“GOD WILL FINISH WHAT HE STARTS” Phil. 1:1-11
INTRO – Don’t you like for someone who takes a job to see it all the way through to completion? Whether it’s a mechanic, a doctor, or a waiter in a restaurant, we simply expect that when someone takes a job, they will complete the job in a satisfactory manner. (Show model of FLC) In the construction of our FLC, Paul Jackson & Son has made a commitment to us to see the construction of that facility all the way through to completion. Our architect, Hal Brumfield has made a commitment to us to see the construction of the FLC all the way through to completion. We would not enter into contracts with these people if we did not fully expect them to complete the jobs that they have agreed to complete.
When a person enters into a relationship with God through placing their faith in Christ alone for their salvation, they have a biblical guarantee that God will finish what He starts. Don’t have to wonder or worry about that. God will finish what He starts.
We begin a 4-week series in the book of Philippians this morning. It is such an encouraging book in the NT, filled with joy and passion. The words “joy” and “rejoice” occur several times throughout the 4 short chapters of this book. It is a book that contains some of Paul’s most familiar, and most quoted statements, such as: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain (1:21);” “Rejoice in the Lord always; I will say it again, rejoice (4:4);” “And the peace of G, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (4:7);” “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength (4:13);” “And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus (4:19).”
It is a positive, uplifting message of hope that the apostle Paul writes to the church at Philippi. This church was a strong church. It did not have many of the problems that some of the other first-century churches were dealing with – doctrinal problems; leadership problems; internal conflict; immorality problems. Paul did not have to issue any strong rebukes to this church. Rather, he expressed his love and appreciation to them for their work in the spreading of the Gospel. They had partnered with him in the work of the Gospel, supported him in his missionary efforts, and constantly prayed for him.
This book is such an important book for us in the Church today b/c it lets us see and know how wonderful relationships w/in the Body of X can and should be. Of all places in the world, the Church should be characterized by joy, unity, love, and purpose. You and I have the privilege of being partnered together in the life-changing work of Christ through the ministry of this church. You and I have the privilege of living and working together in unity through the ministry of this church. You and I have the privilege of showing to the world what true Christian joy is through our excitement in worshipping and serving God. You and I have the privilege of knowing Christ and living a life of commitment to Him – the highest of all privileges. These essential truths – partnership, unity, joy, and commitment – are the foundation stones for the book of Philippians, and, hopefully, will be the foundation stones for our lives and for this church’s life.
It all starts with our salvation. Nothing else matters if we do not have this foundation in our lives. The most important foundation stone is the stone of our salvation, built upon the Solid Rock of Jesus Christ. We must build our lives upon Him – His words, His actions, His teachings, His life, His example. “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like the wise man who built his house on the rock,” (Mt. 7:24).
There are 3 truths about our salvation that we find in Phil. 1:6:
I. GOD COMMENCES OUR SALVATION – “He who BEGAN a good work…”
A. Salvation is God’s idea, God’s plan, God’s work. It is all about Him from beginning to end.
a. It was His plan to sacrifice His only Son to pay the price for our sins.
b. It was His plan to send the Holy Spirit to convict us of our need for Him.
c. It was His plan to orchestrate our lives in such a way so that we could hear the Gospel and respond to it.
B. He actually commenced the plan for our salvation before the world ever began.
a. Rev. 13:8 tells us that Jesus, the Lamb of G, was slain “from the creation of the world.”
b. 1 Peter 1:18-20 tells us that we were redeemed “not w/ perishable things…but w/ the precious blood of Christ…chosen before the creation of the world.”
c. Eph. 1:4 tells us that we were chosen “IN HIM before the creation of the world…”
C. G’s plan for the salvation of man has been in place for all time. And His specific plan for your salvation – your regeneration or new birth – is a part of that eternal plan.
a. BF&M – “Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of God’s grace whereby believers become new creatures in Christ Jesus.” That’s when it all begins.
b. When did it begin for you, the moment that you sensed Him calling to you, that moment when it all began for YOU?
i. When was that? Where were you? What were the circumstances? How was GOD working to bring you to Himself? How did He call?
ii. How many of you would say that it is a “GOOD work”?
c. Our salvation begins with God, not w/ anything we do. It’s all about Him from the very beginning.
II. GOD CONTINUES OUR SALVATION – “…will carry it on to completion…”
A. Isn’t it wonderful to know that the God who saves you is also the God who keeps you saved? Listen to these words of Jesus:
a. “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.” – John 10:28-29
b. “And this is the will of Him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that He has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise Him up at the last day.” – John 6:39-40
B. The continuing work of our salvation is called sanctification, and it is God’s work, too. God doesn’t call us into a relationship with Him through His grace and power, and then leave us to try and stay saved in our own power and strength. HE begins our salvation, and HE continues our salvation.
a. “Sanctification is the experience, beginning in regeneration, by which the believer is set apart to G’s purposes, and is enabled to progress toward moral and spiritual maturity through the presence and power of the HS dwelling in him.” (BF&M)
b. It is GOD, through the HS working in our hearts, that continues our salvation and keeps us moving toward spiritual maturity. Of course, the means that HE has chosen to use in this process are things such as prayer, the study of Scripture, service, participation in the Church, and other spiritual disciplines. But it is still HIS work in us, moving us along in our life of salvation.
c. “For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.” – Phil. 1:13
C. God is sovereign and will continue our salvation. But we have a responsibility to live a holy, dedicated Christian life.
a. “There is necessary vigilance and striving and pursuit in the Xn life. Rather, the impact is that we rest in the assurance that we are not left to ourselves in this fight of the faith. The G who called you is faithful to confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus X.” (John Piper, A Godward Life, Book 2, p. 206)
b. …which brings us to the final point…
III. GOD COMPLETES OUR SALVATION – “…until the day of Christ Jesus.”
A. God commenced our salvation. God continues our salvation, watching over us and empowering us to grow in spiritual maturity. And God will complete our salvation. His faithfulness guarantees that He will complete what He begins.
B. There is a great day coming when our Lord Jesus will return for us and we will meet Him face to face.
a. He will return in victory.
b. He will return in power.
c. He will return in authority.
C. That moment when all history will come to a climactic conclusion will be the moment that completes our salvation.
a. The devil will be defeated for all eternity.
b. We will be victorious for all eternity.
c. There will be no more pain, no more suffering, no more tears, no more sin, no more death, no more darkness.
d. God will complete our salvation in a great and glorious day.
