The Author and Finisher of our Faith

by Jill Rhodes

November 2005

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith,
who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame,
and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2

"Salvation isn't a parking lot;  it's a launching pad.  The Lord Jesus Christ is the Pioneer of our salvation, which means there's always something new to learn, experience, and share with others."  (Warren Wiersbe)

Beside the literal ground, unoccupied for Christ, there is the unclaimed, untrodden territory of divine promises.  What did God say to Joshua?  "Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you." And then He draws the outlines of the land of promise - all theirs on one condition:  that they shall march through the length and breadth of it, and measure it off with their own feet.

They never did that to more than one-third of the property, and consequently they never had more than one-third; they had just what they measured off, and no more.

In 2 Peter, we read of the "land of promise" that is opened up to us, and it is God's will that we should, as it were, measure off that territory by the feet of obedient faith and believing obedience, thus claiming and appropriating it for our own.

How many of us have ever taken possession of the promises of God in the name of Christ?

Here is a magnificent territory for faith to lay hold on and march through the length and breadth of, and faith has never done it yet.

Let us enter into all our inheritance.  Let us lift up our eyes to the north and to the south, to the east and to the west, and hear Him say, "All the land that thou seest will I give to thee."
A.T. Pierson

Come and See

The Pioneer of Our Faith

1.  When you think of a pioneer, what images come to mind?

2.  What names are used to describe Jesus in the following verses?  Acts 3:15, Acts 5:31, Hebrews 2:10, Hebrews 12:2

Word for Word - Our English word for pioneer originally comes from an archaic French word meaning "foot soldier." The pioneer was often one who went in front of military troops as a scout and trailblazer, opening the way for others to follow.  It is the same Greek word archegos which is used in the four verses you just read.  It is sometimes translated as prince, captain, or author, but the meaning is the same:  a pioneer who forges ahead, establishing lasting territory.  Jesus truly exemplifies this name in every sense.  He is the founder of our salvation, the pioneer of our faith, and the trailblazer who wants to guide us into new frontiers of blessing and growth, if only we will follow.

3.  Jesus' first and last words to Peter were the same:  "Follow Me!"  (Matt. 4:19, John 21:22).  What one question did Peter have to answer in order to truly follow Jesus (John 21:15)?
How would you answer this question?

4.  What was Jesus able to say at the end of His life (John 17:4)?
What was Paul able to say (2 Tim. 4:7)?
What would you like to be able to say?

5.  When did Jesus finish His work according to Heb. 4:3?
How is this an encouragement as you press on in your faith?

By the Book - Perhaps the most vivid portrayal of Jesus as our Pioneer is found in the book of Hebrews.  Though we are not sure who is the author of this great book, we are presented several times with the truth that ultimately, Jesus is the author of everything and everyone (Heb. 5:9, 12:2)!  In Hebrews, we learn about the eternal existence and incarnation of the Pioneer who came to earth to blaze for us a trail to glory.  And we discover that even now, He is not only perfecting us in the faith, but building a forever future city for us as well.  In the "Hall of Faith" of Heb. 11, we meet many of God's people who became trailblazers themselves as they followed in the footsteps of their Lord, and we are reminded to do the same, always keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

"I have loved to hear my Lord spoken of,
and wherever I have seen the print of His shoe in the earth,
there I have coveted to put mine also."
John Bunyan

The Progress of Our Faith

6.  What different degrees of faith are described in the following verses?
(Mark 4:40, Matt. 6:30, Matt. 8:10)
What kind of grade would you receive right now if God were to give you a progress report on your faith?

7.  What do the following verses teach about moving forward in our faith?  Luke 9:62, Heb. 6:1-2, Phil. 3:13, 16
Right now, do you feel you are at a stand-still, going backward, or moving ahead into new territory in your walk with the Lord?

"Little faith will bring your soul to heaven;
great faith will bring heaven to your soul."
Charles Spurgeon

The Price of Our Faith

8. How does Jesus define discipleship in Luke 9:57-62? 
How is this expressed in your own life?

9.  What can you learn about what it costs to truly follow Jesus from Luke 9:57-62?
With which of the three men in this story do you most easily identify?  Why?

"If Jesus is Lord then the only right response to Him is surrender and obedience.
We cannot separate His demands from His love. 
Christ died so that we could be forgiven for managing our own lives. 
It would be impossible to thank Christ for dying and yet to continue running our own lives."
Rebecca Pippert

The Promise of Our Faith

10.  Read John 21:12-22.  Why do you think Jesus shared with Peter about how his death someday would bring glory to God (vs. 18-19)?

11.  What assurance do the following verses give concerning God's work in you?  (2 Cor. 9:8, Phil. 1:6, Phil. 2:13, 1 Thess. 5:24)

12. Read 2 Cor. 1:20.  Not only is Jesus the author and finisher of your faith, he is the "Yes" and "Amen" to every promise of God on your behalf (there are over 10,000 promises in God's Word)! After all that you've learned about Him during this study, how does it make you fee to know that Jesus is your full guarantee to fulfill God's work and word in your life?

The Road to Emmaus - God is always the Originator and Completer of everything throughout the Scriptures as evidenced in the following passages:

• In Psalm - Psalm 126
  This Psalm describes how God faithfully brought His people out of captivity bringing restoration to their lives.  How does this encourage you that the Lord finishes the work He begins in the lives of His people?
• In Prophecy - Isaiah 43:1-21
  How is the pioneering spirit of the Lord evident in verses 16-19?
• In Parable - Luke 14:26-33
  What point does Jesus make about starting and finishing in verses 28-30?

"The ultimate aim of the work of Christ is that
there should be a people prepared for God...
when this takes place, the work of Christ is complete."
I. Howard Marshall

Come and Follow

13.  How did the Lord describe Himself in Matthew 23:10?
How are you responding to His leadership in your own life right now?
What can you do to be a better follower of Jesus?

14.  What invitation did Jesus give to His disciples in John 1:37-39?  What was evident about them three years later (Acts 4:13)?

"The men who followed Jesus were unique in their generation.
They turned the world upside down because their hearts had been turned
right side up.  The world has never been the same."
Billy Graham

Name Above All Names

~ The Forerunner - Hebrews 6:20

~ The Author of Eternal Salvation - Hebrews 5:9

~ The Beginning and the Ending - Revelation 1:8

~ Head Over All Things - Ephesians 1:22

~ Good Master - Mark 10:17

~ Our Keeper - John 17:12

~ Your Leader - Matthew 23:10

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This study has been taken from the book Come and Behold Him, A Study of the Names of Jesus by Jill Rhodes.  We encourage you to pick up this book and other studies by Jill.