---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The whole basis for our relationship with…"
description: "\"The whole basis for our relationship with God is rooted and grounded in grace, in that which is not earned.\" — R. C. Sproul"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c3/r-c-sproul-1006_bases_the-whole-basis-for-our-relationship-wit_1146886.png"
---

#  The whole basis for our relationship with God is rooted…

![“The whole basis for our relationship with God is rooted and grounded in grace, in that which is not earned.” quote by R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c3/r-c-sproul-1006_bases_the-whole-basis-for-our-relationship-wit_1146886.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c3/r-c-sproul-1006_bases_the-whole-basis-for-our-relationship-wit_1146886.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c3/r-c-sproul-1006_bases_the-whole-basis-for-our-relationship-wit_1146886.png)

> “The whole basis for our relationship with God is rooted and grounded in grace, in that which is not earned.”

[R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Human relationship with God rests on unearned grace, not merit, emphasizing divine generosity

**In simple terms:** Relationship with God is based on grace, not works

Key Takeaway

Rely on grace, not personal achievement

Themes

theology grace faith

Mood

reflective reverent

Type

theological inspirational

When to use this quote

- Worship
- prayer
- ethical decisions
- counseling

Key Concepts

Divine generosity unearned favor

Questions to Reflect On

- What does unearned grace mean for personal responsibility?
- How can grace inspire humility?

A Different Perspective

Grace can be misunderstood as license for immorality

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Bases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bases/) [God Rooted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-rooted-3012233/) [Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace/) [Grace Earned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace-earned-672466/) [Grounded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grounded/) [Grounded Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grounded-grace-3224049/) [Our relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-relationship/) [Relationship with god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationship-with-god/) [Rooted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rooted/) [Rooted Grounded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rooted-grounded-3134805/) [Whole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whole/)

## Related quotes

> [Marriage is... OK, it's rooted and grounded on love and attraction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-archer/marriage-is-ok-it-s-rooted-and-grounded-on-love-and-attraction/)

[Mary Archer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-archer/)

> [Strong affections for God, rooted in and shaped by the truth of Scripture - this is the bone and marrow of Biblical worship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/strong-affections-for-god-rooted-in-and-shaped-by-the-truth-of/)

[John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/)

> [“Remarkably, Grace never considered pursuing a career and very rarely sought consistent employment. At no time in her long life was Grace driven by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-m-ward/remarkably-grace-never-considered-pursuing-a-career-and-very-rarely/)

[Stephen M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-m-ward/)

> [In wickedness of pride is lost the light to understand how little grace is earned and how much given.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hunter/in-wickedness-of-pride-is-lost-the-light-to-understand-how-little/)

[Robert Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hunter/)

> [“We need time to become rooted and grounded in Christ as we are instructed to do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/we-need-time-to-become-rooted-and-grounded-in-christ-as-we-are/)

[Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/)

> [Without being rooted and grounded in the love of God, we cannot experience the fullness of God in our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senora-roy/without-being-rooted-and-grounded-in-the-love-of-god-we-cannot/)

[Senora Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senora-roy/)

> [The Bible never tells us to take a blind leap of faith into the darkness and hope that there's somebody out there. The Bible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/the-bible-never-tells-us-to-take-a-blind-leap-of-faith-into-the/)

[R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/)

> [I have an amazing wife, Tia, and an amazing son, Cree, and I'm a family man first and they keep me grounded. They're my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-hardrict/i-have-an-amazing-wife-tia-and-an-amazing-son-cree-and-i-m-a-family/)

[Cory Hardrict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-hardrict/)

> [Working in Hollywood can be tumultuous, with incredible highs and lows and you need to be grounded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-wood/working-in-hollywood-can-be-tumultuous-with-incredible-highs-and-lows/)

[Douglas Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-wood/)

> [On the road, I try to maintain my connections with friends and family as much as I possibly can. That keeps me pretty grounded.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noelle-scaggs/on-the-road-i-try-to-maintain-my-connections-with-friends-and-family/)

[Noelle Scaggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noelle-scaggs/)

> [We are all potentially such sick men. The sanest and best of us are of one clay with lunatics and prison-inmates. And whenever we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/we-are-all-potentially-such-sick-men-the-sanest-and-best-of-us-are-of/)

[William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/)

> [I have a really grounded group of friends, and they like me no matter what. I think it's really important to know who your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-guthy/i-have-a-really-grounded-group-of-friends-and-they-like-me-no-matter/)

[Jackson Guthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackson-guthy/)

> [“But, he continues, if you need something to hold on to until you feel grounded, I make a pretty good anchor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kasie-west/but-he-continues-if-you-need-something-to-hold-on-to-until-you-feel/)

[Kasie West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kasie-west/)

> [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/)

[Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/)

> [The strains and stresses suffered by the individual in society are grounded in the normal functioning of that society (and of the individual!) rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-marcuse/the-strains-and-stresses-suffered-by-the-individual-in-society-are/)

[Herbert Marcuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-marcuse/)

## More by R. C. Sproul

> [We are puzzled and bewildered whenever we see suffering in this world because we have become accustomed to the mercy and the long-suffering of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/we-are-puzzled-and-bewildered-whenever-we-see-suffering-in-this-world/)

[R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/)

> [Evil may mar the divine image and cloud its brilliance, but it cannot destroy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/evil-may-mar-the-divine-image-and-cloud-its-brilliance-but-it-cannot/)

[R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/)

> [God's grace is not infinite. God is infinite, and God is gracious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/god-s-grace-is-not-infinite-god-is-infinite-and-god-is-gracious/)

