't always pray when I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-felt-like-praying-or-something-when-i-was-in-bed-but-i-couldn-t-do/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [What comes to mind when you think of heaven? Heaven is referred to in fifty-four of the Bible's sixty-six books, and the final two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/what-comes-to-mind-when-you-think-of-heaven-heaven-is-referred-to-in/) [David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/) > [“While it is in one sense a result of God’s presence within us, the New Testament also describes a process involved in our “putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/while-it-is-in-one-sense-a-result-of-god-s-presence-within-us-the-new/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [The definition of a Church is crystal clear in the New Testament. We see the picture of it. They came together the first day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/the-definition-of-a-church-is-crystal-clear-in-the-new-testament-we/) [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) [Browse all 8,465 Bible quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The shape this book has taken reflects my belief that there is need to blow the whistle on the sidelining of personal holiness that has been a general trend among Bible-centered Western Christians during my years of ministry. It is not a trend that one would have expected, since Scripture insists so strongly that Christians are called to holiness, that God is pleased with holiness but outraged by unholiness, and that without holiness none will see the Lord.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "J.I. Packer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer-2/the-shape-this-book-has-taken-reflects-my-belief-that-there-is-need/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bible" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer-2/the-shape-this-book-has-taken-reflects-my-belief-that-there-is-need/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53f/j-i-packer-2-17620_bible_the-shape-this-book-has-taken-reflects-m_1379735.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53f/j-i-packer-2-17620_bible_the-shape-this-book-has-taken-reflects-m_1379735.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53f/j-i-packer-2-17620_bible_the-shape-this-book-has-taken-reflects-m_1379735.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The shape this book has taken reflects my belief that there is need to blow the whistle on the sidelining of…” — J.I. Packer", "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": "J.I. Packer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-i-packer-2/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The shape this book has taken...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer-2/the-shape-this-book-has-taken-reflects-my-belief-that-there-is-need/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-i-packer-2/the-shape-this-book-has-taken-reflects-my-belief-that-there-is-need/#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 } } ] } ```