--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sanctification is at base a tenacious…" description: "\"“Sanctification is at base a tenacious grip on the robe of Christ, a wrestling with the Lord to bless us, a sojourn in the valley of death in pursuit o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc8/kevin-deyoung-1086_death_sanctification-is-at-base-a-tenacious-gr_1430828.png" --- # Sanctification is at base a tenacious grip on the robe of… ![“Sanctification is at base a tenacious grip on the robe of Christ, a wrestling with the Lord to bless us, a sojourn in the valley of death in pursuit of a city we cannot see.” quote by Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc8/kevin-deyoung-1086_death_sanctification-is-at-base-a-tenacious-gr_1430828.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc8/kevin-deyoung-1086_death_sanctification-is-at-base-a-tenacious-gr_1430828.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc8/kevin-deyoung-1086_death_sanctification-is-at-base-a-tenacious-gr_1430828.png) > ““Sanctification is at base a tenacious grip on the robe of Christ, a wrestling with the Lord to bless us, a sojourn in the valley of death in pursuit of a city we cannot see.”” [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. Spiritual growth involves clinging to Christ, wrestling with God, and enduring suffering toward unseen divine promises. **In simple terms:** Sanctification is a persistent, painful pursuit of Christ’s unseen kingdom. Key Takeaway Embrace struggle as part of spiritual formation. Themes spirituality struggle hope Mood hopeful serene Type inspirational theological When to use this quote - personal prayer - church discipleship - missionary work - grief counseling Key Concepts Theology soteriology Questions to Reflect On - What does “the city we cannot see” mean to you? - How do you sustain hope amid spiritual wrestling? A Different Perspective Suffering can lead to disillusionment if not guided. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christ Wrestling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ-wrestling-5093563/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Grip Robe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grip-robe-5093564/) [Robe Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/robe-christ-5093561/) [Sanctification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sanctification/) [Sanctification Base](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sanctification-base-5093562/) ## Related quotes > [...,the will of God for your life is pretty straightforward: Be holy like Jesus, by the power of the Spirit, for the glory of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/the-will-of-god-for-your-life-is-pretty-straightforward-be-holy-like/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [Sanctification is not by surrender, but by divinely enabled toil and effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/sanctification-is-not-by-surrender-but-by-divinely-enabled-toil-and/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [Sanctification will be drudgery unless we believe that holiness is possible and that it is pleasing to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/sanctification-will-be-drudgery-unless-we-believe-that-holiness-is/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [“Even though this seems rather plain, we Christians can easily become confused about what sanctification is. Instead of emphasizing its connection to the Lord…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/even-though-this-seems-rather-plain-we-christians-can-easily-become/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [“The whole of the Christian life, from election to justification to sanctification to final glorification, is made possible by and is an expression of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/the-whole-of-the-christian-life-from-election-to-justification-to/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [It’s all too easy to turn the fight of faith into sanctification-by-checklist. Take care of a few bad habits, develop a couple good ones,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/it-s-all-too-easy-to-turn-the-fight-of-faith-into-sanctification-by/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [“you end up feeling successful at sanctification because you stayed away from drugs, lost weight, served at the soup kitchen, and renounced Styrofoam. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/you-end-up-feeling-successful-at-sanctification-because-you-stayed/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [Sanctification consists of the daily realization that in Christ we have died, and in Christ we have been raised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/sanctification-consists-of-the-daily-realization-that-in-christ-we/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) > [I think it's for me with regards to this issue I believe in justification at the point of salvation; I believe in sanctification at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-chambers/i-think-it-s-for-me-with-regards-to-this-issue-i-believe-in/) [Alan Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-chambers/) > [“It is its sanctification of the base human instincts that makes Islam the menace of all mankind”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-s-murthy/it-is-its-sanctification-of-the-base-human-instincts-that-makes-islam/) [B.S. Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-s-murthy/) > [“With the veil removed by the rending of Jesus' flesh, with nothing on God's side to prevent us from entering, why do we tarry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-w-tozer/with-the-veil-removed-by-the-rending-of-jesus-flesh-with-nothing-on/) [A.W. Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-w-tozer/) > [The starting point of sanctification is the filthiness, corruption, or stain of sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ames/the-starting-point-of-sanctification-is-the-filthiness-corruption-or/) [William Ames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ames/) > [“Wherever the Spirit of the Lord is at work, one of the discernible evidences of His presence is changed personalities. Men can and do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-e-adams/wherever-the-spirit-of-the-lord-is-at-work-one-of-the-discernible/) [Jay E. Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-e-adams/) > [“Expressed in theological terms, “In justification our own works have no place at all, and simple faith in Christ is the one thing needful.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-l-brown/expressed-in-theological-terms-in-justification-our-own-works-have-no/) [Michael L. