Jesus: The Author and Perfecter of Our Faith
Summary
Today, I explored the profound truth that Jesus is both the author and the perfecter of our faith. I began by emphasizing that our faith journey starts and ends with Jesus, not with human intermediaries or our own efforts. I highlighted that while God uses people in our lives, ultimate credit and focus should remain on Jesus, who initiated our relationship with Him before the foundation of the world. This foundational truth sets the stage for a life centered on Christ, not on human achievements or failures.
I then addressed the common struggles and excuses we often hear or express ourselves, such as familial influences or personal shortcomings. I stressed that despite these real challenges, the promise of God stands firm—He is able to keep us from stumbling. This promise is not just a theoretical concept; it's a reality that I've experienced in my own life, particularly in my marriage. As I approach 30 years of marriage, I shared how God's faithfulness has enabled me to remain faithful, underscoring that it's not by my strength but by His that I have been kept from stumbling.
In a world filled with temptations and opportunities to deviate from our faith path, the belief that Jesus can and will perfect what He has started in us is crucial. I encouraged everyone to claim this promise actively, especially when faced with sin or temptation. It's essential to confess and renounce whatever hinders our relationship with God, trusting that He will carry us through to completion.
Throughout the sermon, I reiterated the importance of focusing on Jesus as the author and perfecter of our faith. This focus helps us to navigate life's challenges and disappointments, particularly those stemming from human relationships. Whether it's a pastor, a family member, or a friend, people will inevitably let us down. However, these disappointments should not derail us because our faith is not based on people but on Christ alone.
By fixing our eyes on Jesus and recognizing Him as the sole author of our salvation, we maintain the correct perspective on our spiritual journey. This perspective not only helps us to withstand the trials and temptations of life but also empowers us to live in a way that honors God, free from the bondage of sin and human approval.
### Key Takeaways
1. Jesus as the Author and Perfecter: Recognizing Jesus as the initiator and completer of our faith journey is crucial. This understanding helps us to not overly depend on human beings who are bound to fail us. Instead, we learn to rely on Jesus, who never fails and is always faithful to complete the work He has started in us. [01:37]
2. The Reality of Human Disappointment: It's a common experience to be let down by others, even by those we look up to spiritually. However, these disappointments serve as reminders that our ultimate trust should be in Jesus alone. He is the one who began our faith journey and He is the one who will bring it to completion, irrespective of human failures. [03:35]
3. God's Promise to Keep Us: The promise that God will keep us from stumbling is not just comforting; it's transformative. It allows us to live lives of holiness and joy, even in a world full of sin and temptation. This promise should be actively claimed, especially in moments of temptation or moral challenge. [05:21]
4. Faithfulness in Marriage: Sharing personal testimony about marital faithfulness highlights the practical application of God's promise to keep us. It demonstrates that with God's help, we can live out our commitments faithfully, not because of our strength but because of His sustaining power. [06:36]
5. Active Claiming of God's Promises: It's not enough to passively acknowledge God's promises. We must actively claim them, especially in the face of sin or when tempted. This active stance involves confession and the removal of anything that hinders our relationship with God, trusting that He will perfect what He has started. [07:48]
### Youtube Chapters
- [0:00] - Welcome
- [00:47] - The Author of Our Faith
- [01:37] - Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus
- [02:50] - Overcoming Human Disappointments
- [03:35] - Trusting Jesus Amidst Failures
- [04:10] - The Promise of God's Faithfulness
- [05:21] - God's Sustaining Power in Trials
- [06:36] - Testimony of Marital Faithfulness
- [07:15] - Facing Temptations
- [07:48] - Claiming God's Promises
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Hebrews 12:2 (NIV) - "Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
2. Philippians 1:6 (NIV) - "Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
3. Jude 1:24 (NIV) - "To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy."
#### Observation Questions
1. According to Hebrews 12:2, what are we instructed to do with our eyes and why?
2. In Philippians 1:6, what assurance does Paul give about the work God has started in us?
3. What promise is given in Jude 1:24 regarding our spiritual journey and standing before God?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does recognizing Jesus as the author and perfecter of our faith change our perspective on human influences in our spiritual journey? [01:37]
2. What does it mean for Jesus to be the "perfecter" of our faith, especially in the context of personal struggles and temptations? [02:50]
3. How can the promise in Jude 1:24 transform our approach to dealing with sin and temptation in our lives? [04:10]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt let down by someone in your spiritual community. How did that experience affect your faith, and how can you refocus on Jesus as the author and perfecter of your faith? [03:35]
2. In what ways can you actively claim God's promise to keep you from stumbling, especially when faced with specific temptations or moral challenges? [05:21]
3. How can you practically fix your eyes on Jesus in your daily life? Are there specific distractions you need to minimize to maintain this focus? [07:15]
4. Think about your current relationships. How can you demonstrate faithfulness and reliance on God's sustaining power, as shared in the testimony of marital faithfulness? [06:36]
5. Identify one area in your life where you have been giving too much credit to human efforts rather than recognizing Jesus' role. How can you shift your perspective to honor Jesus as the initiator and completer of your faith? [01:37]
6. When faced with disappointments from others, how can you remind yourself of the promise that Jesus will complete the work He started in you? What practical steps can you take to reinforce this belief? [02:50]
7. How can you incorporate the practice of confession and renouncing hindrances in your spiritual routine to actively claim God's promises? [07:48]
Devotional
Day 1: Jesus, Our Faith's Initiator and Completer
Jesus is the cornerstone of our faith, initiating and completing our spiritual journey. Recognizing Him as both the author and perfecter of our faith is essential for a life centered on divine rather than human reliance. This perspective helps us to navigate through life's ups and downs, ensuring that our focus remains on Christ's unchanging nature rather than the fluctuating circumstances or human disappointments we encounter. By understanding that our faith both begins and will be completed by Jesus, we are less likely to fall into despair when people let us down or when we face personal failures. This reliance on Jesus fosters a resilient faith that can withstand life's storms. [01:37]
Hebrews 12:2-3 ESV: "Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted."
