Fixing Eyes on Jesus Vs. Performance-Based Christianity
The concept of "fixing our eyes on Jesus" is central to Christian discipleship, particularly as articulated in the book of Hebrews, which encourages believers to look to Jesus as "the champion who initiates and perfects our faith" [5]. This focus stands in contrast to a "performance-based Christianity," which emphasizes human effort or outward appearances as the basis of one's standing with God.
The exhortation to fix one's eyes on Jesus appears in Hebrews 12:2, where believers are urged to endure by "staying focused on him and his work on our behalf" [5]. This passage highlights Jesus as the supreme example of faithful endurance, having "disregarded its shame" during his crucifixion, a deeply humiliating form of execution [5]. The crucifixion, reserved for slaves and non-Roman criminals, was meant to humiliate and torture, yet Jesus endured it [5]. This act demonstrates that Jesus has "accomplished everything necessary for faith under the new covenant to be a reality" [5]. Therefore, Christian endurance is directly linked to this singular focus on Christ.
In contrast, performance-based Christianity often centers on "dead works" or outward displays of piety. The book of Hebrews warns against "laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God" [1]. This suggests that an overemphasis on human actions, rather than a reliance on Christ's finished work, can hinder spiritual maturity [1]. The apostle Paul also addresses the issue of judging by outward appearance, stating in 2 Corinthians 10:7, "You are looking at things according to appearance" [2]. He challenges those who are convinced of their own righteousness to reconsider, reminding them that "just as Christ himself is, so also are we" [2]. This implies that true spiritual standing is not based on external show but on an internal reality connected to Christ.
The distinction between faith and works is further explored in the Epistle of James. While James emphasizes the importance of works, stating that "faith is a spiritual thing: works are material" [4], he clarifies that works do not give life to faith. Rather, "the FORM of faith without the working reality answers to the body without the animating spirit" [4]. This means that a faith that does not manifest in action is dead, but the life of faith does not originate from works themselves [4]. James introduces his discussion on "dead, unworking faith" by addressing the "sin of respect of persons," where believers might show partiality based on worldly fortune, which is inconsistent with "the faith of... Christ" [6]. All believers, rich and poor, derive their glory from their union with Christ, "the Lord of glory," not from external advantages [6].
The concept of "repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" is a foundational element of Christian teaching [7]. Repentance is described as an "honest and good heart" that recognizes one's "contrariety to the righteous demands of the divine law," acknowledging God as the one dishonored by sin [7]. This repentance is directed "toward God," while faith is directed "toward our Lord Jesus Christ" [7]. This dual orientation underscores that while acknowledging sin before God is crucial, salvation and spiritual life are found through faith in Jesus.
The Christian walk is described as being "by faith, not by sight" [3]. This means that the Christian course on earth is governed by faith in an "immortal hope," rather than by the "outward specious appearance of present things" [3]. This perspective aligns with the idea of fixing one's eyes on Jesus, who is unseen, rather than on visible, temporary achievements or external validations. God has appointed faith as the great duty in this life, with vision as the reward in the next [3]. Therefore, the focus remains on the unseen Christ and the future hope he provides, rather than on present, observable performance.
Sources
- Hebrews “Hebrews 6:1 (NASB) — Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,”
- II Corinthians “II Corinthians 10:7 (LEB) — You are looking at things according to appearance. If anyone is convinced he himself is Christ’s, he should consider this concerning himself again: that just as Christ himself is, so also are we.”
- 2 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 2 Corinthians 5:7: we walk--in our Christian course here on earth. not by sight--Greek, "not by appearance." Our life is governed by faith in our immortal hope; not by the outward specious appearance of present things [TITTMANN, Greek Synonyms of the New Testament]. Compare "apparently," the Septuagint, "by appearance," Num 12:8. WAHL supports English Version. Co2 4:18 also confirms it (compare Rom 8:24; Co1 13:12-13). God has appointed in this life faith for our great duty, and in the next, vision for our reward [SOUTH] (Pe1 1:8).”
- James (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on James 2:26: Faith is a spiritual thing: works are material. Hence we might expect faith to answer to the spirit, works to the body. But James reverses this. He therefore does not mean that faith in all cases answers to the body; but the FORM of faith without the working reality answers to the body without the animating spirit. It does not follow that living faith derives its life from works, as the body derives its life from the animating spirit. Next: James Chapter 3”
- Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 12:2: 12:2 Jesus is the supreme example of faithful endurance (3:1). Our endurance in the Christian life will depend on our keeping our eyes on Jesus—staying focused on him and his work on our behalf. • Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith: Jesus has accomplished everything necessary for faith under the new covenant to be a reality. • disregarding its shame: Crucifixion was the most shameful form of execution, meant to humiliate and torture the person crucified. It was used only for slaves and criminals who were not Roman citizens. Christ treated th”
- James (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on James 2 (introduction): THE SIN OF RESPECT OF PERSONS: DEAD, UNWORKING FAITH SAVES NO MAN. (Jam. 2:1-26) brethren--The equality of all Christians as "brethren," forms the groundwork of the admonition. the faith of . . . Christ--that is, the Christian faith. James grounds Christian practice on Christian faith. the Lord of glory--So Co1 2:8. As all believers, alike rich and poor, derive all their glory from their union with Him, "the Lord of glory," not from external advantages of worldly fortune, the sin in question is peculiarly inconsistent with His "faith." ”
- Acts (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Acts 20:21: Testifying both to Jews and . . . Greeks--laboring under a common malady, and recoverable only by a common treatment. repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ--(See on Act 5:31). REPENTANCE, as distinguished from faith, is that state of the "honest and good heart" which arises from a discovery of one's contrariety to the righteous demands of the divine law. This is said to be "toward God," because seeing Him to be the party dishonored by sin, it feels all its acknowledgments and compunctions to be properly due to Him, as the great”