If you would, I'd like to follow
along. I'm gonna be in Hebrews chapter 12. Hebrews chapter 12. I'm just gonna read the first
two verses. Hebrews chapter 12, verse one. Wherefore, seeing we also are
compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us
lay aside every weight and the sin which not so easily beset
us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. 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. I like those two verses. If you read this book, and as
you read this book, you will notice, hopefully, some people
don't notice anything, I know, but most of us try to, but you
will notice that Christ has more titles than anyone you've ever
heard of. I'm not gonna go all into them
now, but I just used one right now, Our Lord Jesus Christ. He's
Lord. That's a title. And that title
has a meaning. There's a reason for it. There's
a reason why he's called Lord. He told his disciples one time,
you call me Master and Lord, you do well. Why? Because I'm
both. But here, this is, One of these,
I've been actually looking at these, what they call the double
titles, all right? I've told you in some previous
sermons that he is both the shepherd and the sovereign of your souls,
the shepherd and bishop of your souls is the way it reads. And
not too long ago, I talked about the apostle and high priest of
our profession. Well, right here is another double
title. He's the author and finisher of faith. And I'm gonna leave
out the word our there because it's interpolated. And it's true,
it is our faith. But it's only our faith because
he give it to us. And he doesn't give it to everyone. That's why
I said our, we. Paul is being, or whoever wrote
the book of Hebrews, is being very specific here. But this
is the whole thing. He's the author and the finisher
of faith, period. Period. And that's my title,
the author and finisher, Paul. But beginning in verse one, it
says, wherefore seeing we also are compassed about by so great
a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the
sin, and here it is, which doth so easily beset us. That's our nature still. Even
as believers, this is our nature. And we can't lay it aside. How
do you do that? Well, one way, he tells us, is
to mortify therefore your members, which are on this earth. And
in my flesh still dwells no good thing. Do your best to set it
aside. You're not gonna be perfect.
I'm not gonna, Draw down the great sentence of the law down
upon you, because you don't have to. That sentence has already
been passed. And we're free from the law.
But we're not free from the sin which so easily doth beset us.
But, do what you can. Mortify therefore your members.
But here, at the very end of this verse, he says this, and.
Why would we wanna mortify our members? Why would we wanna set
aside the weight? Let us run. Let us run. Oh, I like that. Now it does
say with patience, the race. I'm gonna tell you something,
folks. There's more to a believer's
life than the flesh that we have. And thank God for it. Our flesh
is always with us. until we awake at his likeness,
or until we die, this flesh is gonna be with us. But we're told
to run the race with patience, but run the race which is what? Set before us. Folks, believers
have a goal, and that goal is Christ himself. seated at the
right hand of the Father. We are to run our race with patience. Now, I already answered the question,
but some people ask, where's the end of the race? Well, that's
the wrong question. Who's the end of the race? Who's
the end of the race? Because what does he say in the
very next verse? We're run with patience, a race that is set
before us. How? Where? Looking unto Jesus. That's where we're going. That's
where I wanna go, is to him. Wherever he is, that doesn't
matter. I wanna go to him, looking unto
Jesus. Looking unto Jesus, what's it
say? That great cloud of witnesses. Well, that great cloud of witnesses,
which actually is in chapter 11, the direct reference here
in the first verse of chapter 12, is 11, is what they call
the heroes of faith. And what do we learn in there?
Faith, faith. Oh, and we're gonna get into
the author and the finisher of what? Of their faith. Now these
are all in the Old Testament, but they all had faith. These
all died in faith. Guess what, folks? It's the same
faith. There's only one faith. He's
the author and the finisher of faith. Period, period. All this Bible, we've been told
one message. By faith, Abel, that's what it
says in chapter 11. By faith, Enoch, by faith, Noah,
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, and right after Moses,
not Joshua, Rahab to Harlot. By faith, Rahab. Oh my. These all by faith did some things. They did different things. but they did them all by faith. Wow. Looking unto Jesus. Looking unto Jesus by faith because
there's no one else to look to. There's no one else to look for.
And there's no one else that's gonna have you look. Oh, all
of these heroes of faith, died in faith looking unto Jesus Christ. And who is this Jesus that we're
looking unto? Well, here the author tells us,
the author of Hebrews tells us, he's the author and the finisher
of faith. Now, the author, that's a word
used for a writer. If you write a book, they call
you an author. You know what that means? That means you're
the creator of that book you wrote. And that's what this means. He's the creator. If you look
it up, the definition of this word is the power, the creator,
the chief, the captain. He's the captain of faith. He's
the creator of faith. And he is the power of faith. Oh, I like that. Because there
is only one singular source of the faith of God's elect. And that's what it's called.
