---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: So when the fear of not persevering…"
description: "\"“So when the fear of not persevering raises its head, don’t try to overcome it by saying, “Oh, there is no danger, we don’t need to persevere.” You do...."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acc/john-piper-255_christ-alone_so-when-the-fear-of-not-persevering-rais_537939.jpg"
---

#  So when the fear of not persevering raises its head, don’t…

![“So when the fear of not persevering raises its head, don’t try to overcome it by saying, “Oh, there is no danger, we don’t need to persevere.” You do. There will be no salvation in the end for people who do not fight the good fight and finish the race and keep the faith and treasure Christ’s…” quote by John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acc/john-piper-255_christ-alone_so-when-the-fear-of-not-persevering-rais_537939.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acc/john-piper-255_christ-alone_so-when-the-fear-of-not-persevering-rais_537939.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acc/john-piper-255_christ-alone_so-when-the-fear-of-not-persevering-rais_537939.jpg)

> ““So when the fear of not persevering raises its head, don’t try to overcome it by saying, “Oh, there is no danger, we don’t need to persevere.” You do. There will be no salvation in the end for people who do not fight the good fight and finish the race and keep the faith and treasure Christ’s appearing. And don’t try to overcome the fear of not persevering by trying to win God’s favor by your exertions in godliness. God’s favor comes by grace alone, on the basis of Christ alone, in union with Christ alone, through faith alone, to the glory of God alone. He is totally, 100% irrevocably for us because of the work of Christ if we are in Christ. And we are in Christ not by exertions but by receiving him as our sacrifice and perfection and Treasure.””

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

## About This Quote

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

True perseverance stems from divine grace, not personal effort; salvation depends on faith in Christ alone.

**In simple terms:** Grace, not effort, fuels perseverance.

Key Takeaway

Rely on faith, not self‑strength.

Themes

faith perseverance grace

Mood

serious encouraging

Type

spiritual theological

When to use this quote

- church teaching
- personal struggle
- spiritual growth
- mission work

Key Concepts

theology salvation spiritual discipline

Questions to Reflect On

- How does grace shape your daily choices?
- What role does effort play in a life of faith?

A Different Perspective

Emphasizing grace may discourage personal responsibility in moral actions.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Christ alone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ-alone/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Fight the good fight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fight-the-good-fight/) [Finish The Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finish-the-race/) [Glory of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glory-of-god/) [Salvation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/salvation/)

## Related quotes

> [Without the renewed mind, we will distort the Scriptures to avoid their radical commands for self-denial, and love, and purity, and supreme satisfaction in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/without-the-renewed-mind-we-will-distort-the-scriptures-to-avoid/)

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

> [That's who Jesus Christ is. He became the final Priest and the final Sacrifice. Sinless, he did not offer sacrifices for himself. Immortal, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/that-s-who-jesus-christ-is-he-became-the-final-priest-and-the-final/)

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

> [Even when our heart aches, we summon the strength that maybe we didn't even know we had, and we carry on; we finish the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/even-when-our-heart-aches-we-summon-the-strength-that-maybe-we-didn-t/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [Life is like a race; some people will run up to the finish line, some people will fall and give up on the way,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalyn/life-is-like-a-race-some-people-will-run-up-to-the-finish-line-some/)

[Magdalyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalyn/)

> [We will finish the race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-will-finish-the-race/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [“The race is long. It is better to drive within oneself and finish the race behind the others than it is to drive too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-stein/the-race-is-long-it-is-better-to-drive-within-oneself-and-finish-the-2/)

[Garth Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-stein/)

> [If a woman marries a man, shes trusting him with the rest of her life that he wont hit her, cheat on her, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/if-a-woman-marries-a-man-shes-trusting-him-with-the-rest-of-her-life/)

[Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/)

> [At 10 minutes to seven on a dark, cool evening in Mexico City in 1968, John Stephen Akwari of Tanzania painfully hobbled into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-inglis-anderson/at-10-minutes-to-seven-on-a-dark-cool-evening-in-mexico-city-in-1968/)

[Walter Inglis Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-inglis-anderson/)

> [If you neglect to recharge a battery, it dies. And if you run full speed ahead without stopping for water, you lose momentum to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/if-you-neglect-to-recharge-a-battery-it-dies-and-if-you-run-full/)

[Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/)

