Author of Salvation

We, as Christians, must align our lives with the belief that Jesus is our Lord and Savior.  Otherwise, the Bible indicates that we are decieving ourselves into thinking that we are followers of Christ and putting Him to an open shame.  Does your life match your belief?  Does mine?

The author of Hebrews in chapter 5 jumps into a discussion of Jesus as a High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek, but pauses for a parenthetical section on those "unskilled in the word of righteousness".  He says that some are babes and still need milk.  He seems to be speaking to the Jews who remain under the Old Covenant.  They are still grasping after the Old Covenant ceremonial washings, sacrifices, and other rituals.  Those who remain in need of "milk" are the Jews who remain under the Old Covenant.  Those who are in need of "solid food" are the Jews who have turned to the great High Priest of the New Covenant (Heb. 5:12-14).  The author says to "lay aside the elementary principles of Christ" (Heb. 6:1).  Lay aside the Old Covenant and come under the New Covenant through the blood of Jesus Christ.  The Jews settled for the shadows and copies that pointed to their Savior Jesus Christ.  He says "let us go on to perfection".  The only way to go on to perfection is through the New Covenant because Jesus has been "perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him" (Heb. 5:9).  The law cannot make perfect (Heb. 7:19), only the blood of Jesus can bring true righteousness to the children of God.

Many of the Jews continued to turn to the Old Covenant because it was more comfortable for them.  They believed that Jesus was the Messiah promised in the Old Testament, but they were not willing to give up their old ways and thus they fell away and stood with the Jews who yelled "Crucify Him, crucify Him".  Are we willing to believe and follow Jesus Christ?  If not, then we continue to scream "crucify Him, crucify Him" and put Jesus to an open shame.  Are we unwilling to give up money, our families, education, addictions or the American dream in order to follow Jesus? If we are not then we are no better than the Jews who continued to turn to the Old Covenant.  Does the way we spend money, the way we talk, relate to our families, our friends, and our co-workers reflect our belief that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior? There is no greater joy than to consider everything as worthless compared to knowing Christ Jesus our Lord (Philippians 3:8).  Let's turn completely to Jesus the "author of eternal salvation".