Young People's Group

He Who Has Begun a Good Work in You

by Mitchell Tan
June 07, 2018

CONFIDENCE CONCERNING GOD’S WORK OF SALVATION

Salvation is not to be limited to just receiving Jesus as Saviour at a point of time. When we come to faith in the Lord Jesus, God begins a work that He will continue to do till the day He comes for us (Philippians 1:6). This was something that Paul desired to emphasise in the life of the Philippians.

1. COMMENCEMENT OF WORK

“That He who has begun a good work in you …”
Philippians 1:6

There are two parts to the commencement of work done by the Lord God.

A. WORK OF SALVATION

Paul was convinced that God had started a good work in the Philippians. It was a work of salvation. When people believe in the Lord Jesus, there would be salvation.

B. EVIDENCE OF SALVATION

Concerning the Thessalonian Church, he gave thanks to the Lord for their work of faith, labour of love and the patience of hope in the Lord Jesus (1 Thessalonians 1:3). These were the fruits of true faith. For the Colossians, Paul gave thanks for their faith in the Lord Jesus and their love for all the saints (Colossians 1:3-4). There was this special sense of hope in heaven too. These were the evidences of salvation.

2. COMPLETION OF WORK

“… Will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ”
Philippians 1:6

God will complete this work when the Lord Jesus comes for us. He will work within us to move from one level of faith to another level. The Lord God will help us to grow. Our focus must not be on ourselves or our inadequacies. It should be on the Lord who will perfect what He had started within us. We are still a work in progress. Our part is to seek to grow further in faith.

3. CONFIDENT IN THE LORD

“Being confident of this very thing”
Philippians 1:6

Paul was fully persuaded of the Lord’s work in the life and faith of the Philippians. Our confidence is that what God has started, He will complete and perfect. Even though there may be times when we may fail or falter, we must remember that He is our hope. He will perfect that work within us.

THE LORD WILL PERFECT

This idea of God working in the life of His saints is also reflected in another context.

“The Lord will perfect that which concerns me;
Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever;
Do not forsake the work of Your hands.”
Psalm 138:8

The idea of “perfect” has the idea of “completing”. The Lord will complete the work that He had started in the Psalmist’s life. This was because of the nature of God and of His mercy. If God were to start a work, He would complete it. This was the work of His hands.

1. GIVING THANKS TO GOD FOR HIS WORK WITHIN OUR LIFE AND THE LIVES OF OTHERS

Let’s learn to rejoice and give thanks even more for the Lord’s work in all our lives.

2. BEING CONFIDENT IN THE LORD

Our confidence is in the Lord who completes what He has started in us. Let’s develop a strong confidence in Him.

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