That's one of the things it's called. I've heard these songs and I
know some of them. One's called Faith of Our Fathers. It could
be a good song if your father's had his faith. Some of the people who sing it
don't know what they're singing. But that's true of any song.
But here's the thing. He is the author. The author. Singular author. This is not
a comprehensive, it's not a collaborative work. He does it personally. There's not even input from man.
I know a lot of people like to say, you've got a little bit
of faith down inside you and you wanna fan that spark, that
divine spark. Where did a divine spark come
in a dead man? You understand, it says you're
dead in trespasses and sins without him. There's nothing, no. He's the creator of faith, creator. There's only one creator, and
God is that only creator, and what does the writer in Hebrews
say? Looking unto Jesus. Looking unto Jesus. Because Jesus
Christ is God. He is God manifest in the flesh,
he's God made in the flesh, he came down to this world and took
upon the form of a servant. Though he was Lord of all. Oh
my, he humbled himself. But guess what? He's still the
author of faith, the creator of faith. And I'm gonna tell
you something. This is something the world won't
tell you. Faith is his. It's his, he's the creator of
it. Faith is his. If he gives it to you, then,
and only then, is it yours. Oh, he's the author, the creator. Matter of fact, part of that
word means the controller. That's what it means. The controller
of faith. A man or a woman who has his
faith has that faith because of a divine operation. Faith is not Natural to man. I don't care what anybody says.
Faith is not natural to a man. The natural man, I'm gonna say
it again, cannot understand the things of the Spirit of God.
Because they're spiritually discerned. And how are they spiritually
discerned? By faith. by faith, not by my eyes, not
by my ears, not by my heart, not by my mind. They are discerned
by faith. And Jesus Christ is the author
of faith. The author is singular, the author,
the creator. And he is the one we are to be
looking to. But then it says, and the finisher,
the finisher of faith. And I said, it says it in our
Bible, it is our faith, but that's in italics, they've added that
in. And there's nothing wrong with that, but I like saying
it without. Because I'm gonna tell you, it
makes it more precise. Because I'm gonna tell you something,
folks, there is no true faith without him being the author
and finisher of it. Now you may have faith that the
sun's gonna rise tomorrow, and maybe it will. There's a lot
of people having faith that there's gonna be an eclipse tomorrow
or the next day, tomorrow I think. And they're going, millions are
going out of their way to see it. They're gonna be looking
unto an eclipse. It ain't gonna do them no good.
And it might not happen. You never know. I know who's
in charge of eclipses too. But you understand, we know the
author and finisher of faith. Oh, I like that. Because I'm
gonna tell you something, folks. His faith is complete. That's what it means. Complete. He's the author, he's the creator
of it, he's the finisher of it. We don't add anything to God's
faith. He gives it to us. He gives it
to us. He's a perfecter of his, it's
called a like precious faith. You know why? Because there's
only one. There's only one. There's only one faith. All true
faith is his faith. Excuse me. All of the faith for
all of the elect. Ephesians two and verse eight.
For by grace are ye saved through faith. What's it say? That not
of yourself. It's not. It's not of yourself. It's of the author and the finisher
of faith. It is the gift of God. Saved by grace through faith
and that not of yourselves, it's the gift of God and it's not
of works. Why? lest any man should boast. And we would. If any part of
it was part of us, we would. You wanna know why I say that?
Because there's people out there right now boasting about how
they believed God and how they came to God and how they did
that and now God owes them. Now they may not say it exactly
that way, but that's the way they talk. And that's what they,
you're right Walt, that's what they believe. They believe God
owes them, because they came somewhere and kneeled down and
prayed a prayer. They said, I believe Jesus. No, mm-mm. That's not the way it works.
Paul calls it, I said it, the faith of God's elect, that he
gives it to his elect, and here it is in 1 John 5 and 1, whosoever
believeth. Now they like that whosoever
stuff too. but they don't like this next part. Whosoever believeth
that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. If you're not born of
God, you're not gonna believe that Jesus is the Christ. That's
what that scripture's saying. That's exactly what it said and
that's exactly what it means. And everyone that loveth him,
that begat loveth him that is also begotten of him. Like I
said, Peter called it like precious faith. Because there's only one
true faith, and that faith is his faith. He's the author of
it, he's the finisher of it, and he's the giver of it. Oh
my. Mm, because I'm gonna tell you
something, if he doesn't give it to you, You don't have it. But the reverse is also true.