> [Tiger, come on now, you've still got work to do. This round and golf tournament are not over. Hang in there and finish the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiger-woods/tiger-come-on-now-you-ve-still-got-work-to-do-this-round-and-golf/)

[Tiger Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiger-woods/)

> [Other nights ... I visualize to the point that I know exactly what I want to do: dive, glide, stroke, flip, reach the wall,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/other-nights-i-visualize-to-the-point-that-i-know-exactly-what-i-want/)

[Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/)

> [“My country did not send me 5,000 miles to start the race; they sent me 5,000 miles to finish the race. - John Stephen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stephen-akhwari/my-country-did-not-send-me-5-000-miles-to-start-the-race-they-sent-me/)

John Stephen Akhwari

> [The mistake I really learned from was in 2005, leading the Indianapolis 500. I had a decision whether or not to save enough fuel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danica-patrick/the-mistake-i-really-learned-from-was-in-2005-leading-the/)

[Danica Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danica-patrick/)

> [“When God calls you to build 100 castles on earth and you built 98, take the 99th as if it's the begining of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/when-god-calls-you-to-build-100-castles-on-earth-and-you-built-98/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

> [The race is long. It is better to drive within oneself and finish the race behind the other than it is to drive too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-stein/the-race-is-long-it-is-better-to-drive-within-oneself-and-finish-the/)

[Garth Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-stein/)

## More by John Piper

> [“Even in the miserable guilt we feel over our beastlike insensitivity, the glory of God shines. If God were not gloriously desirable, why would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/even-in-the-miserable-guilt-we-feel-over-our-beastlike-insensitivity/)

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

> [The absence of God in most spheres of life is perceived to be normal, and even Christians feel it as normal - which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/the-absence-of-god-in-most-spheres-of-life-is-perceived-to-be-normal/)

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

> [“The Spirit inspired the Word and therefore He goes where the Word goes. The more of God's Word you know and love, the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/the-spirit-inspired-the-word-and-therefore-he-goes-where-the-word/)

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

> [Do you feel loved by God because you believe he makes much of you, or because you believe he frees you and empowers you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/do-you-feel-loved-by-god-because-you-believe-he-makes-much-of-you-or/)

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

> [“Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn't. Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man. When this age is over, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/worship-is-missions-exists-because-worship-doesn-t-worship-is/)

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

> [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/)

> [Love is doing what will enthrall the beloved with the greatest and longest joy. What will enthrall the beloved this way is the glory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/love-is-doing-what-will-enthrall-the-beloved-with-the-greatest-and/)

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

> [“If you hold a grudge, you doubt the Judge.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/if-you-hold-a-grudge-you-doubt-the-judge/)

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

> [Evangelicals are distraught over the state of America because they have not been taught that we're aliens here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/evangelicals-are-distraught-over-the-state-of-america-because-they/)

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

> [“Worship is the highest moral act a human can perform, so the only basis and motivation for it that many people can conceive is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/worship-is-the-highest-moral-act-a-human-can-perform-so-the-only/)

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

> [Do you love the cross because it makes much of you? Or do you love it because it enables you to enjoy and eternity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/do-you-love-the-cross-because-it-makes-much-of-you-or-do-you-love-it/)

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

> [“job 14:1 man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of troubles "If that isn't your experience now it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/job-14-1-man-who-is-born-of-a-woman-is-few-of-days-and-full-of/)

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

> [“Not to aim to show God is not to love, bc God is what we need the most deeply. And to have all else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/not-to-aim-to-show-god-is-not-to-love-bc-god-is-what-we-need-the-most/)

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

> [God has given us prayer as a wartime walkie-talkie so that we can call headquarters for everything we need as the kingdom of Christ…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/god-has-given-us-prayer-as-a-wartime-walkie-talkie-so-that-we-can/)

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

> [Ignatius, when he heard the clock strike, would say, "Now I have another hour to answer for." (Eph. 5:16)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/ignatius-when-he-heard-the-clock-strike-would-say-now-i-have-another/)

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

[Explore all 803 John Piper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/)

## More Christ alone quotes

> [“There is only one church, the church of faith ruled by the word of Jesus Christ alone. This is the true catholic church that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/there-is-only-one-church-the-church-of-faith-ruled-by-the-word-of/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [“The undiscerning observer may think that this mixture of ideal and reality, of the human and spiritual, is most likely to be present where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-undiscerning-observer-may-think-that-this-mixture-of-ideal-and/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [Only through repentance and faith in Christ can anyone be saved. No religious activity will be sufficient, only true faith in Jesus Christ alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/only-through-repentance-and-faith-in-christ-can-anyone-be-saved-no/)

[Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/)

> [“even our best efforts to control our lives are ultimately not good enough. Christ alone is the solid rock on which a (w)holistic response…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-harbaugh/even-our-best-efforts-to-control-our-lives-are-ultimately-not-good/)

Gary L. Harbaugh

> [Americans' deepest religion is often equality. The notion that Christ alone is God-superior, authoritative, supernatural-and that Christ's teaching and person is far greater than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/americans-deepest-religion-is-often-equality-the-notion-that-christ/)

[Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/)

> [“Our identity is in Christ, not in our work, our accomplishments or our own good works. Our provision is from God alone, not our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddick-van-zyl/our-identity-is-in-christ-not-in-our-work-our-accomplishments-or-our/)

[Paddick Van Zyl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddick-van-zyl/)

> [“If thou hast ever come to the blood of sprinkling, thou wilt feel thy need of coming to it every day. He who does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-h-spurgeon/if-thou-hast-ever-come-to-the-blood-of-sprinkling-thou-wilt-feel-thy/)

[Charles H. Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-h-spurgeon/)

> [Live for Christ alone!.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/live-for-christ-alone/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I hope not in works. I hope not in ethics. I hope not in baptisms or church membership. I hope in Christ alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/i-hope-not-in-works-i-hope-not-in-ethics-i-hope-not-in-baptisms-or/)

[Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/)

> [All self-effort is but sinking sand. Christ alone is the Rock of our salvation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/all-self-effort-is-but-sinking-sand-christ-alone-is-the-rock-of-our/)

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

> [“Indeed for all of us who are believers, our present circumstances and futures aren't defined by our pasts. Our identities are found in Christ…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-rosati/indeed-for-all-of-us-who-are-believers-our-present-circumstances-and/)

Kelly Rosati

> [The love for our enemies takes us along the way of the cross and into fellowship with the Crucified. The more we are driven…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-love-for-our-enemies-takes-us-along-the-way-of-the-cross-and-into/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [I can only say that I am nothing but a poor sinner, trusting in Christ alone for salvation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/i-can-only-say-that-i-am-nothing-but-a-poor-sinner-trusting-in-christ/)

[Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/)

> [Christ alone can bring lasting peace - peace with God - peace among men and nations - and peace within our hearts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/christ-alone-can-bring-lasting-peace-peace-with-god-peace-among-men/)

[Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/)

> [In Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone forgiveness of sin and guilt is possible. Eternal life is possible in Jesus Christ alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-jesus-christ-and-jesus-christ-alone-forgiveness-of-sin-and-guilt/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

[Browse all 71 Christ alone quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ-alone/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“So when the fear of not persevering raises its head, don’t try to overcome it by saying, “Oh, there is no danger, we don’t need to persevere.” You do. There will be no salvation in the end for people who do not fight the good fight and finish the race and keep the faith and treasure Christ’s appearing. And don’t try to overcome the fear of not persevering by trying to win God’s favor by your exertions in godliness. God’s favor comes by grace alone, on the basis of Christ alone, in union with Christ alone, through faith alone, to the glory of God alone. He is totally, 100% irrevocably for us because of the work of Christ if we are in Christ. And we are in Christ not by exertions but by receiving him as our sacrifice and perfection and Treasure.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John Piper"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/so-when-the-fear-of-not-persevering-raises-its-head-don-t-try-to/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Christ alone"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/so-when-the-fear-of-not-persevering-raises-its-head-don-t-try-to/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acc/john-piper-255_christ-alone_so-when-the-fear-of-not-persevering-rais_537939.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acc/john-piper-255_christ-alone_so-when-the-fear-of-not-persevering-rais_537939.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/acc/john-piper-255_christ-alone_so-when-the-fear-of-not-persevering-rais_537939.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“So when the fear of not persevering raises its head, don’t try to overcome it by saying, “Oh, there is no…” — John Piper",
                "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": "John Piper",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“So when the fear of not...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/so-when-the-fear-of-not-persevering-raises-its-head-don-t-try-to/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/so-when-the-fear-of-not-persevering-raises-its-head-don-t-try-to/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
