--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: God not only works obedience in us by his…" description: "\"“God not only works obedience in us by his grace, it’s also by his grace that our imperfect obedience is acceptable in his sight.”\" — Kevin DeYoung" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dc/kevin-deyoung-1086_grace_god-not-only-works-obedience-in-us-by-hi_3141602.png" --- # God not only works obedience in us by his grace, it’s also… ![“God not only works obedience in us by his grace, it’s also by his grace that our imperfect obedience is acceptable in his sight.” quote by Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dc/kevin-deyoung-1086_grace_god-not-only-works-obedience-in-us-by-hi_3141602.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dc/kevin-deyoung-1086_grace_god-not-only-works-obedience-in-us-by-hi_3141602.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dc/kevin-deyoung-1086_grace_god-not-only-works-obedience-in-us-by-hi_3141602.png) > ““God not only works obedience in us by his grace, it’s also by his grace that our imperfect obedience is acceptable in his sight.”” [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Grace enables obedience and also makes imperfect obedience acceptable to God. **In simple terms:** Grace allows imperfect obedience. Key Takeaway Embrace grace while striving for obedience. Themes grace obedience faith Mood hopeful inspirational Type theological motivational When to use this quote - personal prayer - church teaching - spiritual counseling Key Concepts theology divine acceptance Questions to Reflect On - What does grace mean for daily actions? - How to balance grace and effort? A Different Perspective May downplay personal responsibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace/) [Obedience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obedience/) ## Related quotes > [Grace does not lead us to overlook obedience. Grace compels and empowers us for obedience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/grace-does-not-lead-us-to-overlook-obedience-grace-compels-and/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [By obedience a man is guarded against pride. Prayer is given for the sake of obedience. The grace of the Holy Spirit is also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silouan-the-athonite/by-obedience-a-man-is-guarded-against-pride-prayer-is-given-for-the/) [Silouan the Athonite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silouan-the-athonite/) > [There is a state of perfect peace with God to be attained under imperfect obedience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/there-is-a-state-of-perfect-peace-with-god-to-be-attained-under/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [“When I use the term the law of God here, I am not referring specifically to the Law given to the nation of Israel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/when-i-use-the-term-the-law-of-god-here-i-am-not-referring/) [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) > [There is a state of perfect peace with God which can be attained under imperfect obedience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/there-is-a-state-of-perfect-peace-with-god-which-can-be-attained/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [The goal of revelation is not information only, but affection, worship, and obedience. Christ in us will be realized only as we drink deeply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/the-goal-of-revelation-is-not-information-only-but-affection-worship/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [In God's name, Monsieur, let us remain indifferent; let us strive to be equally attached to whatever obedience marks out for us, be it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-de-paul/in-god-s-name-monsieur-let-us-remain-indifferent-let-us-strive-to-be/) [Vincent de Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-de-paul/) > [“Obedience makes our heart receptive to what God has already done. It doesn’t move Him; His heart is always aflame toward us. Generally, this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-williams/obedience-makes-our-heart-receptive-to-what-god-has-already-done-it/) [Brian Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-williams/) > [Grace is free, but it's not cheap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/grace-is-free-but-it-s-not-cheap/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [Struggling against the legalism of simple obedience, we end by setting up the most dangerous law of all, the law of the world and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/struggling-against-the-legalism-of-simple-obedience-we-end-by-setting/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [The Christian man must aim at that complete obedience to God in which life finds its highest happiness, its greatest good, its perfect consummation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barclay/the-christian-man-must-aim-at-that-complete-obedience-to-god-in-which/) [William Barclay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barclay/) > [“God uses one whom others would have passed over without a second glance. 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Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) ## More by Kevin DeYoung > [“Worry about the future is not simply a character tic, it is the sin of unbelief, an indication that our hearts are not resting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/worry-about-the-future-is-not-simply-a-character-tic-it-is-the-sin-of/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [There is nothing gray about whether a follower of Christ should see 50 Shades of Grey. This is a black and white issue. Don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/there-is-nothing-gray-about-whether-a-follower-of-christ-should-see/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [A catechism is simply a tool for teaching the fundamentals of the faith. Unlike a creed or confession, a catechism uses questions and answers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/a-catechism-is-simply-a-tool-for-teaching-the-fundamentals-of-the/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [Live for God. Obey the Scriptures. Think of others before yourself. Be holy. Love Jesus. 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Jesus is the story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/everything-before-jesus-is-preface-everything-after-jesus-is-appendix/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [Sometimes feeling overwhelmed is part of what it means to be a Christian. You can't bear somebody else's burden unless you are taking something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/sometimes-feeling-overwhelmed-is-part-of-what-it-means-to-be-a/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [“Faith and good works are both necessary. But one is the root and the other the fruit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/faith-and-good-works-are-both-necessary-but-one-is-the-root-and-the/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) [Explore all 295 Kevin DeYoung quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) ## More Grace quotes > [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/) > [“There is still a certain grace in a dead festival. It has been happy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/there-is-still-a-certain-grace-in-a-dead-festival-it-has-been-happy/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Enlightenment is lightening up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-myers/enlightenment-is-lightening-up/) [Mike Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-myers/) > [“Serve in the grace of strength within thy soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/serve-in-the-grace-of-strength-within-thy-soul/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Grace does not destroy nature, it perfects it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/grace-does-not-destroy-nature-it-perfects-it/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [There are two kinds of beauty; there is a beauty which God gives at birth, and which withers as a flower. 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Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [Asanas bring perfection in body, beauty in form, grace, strength, compactness, and the hardness and brilliance of a diamond.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patanjali/asanas-bring-perfection-in-body-beauty-in-form-grace-strength/) [Patanjali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patanjali/) > [Grace is the power of the Holy Spirit coming to us free of charge to enable you to do with ease what you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/grace-is-the-power-of-the-holy-spirit-coming-to-us-free-of-charge-to/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [ “Through the grace of a thief, one can become a thief and through the grace of a Gnani \[the enlightened one\], one can become… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/through-the-grace-of-a-thief-one-can-become-a-thief-and-through-the/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“God reproduces and lives out His image in millions of ordinary people like us. 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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/) [Browse all 6,886 Grace quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“God not only works obedience in us by his grace, it’s also by his grace that our imperfect obedience is acceptable in his sight.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kevin DeYoung" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/god-not-only-works-obedience-in-us-by-his-grace-it-s-also-by-his/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Grace" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/god-not-only-works-obedience-in-us-by-his-grace-it-s-also-by-his/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dc/kevin-deyoung-1086_grace_god-not-only-works-obedience-in-us-by-hi_3141602.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dc/kevin-deyoung-1086_grace_god-not-only-works-obedience-in-us-by-hi_3141602.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3dc/kevin-deyoung-1086_grace_god-not-only-works-obedience-in-us-by-hi_3141602.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“God not only works obedience in us by his grace, it’s also by his grace that our imperfect obedience is…” — Kevin DeYoung", "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": "Kevin DeYoung", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“God not only works obedience in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/god-not-only-works-obedience-in-us-by-his-grace-it-s-also-by-his/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/god-not-only-works-obedience-in-us-by-his-grace-it-s-also-by-his/#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 } } ] } ```