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-l-brown/) > [“Sanctification comes from the Holy Spirit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/sanctification-comes-from-the-holy-spirit/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) ## 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. And as you do these things, do whatever else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/live-for-god-obey-the-scriptures-think-of-others-before-yourself-be/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [Busyness kills more Christians than bullets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/busyness-kills-more-christians-than-bullets/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [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/) > [If there really is a perfect will of God we are meant to discover, in which we will find tremendous freedom and fulfillment, why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/if-there-really-is-a-perfect-will-of-god-we-are-meant-to-discover-in/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [Seek first the kingdom of God, and then trust that He will take care of our needs, even before we know what they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/seek-first-the-kingdom-of-god-and-then-trust-that-he-will-take-care/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [There is no sin so prevalent, so insidious, and so deep as the sin of fearing people more than we fear God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/there-is-no-sin-so-prevalent-so-insidious-and-so-deep-as-the-sin-of/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [“The pursuit of holiness is not a quixotic effort to do just what Jesus did. It’s the fight to live out the life that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/the-pursuit-of-holiness-is-not-a-quixotic-effort-to-do-just-what/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [Offendedness is just about the last shared moral currency in our country. And, I'm sorry, but it's really annoying. We don't discuss ideas or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/offendedness-is-just-about-the-last-shared-moral-currency-in-our/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [The finality of Christs redemption for us is intimately tied to the finality of his revelation to us. . . . If we say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/the-finality-of-christs-redemption-for-us-is-intimately-tied-to-the/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [Everything before Jesus is preface. Everything after Jesus is appendix. 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 Death quotes > [“He wondered how it was fair that your dying should depend so much on when you were born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/he-wondered-how-it-was-fair-that-your-dying-should-depend-so-much-on/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. I should let him bite me to death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-to-live-at-the-cost-of-the-life-even-of-a-snake-i/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [Retirement? You're talking about death, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-altman/retirement-you-re-talking-about-death-right/) [Robert Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-altman/) > [With multiplayer, permanent death, and an ever-changing world to explore and conquer, 'A Valley Without Wind' might be the place you're looking for if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-manuel/with-multiplayer-permanent-death-and-an-ever-changing-world-to/) [Rob Manuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-manuel/) > [“What did you see?” she asked gently. His brow furrowed, as if he could not understand the question. Then his eyes turned to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-anthony-torino/what-did-you-see-she-asked-gently-his-brow-furrowed-as-if-he-could/) [J. Anthony Torino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-anthony-torino/) > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“I practice Dying--every night-- But have not learned to, still-- Though Talented--by Mortal bones-- For such a common Skill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-powers/i-practice-dying-every-night-but-have-not-learned-to-still-though/) [Alan W. Powers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-w-powers/) > [“You must understand the pain and grief of losing someone is nothing more than a function of survival.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-cooper/you-must-understand-the-pain-and-grief-of-losing-someone-is-nothing/) [Steven Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-cooper/) > [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [“Death is a reality that calls the rest of life and all of our assorted strivings into sharp relief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/death-is-a-reality-that-calls-the-rest-of-life-and-all-of-our/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [I love life. I love life to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuelle-riva/i-love-life-i-love-life-to-death/) [Emmanuelle Riva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuelle-riva/) > [I think when you’re dying you start looking for important things in the corners. You can’t let anything that seems even semi-important pass, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crutcher/i-think-when-you-re-dying-you-start-looking-for-important-things-in/) [Chris Crutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crutcher/) [Browse all 39,127 Death quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Sanctification is at base a tenacious grip on the robe of Christ, a wrestling with the Lord to bless us, a sojourn in the valley of death in pursuit of a city we cannot see.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kevin DeYoung" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/sanctification-is-at-base-a-tenacious-grip-on-the-robe-of-christ-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Death" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/sanctification-is-at-base-a-tenacious-grip-on-the-robe-of-christ-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc8/kevin-deyoung-1086_death_sanctification-is-at-base-a-tenacious-gr_1430828.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc8/kevin-deyoung-1086_death_sanctification-is-at-base-a-tenacious-gr_1430828.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc8/kevin-deyoung-1086_death_sanctification-is-at-base-a-tenacious-gr_1430828.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Sanctification is at base a tenacious grip on the robe of Christ, a wrestling with the Lord to bless us, a…” — 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": "“Sanctification is at base a tenacious...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/sanctification-is-at-base-a-tenacious-grip-on-the-robe-of-christ-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/sanctification-is-at-base-a-tenacious-grip-on-the-robe-of-christ-a/#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 } } ] } ```