If he gives it to you, you have it. You have it. Oh, oh my. And I'm gonna tell you something
else. He will show you, if he gives you his faith, he will
show you that at one time, you know now that you did not have
his faith. You did not know the Lord of
glory. Even though he's the Lord of
glory all along, you didn't know him, I didn't know him at one
time. Oh my. Oh. But now, the righteousness
of God without the law is manifested being witnessed by the law and
the prophets. Even the righteousness of God
which is by faith, of, from Jesus Christ. Unto all and upon all
them that believe, for there is no difference. We have the
very righteousness of God by his faith. I'm gonna tell you
something, folks. That faith is finished. It's
perfect. We're not perfect. We don't believe
perfectly. But we do believe. And his faith
that he gives in every one of his believers is perfect. Oh my. What is it? Righteousness imputed, but also
righteousness imparted. And it's his righteousness given
by his faith. And he's the author and the finisher
of faith. Believers have the righteousness
of God upon them by faith. Ain't that a gracious thing? Ain't that a glorious thing? I remember reading it in the
Old Testament. He gives us the garments of salvation,
and he gives us the robe of righteousness. And not only that, he puts that
robe and those garments upon you, just like he did Adam and Eve
with the coats of skin. What's it say? He clothed them. The prodigal son, when the father
said, bring forth the best robe, he didn't say, here son, put
this on. No, he said, put it on him. Put it on him. You don't clothe yourself in
the robe of righteousness, he clothes you. Why? Because he's
the author and the finisher of that. Oh my. Grace, folks, that's what I'm
talking about, grace. He gives faith and righteousness
and forgiveness and salvation. Grace, grace, marvelous grace. Grace that is greater than what?
All my sin, all my sin, oh my. Oh. And I'm gonna tell you something,
salvation is all by the sovereign grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. Looking unto Jesus. Looking unto
Jesus. The author and the finisher of
faith. What's it say about faith in Hebrews chapter 11, verse
six? But without faith, It is impossible
to please him, for he that cometh to God must believe that he is,
and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. In verse one of chapter 11, now
faith is the substance, the substance of things hoped for, the evidence
of things not seen. See, people, I've talked about
this before too, they like to use the words blind faith. Folks,
that's the one thing faith is not. That's the absolute one
thing it's not. And guess what? Men will fixate
on that. Will you believe by blind faith?
No. I believe because by faith I
see. Now, you can't explain that to
an unbeliever. You can't explain how I can read
the scripture, you can read the scriptures, and you know in your
heart that this is the true word of God. that he is the author
and finisher of the faith and he gave me that faith after he
gave me life. Because a natural man cannot
understand the things of the spirit of God. None of that,
they're foolishness unto him. They're spiritually discerned
and they don't get it, folks. They just don't get it. John Calvin wrote this. Christ
declares that the doctrine of the gospel, though it is preached
to all without exception, cannot be embraced by all, but that
a new understanding and a new perception are required, and
therefore that faith does not depend upon the will of men,
but that it is God who gives it. And that's the truth. He's the author and the finisher
of faith. He's the provider of faith. He
gives it. Life and faith come from our
Lord Jesus Christ. Now, can't leave this part out. He's
the author and the finisher of faith, but he's also the object
of our faith. How'd this verse start out? looking
unto Jesus, looking unto Jesus. Why? He's the object of faith. He's the author of it, he's the
finisher of it, and he's the subject of it. This book, from
cover to cover, is a book of Jesus Christ. Now in the Old
Testament, he wasn't called Jesus Christ, but he's there. He's
called, we go through some of them titles, you want to, he's
called the Lord, he's called the Lord God, he's called the
Redeemer, he's called the Holy One of Israel. But his name,
as he came and was revealed in his incarnation, is Jesus Christ,
and that's how we know him. And we can go back in that Old
Testament and take a look, and you can see the Lord Jesus Christ. I'm gonna tell you something,
folks. If he's the author and finisher of faith now, he was
the author and finisher of faith then. You understand what it
says. By faith Abel offered unto God
a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness
that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts, and by it, he being
dead, yet speaketh. The sacrifice that Abel made
was what? Looking unto Jesus. Didn't know
my name, but by faith, he offered it. Oh my. By faith, Abraham. By faith,
Enoch, when he was translated. All of these Old Testament persons,
by faith, served God. By faith, we're looking unto
Jesus. John Newton said this, this is
faith. A renouncing of everything we
are apt to call our own and relying wholly upon the blood, righteousness,
and intercession of Jesus. You know what that is? That's
looking unto Jesus. What? The author and finisher
of faith, of faith. And it says this, for the joy
set before him endured the cross, endured the cross, despising the shame. I'll tell you something, folks.
