Implications of "the author and finisher of our faith"
Dec 21, 2013 23:51:29 GMT
Post by Colossians on Dec 21, 2013 23:51:29 GMT
This material is for the teaching of the Body of Christ, however the author reserves copyright over it.
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IMPLICATIONS OF HEBREWS 12:2’s “THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH”
[1]”Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
[2] 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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
[3] For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.”
There are those who say that the phrase we have underlined here – “the author and finisher of our faith” – refers simply to Christ’s example, and that therefore it is not actually saying that He creates the faith that is in us toward that example.
But what we believe, itself contains the ‘requirement’ to believe, which means that that which has been authored by Christ, can't be followed in (actual, real) faith, unless the believing with which one follows it, is itself part of that which is authored.
Those who say that Christ does not create in us the believing that accompanies what is believed, are therefore necessarily promoting a kind of faith that is extraneous to the faith and therefore a faith in faith itself: they are promoting existentialism. What we believe cannot be separated from the believing of what we believe, any more than a balloon can be separated from its skin and still provide entertainment at a party. Attesting, there is no such thing as a faith which does not have at least one believer.
So when we are told that Jesus is the author of our faith, whilst this indeed carries with it the notion of an example, in order for it to be anything more than mere existentialism, it must also bring with it the irresistible urge to follow that example.
That is, the experience of the true Christian is a supernatural one, and therefore the message which has brought such about, must consist of an illocutionary act. The person of the Holy Spirit is that illocutionary act: it is in Him that the message itself irresistibly produces the goal thereof.
And so we read from Paul:
“no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost” 1 Cor 12:3.
In concluding ...
We also read from Paul the following:
“[the secret about Jesus Christ is] now ... made known to all nations for the obedience of faith” Rom 16:26
and are thus informed that faith is not merely believing, but in the fuller sense of the gospel, obedience.
Given then that none other than Jesus Christ is obedient, and given that He is the author of what we are to obey, we necessarily understand that such authorship extends to the obeying itself: our believing is not of ourselves, but of Him who dwells within us.
So:
“I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me” Gal 2:20.
Moreover, it is not possible to divide the faith into the authoring of it and the finishing of it, for the finishing of it is necessarily already included in what is authored: our faith is viewed from victory, not to it: it does not end at the Cross, but begins at the Cross.
So the fact that these 2 aspects – authoring and finishing – are indeed mentioned, tells us that their primary meaning lies in another aspect, to wit, our own personal experience of the faith.
That is, this "authoring" primarily relates His creating of our faith in us, and this "finishing" His perfecting/maturing of that very same faith.
So:
"Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" Phil 1:6.
Amen.
_________________________________________________________________
IMPLICATIONS OF HEBREWS 12:2’s “THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH”
[1]”Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
[2] 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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
[3] For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.”
There are those who say that the phrase we have underlined here – “the author and finisher of our faith” – refers simply to Christ’s example, and that therefore it is not actually saying that He creates the faith that is in us toward that example.
But what we believe, itself contains the ‘requirement’ to believe, which means that that which has been authored by Christ, can't be followed in (actual, real) faith, unless the believing with which one follows it, is itself part of that which is authored.
Those who say that Christ does not create in us the believing that accompanies what is believed, are therefore necessarily promoting a kind of faith that is extraneous to the faith and therefore a faith in faith itself: they are promoting existentialism. What we believe cannot be separated from the believing of what we believe, any more than a balloon can be separated from its skin and still provide entertainment at a party. Attesting, there is no such thing as a faith which does not have at least one believer.
So when we are told that Jesus is the author of our faith, whilst this indeed carries with it the notion of an example, in order for it to be anything more than mere existentialism, it must also bring with it the irresistible urge to follow that example.
That is, the experience of the true Christian is a supernatural one, and therefore the message which has brought such about, must consist of an illocutionary act. The person of the Holy Spirit is that illocutionary act: it is in Him that the message itself irresistibly produces the goal thereof.
And so we read from Paul:
“no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost” 1 Cor 12:3.
In concluding ...
We also read from Paul the following:
“[the secret about Jesus Christ is] now ... made known to all nations for the obedience of faith” Rom 16:26
and are thus informed that faith is not merely believing, but in the fuller sense of the gospel, obedience.
Given then that none other than Jesus Christ is obedient, and given that He is the author of what we are to obey, we necessarily understand that such authorship extends to the obeying itself: our believing is not of ourselves, but of Him who dwells within us.
So:
“I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me” Gal 2:20.
Moreover, it is not possible to divide the faith into the authoring of it and the finishing of it, for the finishing of it is necessarily already included in what is authored: our faith is viewed from victory, not to it: it does not end at the Cross, but begins at the Cross.
So the fact that these 2 aspects – authoring and finishing – are indeed mentioned, tells us that their primary meaning lies in another aspect, to wit, our own personal experience of the faith.
That is, this "authoring" primarily relates His creating of our faith in us, and this "finishing" His perfecting/maturing of that very same faith.
So:
"Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" Phil 1:6.
Amen.