BY DAN BAKER
It’s an absolute thrill for us to be here this weekend! We were planning on bringing the whole family, but day before yesterday our son Nathan, who is ten, became ill and he just didn’t feel up to making the trip. So our two daughters, Marissa and Hillary, and Nathan are now the people behind the camera [Laughter!] as we’ve been saying for a few years now. So, hi kids. Wish you were here. And I hope Nathan is feeling better.
And when I was walking by Mr. Buchanan, he asked me to tell
you where we’re from. We’re from north
central
I’d like for you to turn to Hebrews 12 to begin with. I’m not going to get there for a while, but I wanted to say, “Hello,” to some more people behind the camera, particularly some friends that we’ve developed a relationship with over the last couple of years, Jack and Ruby Baker. Jack carries the same name as my dad and obviously the same last name as my dad, too. So I feel a sort of special kinship with him, but he and Ruby are confined to their home for services every week because of some health problems in the family.
And we know there are many others that are out there that are like that. They’re isolated because of health problems, because of location, because they just can’t drive that far to services every week, economic hardships, and other reasons. The true body of Jesus Christ and His fellowship are not limited by physical circumstances.
Lin and I were talking about this earlier this morning. It seems every time I’m given a speaking assignment I don’t know what in the world I’m going to speak on, which is why Steve expressed great relief at the fact that the local guys here were going to be given a day off today. I’m so happy for you. [Laughter!]
But our fellowship is not limited by separation. We’re a family with those who are out there behind the camera. God doesn’t recognize physical restrictions. He doesn’t recognize separations between us that are physical. He’s provided technology that make us one family today and a warm hello to those who are out there listening in, either behind the camera or by a telephone hookup.
Our greetings also to James and Linda Smyda and, as you heard in the announcement, they’re suffering great adversity right now. Very positive news this week though, but our thoughts and our prayers have been with them. We’re all Brethren, and we’re all a family, and we’re all together in that sense in God’s eyes. And there are far greater Beings than just us that are with them, intimately involved in the trial that they’re going through right now. And in many other trials that many other people are going through.
Jesus Christ is the Shepherd and Bishop of souls for you and for me and for everyone out there who is suffering under a trial today. That’s how He wants to be known. And we all need His assistance every day.
And there are many adversities out there that are
threatening right now. We’ve seen
earthquakes, wild fires in
And it’s obvious that the solutions to all these problems and all these calamities are never going to come from man. Not from human politicians and certainly not from a group of people that are running for office nowadays in this country. We have to look elsewhere for solutions to our problems. And it seems at times like we’re being threatened by an avalanche of trouble, problems, and trials not only in our country but even among the Churches of God.
And it’s easy to fall into an attitude like King Solomon did in Ecclesiastes where he said, “Vanity of vanities. All is vanity.” Everything is meaningless. We don’t want to fall into that attitude. And it’s a great comfort to know that we don’t have to because there is that Shepherd and Bishop of our souls who’s on the job twenty-four seven. And He’s among us as One who serves in many functions that He performs for us each day.
What I’d like to do today is take a look at one of the many functions that He performs for us. In fact, this particular function is going to be found in one of His many job titles and we’ve spoken about them before, but Christ has many titles, many names, many appellations that He is known by and each of them has behind it a function that He performs for us. The function I’m going to be talking about today is actually only one-half of a title that is found in Hebrews 12 and verse 2. It says there—I’ll start reading in verse 1.
Hebrews 12:1. Wherefore
seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witness, let us lay
aside every weight, and the sin which [does] so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the
race that is set before us, 2) Looking
unto Jesus the author and finisher of our
faith:
Please note the context here. This follows immediately after what we’ve always called “The Faith Chapter” of Hebrews 11. And if you look at Hebrews 12, the first eleven verses in particular, you see that it’s all about faith. And that it’s closely linked to two concepts: the trials of life, and submitting to and accepting the chastening of the Lord.
