I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Php 1:6)Take it apart for a moment. There are several important components, easy to overlook on a quick reading.
First, there is something going on. Paul calls it "a good work in you." Every believer has a good work going in each life. Lots of times we think there's nothing going on. We're not doing anything, going anywhere. No point, really. But Paul claims there is a good work in you.
Consider, then, the origin of this good work. It is "He who began" it. It's not a good work you initiated. You didn't produce it. You didn't start it. He ... God ... began it. In Galatians Paul asks them, "Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?" (Gal 3:2-3). This "good work" was "begun by the Spirit" ... and it is "perfected" by the Spirit ... not you.
Okay, so we have the thing – a good work in each believer – and an origin – not in us, but in God. What else? We have an outcome. Paul calls it a certain outcome (“I am sure of this”). The outcome is “completion,” but, more than that, the completion of this good work started by God in each of us is accomplished by God, not us. That’s exactly what Paul says. He who began it will complete it.
It's a very dense verse for being so short. We need to be reminded. We aren’t muddling about doing nothing. We aren’t forgotten. In fact, no believer is unchanged. That’s because believers didn't start it and aren't accomplishing it … the work. He is. And He will complete it. So, when you feel discouraged or ignored or like you’re going nowhere, remember. It is God at work in you both to will and to work for His good pleasure (Php 2:13), and He never fails.
3 comments:
Every good thing we do is a gift to and from God. He is at work in us so that we get to reveal His glory. And people want to tell me all religions are the same?
The verse you highlighted is indeed a rich one--as truths about God’s transformative work tend to be. As you said, this process of salvation in us--from our initial justification, through our ongoing sanctification, to our eventual glorification--is all God’s doing, from beginning to end. I took notice of the timing of the completion of this work in me: “at the day of Jesus Christ.” I believe that when I see my Savior face to face, He will joyfully exclaim to me, “Wow, you’ve had work done!”
I like the "Wow, you've had work done!"
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