--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: you end up feeling successful at…" description: "\"“you end up feeling successful at sanctification because you stayed away from drugs, lost weight, served at the soup kitchen, and renounced Styrofoam. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d65/kevin-deyoung-1086_sanctification_you-end-up-feeling-successful-at-sanctif_428299.png" --- # you end up feeling successful at sanctification because… ![“you end up feeling successful at sanctification because you stayed away from drugs, lost weight, served at the soup kitchen, and renounced Styrofoam. But you’ve ignored gentleness, humility, joy, and sexual purity. God has not really gotten to your heart.” quote by Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d65/kevin-deyoung-1086_sanctification_you-end-up-feeling-successful-at-sanctif_428299.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d65/kevin-deyoung-1086_sanctification_you-end-up-feeling-successful-at-sanctif_428299.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d65/kevin-deyoung-1086_sanctification_you-end-up-feeling-successful-at-sanctif_428299.png) > ““you end up feeling successful at sanctification because you stayed away from drugs, lost weight, served at the soup kitchen, and renounced Styrofoam. But you’ve ignored gentleness, humility, joy, and sexual purity. God has not really gotten to your heart.”” [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. External religious actions are insufficient without inner transformation; true holiness requires gentleness, humility, joy, and sexual purity. **In simple terms:** External deeds alone don’t change the heart. Key Takeaway Seek inner virtues alongside outward practices. Themes spirituality holiness inner growth Mood thoughtful encouraging Type religious motivational When to use this quote - church ministries - personal counseling - small‑group studies - life coaching Key Concepts theology personal integrity Questions to Reflect On - What inner qualities do you need to nurture? - How can you balance external service with inner transformation? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on works can lead to legalism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Sanctification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sanctification/) ## Related quotes > [There is no true and constant gentleness without humility. While we are so fond of ourselves, we are easily offended with others. Let us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-fenelon/there-is-no-true-and-constant-gentleness-without-humility-while-we/) [Francois Fenelon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-fenelon/) > [“For all his gentleness and humility unto death on the Cross, God does not relinquish his attribute of being judge and consuming fire. Nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/for-all-his-gentleness-and-humility-unto-death-on-the-cross-god-does/) [Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/) > [If zeal had been appropriate for putting humanity right, why did God the Word clothe himself in the body, using gentleness and humility in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-of-nineveh/if-zeal-had-been-appropriate-for-putting-humanity-right-why-did-god/) [Isaac of Nineveh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-of-nineveh/) > [If, when stung by slander or ill-nature, we wax proud and swell with anger, it is a proof that our gentleness and humility are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-when-stung-by-slander-or-ill-nature-we-wax-proud-and-swell-with/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It has said of walkers … that they are born, not made … Others have claimed that only when you go afoot do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-has-said-of-walkers-that-they-are-born-not-made-others-have/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [...,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/) > [“Sanctification is at base a tenacious grip on the robe of Christ, a wrestling with the Lord to bless us, a sojourn in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/sanctification-is-at-base-a-tenacious-grip-on-the-robe-of-christ-a/) [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/) > [“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 Sanctification quotes > [“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/) > [“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/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [The unsound convert takes Christ by halves. He is all for the salvation of Christ, but is not for sanctification. He is for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-alleine/the-unsound-convert-takes-christ-by-halves-he-is-all-for-the/) [Joseph Alleine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-alleine/) > [Not to be occupied with your sin, but to be occupied with God brings deliverance from self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/not-to-be-occupied-with-your-sin-but-to-be-occupied-with-god-brings/) [Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/) > [The man who sanctifies his wife understands that this is his divinely ordained responsibility... Is my wife more like Christ because she is married…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kent-hughes/the-man-who-sanctifies-his-wife-understands-that-this-is-his-divinely/) [R. Kent Hughes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kent-hughes/) > [“Normal Christian life is a process of restoration and renewal. Our joy is not static. It fluctuates with real life. It is vulnerable to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/normal-christian-life-is-a-process-of-restoration-and-renewal-our-joy/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [Never was sin seen to be more abominably sinful and full of provocation than when the burden of it was upon the shoulders of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/never-was-sin-seen-to-be-more-abominably-sinful-and-full-of/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [The pleasurable part of public mourning can also lead to a sense of self-sanctification that justifies in advance any war effort, whether or not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-butler/the-pleasurable-part-of-public-mourning-can-also-lead-to-a-sense-of/) [Judith Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-butler/) > [“Again, there are multitudes who are quite ready for Christ to justify them, but not to sanctify. Some kind, some degree, of sanctification they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/again-there-are-multitudes-who-are-quite-ready-for-christ-to-justify/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) [Browse all 281 Sanctification quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sanctification/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“you end up feeling successful at sanctification because you stayed away from drugs, lost weight, served at the soup kitchen, and renounced Styrofoam. But you’ve ignored gentleness, humility, joy, and sexual purity. 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