Introduction
“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.” Hebrews 12:2
There’s a whole lot of things I could say about today’s verse, but first, let’s put it in context. Paul has just wrapped up that great Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11 and in the verse just before today’s, referring back to all the folks he mentioned, he said :
“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,” (Hebrews 12:1)
And then the reminder: “Looking unto Jesus” who started the whole thing. But have you really read that verse? He not only started it — He finished it — AND He did it all with JOY! He endured the cross. He was despised and rejected. He was publicly humiliated. When it was all over He said “It is finished” (John 19:30) and He died. Then to show victory over death he rose to life on the 3rd day, according to the scriptures (Genesis 22:4; Isaiah 53:9-10; Hosea 6:2; Jonah 1:7; Matthew 12:40). AND now He is sitting at the right hand of the throne of God.
Only One Savior
He is the ONLY ONE; the ONLY WAY by which we will also be with God the Father in Heaven (John 14:6). There is no other way by which one can be saved; Peter and John preached it, even when they were warned not to:
Acts 4:10-12 ( KJV ) 10Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Acts 4:18-22 ( KJV ) 18And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. 20For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. 21So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done. 22For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was showed.
Buddhism has no Savior
Buddha (the enlightened one) and the practices of Buddhism do not allow for any kind of forgiveness or remission of the sin debt that humans owe to the Almighty God and Creator of the Universe.
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Hinduism has no Savior
The Brahma and the practices of Hinduism do not promise eternal life once a human dies and leaves this planet. Even if one were to be reincarnated to the highest caste, there is no guarantee of everlasting life.
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Islam has no Savior
Muhammad, the nation of Islam and the practices of the Muslims teach that heaven (Paradise) is attained by good works and therefore one cannot know for certain that eternal life is attainable because there is no measure of how many good works are good enough.
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Judaism has no Savior
A Rabbi or a Priest cannot take away the sins of the people. The Jewish sacrificial system was suspended when the Temple was destroyed in 70 AD and since that time no true sacrifice (according to God’s specifications) has been offered to atone for sin.
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Only Christianity
It is the belief in what that Savior, Jesus, did that assures the believer of eternal life. It is His work on the cross at Calvary that paid the sin debt that we inherited from the first man and woman (Romans 3:23; 6:26). God gave His only begotten Son, Jesus — who was perfect in every way to pay for the sins of the people (past, present and future) once and for all.
It is the blood of Jesus that cleanses sin.
In Old Testament times the blood of animals covered sin — Jesus did more, His blood washes away sin. The Bible says that without blood there is no remission of sins (Romans 3:25; Hebrews 9:22).
- Only Jesus is God and therefore He is the Author.
- Only Jesus is the Perfect Lamb of God, the Savior of the World, The Finisher of God’s requirement or wage of sin.
- Only Jesus is the Author and Finisher and right now He is sitting at God’s right hand because He has finished the task that the Father sent Him to do.
He offers true forgiveness and the offer is available to any, all, and whosoever believes in what He did.
Final Thoughts
The Bible says it over and over again. Today, I offer the following scriptures on which you can meditate. They remind us of the truth that is found only in the Bible. I urge you to get your Bible out and look up each and every one of these verses. You will be blessed, I promise! They remind us of the Author and Finisher.
John 3:18; John 14:6; John 3:16; John 17:3; John 3:13-15; Acts 4:12; Acts 16:30-31; Romans 10:9-11
