--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sure, it would be great to be a better…" description: "\"“Sure, it would be great to be a better person, and you do hope to avoid the really big sins. But you figure, since we’re saved by grace, holiness is n..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aeb/kevin-deyoung-1086_better-person_sure-it-would-be-great-to-be-a-better-pe_2177495.png" --- # Sure, it would be great to be a better person, and you do… ![“Sure, it would be great to be a better person, and you do hope to avoid the really big sins. But you figure, since we’re saved by grace, holiness is not required of you, and frankly, your life seems fine without it. The hole in our holiness is that we don’t really care much about it.” quote by Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aeb/kevin-deyoung-1086_better-person_sure-it-would-be-great-to-be-a-better-pe_2177495.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aeb/kevin-deyoung-1086_better-person_sure-it-would-be-great-to-be-a-better-pe_2177495.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aeb/kevin-deyoung-1086_better-person_sure-it-would-be-great-to-be-a-better-pe_2177495.png) > ““Sure, it would be great to be a better person, and you do hope to avoid the really big sins. But you figure, since we’re saved by grace, holiness is not required of you, and frankly, your life seems fine without it. The hole in our holiness is that we don’t really care much about it.”” [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 does not eliminate the need for personal holiness; neglect leads to spiritual apathy. **In simple terms:** Grace isn’t a license to ignore holiness. Key Takeaway Pursue holiness despite grace. Themes faith holiness grace Mood reflective serious Type theological explanatory When to use this quote - personal devotions - church teaching - ethical decisions Key Concepts theology spiritual growth human nature Questions to Reflect On - Why is holiness still important? - How can grace motivate moral living? A Different Perspective Holiness can feel optional in a grace‑focused culture. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Better person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-person/) [Grace Holiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace-holiness-4688530/) [Hole Holiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hole-holiness-4688531/) [Holiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holiness/) [Holiness Required](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holiness-required-4688529/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Saved by grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saved-by-grace/) [Sins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sins/) ## Related quotes > [“We are all sinners who have been saved by Grace. We have not been saved from sinning, but we have been redeemed despite it".…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-alan-woods/we-are-all-sinners-who-have-been-saved-by-grace-we-have-not-been/) [R. Alan Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-alan-woods/) > [“All our sins are offensive to God and require forgiveness. But over and over the Bible teaches that some sins are worse than others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/all-our-sins-are-offensive-to-god-and-require-forgiveness-but-over/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [As a pastor, I addressed the sorts of issues I see people struggling with most and the issues talked about most directly and most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/as-a-pastor-i-addressed-the-sorts-of-issues-i-see-people-struggling/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [“I have being saved by the grace of God. I am a child of God. The Lord's great favour and mighty power is upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/i-have-being-saved-by-the-grace-of-god-i-am-a-child-of-god-the-lord-s/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“AMBROSE: Do not rely on your own efforts but on the grace of Christ. "You are," says the apostle, "saved by grace. Therefore it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-crosby/ambrose-do-not-rely-on-your-own-efforts-but-on-the-grace-of-christ/) [Cindy Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-crosby/) > [“Peace is the ultimate weapon of mankind to save the future generations from extinction!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avijeet-das/peace-is-the-ultimate-weapon-of-mankind-to-save-the-future/) [Avijeet Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avijeet-das/) > [“It’s time to take some risks. It’s time to shake off the dull sloth of what this world gives us and dare to master…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-keith/it-s-time-to-take-some-risks-it-s-time-to-shake-off-the-dull-sloth-of/) [Scott Keith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-keith/) > [“Take the word saved as it is used in the evangelical vernacular. It’s true, you are saved by grace, by love, by light … but it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/addie-zierman/take-the-word-saved-as-it-is-used-in-the-evangelical-vernacular-it-s/) [Addie Zierman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/addie-zierman/) > [“If there is not radical, concrete growth in humble love towards everyone (even your enemies), you don’t really know you are a sinner saved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-taylor/if-there-is-not-radical-concrete-growth-in-humble-love-towards/) [Justin Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-taylor/) > [“Know God and let Him be known. You were saved by grace for greater works apportioned for you even before you were born. Share…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/know-god-and-let-him-be-known-you-were-saved-by-grace-for-greater/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [I went from sinner to saved by grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demond-wilson/i-went-from-sinner-to-saved-by-grace/) [Demond Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demond-wilson/) > [“I have to serve with all my might.