[R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/)

> [God Himself supplies the necessary condition to come to Jesus, that's why it is 'sola gratia,' by grace alone, that we are saved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/god-himself-supplies-the-necessary-condition-to-come-to-jesus-that-s/)

[R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/)

> [If God is not sovereign, God is not God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/if-god-is-not-sovereign-god-is-not-god/)

[R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/)

> [When God says something, the argument is over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/when-god-says-something-the-argument-is-over/)

[R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/)

> [“There is no such “mother” as Mother Nature. Nature itself is powerless to produce life of any kind. In itself, nature is barren. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/there-is-no-such-mother-as-mother-nature-nature-itself-is-powerless/)

[R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/)

> [Right now counts forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/right-now-counts-forever/)

[R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/)

> [The complaint that church is boring is never made by people in awe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/the-complaint-that-church-is-boring-is-never-made-by-people-in-awe/)

[R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/)

> [Sin can bring pleasure, but never happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/sin-can-bring-pleasure-but-never-happiness/)

[R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/)

> [I'm afraid that in the United States of America today the prevailing doctrine of justification is not justification by faith alone. It is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/i-m-afraid-that-in-the-united-states-of-america-today-the-prevailing/)

[R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/)

> [Heaven is a place where God will personally wipe away our tears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/heaven-is-a-place-where-god-will-personally-wipe-away-our-tears/)

[R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/)

> [In the decade of the 1980s, a massive and comprehensive study of religion in American life was undertaken by the Gallup organization. The results…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/in-the-decade-of-the-1980s-a-massive-and-comprehensive-study-of/)

[R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/)

> [The rapture will not be secret but open and manifest. Its purpose will not be to whisk the elect away from the earth for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/the-rapture-will-not-be-secret-but-open-and-manifest-its-purpose-will/)

[R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/)

> [Sometimes we behave and perform with our lives, not for God, but for an audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/sometimes-we-behave-and-perform-with-our-lives-not-for-god-but-for-an/)

[R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/)

[Explore all 310 R. C. Sproul quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/)

## More Bases quotes

> [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/)

[Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/)

> [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/)

[Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/)

> [I don't want to go into space because of war. I think we would if it was triggered. If China said they want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/i-don-t-want-to-go-into-space-because-of-war-i-think-we-would-if-it/)

[Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/)

> [The United States cannot and should not discriminate on the basis of religion. The free exercise of religion is at the very heart of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/the-united-states-cannot-and-should-not-discriminate-on-the-basis-of/)

[Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/)

> [According to the best research, less than 3% of Americans have written goals, and less than 1% review and rewrite their goals on a daily basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/according-to-the-best-research-less-than-3-of-americans-have-written/)

[Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/)

> [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/)

[Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/)

> [I'm in a business where there's complete anarchy. You can't control it - you can only react to it. The control that people traditionally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sorrell/i-m-in-a-business-where-there-s-complete-anarchy-you-can-t-control-it/)

[Martin Sorrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sorrell/)

> [This tendency to avoid problems and the emotional suffering inherent in them is the primary basis of all human mental illness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/this-tendency-to-avoid-problems-and-the-emotional-suffering-inherent/)

[Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/)

> [There are dangers in consensus: it could be an attempt to satisfy people holding no particular views about anything. ... No great party can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/there-are-dangers-in-consensus-it-could-be-an-attempt-to-satisfy/)

[Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/)

> [There's no way to have a peace agreement unless the mediator or negotiator looks at both sides from an equal basis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/there-s-no-way-to-have-a-peace-agreement-unless-the-mediator-or/)

[Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/)

> [Coercion is the basis of every law in the universe,--human or divine. A law is not law without coercion behind it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/coercion-is-the-basis-of-every-law-in-the-universe-human-or-divine-a/)

[James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/)

> [Each Act of Parliament intended to address harassment and discrimination has faced objections on the basis of 'you'll never be able to prove...' and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-field/each-act-of-parliament-intended-to-address-harassment-and/)

[Tim Field](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-field/)

> [If you want good behavior, don't pay on a commission basis. Our judges aren't paid so much a case. We keep them pretty well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/if-you-want-good-behavior-don-t-pay-on-a-commission-basis-our-judges/)

[Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/)

> [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/)

> [We have committed ourselves to pursue joint policies, but then national governments say, "We aren't bound by that." That is a dramatic situation, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-schulz/we-have-committed-ourselves-to-pursue-joint-policies-but-then/)

[Martin Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-schulz/)

[Browse all 2,701 Bases quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bases/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The whole basis for our relationship with God is rooted and grounded in grace, in that which is not earned.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "R. C. Sproul"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/the-whole-basis-for-our-relationship-with-god-is-rooted-and-grounded/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Bases"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/the-whole-basis-for-our-relationship-with-god-is-rooted-and-grounded/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c3/r-c-sproul-1006_bases_the-whole-basis-for-our-relationship-wit_1146886.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c3/r-c-sproul-1006_bases_the-whole-basis-for-our-relationship-wit_1146886.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c3/r-c-sproul-1006_bases_the-whole-basis-for-our-relationship-wit_1146886.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The whole basis for our relationship with God is rooted and grounded in grace, in that which is not earned.” — R. C. Sproul",
                "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": "R. C. Sproul",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The whole basis for our relationship...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/the-whole-basis-for-our-relationship-with-god-is-rooted-and-grounded/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/the-whole-basis-for-our-relationship-with-god-is-rooted-and-grounded/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