The Author and Finisher of our faith, think about that title. What would His duties be? What would they include as He does this job for you and me inside of your flesh and inside of mine at this very moment? We’ve all often found ourselves questioning our faith. That’s just part of the human experience of knowing God, and trying, striving for the Kingdom of God, trying to be among those who are proved, as we heard in the sermonette, trying to do the will of our Father and please Him in a manner that will make Him willing to include us in His Family.
I’ll take a brief look at the word “Author” to begin with, but it’s been explained by Mr. Buchanan exhaustively. And there’s something else that I want to focus on. But the word for “Author” is Strong’s number 747, archegos. And I’m sure you’re all familiar with it. Mr. Buchanan covered it in great detail a couple of years ago. So I just want to briefly review it.
But first, I want to point out that this is a part of a process. It’s a part of a process that both the Father and Son are intimately involved in. Please turn to John 6 and verse 44. Christ says here
John 6:44. No man can come
to me, except the Father which [has] sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
The Father is the one that initiates this whole process. He’s the beginner of our relationship with the Godhead. And we can’t come to know the true Jesus Christ unless He does this first. Then, we respond to His drawing. We want to know more about God. We want to become more intimately acquainted with Him and His Son. We want to know more about His plan and His purpose. We pray. We study. We fast. And we let Him know in many ways that we’re interested in what He has to offer.
We were very thrilled last spring—and I don’t mean to embarrass her—but we were thrilled to hear the baptism of a young lady that’s sitting here today. I won’t mention your name on the internet, but our own daughter, Marissa, is going to be baptized in a couple of weeks and that’s a thrilling thing for a parent to have that take place.
When you respond like that and you have that beginning, what is the next thing that the Father does when you respond to Him? Let’s turn to John 17. We’re going to be in the book of John a lot today. John 17 and verse 1.
John 17:1. These words spake
Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come;
glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 2) As [you have] given him power over all
flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as [you have] given him.
Now we don’t know at what point this takes place, but at some point after our response to God the Father, He puts us in the capable hands of His Son. In fact, He states that here and repeats it eight more times in this chapter to get the point across. “Those whom you have given me,” the Father gives us to the Son, puts us in His hands. This is the Archegos, the Author of our faith. God the Father trusts us with His Son. He gave His Son power over all flesh as we see in verse 2, power over all flesh, power to give eternal life to us.
Let’s turn to Acts 3 and we’ll see another application of the word “archegos.” Acts 3 and verse 15. I’ll start reading in verse 14 to get the context a little bit.
Acts
That word “Prince” is archegos. It could as easily have used the word “author” of life as it did in Hebrews 2, but here it used the word “the Prince of life.”
Let’s turn to Hebrews
Hebrews 2:10. For it became
him, for whom are all things, and by
whom are all things, in bringing many
sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through
sufferings.
The word “captain” here is archegos. If you want to use the word “author,” He is also the Author of our salvation, the Archegos, the Originator, the Founder, the Leader, the Chief, and the Prince of yours and my salvation. God the Father trusts Him with this responsibility.
Turn to Acts 5:31. Acts 5 verse 31.
Acts
For what reason?
Acts 5:31b. to give
repentance to
That’s the job of a Beginner, an Author. He grants repentance.
Okay, that’s about enough on the word archegos. We’ve had a little review on that just to refresh your memory.
But what I’d like to focus on for the rest of the message today is the word “Finisher.” In fact, the title of my message today is The Finisher. And the Greek word translated “finisher” is used only one time in the entire Bible. Now that could make for a very short sermon, but thankfully there’s a root word that it comes from. The word for “finisher” is number 5051 in a Strong’s Concordance. It’s teleiotes, but the word from which it comes from is teleios which conveys an image of completed growth. Teleios is the fulfillment of our goal as Christians. It’s the prize that we’re aiming at. But the “Finisher,” teleiotes, which is only used one time in the entire New Testament, is the completer, the perfecter, one who brings something through to the goal so as to win and receive the prize.