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/i-have-to-serve-with-all-my-might/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Race and culture. The moralist/conservative bias is to use truth to evaluate cultures. Feeling superior to others in the impulse of self-justifying pride, moralists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/race-and-culture-the-moralist-conservative-bias-is-to-use-truth-to/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“When we measure ourselves by the life of Jesus, who humbled Himself on the cross, we are overwhelmed with the shabbiness, even the vileness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-oswald-sanders/when-we-measure-ourselves-by-the-life-of-jesus-who-humbled-himself-on/) [J. Oswald Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-oswald-sanders/) > [“The poor man and woman of the gospel have made peace with their flawed existence. They are aware of their lack of wholeness, their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/the-poor-man-and-woman-of-the-gospel-have-made-peace-with-their/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) ## 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 Better person quotes > [“Claiming to be offended is a great way to elevate yourself at the expense of others: “Look at me! I'm a much better person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-markus-malloy/claiming-to-be-offended-is-a-great-way-to-elevate-yourself-at-the/) [Oliver Markus Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-markus-malloy/) > [Go afield with a good attitude, with respect for the wildlife you hunt and for the forest and fields in which you walk. Immerse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-bear/go-afield-with-a-good-attitude-with-respect-for-the-wildlife-you-hunt/) [Fred Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-bear/) > [My favorite thing about being a mom is just what a better person it makes you on a daily basis,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-barrymore/my-favorite-thing-about-being-a-mom-is-just-what-a-better-person-it/) [Drew Barrymore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-barrymore/) > [A real good artist learns to be a better person through all the changes they've been through. They keep their loving and honesty growing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bradley/a-real-good-artist-learns-to-be-a-better-person-through-all-the/) [Charles Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bradley/) > [I wasn't paid a dime for my track career. But participating in the Olympics gave me the opportunity to learn about different cultures; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wyomia-tyus/i-wasn-t-paid-a-dime-for-my-track-career-but-participating-in-the/) [Wyomia Tyus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wyomia-tyus/) > [I'm a better person when I'm preparing for a role, when I'm studying a role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/i-m-a-better-person-when-i-m-preparing-for-a-role-when-i-m-studying-a/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [I found myself thinking a lot about my own spirituality. What it means to be Jewish, what it means to forgive, what it means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tod-goldberg/i-found-myself-thinking-a-lot-about-my-own-spirituality-what-it-means/) [Tod Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tod-goldberg/) > [I found the emotion that as an athlete you block out, and it really helped me to understand myself as a person. I'm a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-lewis/i-found-the-emotion-that-as-an-athlete-you-block-out-and-it-really/) [Carl Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-lewis/) > [I always try to see my weakness, work on it, to be better as a person and a player, everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-salah/i-always-try-to-see-my-weakness-work-on-it-to-be-better-as-a-person/) [Mohamed Salah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-salah/) > [Life is like a circle it has no end point and every turn is a challenge did you notice it a circle has every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/life-is-like-a-circle-it-has-no-end-point-and-every-turn-is-a/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [I started running ultras to become a better person,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenn-shelton/i-started-running-ultras-to-become-a-better-person/) [Jenn Shelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenn-shelton/) > [If you live with a single parent, you don't see compromise. You witness a grown person living in a world where they do what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rock/if-you-live-with-a-single-parent-you-don-t-see-compromise-you-witness/) [Chris Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rock/) > [I take no pleasure in seeing DeLay swing gently in the wind. But the thing I believe in the most is ethics. If someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/i-take-no-pleasure-in-seeing-delay-swing-gently-in-the-wind-but-the/) [Tom DeLay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/) > [Sometimes you have to steer away from the crowd in order to be a better person. It's not always easy, that's for sure. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-elkeles/sometimes-you-have-to-steer-away-from-the-crowd-in-order-to-be-a/) [Simone Elkeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-elkeles/) > [Nobody ever feels 100% ready when an opportunity arises. Because most great opportunities in life force us to grow beyond our comfort zones, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/nobody-ever-feels-100-ready-when-an-opportunity-arises-because-most/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) [Browse all 980 Better person quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-person/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Sure, it would be great to be a better person, and you do hope to avoid the really big sins. But you figure, since we’re saved by grace, holiness is not required of you, and frankly, your life seems fine without it. The hole in our holiness is that we don’t really care much about it.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kevin DeYoung" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/sure-it-would-be-great-to-be-a-better-person-and-you-do-hope-to-avoid/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Better person" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/sure-it-would-be-great-to-be-a-better-person-and-you-do-hope-to-avoid/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aeb/kevin-deyoung-1086_better-person_sure-it-would-be-great-to-be-a-better-pe_2177495.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aeb/kevin-deyoung-1086_better-person_sure-it-would-be-great-to-be-a-better-pe_2177495.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aeb/kevin-deyoung-1086_better-person_sure-it-would-be-great-to-be-a-better-pe_2177495.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Sure, it would be great to be a better person, and you do hope to avoid the really big sins. But you figure…” — 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": "“Sure, it would be great to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/sure-it-would-be-great-to-be-a-better-person-and-you-do-hope-to-avoid/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/sure-it-would-be-great-to-be-a-better-person-and-you-do-hope-to-avoid/#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 } } ] } ```