A Long Faithfulness: The Case for Christian Perseverance

by Scot McKnight

In The Long Faithfulness: The Case for Christian Perseverance, theologian Scot McKnight examines what the Bible says about human salvation. Inspired in part by a resurgent Calvinist movement and its particular emphasis on God's meticulous sovereignty, McKnight invites us to a clear and captivating discussion about securing the way to eternal life--the role God plays, the role we play, and the key Bible passages that illuminate the mystery of salvation.

This book aims to present how the warning passages in Hebrews teach perseverance and the possibility of genuine apostasy of genuine believers. This is then applied to the re-thinking “meticulous sovereignty,” that God determines or brings about all things. If humans can resist God’s will, or undo their redemption, a case can be made that meticulous sovereignty over reaches the biblical evidence.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Discipleship, New Testament, Biblical Studies

63 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 14, 2013

About the author

Scot McKnight is a recognized authority on the New Testament, early Christianity, and the historical Jesus. McKnight, author or editor of forty books, is the Professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary in Lombard, IL. Dr. McKnight has given interviews on radios across the nation, has appeared on television, and is regularly speaks at local churches, conferences, colleges, and seminaries in the USA and abroad. Dr. McKnight obtained his Ph.D. at the University of Nottingham (1986).

Reviews

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can a follower of Christ turn away from Jesus and lose his promised inheritance of resurrection life? Yes.

A case against “once saved always saved” based on the book of Hebrews. I have been convinced based on scripture, empirical realities, and reasoning for a while that it is indeed possible to walk away from God after having received his Spirit. Though God remains faithful, it is possible to move from non-faith towards faith and than back towards non-faith. These warnings are very real and must be heeded!

[Lee Bertsch · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent essay on the warning passages in Hebrews. Attention is usually focused on 6:4-6 but the strength of McKnight's approach is to take all the warning passages together and draw out the consistent ideas. Among them: the author is warning genuine believers. He is warning against the real possibility of deliberate, conscious, and proud rejection of Christ. McKnight's purpose in this essay is not only to draw out the meaning of these texts but to demonstrate the biblical basis for rejecting the meticulous sovereignty views of the resurgent Calvinists in our day. In their typical fashion they will no doubt respond with guns blazing and tweets about "farewell Scot". But his biblical exposition is solid.

[Alex Strohschein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scot McKnight examines the Book of Hebrews to assess whether the meticulous sovereignty of Calvinism is compatible with a biblical understanding of perseverance (it isn't).

[Don Bryant]

Scott McKnight seeks to make the case against "meticulous providence," what he believes to be the view of High Calvinism. In meticulous providence all details of history are planned and predetermined so that they cannot be otherwise. Of course, the question arises, what of the human will? Is our willing but the simple following of God's plan, howbeit unconsciously? If this is the case, then how is it that we have so many warning passages in the New Testament, Scott McKnight asks. Why warn Christians at all if they are either in or out of the covenant? I agree with McKnight's expression of concern and his analysis of the warning passages in the Book of Hebrews. There is in no other biblical book such strong warnings and dire threats of punishment. High Calvinists look at Hebrews as a case of "hypothetical apostasy." In other words, whereas true Christians cannot lose their justification and apostatize, God does use the means of warning to remind Christians to be sober about their being in Christ. But serious exegesis of the passages must lead to the conclusion that apostasy is both conditional and real, and that human choice is at the root of one's spiritual state. In McKnight's view, as in mine, salvation is conditional upon perseverance in faith. I think it is impossible to understand Hebrews on any other assumption. It is easy for Christians to start spitting out verses on this age old controversy about the role of the human will in salvation. The Christian, in the end, must say two things about salvation - the salvation worked by Christ really saves AND humans choose by faith to enter into covenant with Christ and remain in Him. McKnight is careful to point out, as must be done, that apostasy is not a state of spiritual weakness, per se, in which the Christian becomes subject to more than ordinary temptation and failure. Apostasy is a conscious choice to walk away from Christ and from His offered grace. It is a denial of the truths of the Gospel. Therefore, apostasy is not an unconscious state. However, apostasy may begin with drifting and carelessness. It is at this level that we are to be alarmed and alert, lest at some point something now unimaginable happens - being done with Christ.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting essay that explores the possibility of apostasy and how it undercuts meticulous sovereignty and thus a popular for of Calvinism today. McKnight shares his own "journey" and interaction with Calvinism and Hebrews before analyzing the passages and drawing his conclusions.

Since I don't hold to the views he is targeting I didn't struggle much with his conclusions but did find them rather ahistorical and decontextualized, not uncommon for theology of this sort. It seems to me that the churches under discussion were under great pressure (cultural, political, spiritual, etc.) and persecution to give into the pagan idolatrous ways of the Roman Empire. It seems clear that some buckled under that pressure and gave up on following the Way. This was not just a theological issue for the early church but one of survival for the people of God. Either the church would follow the narrow path of Christ and His example or be destroyed. The warnings make more sense in this context it seems to me but McKnight never mentions this context but instead thinks about apostasy in today's terms.

Of course, it seems to me that modern people of faith face temptations as well but most of us do so in more subtle and less immediate ways. We face not death but social ostracism and perhaps mockery. The problem is that the line is less clear in this case as most don't publicly reject faith and begin to worship idols and begin cultist practices. Instead, many simply quietly stop practicing an active faith.

I believe that God has willingly relinquished his sovereignty by giving humans freedom and choice. So yes, I think you can intentionally and willfully reject God and his call after having professed faith.

If you find these theological debates and discussion interesting, this essay will likely be worth a read. Obviously, if you have a strong opinion about the issue that will color your reaction. if you haven't though through the issues these passages in Hebrews raise, McKnight offers and good introduction in the course of his argument. Those want to dig deeper will want to seek out others sources but this is an engaging conversation starter on the subject.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short book/long essay worth reading for those questioning "once in grace always in grace" or who want to understand Calvinism in comparison to Arminianism. Many Christians probably go to the church they were born into or born again into, where they like the worship, the people, the fellowship, the preaching. And they don't question much the church's theology. Every church, even "non denominational" ones, do have a foundational set of beliefs about God, man, sin, salvation, etc. In this small volume Scot McKnight explains his theological journey and why he came to believe that a Christian believer who has chosen to follow Christ can "unchoose" to follow Christ and actually lose his/her salvation. He gives an indepth study of the "Warning" passages in Hebrews to prove this. His motivation for writing this book/essay seems to be pastoral, as he is a seminary professor who trains pastors, and he believes they need to preach warnings to their parishioners that they need to persevere in their faith. His arguments and examples are convincing. He does express his appreciation for "classical Calvinism" as opposed to the hard-line, 5-point "resurgent" Calvinism gaining influence today. I would have liked a clearer, more complete explanation of the difference. I recommend this book to anyone with interest in these subjects.

[Ralph Cann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for anyone pondering over parts of the Calvinist Armenian debate. McKnight examines the Warning Passages in Hebrews. Short read but packed tightly with evidence and argument.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes the Bible says contradictory things. The question this book addresses is whether a Christian who is "saved" can consciously abandon his faith. We're not talking about someone who struggles with a recurring sin or "backslides" or even necessarily "drifts away." We're talking about someone who deliberately and consciously -- McKnight uses the word "gleefully" -- rejects Jesus Christ and turns to atheism or another religion. The question is whether that person was ever really saved in the first place or not?

To me that question is rather moot -- either way that person has rejected God and THAT'S the central problem to be addressed. But it's true that how you answer that question has theological implications. Using various chapters from Hebrews, McKnight argues that yes, it is possible for someone who is a genuine (not merely a "nominal") Christian to turn away from his faith. And that thereby undermines the concept of God's "meticulous sovereignty."

The problem is, there are several other passages in the Bible that seem to say the opposite -- that once someone becomes a Christian, he could never, ever lose his salvation. How do you reconcile those passages with Hebrews? McKnight doesn't try. In fact, he doesn't even acknowledge those passages. He strictly and narrowly focuses on these chapters in Hebrews to make his argument. I don't believe his is faithful to the Bible as a whole.

The other problem is that McKnight has a very strange view of God's sovereignty. What he is saying is that God -- and God ALONE -- has the ability to save. It's not by our works. It's solely up to God who he chooses to "elect." That view is in line with classical Calvinist doctrine. But according to McKnight, while we have no control over whether we are saved, we do have control over losing our salvation. God retains his sovereignty in his ability to choose, but decides to give up his sovereignty in our ability to lose. It's a unique hybrid approach and I wish he elaborated more on this strange view.

[Mitchell Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Weighty

These are some incredibly tough thing is to have to wrestle through. This is not something to take lightly or think that you understand after reading the short essay. Scot is an incredible author and theologian and his words should be taken seriously. This would have profound pastoral implications if what he is arguing for is true.

[Matt Friedman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well done treatment of the topic overall, though a bit repetitive in places. A concise consideration of the possibility of deliberate, considered apostasy by people who have been genuine believers in Christ, based primarily in the "warning texts" of Hebrews. Worth the small expense and brief read.

[Ryan Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It's real. It's honest. It's personal for me because I had a very similar experience with the book of Hebrews.

Highly encourage for anyone wrestling with the idea of perseverance.

[Doug · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid (& imo, convincing) argument re one’s freedom to forfeit one’s (once genuine) salvation.
Would love to read a point-by-point response by a hard-core Calvinist tackling the same passages that McKnight focuses on in this essay.

[Rob McFarren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good essay. Addresses an important topic and presents a compelling, rather concise discussion on the topic.

[Makala]

This book is killing me so far. The introduction is basically a note on how much the author dislikes Calvinists, and the tone of the whole thing is very sarcastic. He makes compelling arguments.

[Michael Britt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compelling

If you’re intellectually honest, this book will — whether you agree or not with the author’s conclusion — make you think.

And maybe even tremble.

[Kenny Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Huh?

I struggled with what exactly the author was trying to communicate, perhaps I lack the depth of theological study necessary. I came away more confused than when I started.

[Jord'n Bay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great study on the meticulous sovereignty of God.