There's joy in heaven with one sinner that repents. And how's
that one sinner repent? By the faith of the author and
finisher. That's it. Sinner only repents
by faith. And repentance is granted, it's
given, just as faith is. But that joy that's felt in heaven
is why our Lord Jesus Christ came to this earth and gave himself
as a willing, substitutionary sacrifice for sin. For the joy that was set before
him. Hmm. Despise the shame. But you understand, Our Lord
willingly took our sins upon him and in him on the tree. He was made to be sin, willingly,
lovingly. And he's the author and finisher
of the faith in him. God is glorified in the salvation
of his people. Christ is glorified in the salvation
of his people. And there would have been no
salvation without the cross. It was necessary. Justice had
to be satisfied. The soul that sinneth, it shall
die. If he didn't die for us, we die. But since he did die for his
people, there's another title I might get to later on. It says,
I am the resurrection and the life. He that believeth in me, though
he were dead yet shall he live. Oh my, I'm gonna tell you something.
He came to save his people from their sins. What? For the joy
that was set before him. the salvation of his people.
Those that were given to him by the Father before the foundation
of the world, they were chosen in him before the foundation
of the world, but he came in time to redeem them out of the
world. Oh, excuse me. And I'm gonna
tell you something, folks. Redemption's done. He did it. He came to save his people from
their sins and in a sense, he did, he redeemed them. Completely
and totally redeemed his people to God. Henry used to always
quote this and I always liked it, "'Tis done, the great transaction's
done. "'I am my Lord's and he is mine. "'He drew me and I followed on. "'Rejoice to own the call divine.'"
He's the author and finisher of faith. Oh my. He took our place and our sins
upon the tree. And we have redemption and forgiveness
of sins and reconciliation in him. Looking unto Jesus. Looking unto Jesus, oh. And what's
it say? For that joy that was set before
him, he endured the cross despising the shame, but he's not done,
and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Looking
unto Jesus, set down at the right hand of God. Oh, I like that,
I do. Seated at the right hand of the
majesty on high. And I'm gonna tell you something,
the word here translated set down is what they call, it's
an active form of a different word. And I'm gonna tell you
what it means. He is seating. He is setting. He is there. He has not gone anywhere. And you are, we are, all believers
are, complete. in him. Oh my. He is seated down and he continues
there still because this is a permanent, perpetual placement of our Lord
Jesus Christ. And he's right here with us now
where two or three are gathered in my name. There am I in the
midst. And he's seated at the right
hand of the Father. Well, he can't be in two places at once.
Oh, he can be in more places than that. He's God. And we are to look unto him.
The author and the finisher of faith. I still like what I quoted last
week. The children of God are the children
of God anywhere and everywhere they are. I like that. You know why? Because the children
of God are looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of faith.
I'm gonna tell you something, just as Jesus Christ never changes,
his faith never changes. Now you change, you change, I
change, you all change. He never changes. Oh, I like
that. You know why? Therefore, you
sons of Jacob are not consumed. Mm. Oh my. Knowing that a man is not justified
by the works of the law, but by the faith of Christ, even
we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by
the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law, for
by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. That's Galatians 2 and 16. Look. Jesus the author and finisher
of faith We believe by the faith of Jesus
Christ the author and finisher We believe by his faith, but
what does it say? We believe according to the working
of his mighty power. I need that power. I need that
power. And we still look unto Jesus,
why? He's the author and the finisher
of faith. It's... I'm gonna tell you something. One
of the first things God will teach you when he lays hold of
you is that you cannot save yourself. He'll teach you you need saving. He'll teach you You're a wretch
undone. I remember I used to tell people
he backed me into a corner and I had nowhere to go. But I could still look to him
once he showed me who he was. Once he told me who he was. If you get into a point where
you know Christ but you're not sure you have Christ, Call upon
him. Call upon him. He's calling his
people to himself. How? By faith. By faith. You'll know him. You won't know
how you know him, but you'll know him. And you know you can
call upon him. And he is Write fond of people with a broken
spirit. A broken and contrite heart he
will not despise. But it's like that thing about
Henry used to say, a sinner's a hard thing to find. Well is
so somebody with a broken and contrite spirit. But he'll make
one. He'll make one. and he'll give
him his faith because he's the author and the finisher of faith. And here's what you do. You continue
looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of faith. Our Heavenly
Father, we're thankful for this day and this time. Lord, you
have given us so many blessings through your son, Lord Jesus
Christ, thank you. Thank you. From whom all blessings
flow. Help us to realize this. Help us to understand your will
and your word. Help us to understand our hope
in your son, our Lord. Help us to call upon his name. and to cry out for mercy and
grace and love. Be with Walter and Paul as they
come to preach, be with others as they preach, be with all those
who wanted to be here and couldn't, and be with all your people wherever
they are, blessing them in your son. In whom's name we ask, amen.