When is the last time you completed something? I’m sure it wouldn’t take long to recall the joy that you experienced in being able to check the box and say, “finished.” As Paul was expressing gratitude for the Philippian church and praying for them, he breaks out in great confidence that God will continue to work in their lives.
Philippians 1:6 (ESV) — 6 And 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.
What a great verse of assurance. This good work in them (and every believer) is God’s work not man’s work. God’s work is perfect as He is the One who initiated the work before the foundation of the world, and He is the One Who will see it through.
Deuteronomy 32:3–4 (ESV) — 3 For I will proclaim the name of the Lord; ascribe greatness to our God! 4“The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.
Isaiah 46:9–11 (ESV) — 9 remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ 11 calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.
There is just no way that God will begin something and fail to complete it. Notice in the Scripture above that God says that if He has purposed something He will do it. It’s that simple, although His work that He is overseeing and will complete may appear to be very complex.
Let’s step back in time and notice how God set things in motion before time began.
Titus 1:2 (ESV) — 2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began
Ephesians 1:3–6 (ESV) — 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
It’s important when referencing our salvation we begin at the proper time; before the world began. No wonder Jeremiah records God’s wonderful words of assurance:
Jeremiah 31:3 (ESV) — 3 the Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.
That being established we shall continue in the first chapter of Ephesians. After stating He has blessed us richly or made us accepted “in the Beloved,” he continues…
Ephesians 1:7–9 (ESV) — 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ
Ephesians 1:19–20 (ESV) — 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,
There are two great happenings or “works” on our behalf carried out by God, the Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, namely our redemption and our regeneration. Of course, when you think of redemption you go to the cross, and rightly so. Notice the words of the Lord Jesus Christ as He takes His last breath then announces the words of victory before He bows His head and dies.
John 19:30 (ESV) — 30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
The Lord Jesus Christ announced to all that His work in paying the debt for the sins of all that were given to Him before the foundation of the world was complete. Of course, God announced the payment in full was accepted by raising Him from the dead. We rejoice in the completed work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Timothy 1:9–10 (ESV) — (… God) 9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,
According to Ephesians 1:19-20 above, the Holy Spirit gives us the want to and the power to believe the Gospel and His work in us is compared to the work in raising the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead. Exactly! That is described in Ephesians chapter 2.
Ephesians 2:1–5 (ESV) — 1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
From start to finish, salvation is God’s work. Therefore, you can be confident that if He has begun a good work in you, He will make sure it’s complete.
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker, Pastor
Christ Community Presbyterian Church
Clearwater, FL
