JESUS, PERFECTER OF OUR FAITH Jesus is God series- part 5 Today, we continue our Foundation of Faith series, Jesus is God by looking at Jesus, the perfecter of our faith. My purpose is to encourage your faith; develop your confidence (renewed, stronger) Your faith needs 2 things: 1) A strong foundation to support it; 2) it needs to be stimulated to move into action (otherwise it remains stagnant, unfruitful) - Challenge, promises, crisis Heb 3:1 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, NASB 1 consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of the faith we profess; Look at various Bible versions GW Heb 3:1 Brothers and sisters, you are holy partners in a heavenly calling. So look carefully at Jesus, the apostle and chief priest about whom we make our declaration of faith. AMP 1 SO THEN, brethren, consecrated and set apart for God, who share in the heavenly calling, [thoughtfully and attentively] consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest Whom we confessed [as ours when we embraced the Christian faith]. 1 MSG -6 So, my dear Christian friends, companions in following this call to the heights, take a good hard look at Jesus. He's the centerpiece of everything we believe, faithful in everything God gave him to do. Moses was also faithful, but Jesus gets far more honor. This verse shows us a few things we have in common: 1. A common identity; 2. A common inheritance; 3. A calling; 4. A mission; 5. A common faith 1. Our common identity Holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling Double characteristics: 1 st Family bound- adelphos- united by the womb- we are born of one Father and share a family resemblance ILLUSTRATION Look at the multicultural background represented in this church Also on the mission field, we cooperate with people from different affiliations (Pentecostal, or not), we acknowledge that we belong to the family of God. When conflicts occur among Christians, one of the best way not to keep grudge in your heart is to recognize that others around me love the Lord as much as I do. Holy brethren 2 nd characteistic is holiness (We have the seed of God in us) Persons (consecrated and set apart for God), called both inwardly and outwardly to be holy in life, and useful in the world. and persons who are faithful to that profession they made. Aren t Christians afraid of sin anymore? Why so many Christians knowing what the Word says, still choose to do otherwise, (and then seem to be little affected about it) try to justify, excuse their actions. o How many marriages are affected by sinful decisions and behaviors and when confronted, still refuse to change? o When is it the last time that you were strongly tempted, but because you love God more, you decided to run away instead of yielding to temptation? Testimony-My conversion and the fear of the Lord. Lighthouse Ministries 4F, 405-406, Leader Commercial Building 54-56 Hillwood Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong Tel: +852 2721 0107 l www.ligthouseministries.hk
OUR COMMON INHERITANCE Partakers of the heavenly calling AMP who share in the heavenly calling From G3348; participant, a sharer; an associate: - fellow, partaker, partner. We are from the same family and share in a common inheritance from our Father you are holy partners sharing a same inheritance The Bible has a lot to say about inheritance We are to pray to receive understanding of the riches of our inheritance The Holy Spirit is the guarantee of our inheritance Esau despised his inheritance and exchanged it for a bowl of lentils and later cried bitterly A HEAVENLY CALLING 2 MEANINGS 1 st - A personal calling- A personal invitation through the Gospel Come to me, Believe The Israelites had an earthly calling; they were called out of Egypt to go into the promised land: Christians have a heavenly calling; they are invited to leave the bondage of sin, are brought into a state of salvation. (traveling) companions in following this call HEAVENWARD, UPWARD (pilgrims progress) Paul left everything behind in order to win the prize that God's heavenly call offers in Christ Jesus. OUR MISSION The 2 nd meaning of calling, can be translated as a Vocation- A Vocation can be a call from God to serve in a particular role, to a life of purpose (a life not so much turned toward my needs but towards others). (How my faith will affect my social life) Our text mentions The faith that we profess, It refers to the great commission that I fulfill through my way of life, my testimony and me confession of faith. OUR COMMON FAITH GW- So look carefully at Jesus, the apostle and chief priest about whom we make our declaration of faith. (of our confession- of the faith we profess - ) A faith we are called to grow into, defend, live out and profess. (a life worthy of the faith we profess.) We are called to keep the same confidence we had at the beginning Heb 3:1 presents [ summary of what we are and have received in Christ] Titles given to Christ Consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of the faith we profess; The apostle: The greatest messenger of God with the greatest message from God to men (in importance) The greatest mission; the greatest revealer of the faith, that we received, that we keep, that we profess. Gal 1:11 I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. 12 I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ. 1 Cor 15: 1 Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. 3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, Jesus perfecter of our faith - By Pastor Rene Lussier - Page 2 of 5
A few more titles given to Christ (also in Hebrews) related to our faith: NKJV - Heb 12:1 and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, Heb 12:2 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 has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. NLT - Heb 12:2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. ISV - Heb 12:2 fixing our attention on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of the faith, GW - Heb 12:2 We must focus on Jesus, the source and goal of our faith. GNB - Heb 12:2 Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end.. CEV - Heb 12:2 We must keep our eyes on Jesus, who leads us and makes our faith complete. AMP - 2 Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. MSG - Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, The apostle speaks in the gymnastic style, taken from the Olympic and other exercises. 1. Christians have a race to run, a race of service and of sufferings, a race of active and submissive obedience. (A bit further a fight, a struggle) 2. This race is set before you; it is marked out by the word of God, with its limits and directions; and the prize you run for, is set before you. Others have run it and have become examples of how to run it. 3. This race must be run with patience and perseverance. You will be need patience when you will meet difficulties in your way, and perseverance to resist all temptations. You must cultivate and constantly exercise Faith and patience. They are the keys to winning. 