Jennifer Rothnie Supporter Housewife, Artist, Perpetually Curious

Heb 12:2 tells us that Jesus Himself is the "pioneer and perfecter of faith". In Heb 12:1-13 we see that 'perfecter' of faith in this context is how our faith is refined through trials and discipline, and as such we can endure anything for the Joy set before us. Note there is great emphasis on what we should do (throw off what hinders, let us run, consider Him, resist sin, endure hardship as discipline, strengthen your feeble arms, make level paths, etc).

But back to the word 'pioneer'; this word is the greek 'archégos' - it means 'the first in a long procession'. This word use shows that Jesus is the originator or founder of a movement. It is not exactly like the English word 'author', but it can mean source. Our faith indeed has Jesus as its source, for Faith is the firm persuasion that Jesus is who He claims, that He has the authority to forgive sins, that He did die on the cross, etc. Without Jesus, there would not be saving Faith.

Heb 2:1-17 explains this process more fully.

"In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters" Heb 2:10-12

Heb 5:7-10 focuses back on the aspect of Jesus enduring great suffering in order to become the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him. Here the word is not archégos, but rather 'aitios'. This term means cause or source, and is more similar to the term author.

Note the clarifying phrase; Jesus became the cause/source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him. 'upakouousin' is a term of action; those who listen or attend to God; those who obey or stand under what is heard.

We see this in Rom 10:13-17 as well. We see that faith has its source in Christ, and that someone cannot have faith if they never hear the Word about Christ. They must hear, and they must call upon the Lord, and then they will be saved. Again, hearing and obeying!

So we see that there is nothing in the concept of Jesus being the pioneer and finisher of our faith that states that God makes men believe or makes men obey. Rather, everything needed for faith is given to us in Christ.

Faith is the assurance of what we hope for; Jesus gave us this joy when He rose from the grave, becoming the firstborn among many brethren. 

Heb 11, the 'faith' chapter, takes us on a journey examining faith throughout scripture. Of great importance is the last sentence:

"And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect". Heb 11:39-40

Remember above, where it stated that Jesus was the finisher of our faith? This term finish/perfect is the same. It is a finishing or perfecting by going through a process, such as a refiner's fire.

Keeping this in mind, we can look at what it means that God will complete the good work in us.

In Phil 1, Paul is in prison and reflecting on the steadfast nature of the Philippians. The Philippians had fellow-shipped with Paul in the gospel from the first day [that he preached to them or that they believed, presumably]. Paul states his confidence that God will carry on finishing the good work He began in them until the day of Christ Jesus.

Paul also speaks of this, albeit in rebuke and not praise, to the Galatians. "Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard?", "Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?" He asks them (Gal 3:1-5). He then asks why they are trying to be finished by works of the flesh, vs. By the Spirit. Gal 5:13-25, 


So yes, we must believe in Christ, whom God sent (John 6:28-29), and continue to abide (John 15).

April 25 2015 • 5 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

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