--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: …Genuine holiness…makes us more…" description: "\"“…Genuine holiness…makes us more progressively aware of and disturbed by our ongoing struggles with indwelling sin. We grow more aware of our own need ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec4/michael-horton-14597_holiness_genuine-holiness-makes-us-more-progressi_2616902.jpg" --- # …Genuine holiness…makes us more progressively aware of and… ![“…Genuine holiness…makes us more progressively aware of and disturbed by our ongoing struggles with indwelling sin. We grow more aware of our own need for Christ, not our own growth in virtue.” quote by Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec4/michael-horton-14597_holiness_genuine-holiness-makes-us-more-progressi_2616902.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec4/michael-horton-14597_holiness_genuine-holiness-makes-us-more-progressi_2616902.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec4/michael-horton-14597_holiness_genuine-holiness-makes-us-more-progressi_2616902.jpg) > ““…Genuine holiness…makes us more progressively aware of and disturbed by our ongoing struggles with indwelling sin. We grow more aware of our own need for Christ, not our own growth in virtue.”” [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Awareness of personal sin deepens reliance on Christ, not self‑derived virtue. **In simple terms:** Seeing sin drives us to Christ, not personal merit. Key Takeaway Focus on Christ’s help, not self‑improvement. Themes theology spiritual growth humility Mood contemplative hopeful Type devotional educational When to use this quote - personal prayer - small groups - spiritual counseling Key Concepts sin grace faith development Questions to Reflect On - How does recognizing sin affect daily life? - What practices keep Christ central? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on self‑improvement can breed pride. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christ Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ-growth-1660006/) [Genuine Holiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genuine-holiness-2074699/) [Holiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holiness/) [Holiness Makes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holiness-makes-2074700/) [Sin Grow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin-grow-2074701/) ## Related quotes > [“Someone who truly understands who he or she is in Christ is further along the road to genuine holiness than someone who, in confusion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/someone-who-truly-understands-who-he-or-she-is-in-christ-is-further/) [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) > [Heaven does not make holiness, but holiness makes heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/heaven-does-not-make-holiness-but-holiness-makes-heaven/) [Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/) > [“Most believers learn passively from clergy. However, no matter how good and uplifting this person's teaching, as long as the members are not actively…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hon/most-believers-learn-passively-from-clergy-however-no-matter-how-good/) [Henry Hon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hon/) > [“A Christian sins if he becomes a static, sedentary person who fears positive biblical change and frantically clings to the past, either in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-e-adams/a-christian-sins-if-he-becomes-a-static-sedentary-person-who-fears/) [Jay E. Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-e-adams/) > [To desire and expect nothing for oneself and to have profound sympathy for others is genuine holiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-turgenev/to-desire-and-expect-nothing-for-oneself-and-to-have-profound/) [Ivan Turgenev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-turgenev/) > [“Genuine holiness restores human beings; restored human beings possess genuine holiness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eldredge/genuine-holiness-restores-human-beings-restored-human-beings-possess/) [John Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eldredge/) > [“No matter how holy you are, holiness does not take satan to hell, it just makes you a better person. Holiness makes you an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patience-johnson/no-matter-how-holy-you-are-holiness-does-not-take-satan-to-hell-it/) [Patience Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patience-johnson/) > [Ecstasy, I think, is a soul's response to the waves holiness makes as it nears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/ecstasy-i-think-is-a-soul-s-response-to-the-waves-holiness-makes-as/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“Grace does not preclude holiness, but makes it possible. Holiness springs from the fountain of grace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-chapell/grace-does-not-preclude-holiness-but-makes-it-possible-holiness/) [Bryan Chapell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-chapell/) > [“Related to this first reason is the fear that a passion for holiness makes you some kind of weird holdover from a bygone era.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/related-to-this-first-reason-is-the-fear-that-a-passion-for-holiness/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [“Holiness makes sin useless because it is truthful, just, faithful, righteous, godly, loving, meek, and enduring.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-choi/holiness-makes-sin-useless-because-it-is-truthful-just-faithful/) [Joseph Choi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-choi/) > [No one will be offended if we tell them that they are good people who could be a little better. The offense comes when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/no-one-will-be-offended-if-we-tell-them-that-they-are-good-people-who/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [Therefore, I see whatever exists as good, death is to me like life, sin like holiness, wisdom like foolishness, everything has to be as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/therefore-i-see-whatever-exists-as-good-death-is-to-me-like-life-sin/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [“Is there any holy beings like human beings?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/is-there-any-holy-beings-like-human-beings/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Holiness sincerity, and faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/holiness-sincerity-and-faith/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) ## More by Michael Horton > [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/) > [In such a therapeutic, pragmatic, pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps society as ours, the message of God having to do all the work in saving us comes as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/in-such-a-therapeutic-pragmatic-pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [To preach the Bible as 'the handbook for life,' or as the answer to every question, rather than as the revelation of Christ, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/to-preach-the-bible-as-the-handbook-for-life-or-as-the-answer-to/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [My conscience does not render a positive verdict in God’s courtroom when I look inside myself. The only reason I can sleep well at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/my-conscience-does-not-render-a-positive-verdict-in-god-s-courtroom/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [You can't find a YouTube clip to become a craftsman, friend, parent - or disciple of Christ. It's all of grace. And to grow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/you-can-t-find-a-youtube-clip-to-become-a-craftsman-friend-parent-or/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [I think that the church in America today is so obsessed with being practical, relevant, helpful, successful, and perhaps well-liked that it nearly mirrors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/i-think-that-the-church-in-america-today-is-so-obsessed-with-being/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [We need more Christians who take their place alongside believing and unbelieving neighbors in the daily gift exchange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/we-need-more-christians-who-take-their-place-alongside-believing-and/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [ “Faith in Christ is able to endure doubts—it’s able to endure temptations—because it faces \[them\], not because it pretends \[they’re\] not there.