The Founder and Perfector of our Faith

A Sermon on the Founder and Perfector of Our Faith from Hebrews 12:1-20

Originally preached March 29, 1964

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Hebrews 12:1-20 ESV KJV

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for … Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears. For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” (ESV)

1Wherefore 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, 2Looking 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. 3For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 4Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. 5And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. 12Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; 13And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. 14Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 15Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; 16Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. 17For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. 18For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, 19And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: 20(For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:

Sermon Description

Are Christians slaves to their circumstances? Do circumstances control them as cruel masters? Absolutely not. In this sermon on the founder and perfector of our faith from Hebrews 12:1–20 titled “Author and Finisher,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones looks at the hope set before the early believers in the book of Hebrews. While their circumstances were miserable, their hope was unchanging. Those who have gone before are witnesses to this reality: Jesus is the author and finisher of their faith. Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, Christians then run this race with patience. Dr. Lloyd-Jones encourages the listener to look to Jesus amidst difficult times. In Jesus is first seen the cross. He endured that which was set before Him for the joy of what was to come. In Jesus is also seen the resurrection. If He is raised, His people will be raised. In Jesus, the Christian sees the hope of heaven. He is preparing for them a place so they shall be with Him forever. In Jesus is seen the hope, for He is the finisher of their salvation. Listen and let hearts be glad. Christians are not slaves to their circumstances. Christ has overcome the world. Where He is, so shall they also be.

Sermon Breakdown

The message of Easter Sunday is the answer to all our questions, the solution to all our problems and all our trials and troubles and tribulations.
The early Christians greeted each other with "The Lord is risen" which gave them comfort and courage.
The test of any philosophy or belief is whether it helps you when you need it most. The Christian message provides a way to look beyond our circumstances.
We must look at the facts concerning Jesus:
He left heaven and came to earth, born as a baby in poverty
He lived a human life, facing temptation, grief, and suffering
He was crucified, enduring immense suffering and death
He rose from the dead, defeating death, and ascended into heaven
We must understand the meaning of these facts: Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. He made the way for us to be saved and go to heaven.
We should follow Jesus's example. He endured the cross by looking ahead to the joy set before Him. We should look ahead to the joy of heaven in our trials.
We can look to Jesus, seated in heaven, for help and strength. He conquered every enemy, He intercedes for us, and He will never leave us.
This life is brief, but the glory of heaven is eternal. Jesus has opened the way for us to enter into heaven.

Sermon Q&A

Questions and Answers from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on Hebrews 12:1-2

What is the central message of Easter according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the central message of Easter is that "Jesus and the resurrection" is "the answer to all our questions, the solution to all our problems and all our trials and troubles and tribulations." This message was the essence of what the first apostles preached, and without it, there would have been no church at all. The resurrection is "vital and essential to the Christian faith" and "in many ways the most glorious aspect of all."

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain the phrase "looking unto Jesus" in Hebrews 12:2?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones points out that the more accurate translation is "looking away to Jesus." This involves two actions: first, don't look at your present circumstances or trials, but look away from them; second, focus your attention specifically on Jesus. This is different from mere positive thinking or psychology because it directs us to a real person and real historical events. Christians are not slaves to their circumstances because they can look beyond them to Christ.

What facts about Jesus does Dr. Lloyd-Jones encourage believers to focus on?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones encourages believers to focus on the complete journey of Jesus: how He left eternal glory to be born as a helpless babe in poverty, how He worked with His hands, experienced temptation, grief, and sorrow, suffered in the garden of Gethsemane, endured false trials, buffeting, scorn, shame, and finally crucifixion. But most importantly, how He rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, and "sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." These are not just stories but historical facts that form the foundation of Christian faith.

How did Jesus endure the cross according to the sermon?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, Jesus endured the cross by focusing on "the joy that was set before him." Rather than focusing on the cross itself, Jesus looked beyond it to the joy of returning to heaven, to His Father, and to the glory He had before coming to earth. This enabled Him to "endure the cross, despising the shame." Lloyd-Jones encourages believers to follow this example by looking beyond their present trials to the joy set before them.

What comfort does the resurrection provide for Christians in difficult circumstances?

The resurrection provides comfort by showing that Christ has conquered every enemy including death itself. It assures believers that Jesus "ever liveth to make intercession for us," that He has all power in heaven and earth, and that He has promised "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." The resurrection opens the way to eternal joy and glory, making our present sufferings "light affliction, which is but for a moment" compared to the "far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" that awaits believers.

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones contrast the Christian's response to suffering with that of non-believers?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones says that while non-believers have nothing to look beyond their circumstances ("There's nothing beyond, there's nothing anywhere else. It's this life only to him."), Christians can look away to Jesus and the joy He has prepared. Non-believers may try to "drown sorrows" or "fill life with other things," but these are just psychological attempts that ultimately don't work because they're not real. Christians, however, have a genuine hope based on Christ's resurrection and the promise of eternal life.

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones mean when he calls Jesus "the author and finisher of our faith"?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that Jesus is "the author and finisher of the faith" because He has both initiated and completed the way of salvation. Jesus didn't just start the work and leave it incomplete; He finished everything necessary for our redemption. He "made a way from earth to heaven...from sin to salvation...from man to God...from despair and hopelessness...to certain hope and joy." The resurrection is vital proof that Christ completed the work, showing that He triumphed over "the last enemy."

How does Peter walking on water illustrate the sermon's main point?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones uses the story of Peter walking on water as a perfect illustration of his message. As long as Peter looked at Jesus, he could walk on the waves. But when he began looking at the turbulent waters around him, he began to sink. This illustrates how Christians must look away from their circumstances (the waves) and focus on Jesus. When we focus on our problems rather than on Christ, we begin to sink into despair.

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Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.

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