Jennifer Rothnie Supporter Housewife, Artist, Perpetually Curious

Heb 12:2 tells us that Jesus Himself is the "pioneer and perfecter of faith". 'Perfecter' of faith, in the context of Heb 12:1-13, is how our faith is refined through trials and discipline. Because it is Jesus who refines our faith, we then can endure anything for the Joy set before us. Paul lists many things we can do as we focus on our Hope in Christ; throw off what hinders, run, consider Him, resist sin, endure hardship as discipline, strengthen our feeble arms, make level paths, etc.

Jesus is also the 'pioneer' of our faith; this is the greek 'archégos' - it means 'the first in a long procession'; the founder of a movement or a file-leader. Jesus is the firstborn among many brethren (Rom 8:28-30), and through Him we receive the promise of the Spirit (Gal 3:13-14).

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! 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. 

"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.

"Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect (finished), he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him".


Salvation has its source in Christ (Rom 10:13-17), but 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!

Jesus being 'the pioneer and finisher of our faith' means that everything needed for faith is given to us in Christ, and that with our eyes fixed on Christ, that faith is continually refined/finished. Just as Jesus, though 'perfect', was still finished by the Father as He practiced obedience; so we, though counted 'perfect' for the sake of Christ, are still refined and finished by God as we stand firm in our faith and practice obedience through trials.

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

This perfection is a process, such as going through a refiners fire. For someone perfect like Jesus, each trial just proves His purity. For us, continual refinement as we walk by the spirit puts to death the deeds of the flesh. Gal 5:13-26, II Pet 1:3-11, Rom 1.

Let us then continually reflect upon Jesus as the founder of our faith, continually walk by the Spirit in relationship with Jesus Christ, and continually continually look forward to the Hope we have in Christ as we go through the trials of life. This concept of Jesus as founder and finisher is not just abstract theology, but full of practical comfort when we face seemingly impossible trials. (Phil 2:1-18, Eph 6:10-20, etc).

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,a whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be perfect and complete, not lacking anything". James 1:2-4

April 27 2015 • 3 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

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