Devotionals by Raul Ries

SATURDAY March 28, 2026

Author and Finisher of Our Faith

...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 has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2

Tomorrow begins Passion Week, a time to contemplate the Cross––the place Jesus had to go to secure our salvation. There was no other way to accomplish the task. Our redemption needed a blood sacrifice––a sinless sacrifice. No other person in the world could fit this description. Only Jesus: ...who knew no sin [became] sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Christ in all His glory came from heaven to earth to secure our salvation. He was 100% Man and 100% God––sinless perfection: but [Jesus] made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross (Philippians 2:7-8).

Jesus fully embraced His mission––His cup of suffering––so that we could be made righteous before God and go to heaven to be with Him forever. Jesus became the Author and Finisher of our faith. The word author means “the one who takes the lead.” Christ, in His preeminence, far surpassed the examples of faith, commemorated in Hebrews 11.

The word finisher means “a perfector.” Jesus, being perfect, the highest example of faith, has become the Perfector of our faith. Christ finished what He started. He came, He suffered, and He died. But that was not the end of the story. Jesus resurrected on the third day, and thus, by faith, He began a new era of grace. He finished the work of redemption. Only through Christ has salvation been made available.

The only sin Jesus ever had was ours, and the only righteousness we can ever have is His.
~A.W. Tozer~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!