Reflection: How can you shift your focus more firmly onto Jesus in your daily walk, especially during times of personal or communal challenges?
Day 2: Navigating Through Human Disappointments
Human disappointments are inevitable, but they serve as poignant reminders that our ultimate trust should be placed in Jesus alone. He is the steadfast foundation of our faith journey, unswayed by the failures or weaknesses of others. When we experience letdowns, whether from spiritual leaders or close relations, it is an opportunity to reaffirm our dependence on Christ, who never fails us. This understanding allows us to maintain our spiritual equilibrium and continue our walk in faith, knowing that Jesus is both the initiator and the fulfiller of our faith journey, regardless of human imperfections. [03:35]
Psalm 146:3-5 ESV: "Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God."
Reflection: Recall a recent disappointment involving someone you looked up to. How can you use this experience to deepen your trust in Jesus rather than in people?
Day 3: Embracing God's Promise to Sustain Us
The promise that God will keep us from stumbling is transformative and offers us a profound sense of security and joy. This promise is not merely comforting; it actively shapes how we live, enabling us to pursue a life of holiness, free from the entanglements of sin and despair. By actively claiming this promise, especially in moments of temptation or moral challenges, we align ourselves with God's power and purpose for our lives, trusting that He will carry us through to completion. This active faith in God's promises equips us to face life's trials with confidence and grace. [05:21]
Jude 1:24-25 ESV: "Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen."
Reflection: What specific temptation or challenge are you currently facing, and how can you actively claim God's promise to keep you from stumbling in this situation?
Day 4: Faithfulness in Marriage Through Divine Strength
Sharing personal experiences of how God's faithfulness has sustained one's marriage is a powerful testimony to His promise to keep us. It demonstrates that our ability to remain committed in relationships, such as marriage, is not rooted in our own strength but in God's sustaining power. This understanding encourages us to rely on God's help in all our commitments, trusting that He will provide the grace and strength needed to be faithful and to honor our commitments, regardless of the challenges we face. [06:36]
Ephesians 5:25-27 ESV: "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish."
Reflection: In what ways can you depend more on God's strength to help you maintain faithfulness in your relationships, particularly in marriage?
Day 5: Actively Claiming God's Promises
It is not enough to passively acknowledge God's promises; we must actively claim them. This involves confessing and renouncing anything that hinders our relationship with God and trusting that He will perfect what He has started in us. By taking an active stance against sin and temptation, we open ourselves to God's transformative power, allowing Him to work through us and complete the good work He has begun. This active engagement with God's promises not only deepens our faith but also empowers us to live lives that reflect His glory and purpose. [07:48]
Philippians 1:6 ESV: "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."
Reflection: What is one area in your life where you need to more actively claim God's promises, and what practical steps can you take today to begin this process?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Why do I believe in Jesus today? Because Jesus started something in my life. I don't want to give credit to anyone else. Did God use people? Yeah, he used people. Great. But that'd be like if Michael pulled out Crazy Love and goes, ah, when I wrote this book, I'm like, dude, I wrote that book. I'm the author of that. Don't go telling people you wrote it." [00:47]
2. "It's too hard. You know, I was born into this type of family. Look, I get it. All those things are real. But it is also real that he is the perfecter. And there is a promise. And when we pray to him, we say now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling. He's able to keep you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of his glory, blameless with great joy." [04:10]
3. "I thank God for that promise. On January 8th of this coming year, my wife and I will be celebrating 30 years. 30 years. Yeah. It's been awesome. And I've been faithful. I'll look you in the eyes and tell you I've been faithful to my wife for 30 years. Because he can keep you from stumbling. And you need to believe this." [06:36]
### Quotes for Members
1. "You said you can keep me from stumbling. And I'm going to claim that, God. And I'm going to confess this. And I'm going to remove this. In the name of Jesus." [07:48]
2. "I hear it a lot of people saying, well, I fell away from the Lord because of my pastor. I'm not denying that people can have an adverse effect on you or walked away from God. I don't believe him anymore because of this happened to me. That happened to me. And we blame something. I had this accountability group and they didn't call me. They didn't get back to me when I really needed them. I'm not excusing that. But Jesus says, wait. I started this thing and I finish it. I'm actually the perfecter of your faith." [02:50]
3. "And so you come here today to thank him. I mean, even now as I'm speaking, Jesus is here. Thank him. God, you started something. You started something in my life. Forgive me for giving too much credit to anyone else. You knew me in my mother's womb. You chose me before the foundation of the world. You, Jesus, I don't want to talk about anyone else. I fixed my eyes on you because you are the author of my life." [01:37]
4. "That means if everyone lets me down, it's okay. Because they didn't start this. And they're not going to perfect this. I don't know if you've been a Christian long enough to realize that people are going to let you down. It takes about a week. I don't know. It's going to happen. I'm going to let you down. People are going to let you down. But it's no excuse. Because we have a promise that the author of our faith is also the perfecter of our faith. It's so good to know." [03:35]
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