"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" (Hebr. 12:2).

When we are running the race of life, we need to have the correct goal and purpose. The Greek word used in this verse for looking away is the Greek word aphorao. This is the one and only place that this word with this derivation and sense is used in the entire word of God.  It means:  to view with undivided attention by looking away from every other object and to earnestly fix one's gaze fully upon Jesus. Clearly, that is a single-focused position.  A great problem within Christianity, is the lack of understanding that the gospel is centered in Christ.  Christ is the central focus point.  Christ did not just give us eternal life. Christ has now come to personally live in us to be the eternal life source and strength (I John 5:11-12; Gal. 2:20; Phil 4:13).   Are we looking and praying for faith?  Paul says, "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ" (Rom. 10:17).  This is a rhema word, a particular spoken or revealed word given to us by the Holy Spirit to renew our mind to and of Christ. 

The Holy Spirit's primary mission is to focus us on Christ and the Father.  Christ is the author and finisher of faith (Rom. 12:2)  The our in my Bible is italicized, for that word is not in the original Greek.  Our was added for supposed clarification.  However, I believe it only adds misinformation from the truth.  We are running the race of life and moving from faith to faith, as the Holy Spirit reveals this to us (Rom. 1:17).  Certainly, God gave us the measure of faith to make a choice and be saved (Rom. 12:3).  At our Spirit birthing, we are made a new creature, with Christ now living in us as us (II Cor. 5:17).  The more we love Him, the more the Holy Spirit renews the mind to Christ (I Cor. 2:9-10,16).  Christ never fails.  Christ is the faithful and true (Rev. 19:11).  Christ is the author and finisher of faith (Rom. 12:2).  Christ is the alpha and omega of faith.  Why do we we need faith? Paul said, "the just shall live by faith" (Rom. 1:17).  Ah, but we are "justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 3:24).  Every bit of justification is in the 100% finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.  It is not by anything that I do, but faith is settled, housed and resident in what He has done!  The rhema word of Jesus Christ and Him crucified is the source of genuine faith (Rom. 10:17; I Cor. 2:2).

Our Father is fully satisfied with the justification and redemption of Christ.  Our Father raised Jesus from the dead to prove that.  Our Father has now seated Christ in the right (Hebr. 12:2), of all authority in heaven and on earth (Matt. 28:18).  Our Father has placed His Son in us at our Spirit birthing with all power and authority in us through His love and faithfulness. We need to move to focusing on the source of faith – our Lord Jesus Christ! V