4. Christians have the greatest example Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, Looking unto Jesus - Looking away from concerns of this life (anxieties) to Jesus and all the heavenly things connected with him. The One at the origin of our faith: Arche: First in order or in time. AUTHOR signifies, in general, captain or leader, or the first inventor of a thing; 12:2 Throughout the race, we should look away from every distraction and keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the champion Runner (hero and ultimate model). Every Christian is a contender in this race for eternal life. The heavenly course is begun under Jesus; and under him it is completed. He is not only the object of faith He is the author, or pioneer, of our faith in the sense that He has provided us with the only perfect example of what the life of faith is like. (Called to a life of faith following the example of Jesus Christ.) He is the model of our faith, the One who inspire us. The first in importance Look at different versions of this verse: the author of our faith, the champion who initiates our faith, the pioneer of the faith, the source of our faith, Jesus, on whom our faith depends from the beginning, Jesus, who leads us; Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief]; Jesus, who both began the race we re in (1.) he is the author of their faith - the beginning, perfecter, and rewarder of it. Jesus perfecter of our faith - By Pastor Rene Lussier - Page 3 of 5
The One who perfects our faith and brings it to maturity The coach, the trainer who disciples us The One who supervises, accompanies and guides our faith NLT Jesus, the champion perfects our faith GW Jesus, the goal of our faith GNB Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to [the] end.. CEV Jesus, who makes our faith complete AMP Jesus, Who is also its Finisher (faith) [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. MSG Jesus, who finished this race we're in He is also the finisher of our faith. He not only began the race but finished it triumphantly. For Him the race course stretched from heaven to Bethlehem, then on to Gethsemane and Calvary, then out of the tomb and back to heaven. At no time did He turn back. He kept His eyes fixed on the coming glory when all the redeemed would be gathered with Him eternally. This enabled Him to think nothing of shame and to endure suffering and death. Today He is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. One stands out eye-catching (prominent) above all the rest... the Man who first perfectly understood the idea of living by faith..., who cheerfully endured the bitter suffering of the cross, with its pain and shame because he was sustained by a faith that looked ahead to the coming joy and glory. A. B. Bruce He is the finisher of our faith; he is the fulfiller and the fulfilling of all scripturepromises and prophecies; It is finished- the prize has been paid in full He is the perfecter of the canon of scripture; he is the finisher of grace, and of the work of faith with power in the souls of his people; and he is the judge and the rewarder of their faith; he determines who qualify to enter the race, judge the performance of the runners (if they follows the rules) and from him, and in him, who will receive the prize after reaching the mark. CONSIDER JESUS - in the books of Hebrews We are called to consider Jesus look at him o Consider - to observe fully- exercise the mind In Heb 3:1, we are exhorted to Jesus who is is both the apostle and the Chief-Priest of our faith In Heb 12:3, we are exhorted to consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, If we look at the larger context, we will see that the exhortation was intended to be, (an encouragement in times when we become weary and discouraged in our souls.) APPLICATION We already mentioned that the race set before us is one of sufferings, a marathon of endurance It is a race of active and submissive obedience that requires some disciplines and qualities. - Training, readiness, laying aside encumbrances, looking away from distractions and looking intently to Jesus - Patience, endurance and perseverance. Heb 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter 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. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. Consider Him so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. In your race, in your struggle against sin, or enduring opposition from sinful men, Consider Jesus Jesus perfecter of our faith - By Pastor Rene Lussier - Page 4 of 5
Consider Jesus may have a few different applications. Focus your attention on Him; examine (His life, his message, his work, his divine and human nature.) Many that profess faith in Christ in fact, do not consider him; as he deserves to be, and desires to be, yet they still expect salvation from him. During the triumphal entry of Jesus in Jerusalem, we acclaimed him, a few days later, we crucified him Throughout church history, there have been believers who began very well, but later They lost their first love They lost the confidence they had at the beginning Their faith has been shipwrecked Like Demas who has fallen in love with present word has abandoned Many like the cheering crowd in Jerusalem, experienced the excitement o but years later, they even lose their interest for the One who had captivated their heart. o This happens to many marriages, and likewise to our relationship with Jesus This is why we need to consider Jesus. We need an ungoing increasing revelation of Jesus Christ. Just like the progressive revelation of the NT, culminating in Revelation and the bride say, "Come." o The bride is ready, she s waiting, hope, she prepared herself. Considering Jesus would benefit us greatly and increase our knowledge of him. It would engage our love and our obedience to him, and make it much easier to rely on him. Consider Jesus is maintaining a living, ongoing and renewed relationship with Him. Even the holy brethren, and partakers of the heavenly calling, have need to stir up one another to think more of Christ than they do, to have him more in their minds; the best of his people think too seldom and too slightly of him. We must consider Christ as he is described in the scriptures, and not imagine him from any vain conceptions and fancies of our own. Consider what he is in himself, what he is to us, and what he will be to us in the future and for ever; consider him, fix your thoughts upon him with the greatest attention, and act towards him accordingly; WORSHIP Jesus perfecter of our faith - By Pastor Rene Lussier - Page 5 of 5