(from a talk I gave in Sacrament meeting a few Sundays ago)
Among the many names we will call Jesus Christ in our lifetime; one of the most important is that of Author and Finisher of our faith. In chapter 12 of his epistle to the Hebrews, vs. 1-2, Paul describes this title stating,
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth 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”
Earlier, in chapter 5, Paul also refers to Christ as the “Author” once more stating,
“Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him”.
Although the King James Version of the bible uses the word “author” in both of these verses, the original Greek uses different words for both. In chapter 5, where Paul calls Christ the author of eternal salvation, the word author in Greek is “Aitios”, meaning the cause, or the reason for eternal salvation. This is rightly stated for because Christ was perfectly obedient, he could pay the price for our sins, thus becoming the reason, and the cause for eternal salvation.
However, in Hebrews chapter 12, the word “author” in the original Greek means something a bit different. The word in Greek is “Archegos” and denotes a more exemplary meaning. Thus Christ being the “Author of our faith” in this instance implies that he takes the lead before us, he is our predecessor and example in this particular matter. In short, Christ has lain before us the way to gain true faith.
So, why take the time to explain the difference between the two? Because some may look at the title “author of our faith” and think that Christ is the one who creates our faith, and then generously gives it to those who believe. This is not so. The development of true faith is a deeply personal process centered on Jesus Christ; not because he says it should be so, but because he is the perfect example of how faith must be gained, just as he is the perfect example of all righteousness.
That being said, Bruce R. McConkie taught: “Faith is a gift of God”…but that gift is not freely given nor is it developed to fullness and then given all at once. Faith is,
“bestowed as a reward for personal righteousness. It is always given when righteousness is present and the greater the measure of obedience to God’s laws the greater will be the endowment of faith” (Mormon Doctrine, 2nd ed. 1966, 264).
As the perfect example and the one who is the author of our faith, Christ has not only decreed the very commandments we should follow as the pre-mortal Jehovah, but he has also abided those very commandments, “according to the flesh” 2nd Nephi 31:7. Nephi gave us a glimpse into the Saviors perfect pattern of obedience in 2nd Nephi 31, he taught that Christ,
“Humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would be obedient unto him in keeping his commandments…and again it showeth unto the children of men the straitness of the path and the narrowness of the gate, by which they should enter, he having set the example before them. And he said unto the children of men: Follow thou me. Wherefore my beloved brethren, can we follow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the commandments of the Father?”
So, just as Christ was willing to keep the commandments we too must be willing to keep those same commandments.
Every step of the Savior was a calculated step of obedience.
~ The worried Mary saw this when after 3 days of searching she found him at the temple while only 12 years old, teaching the learned doctors. His response to her clearly panicked question was a statement of simple obedience, “Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:44-49).
~ The awestruck John saw this when his pleas that Christ need not be baptized of him, but that he had need to be baptized of Christ, were gently dismissed with the obedient words, “Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness” (Matt 3:13-15)
~ The repentant woman taken in adultery saw this when Christ expressed God-like love and mercy toward her as he asked, “Woman, where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee?” Then, upon her response that indeed, no man had so condemned, he obediently forgave, stating, “Neither do I condemn thee: go and sin no more.” (John 8:10-11)
~ The angel from heaven who came to strengthen Christ saw as the Savior of mankind being “in an agony…prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground” (Luke 22:43-44). This angel witnessed Jesus Christ obediently tread “the winepress alone” (Isaiah 63:3), submitting his will to the will of the Father and thus truly becoming the “author of our eternal salvation”.
Christ understands and effectively models for us the truth that we must all come to understand ourselves,
“Obedience is the first law of heaven, the cornerstone upon which all righteousness and progression rest.” (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 539).
One of the greatest things that Christ taught us from his examples of obedience is that it is voluntary. His will was never forced from him, but always freely given and swallowed up in the will of the father. Joseph F. Smith put it in this way,
“Obedience must be voluntary; it must not be forced; there must be no coercion. Men must not be constrained against their will to obey the will of God; they must obey it because they know it to be right, because they desire to do it, and because it is their pleasure to do it. God delights in the willing heart” (Joseph F. Smith, Gospel Doctrine, 65).
Jesus clearly stated in John 14:21&24,
“He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me…He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings”.
Therefore, if we truly love the Lord, we will keep his commandments. Regarding this, Joseph Fielding Smith wrote,
“We show by our works that we love the Lord our God with all our hearts, with all our might, mind, and strength; and in the name of Jesus Christ we serve him and love our neighbor as our self. This is the word of the Lord as it has been revealed in these modern times for the guidance of Israel” (Joseph Fielding Smith, “Keep the Commandments,” Improvement Era, Aug. 1970, 2).
