Philippians 1:6 " being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (NIV)
Sometimes I think we, as well as other people, think that Christians are supposed to be perfect. Nothing could be further from the truth. We are to be different in the sense that the world does not have hold of us and is not influencing us in our lives, that should be Christ but if we have given our lives to Jesus Christ and have the Holy Spirit in us, one day we will be made perfect in Heaven but until then we are a work in progress.
This verse tells us that Jesus has BEGUN a good work in us and He will continue that work until the final day when Jesus returns. So until then we will still slip up, foul up and mess up. The good news is that Jesus is there to help us through the Holy Spirit.
Below is an excerpt from the "Bible Exposition Commentary" by Warren Wiersbe that I like pertaining to this verse:
[We are not saved by our good works (Eph. 2:8–9). Salvation is the good work God does in us when we trust His Son. In Philippians 2:12–13 we are told that God continues to work in us through His Spirit. In other words, salvation includes a threefold work:
• the work God does for us — salvation;
• the work God does in us — sanctification;
• the work God does through us — service.
This work will continue until we see Christ, and then the work will be fulfilled. “We shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2).]
Here are the verses that he referenced:
Ephesians 2:8-9 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast."
Philippians 2:12-13 "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." 1 John 3:2 "Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is."
So be encouraged today. Jesus is still working in you and through you if you have confessed your sins and given your life to Him. That is why it is called a "personal relationship" because He is with us and helps us. So just like any other relationship we need communication, so let's pray to Him daily giving Him adoration, confession, thanksgiving and supplication. (our needs and the needs of others) The acrostic A-C-T-S can help you remember this if you need it.
Be blessed today an remember - God is on the job!
Mike
