Hebrews 12: 2 “…Jesus, the ____ … of faith.” (NIV)

When I study scripture, I ask questions. Sometimes I find answers, and other times I find only more questions. What does it mean that Jesus was the _____ of faith? Translators have used many different translations for this one word. They have used “pioneer,” “initiator,” “author,” “designer,” “maker,” “leader and source,” “the source,” “leader,” “originator,” and “trail blazer.” When Christ spoke humanity into existence and gave humans freewill was that an act of faith? I know some who insist that God is sovereign, absolute king, final authority and totally in control. It would be impossible for the God they believe in to have faith. When you are all-powerful and all knowing, there is no need for faith. I wonder, “Did an all-powerful God choose to limit himself in order to give humanity freedom?” Did God need faith to believe humans with freewill would choose Good instead of Evil? Was Jesus a pioneer of faith because our creation was the first act of faith? I believe God is Sovereign; I also believe freewill is real.

Is Jesus the author and designer of faith because he wrote the ability to believe into our very DNA at our creation? Are we only able to have faith in God because he gave us that ability? Can sin and the power of evil let loose in the world so damage a person that they lose the ability to believe in anyone or anything? I believe God’s grace heals and repairs the ability to have faith in even the most damaged or sinful person. Even if Jesus did not initiate faith by our creation, he most definitely demonstrated faith by his birth, life and obedience unto death. He gave up heaven to become a man, and in obedience, he lay down his life having faith that his father would raise Him from the dead. I do not have all the answers, but I do know this “Without Christ godly faith is impossible.”