I thank my God in all my
remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my
prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the
first day until now. 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. It
is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my
heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my
imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God
is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ
Jesus. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with
knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is
excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled
with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the
glory and praise of God. (ESV)
If you are new to this reading plan, follow the instructions on the right side of this page or click here to read the "Why Just One Letter" introduction article.
Throughout
each month, we will post short articles to give some depth of
understanding regarding our text (see the archive links on the
lower right of this page for review). Today we will discuss...
Are You Sure of This?
We are living in uncertain times.
The culture is far from alignment to God's design. Political factions become more and more polarized with every new election cycle, while neither side fully represents Christ. There is an undeniable gap between the rich and the poor in our culture. Illness and tragedy still reaches into every family. And, in many communities and many local churches - division between Christians hampers our ability to reach the lost.
The culture is far from alignment to God's design. Political factions become more and more polarized with every new election cycle, while neither side fully represents Christ. There is an undeniable gap between the rich and the poor in our culture. Illness and tragedy still reaches into every family. And, in many communities and many local churches - division between Christians hampers our ability to reach the lost.
While nearly two thousand years have passed since The Apostle Paul wrote this letter, his first century readers would have been able to relate to every part of the paragraph of problems above.
And just as was true in Paul's day, with all that is happening around us, some Christian leaders would have us run for the hills, while others would have us take up arms and fight, and still others would have us give in and reshape our convictions in order to match the culture.
But Paul, writing from a Roman prison because of His faith - Paul writing to a young church who knew religious persecution better than many of us in the Church in America can imagine - Paul did not start his letter by bemoaning the obvious problems that come with living in a fallen world.
No.
He reminded the church of their Redeemed Reality and their Promised Restoration.
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.
Paul says, "I am sure of this..."
When a child is growing, one of the factors that determine whether she will thrive or not is how secure she feels. If a child is unsure if they will eat today, other concerns like studying, developing social skills and the like all become less important.
In the same way, if we Christians are going to thrive and excel in our ability to glorify God through the fulfillment of the Great Commission in the spirit of the Great Commandment, we need to feel secure that we have all we need.
If a Christian is unsure of his standing before God, or about the outcome of his life, then other concerns like studying the Word or growing as a disciple maker will become less important.
So Paul, roots the Philippians (and us) in the solid assurance that "he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."
And Paul starts assuring us by reminding us that "He began the good work in you...."
It was by God's grace you were saved through faith in Jesus. It was not of your own doing. It was a gift of God. This is good because 1) He get's all the glory and we are saved from the destructive power of pride. And 2) We know that God doesn't start something that He doesn't finish.
Trials are going to come. You will be mocked and persecuted. In this life you will face hardships and suffering. You will be tempted. You will struggle against sin. But, IF you are His, then He who began a good work in you...
"...Will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."
Christians
long for the day when all is made new. We long for the day when
the presence of sin and suffering is cast away and we can bask in the
warmth of God's glory once and for all. That day is coming and it is called the Day of Jesus Christ, or the Day of the Lord.
Paul points to this day of completion as the ultimate assurance that these light and momentary afflictions that we face on this side of eternity will not be the end of our story. Because Jesus lives, we can face tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow, until the day of Jesus Christ.
But, not-yet-believers might point out: Some people - even non-Christians have it so rough here on this broken side of eternity that THEY also look forward to an end to their suffering or misery. Does that hope require Jesus?
Others assume that the end of life brings NOTHING - and that NOTHING seems better than their current reality.
While others assume there may be some sort of heavenly afterlife, and they assume everyone gets to go and that vague idea of paradise is certainly more attractive than the brokenness they are dealing with right now. So they long for the end too.
If Jesus didn't teach so much about Hell and the narrow road to Heaven through Him, than we might want to agree with our lost friends.
However, in Joel 2, we see that The Day of the Lord will not be what some are expecting. For those of us who believe, it is our salvation made complete (Joel 2:32). But for those who choose the way of the World, it is a day of utter destruction (Take a moment now to read about the day of the Lord in Joel 2).
With all of that said. Paul wants our view of the Day of Jesus Christ to be a source of hope and assurance. That hope - the knowledge of the FACT that we are on the winning side of the Spiritual battle - enables us to live the life God called us to live with courage.
Do you live courageously for Christ? If not, don't try to correct the problem by just doing something courageous - or Radical before you remind yourself of who you are.
Ask God and other Christians to remind you of what God began in you. And remember that what He began in you will be completed on the Day of Jesus Christ. YOU WIN, Go live now in the victory that has been guaranteed.