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/faith-in-christ-is-able-to-endure-doubts-it-s-able-to-endure/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [God’s Word does not merely impart information; it actually creates life. It’s not only descriptive; it’s effective too, God speaking is God acting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/god-s-word-does-not-merely-impart-information-it-actually-creates/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [Ask the proficient athlete, artist, businessperson, or homemaker what creates excellence and they'll all agree: a commitment to long-term goals - and with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/ask-the-proficient-athlete-artist-businessperson-or-homemaker-what/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [A church that is deeply aware of it's misery and nakedness before a holy God will cling tenaciously to an all sufficient Savior, while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/a-church-that-is-deeply-aware-of-it-s-misery-and-nakedness-before-a/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [The key to maturity is time and community. Discernment and godly wisdom develop in a community that spans generations. The church is called to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/the-key-to-maturity-is-time-and-community-discernment-and-godly/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [If you want to be an athlete, there's no way around it: You have to go to the gym. You can't Google your way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/if-you-want-to-be-an-athlete-there-s-no-way-around-it-you-have-to-go/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [The power of God unto salvation is not our passion for God, but the passion He has exhibited toward us sinners by sending his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/the-power-of-god-unto-salvation-is-not-our-passion-for-god-but-the/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [God is not a supporting actor in our life movie. We exist for his purposes, not the other way around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/god-is-not-a-supporting-actor-in-our-life-movie-we-exist-for-his/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) [Explore all 46 Michael Horton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) ## More Holiness quotes > [Holiness sincerity, and faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/holiness-sincerity-and-faith/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“Is there any holy beings like human beings?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/is-there-any-holy-beings-like-human-beings/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Therefore, I see whatever exists as good, death is to me like life, sin like holiness, wisdom like foolishness, everything has to be as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/therefore-i-see-whatever-exists-as-good-death-is-to-me-like-life-sin/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Total depravity means the entire absence of holiness, not the highest intensity of sin. A totally depraved man is not as bad as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-greenough-thayer-shedd/total-depravity-means-the-entire-absence-of-holiness-not-the-highest/) [William Greenough Thayer Shedd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-greenough-thayer-shedd/) > [“The HOLY of Holiness!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-holy-of-holiness/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“I put no stock in religion. By the word religion I have seen the lunacy of fanatics of every denomination be called the will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-monahan/i-put-no-stock-in-religion-by-the-word-religion-i-have-seen-the/) [William Monahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-monahan/) > [Not simply the righteousness of our Saviour, not simply the beauty of His holiness or the graces of His character, are we to put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adoniram-judson-gordon/not-simply-the-righteousness-of-our-saviour-not-simply-the-beauty-of/) [Adoniram Judson Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adoniram-judson-gordon/) > [God hath work to do in this world; and to desert it because of its difficulties and entanglements, is to cast off His authority.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/god-hath-work-to-do-in-this-world-and-to-desert-it-because-of-its/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [“Mother Teresa, when asked about her holiness or saintliness, always answers in a matter-of-fact way that holiness is a necessity of life--and explains that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucinda-vardey/mother-teresa-when-asked-about-her-holiness-or-saintliness-always/) [Lucinda Vardey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucinda-vardey/) > [Holy persons draw to themselves all that is earthly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hildegard-of-bingen/holy-persons-draw-to-themselves-all-that-is-earthly/) [Hildegard of Bingen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hildegard-of-bingen/) > [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/) > [“I believe that people are holy because they’re made in the image of God, and a place can be holy when God is present—but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-brock/i-believe-that-people-are-holy-because-they-re-made-in-the-image-of/) [Jared Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-brock/) > [We live in all we seek. The hidden shows up in too-plain sight. It lives captive on the face of the obvious - the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/we-live-in-all-we-seek-the-hidden-shows-up-in-too-plain-sight-it/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“If my holiness is not drawing towards Him, it is not holiness of the right order, but an influence that will awaken inordinate affection…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/if-my-holiness-is-not-drawing-towards-him-it-is-not-holiness-of-the/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [The holiness of the church means that life, as well as truth, marks Christ’s church; the behavior of Christians in the world must be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-clowney/the-holiness-of-the-church-means-that-life-as-well-as-truth-marks/) [Edmund Clowney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-clowney/) [Browse all 1,018 Holiness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holiness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“…Genuine holiness…makes us more progressively aware of and disturbed by our ongoing struggles with indwelling sin. 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