Now we know that Jesus Christ perfected faith in His own flesh. He set us an example. We all realize that, but is that all there is to it? He surely set a perfect example and His faith was a perfect faith for us to live up to, but we’re in the flesh. We’re facing trials and we’re anything but perfect. And struggle as we might, we find that our own efforts are very feeble.
I’d like to take a look at the lifelong focus of Jesus the Christ, the Finisher. Let’s turn first to Luke 2 and verse 49. Here we see the mindset of a twelve year old Jesus Christ. Twelve years old, that’s two years older than my son Nathan.
Luke 2:49. And he said unto
them, How is it that [you] sought me?
[Know you] not that I must be about my Father’s business?
His parents had lost track of Him, left Him behind. They came back to find Him and this is how He responded to them: “I must be about My Father’s business.” That was His lifelong focus.
Turn to John 4 and verse 34. John 4 verse 34.
John 4:34. Jesus [said] unto
them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his
work.
This was His focus during His ministry. In fact, He was so focused on this goal of finishing His Father’s work that He forgot to eat at times. That’s how focused He was on the goal at hand.
Let’s turn back to John 17 again. I told you we’d be in the book of John quite a bit. John 17 and verse 4 this time.
John 17:4. I have glorified
[you] on the earth: I have finished
the work which [you gave] me to do.
This word “finished” is another form of the word teleiotes. It means to complete or accomplish.
He was driven throughout His life towards one goal: to finish the work that His Father gave Him to do. He was driven to accomplish the work that the Father gave Him. From the early evidence that He gave us as a twelve year old to His last breath in the flesh in John 19, just a couple of pages over, verse 30.
John 19:30. When Jesus
therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished:
That word there is Strong’s number 5055 and it is teleo, another form of the word teleios.
Let’s look at verse 28 and we’ll catch a few more words that have great meaning in here.
John 19:28. After this,
Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished,
Same word! “Accomplished” is the same word that he used in verse 30 that was translated “finished.”
John 19:28b. all [these]
things were now accomplished that the Scripture might be fulfilled,
Another form of the word teleios, “fulfilled.”
And then, after He was given this sop with vinegar in it, He
said, “It is finished.”
Do we think that this Jesus Christ would have a different mindset today about work that the Father had given Him to do than He had back then? I’d like to amplify His accomplishment a little bit further here. He not only finished what the Father gave Him to do, He was Himself a finished product at this point. He became the Firstborn of many Brethren, as it says in Romans 8:29. (And I think we’ll wait to go there later. We won’t go to Romans 8 just yet.) But He was the prototype of many who were to follow and be born into the spirit born Family of God.
Turn to Hebrews 5 and verse 7. And let’s notice the wording here.
Hebrews 5:7. Who in the days
of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong
crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death,
See He had someone that He was looking to to save Him from death. He’s our example. He had this other Being that He was depending on to save Him.
Hebrews 5:7b. and was heard
in that he feared; 8) Though he were a
Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
This is our example, Jesus the Christ.
Hebrews 5:9. And being made perfect,
Another form of the word teleios.
Hebrews 5:9. And being made perfect,
he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
He was made perfect through the things that He suffered. He had faith in the process and He had faith in the One who was working with Him, His Father in heaven. He knew the Father was there for Him. In effect, the Father was playing the role of the finisher for Jesus the Christ. He was in the process of making Christ perfect.
Turn to Hebrews 2 and verse 10. We’ve already been here once, but I want to read a little bit farther.
Hebrews 2:10. For it became
him, for whom are all things, and by
whom are all things, in bringing many
sons unto glory,
Let’s emphasize that concept: “bringing many sons unto glory.”
Hebrews 2:10b. to make the
captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
He went through it. All the temptation and all the suffering that He’s asking us to go through, He has been through.
Let’s read on.
