My Sheep Follow Me - by Jonathan R Pratt (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

How do believers persevere in the faith? What does growth in holiness look like?
Christian teaching is often clear about justification--how God saves his people--but murky about sanctification, or perseverance--that is, how believers grow in closeness to God over time. Author Jonathan R. Pratt explores what progress toward holiness looks like and how it takes place. My Sheep Follow Me begins with an investigation of the New Testament teaching about perseverance:

• Jesus's metaphors, including the "fruit" of belief, obedience, and love
• Paul's demonstration of believers' righteous responses to the Holy Spirit
• Belief as evidence in the letters of Paul and others
• The New Testament promises of God's help in perseverance
• God's use of his Word, suffering, the church, and prayer to assure his people's perseverance in faith

Pratt then surveys how antinomianism, common in Protestant Christianity historically and today, threatens biblical teaching. He shows how a biblical doctrine of perseverance squelches the devastating effects of ignoring God's spiritual gifts to believers. My Sheep Follow Me offers important cautions over distorted teaching and valuable encouragement in the process of Christian growth.

Review Quotes

A believer's walk with God is a long journey into eternity. It is a walk of faith, and that faith abides and perseveres. This useful and focused study considers how perseverance differs from assurance and eternal security, as well as how it calls us to holiness. The study also warns of the lack of balance in some teaching that minimizes perseverance and emphasizes grace at the expense of persevering. It is a welcome reminder of an aspect of our calling to journey in the direction God leads us, as he makes us into his likeness.--Darrell L. Bock, Senior Research Professor of NT Studies, Dallas Theological Seminary (9/16/2025 12:00:00 AM)

Jon Pratt is a reliable guide to explain what the Bible teaches about progressive sanctification and to evaluate ways that well-intentioned teachers have recently deviated from sound teaching.--Andy Naselli, Professor of Systematic Theology & New Testament, Bethlehem College & Seminary (9/16/2025 12:00:00 AM)

Jon Pratt's book accomplishes two important tasks for Christians. First, it provides a summary formulation of the gospel's teachings concerning a Christian's persevering faith in Christ Jesus. Pratt emphasizes the essential need for Christians to hold in proper balance two gospel truths: (1) that all authentic believers in Jesus Christ endure in faith and obedience unto the end of their earthly lives; and (2) that believers persevere in faith by heeding the several means of grace provided by our Lord, including the gospel's numerous warnings and admonitions. Second, the book exposes three influential contemporary movements among evangelicals that advocate distorted and imbalanced beliefs concerning the teachings of Jesus and his apostles on the necessity of faith's endurance. With essentially the same motives but with slight variations, advocates of all three errors exaggerate the inevitable salvation of believers and minimize, even eliminate, the gospel's numerous warnings and admonitions to persevere in faithfulness to Christ Jesus.--Ardel Canedy, Retired Adjunct Professor of NT & Greek, Biblical & Theological Studies (9/16/2025 12:00:00 AM)

Jonathan Pratt has written a significant study on the doctrine of perseverance. The first half of his book provides a helpful overview of the doctrine as it is understood in mainstream Reformed theology. The second half reviews the development of the antinomian alternative to perseverance, then examines three contemporary movements that modify or reject the doctrine of perseverance: Free Grace, Radical Grace, and Hyper-Grace. The first half of the book is an excellent introduction to the issues, and the second half is a significant original contribution. Christian leaders who want to understand perseverance will do well to read this book.--Kevin Bauder, Research Professor of Systematic Theology, Central Baptist Theological Seminary (9/16/2025 12:00:00 AM)

Not only has Dr. Pratt written a book that combines biblical and historical teaching on sanctification, but also he writes in a heart-warming manner whereby the reader is acutely aware that emphasizing grace doesn't require us to become antinomians. There's a lovely simplicity to this work, which is not easy to do when writing on this topic. A work that anyone in the church can benefit from.--Mark Jones, Senior Minister, Faith Vancouver Presbyterian Church (PCA) (9/16/2025 12:00:00 AM)

Pratt explains well in this work the biblical understanding of perseverance and the liabilities of antinomianism. He conducts a helpful survey of various antinomian positions, critiquing them from a biblical standpoint. Readers desiring a clear understanding of perseverance, sanctification, and holiness will profit from this helpful work.--Tom Schreiner, Professor of New Testament, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (9/16/2025 12:00:00 AM)