Dr. Ray Pritchard Christian Blog and Commentary

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Author of Salvation

  • Dr. Ray Pritchard
    Dr. Ray Pritchard is the president of Keep Believing Ministries, an Internet-based ministry serving Christians in 225 countries. He is the author of 29 books, including Stealth Attack, Fire and Rain,… More
  • Published Mar 05, 2014

“It was fitting that God . . . should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering" (Hebrews 2:10).

The whole earthly life of Jesus is summed up in one phrase. He was made “perfect through suffering.” But wasn’t Jesus perfect when he was born in the manger? And didn’t he live a sinless life? Wasn’t his death the death of an innocent man? Yes. He was morally perfect. That is one kind of perfection or completion.

But there is another kind of perfection or completion that comes only by experience. Jesus entered fully into the sufferings of this world and emerged victorious over them. He was completed in his experience on the earth by the things he suffered. That is why he may be called the “author” of our salvation.

Christ came to blaze the trail so we might follow him on to glory. But the trail is marked with suffering, with tears, with rejection, and it ultimately leads to the cross. Anyone who follows Jesus will end up where he ended up–outside Jerusalem on a hill shaped like a skull. He is not just leading us to heaven. He is leading us to glory. There is glory at the end of the Christian life. Jesus came from heaven so we might follow him in suffering and like him be made complete through suffering.

That explains so much that happens to us. What is God doing in your life and in mine? He is putting us through the Curriculum of Grace in the School of Suffering. School starts the moment we trust Christ and ends the day we die. How will we ever pass the test and win the degree? By keeping our eyes on Jesus. He’s the valedictorian of the class. He never failed a test. He blazed the trail through the School of Suffering that we might follow in his path. He is leading us to glory one step at a time. 

How are you suffering today? Do you feel persecuted?  Misunderstood? Are you battling a health situation? Has your family turned on you because of your faith? If so, remember that your suffering is part of Christ’s plan to complete his work in you.

Lord Jesus, we bow before you today. We gladly confess you as the Author of our salvation. Complete your work in us no matter what it takes. We look forward to the day when we will be with you in glory. Amen. 

Click here to download the free Lenten ebook "Lord of Glory."

You can reach the author at ray@keepbelieving.com. Click here to sign up for the free email sermon.