Hebrews 2:11. For both he
that [sanctifies] and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which
cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
See the identity that we’re supposed to carry with us is with the Son, with His suffering and with His dependence upon the Father to save Him.
Verse 12.
Hebrews 2:12. Saying, I will
declare [your] name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing
praise unto [you]. 13) And again, I will
put my trust in him. And again, Behold I
and the children which God [has] given me.
14) Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he
also himself likewise took part of the same: that through death he might destroy him that
had the power of death, that is, the devil;
15) And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime
subject to bondage, 16) For verily he
took not on him the nature of angels;
but he took on him the seed of
Abraham. 17) Wherefore in all things it
behooved him to be made like unto his
brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make
reconciliation for the sins of the people.
18) For in that he himself [has] suffered being tempted, he is able to
[comfort] them that are tempted.
That is the One that’s working with us, on us, and in us.
Let’s turn back to Hebrews 12 again, because I want to notice something about the process that He was going through and the commonality that we share with Him in going through that same process.
Hebrews 12:2. 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.
That word “endured” is, in the Greek, the word hupomeno. And it means to remain under. It means to endure or sustain a load of miseries, adversities, persecutions or provocations in faith and patience. That’s what Jesus Christ, the Finisher, had set Himself to do.
Now let’s turn to Matthew 24 and we’ll see that there is a connection. Matthew 24 and verse 13.
Matthew 24:13. But he that
shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Same word, hupomeno, and you notice, Brethren, in the context here that this isn’t enduring a string of victories, a constant unbroken string of success. The entire context here up to this verse is that of stress, trial, affliction, hardship, and opposition to our success.
Turn to John 5 and verse 17. He says here
John 5:17b. My Father [works]
hitherto, and I work.
This Jesus Christ, the One we’re focusing on as our Finisher today, works. He and His Father work. They’re committed. They’re relentless at all the tasks that They undertake. And They’re not flesh. They don’t ever tire and They don’t even think about failure. We can rest assured that They won’t do a half-hearted job on us. They never leave you. Once They’ve begun a good work in you, They love us in ways that we’re incapable of even understanding. Even as inept as we are sometimes, we have to believe in Them.
Since we’re close, let’s turn over to chapter 6 quick and take a look at verses 28 and 29.
John 6:28. Then said they
unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29) Jesus answered and said unto them, This
is the work of God, that [you] believe on him whom he [has] sent.
This seems so simple, the only definition that I can find in the Scriptures of the work of God. But human beings are so utterly sure that they can do God’s work for Him, we set up our great organizations. We build great buildings. We organize. We plan. We manage. We even micromanage. But there’s no human being, no human work that can do this. We can aid in the process. We can put out literature. We can preach messages that can aid in the process. But no man can make another person believe on the One sent. It’s the work of God.
Let’s turn back over to verse 44. We’ve already been there. But Christ said
John 6:44. No man can come
to me, except the Father which [has] sent me draw him:
That’s the work of God, Brethren. I can’t do the work of God. And I don’t think anyone else can do the work of God. God does that work. He says it plainly. So if you believe in the One sent, you do that because of the work of God, not the work of men. And that should be a great comfort to us because it means that we’re involved in a process. God has already entered us into the process, given us into the hands of the Finisher of our faith. Only God and Christ can begin this and only God and Christ can bring us to perfection, this teleios that we seek.
Let’s look back at verse 39.
John 6:39. And this is the
Father’s will which [has] sent me, that of all which he [has] given me I should
lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
Do we understand what He’s saying here? These are the words of a Finisher, Brethren, the Finisher of our faith.
Let’s turn to John 10 and verse 24. He’s talking here to some people who don’t believe in Him, but notice He doesn’t condemn them, but He tells them about the state that they’re in. John 10 verse 24.