Strict obedience takes faith. Gaining the faith to obey is a process that we grow in as we “experiment upon [the] words” of Christ as given in the scriptures and through modern day prophets and apostles. But we are not alone in this growth, for even the perfect Christ had to grow line upon line, and “grace for grace”. John teaches us in Doctrine and Covenants 93:12-20
12 And I, John, saw that he received not of the fullness at the first, but received grace for grace;
13 And he received not of the fullness at first, but continued from grace to grace, until he received a fullness;
14 And thus he was called the Son of God, because he received not of the fullness at the first.
15 And I, John, bear record, and lo, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Ghost descended upon him in the form of a dove, and sat upon him, and there came a voice out of heaven saying: This is my beloved Son.
16 And I, John, bear record that he received a fullness of the glory of the Father;
17 And he received all power, both in heaven and on earth, and the glory of the Father was with Him, for he dwelt I him.
18 And it shall come to pass, that if you are faithful you shall receive the fullness of the record of John.
19 I give unto you these sayings that you may understand and know how to worship, and know what you worship, that you may come unto the Father in my name, and in due time receive of his fullness.
20 For if you keep my commandments you shall receive of his fullness, and be glorified in me as I am in the Father; therefore, I say unto you, you shall receive grace for grace.
Although the Savior never faltered, we certainly will. This is why the following words of Neal A. Maxwell are so comforting,
“Consolingly, God’s grace flows not only to those “who love [Him] and keep all [His] commandments,” but likewise to those “that [seek] so to do" (Neal A. Maxwell, “‘Swallowed Up in the Will of the Father’,” Ensign, Nov 1995, 22)
God knew that we would not be able to gain salvation by obedience to the law alone, and that is why Christ is not only the author of our faith, but the finisher of our faith as well. As King Benjamin taught,
“If ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants. And behold, all that he requires of you is to keep his commandments; and he has promised you that if ye would keep his commandments ye should prosper in the land” (Mosiah 2:21-22)
Christ’s command “be ye therefore perfect” is not an unattainable request, but rather an invitation to accept the atonement. But the invitation implies some action and work on our part. While it is true that we are “Joint-Heirs with Christ”, Paul makes it clear that this is only the case “if is so be that we suffer with him”. (Romans 8:17)
Speaking of the price that we must pay as “Joint-heirs with Christ”, Elder Bruce C. Hafen of the Seventy said,
“Grace is not cheap. It is very expensive, even very dear. How much does this grace cost? Is it enough simply to believe in Christ? The man who found the pearl of great price gave “all that he had” for it. If we desire “all that [the] Father hath,” God asks all that we have. To qualify for such exquisite treasure, in whatever way is ours, we must give the way Christ gave—every drop He had: “How exquisite you know not, yea, how hard to bear you know not.”(The Atonement: All for All, Bruce C. Hafen, 2004)
Similarly, Elder Jeffery R. Holland acknowledged,
“Salvation is not a cheap experience. Salvation never was easy. We are the Church of Jesus Christ, this is the truth, and He is our Great Eternal Head. How could we believe it would be easy for us when it was never, ever easy for him?” Continuing he said, “I believe [salvation] is supposed to require some effort, something from the depths of our soul. If he could come forward in the night, kneel down, fall on His face, bleed from every pore, and cry, "Abba, Father (Papa), if this cup can pass, let it pass," then little wonder that salvation is not a whimsical or easy thing for us. If you wonder if there isn't an easier way, you should remember you are not the first one to ask that. Someone a lot greater and a lot grander asked a long time ago if there wasn't an easier way" (Missionary Work and the Atonement) Jeffery R. Holland, 2001)
That is why Paul wrote, "let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” As we draw closer to The Savior and to our Father in Heaven, we will draw closer to the light; and as we become illuminated, so too will our weaknesses, But Christ has said,
“And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.”(Ether 12:27)
For the indescribable glory that awaits those who inherit the Celestial Kingdom of God, it is comforting to know that it will be filled with,
“[those] who are just men [and women] made perfect through Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, who wrought out this perfect atonement through the Shedding of his own blood”(D &C 76:69)
Through his perfect and exemplary obedience he is the author of our faith, and through his perfect atoning sacrifice he became the finisher of our faith. That we may run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, is my prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment