Weekend Sermon -- Jesus Is The Author And Finisher Of Our Faith

     Over the past several weeks, we've been engaged in a study of the names and titles of Jesus found throughout the Bible. This week, and for the next couple of weeks, we will be studying this same theme. Then, it will be time for messages based on the theme of Advent. After a sermon for the new year, I plan to begin another series of messages. I have quite a bit already planned for next year. Lord willing, we will have a couple of different series, and I will post the last part of the book about the Minor Prophets. 

     Today, I want us to focus our attention on the fact that the Bible refers to Jesus as the Author and Finisher of our faith. We read this in Hebrews 12:2 that states, "looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

     What does it mean that Jesus is the Author of our faith in this context? Jesus is the one who made it possible that we can be redeemed. As our text for the day lets us know, Jesus died on the cross in order to save us from our sins. Without the atoning death of Jesus Christ on the cross, we would still be dead in our trespasses and sins as Paul tells us. It is only through Jesus who is the Way, the Truth and the Life that we can have forgiveness of sins. 

     In addition to this, we need to understand that Jesus is the Author of our faith in that we could not even have the faith to believe in the Lord but by His grace. Some people have the idea that we hear about the message of salvation and then we have enough faith to come to Jesus. However, this is not the teaching of the Bible. We are given the gift of faith in order to believe. When we hear the message of the cross, by God's grace, we are given the faith in order to be allowed to believe in what Jesus has done for us. In this way, Jesus is all and all. We can do nothing apart from Him in order to save ourselves. We are not redeemed by anything that we do. We are what we are only because of what Jesus has done for us. By grace we are saved. 

     Now, what does it mean when we say that Jesus is the Finisher of our faith? It means that Jesus is the one who will bring us to ultimate redemption with Him in eternity. He will complete the work bringing us to be with Him for all eternity in the place that He has prepared for those who love Him. Philippians 1:6 tells us, "And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."

     When we are in Christ, we don't have to worry that He will abandon us. He will see us through. Right now, the Lord is in the process of molding and making us what we need to be. We are becoming more and more like Jesus each and every day. Jesus will be with us through the high and through the lows of life until the day that we behold Him face to face in all of His glory. 

     Jesus has completed the work of salvation. We can have complete confidence and faith in Him. It is my hope and prayer that if you do not know Jesus as Savior and Lord, that you will respond to Him this day. Amen. 

Prayer Requests

     I really need your prayers this week. I have a lot of important decisions to make. Also, I have had another health set back. 

     Let us pray for peace in Israel. Pray that the hostages will be free. Pray that the entire area will have peace, and pray that there will be a comprehensive peace solution for this area. 

     Continue to pray for peace in Ukraine, Sudan, Libya, Yemen, Syria and other places in the world experience conflict.

     Pray that those suffering as a result of the storm in Acapulco will get the aid that they need. Pray for all of those suffering as a result of natural disasters. I know that Europe is having a bad storm as I am writing this. 

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let's be in prayer for those in the nations Iraq and Mauritania. Pray that many will come to know Jesus. 

     Next week, we will continue with our current series. I have two more to go in this series. I will post the verses on Monday. I may have a review midweek. May God bless you all.