John 10:24. Then came the
Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long [do you] make us to
doubt? If [you] be the Christ, tell us
plainly. 25) Jesus answered them, I told
you, and [you] believed not: the works
that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me. 26) But [you] believe not, because [you] are
not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
Now look at verse 27. Here He’s speaking to another category of sheep and let’s notice that these are the words of One who finishes what He starts.
John 10:27. My sheep hear my
voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
These are people that have begun the process. They’ve been entrusted into the hands of the Great Shepherd and the Finisher of our faith.
John 10:27b. I know them [He
says], and they follow me: 28) And I
give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29) My Father, which gave them [to] me, is greater than all; and
no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
That’s a sure promise, Brethren! A wonderful promise!
Turn to John 3. John 3 verse 16, we all know it by heart, but it’s not just a slogan on a placard at a pro-football game. It’s something that God puts great meaning into. And it’s something that He actually did for all mankind, not just the chosen few. You can’t politick your way into God’s good graces. Nobody is “God’s little favorite” that can become a self-righteous little person and exclude others from God’s Kingdom. We should never go into a relationship with God with that attitude. But it says here
John 3:16. For God so loved
the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever [believes] in him
should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Brethren, I want that for all of mankind. God wants that for all of mankind. He’s not willing that any should perish and we shouldn’t be either. A humble godly mind, such as God has, does not want to see the downfall or failure of another human being.
Turn to John 15 verse 13.
John 15:13. Greater love
[has] no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
How true that is of this One who is the Author and Finisher of our faith! The Finisher laid down His life for us, Brethren. And then He said, “It is finished.” In doing so, He became the Author and Finisher of faith and as long as there is a man or a woman, as long as there’s anyone with a potential of salvation in them, He’s going to be the Finisher. He’s going to be committed as He was in His own life to doing His Father’s work and finishing the job that He was given to do. He’s going to be actively working. He’s going to be actively serving. He’s going to be among us as One who serves and He’s going to be finishing the process that’s been begun in us.
We all know that God is love. We can read that in 1 John 4:8. And we also know that Jesus Christ is God. And we can read that in Hebrews 1:8. But let’s turn to 1 Corinthians 13 and we’ll start reading in verse 1.
1 Corinthians 13:1. Though I
speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling
cymbal. 2) And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all
mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could
remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3) And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to
be burned, and have not charity, it [profits] me nothing [at all]. 4) Charity [suffers] long, and is kind; charity [envies] not;
charity [vaunts] not itself, is not puffed up,
5) [Does] not behave itself unseemly, [seeks] not her own, is not easily
provoked, [thinks] no evil; 6)
[Rejoices] not in iniquity, but [rejoices] in the truth; 7) [Bears] all things, [believes]all things,
[hopes] all things, [and endures] all things.
This word “charity,” Brethren, is love. And in a lot of the newer translations, it is translated “love.”
But let’s look at verse 8. Remembering that God is love and Jesus Christ is God, verse 8 says
1 Corinthians 13:8. Charity
[or love] never [fails]:
The Finisher of our faith never fails, Brethren. The word “fail” here means to be driven off course. He will not be driven off course. He will finish the job that God has given Him to do. It means to drop away. It means to lose. He has no intention of losing any of us.
Turn to Philippians. Philippians 1 and verse 6.
Philippians 1:6. Being
confident of this very thing, that he which [has] begun a good work in
you
Through the Author of our faith.
Philippians 1:6b. will
perform it until the day of Jesus [the]
Christ:
Here we see another form of the word teleios in this word translated “will perform.” It is epiteleo, which means to finish, complete, or perfect.
He’s begun the good work.
He will finish the good work just as He finished His Father’s work. Just as that was His focus during His
physical life, now that He has been resurrected that He is still alive, still
living among us as one who serves as the Finisher, He will finish the work that
He’s begun in us.
Turn to Colossians. Colossians 1 verse 27.
Colossians 1:27. To whom God
would make known what is the riches
of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the
hope of glory:
Think about those words, Brethren. Christ the Finisher is in you working every day, just as He worked during His human life on His Father’s work, to bring you, to bring me to the same level that He is on. Notice, again, the wording here.
Verse 28.
Colossians 1:28. Whom we
preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may
present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
Perfect in Jesus Christ! That word “perfect” is teleios. It’s the goal in Jesus Christ, the Finisher, teleiotes, the Finisher, to give you a place right by His side on His throne.
Turn to Revelation 3. Revelation 3 verse 21.
Revelation 3:21. To him that
[overcomes] will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame,
Even as He finished the work that His Father gave Him to do, those who will overcome, He is going to help to finish them too.
Revelation 3:21. To him that
[overcomes] will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame,
and am set down with my Father in his throne.
As He accomplished, He will accomplish in us. The Finisher, Brethren, is on that throne. And He’s doing His job. He is alive today!
Turn to Ephesians 4. Ephesians 4 and verse 10.
Ephesians 4:10. He that
descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he
might fill all things.)
“That He might fill all things.” The whole purpose of human life, Brethren, the whole purpose of Christ’s human life, His life’s work and His death is summed up in this one verse.
Ephesians 4:10. He that descended is the same also that ascended
That became the Wave Sheaf Offering. He descended so He could finish the work of God on the face of the earth, finish the thing that God gave Him to do during His physical life. And then, He ascended as the Wave Sheaf to receive other responsibilities and jobs that He’s performing for us.
Notice this phraseology here “that He might fill all things.” The word is the same as is used in “fulfill” (“that all the Scriptures might be fulfilled”) that Christ spoke in John 19. He did all those things “that the Scriptures might be fulfilled.” And now, He’s working to fill all things, to fulfill them.
Look at verse 11.
Ephesians 4:11. And he gave
some, apostles; and some. prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors
and teachers;
I prefer to think of these as functions not offices in the Church because too many men are prone to vanity. And Christ made it very plain what the structure of the Church is in place for. Not to glorify men, but to serve a purpose that is spelled out here in the next few verses.
Ephesians 4:12. For the perfecting
of the saints,
Another form of the word teleios.
Ephesians 4:12. For the perfecting
of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of
Christ: 13) Till we all come in the
unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect
man,
Another form of the word teleios.
Ephesians 4:13b. unto the
measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:
The Finisher is working to bring us to that point.
Verse 14.
Ephesians 4:14. That we henceforth be no more children, tossed
to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of
men, and cunning craftiness, whereby
they lie in wait to deceive; 15) But
speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him [the Finisher] in all things,
which is the head, even Christ: 16) From whom the whole body fitly joined
together and compacted by that which every joint [supplies], according to the
effectual working in the measure of every part, [making] increase of the body
unto the edifying of itself in love.
That’s a section of Scripture, Brethren, that is very
inspiring. Those Scriptures point to a
Family and a
Let’s turn to Romans 8. We’ll begin reading in verse 18.
Romans 8:18. For I reckon
that the sufferings of this present time are
not worthy to be compared with the
glory which shall be revealed in us.
Remember what it said about Jesus Christ and the things that He suffered, being perfected in them.
Romans 8:18. For I reckon
that the sufferings of this present time are
not worthy to be compared with the
glory which shall be revealed in us. 19)
For the earnest expectation of the creature [waits] for the manifestation of
the sons of God.
For the final finished work of the Finisher of our faith, Jesus the Christ!
Romans 8:20. For the
creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who
[had] subjected the same in
hope, 21) Because the creature itself
also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious
liberty of the children of God. 22) For
we know that the whole creation [groans] and [travails] in pain together until
now. 23) And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the
firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting
for the adoption, to wit, the
redemption of our body. 24) For we are
saved by hope: but hope that is seen is
not hope: for what a man [sees], why
[does] he yet hope for [it]? 25) But if
we hope for that [which] we see not, then
do we with patience wait for it.
