E
Hebrews 12.1-3
12 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, [SUP]2 [/SUP]fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
[SUP]3 [/SUP]For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Is this a fact and telling us that Jesus' faith finishes our race, because of what the did on the cross?
-OR-
Is this an encouragement for our personal faith to grow and allow us to run our own race with confidence because we should look to Jesus and how his own faith allowed him to endure the world and finally finish his own race?
Using a military secnario here to help me make the point clearer...
I believe Heb 12.1-3 is like when a Military Commander that asks his troops to do something he has done before. His troops will then obey and do what is asked because they have confidence and are encouraged because the Commander has done what and completed what he is asking them to do...
I do not see these verses telling me that He is the starter and finisher of what I am asked to do...This is telling me Jesus was the example for how, like him, I get it done in him....
12 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, [SUP]2 [/SUP]fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
[SUP]3 [/SUP]For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Is this a fact and telling us that Jesus' faith finishes our race, because of what the did on the cross?
-OR-
Is this an encouragement for our personal faith to grow and allow us to run our own race with confidence because we should look to Jesus and how his own faith allowed him to endure the world and finally finish his own race?
Using a military secnario here to help me make the point clearer...
I believe Heb 12.1-3 is like when a Military Commander that asks his troops to do something he has done before. His troops will then obey and do what is asked because they have confidence and are encouraged because the Commander has done what and completed what he is asking them to do...
I do not see these verses telling me that He is the starter and finisher of what I am asked to do...This is telling me Jesus was the example for how, like him, I get it done in him....
faith is not doing it is trusting, we do because we trust, if we do not do, it is because we lack trust
using your example, when the commander told me to do something, and I did it and It worked, my faith grew, he was the author of he way, I trusted him, and he worked on finishing my faith by keeping putting me in places I will succeed,
the more he tells me to do and the more he is proven trustworthy, the more I do, and the harder I work, because my faith grows more and more,
if he told me to do something that did not work, my faith fell, I would not work so hard, if he kept failing, I would lose failth altogether,
Lets take this to God,
God said if I trust him, he will wash me, make me clean, change my life, give me hope, make me a new creature, give me rest and peace, and show me the way to lead a life which is blessed,
he is the author and finisher, because it is all based on his promises,he authored the way to these hinge, and he way to make sure these things come true
once i am saved, t he more things I do which seems odd to me before, and realize. My way is not Gods way, yet I was blessed by doing, my faith grows, the more I trust him, the more my faith grows,
in contrast, the times I decide I can handle it, and it fails. Or I am not blessed by doing it, Well then I realize how untrustworthy I am and how much more I need to trust God,
thats why may faith grows, because whenever I do it Gods way, it works, whenever I do it my way, I fall on my face,
now, I want to give that all up, and live a life of falling on my face? Why do you think the prodigal son returned. He knew his father was trustworthy and could take care of him,
fr usm we may forget how before we were saved we failed, no matter what we did, we could not find happiness, and when we tried to do it again, hwe failed again.
A person who can go go back to the world in unbelief in my view, never experienced gods faithfulness, you can not in my view experience that, then think you are better off on your own the old way, it won't happen (not to mentions, just like the commands will punish you your not following him, so will god, if your really his son or daughter)