We’re all waiting to be finished. Aren’t we? We all desire to be finished products of the Master, the Finisher of our faith.
Verse 25.
Romans 8:25. But if we hope
for that [which] we see not, then do
we with patience wait for it. 26) Likewise the Spirit also [helps] our
infirmities: for we know not what we
should pray for as we ought: but the
Spirit itself [makes] intercession for us with groanings which cannot be
uttered. 27) And he that [searches] the
hearts [knows] what is the mind of
the Spirit, because he [makes] intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Notice the work that is going on here, the relentless work of the Finisher making intercession for the saints according to the will of God. We’ve been put into His hands.
Verse 28.
Romans 8:28. And we know
that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are
the called according to his
purpose. 29) For whom he did foreknow,
he also did predestinate to be
conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among
many brethren.
He, who finished the work of God on earth, will be the Finisher for many Brethren to follow Him.
Romans 8:30. Moreover whom
he did predestinate, them he also called:
and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also
glorified.
And, Brethren, that verse describes a process. And it’s a process that Jesus Christ went through, that all of us are going through as well. He finished His Father’s work on earth, but He’s now in the process of finishing God’s Family.
Verse 31.
Romans 8:31. What shall we
then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32) He
that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not
with him also freely give us all things?
Isn’t that a comforting thought, Brethren? To know that that is God’s intention for us when we’re finished products?
Romans 8:33. Who shall lay
any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that [justifies]. 34) Who is
he that [condemns]? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again,
When He died, He said, “It’s finished.” But He rose again and He’s got another work that He’s working on right now in each of us.
Romans 8:34b. that is risen
again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also [makes] intercession for
us. 35) Who shall separate us from the love
of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or
nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Or any of the trials that we talked about earlier? The things that we’re facing in this world today? Life seems precarious today, Brethren. But none of these things can separate us from the love of Jesus Christ!
Verse 36.
Romans 8:36. As it is
written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep
for the slaughter. 37) Nay, in all these
things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
The One that’s working on us, the One that is doing His job as the Finisher of our faith.
Romans 8:38. For I am
persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor
powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39) Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to
separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
This Being is devoted to the work that He’s doing right now. And He’s devoted to a finished product, Brethren.
Let’s turn to Isaiah 61. Isaiah 61 and verse 1 describes the work, the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. It says
Isaiah 61:1. The Spirit of
the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord
[has] anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he [has] sent me to
bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening
of the prison to them that are bound. 2) To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our
God; to comfort all that mourn; 3) To
appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the
oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified. 4) And they shall build the old wastes, they
shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities,
the desolations of many generations.
Jesus Christ did an earthly work that was described in the first three verses. Now He’s starting another work, preparing a people to do something that is grand beyond compare.
Isaiah 61:5. And strangers
shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your
vinedressers. 6) But [you] shall be
named the Priests of the Lord: men
shall call you the Ministers of our God:
[you] shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall
[you] boast yourselves. 7) For your
shame [you] shall have double; and for
confusion they shall rejoice in their portion:
therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them. 8) For I the Lord love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I
will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with
them. 9) And their seed shall be known
among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them,
that they are the seed which the Lord [has] blessed.
A finished product, Brethren! Kings and Priests unto our God! People that are perfected by the Finisher, that are capable of carrying on His work and His ministry, the true public servants of the world to come, devoted to being finishers themselves, finishing a work in others that they’ll be given responsibility over.
The important thing for all of us, Brethren, is to believe in the process that Jesus Christ believed in. He put His dependence and His faith in the Father as His own Finisher. This process is intended to bring many sons to glory, not just one. And a Finisher is at work performing within us. Even though we’re suffering, even though we’re going through trials, He’s going to bring about perfection in the end. That we strive to enter, that we strive to endure to the end in faith. We’re going to hear the words of the Finisher. And He’ll say to us, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” And at that point, we will be the finished products of the Finisher.
Transcribed by kb