As we have thought about the meaning of Christmas, we have said that Christmas is all about God bringing salvation from sin to us through the person of Jesus. That through Christ, God has carried out a plan to bring sinful men and women, boys and girls, into a personal love relationship with Himself so that we might be part of His family, and become just like Jesus. Through accepting Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf, we become the beneficiaries of the salvation God has provided through Him.
In Philippians 1:6, Paul tells us that he was confident that God was competent to complete what He has begun in those of us who have accepted Christ. As the old saying goes, He is able to save, "from the guttermost to the uttermost."
In this passage, Paul explains on three aspects of the salvation that has been provided for us in Christ. He tells us three things about the work of salvation that God brings about in the life of one who has accepted Christ as their personal Savior.
1. Salvation Begun - "He who began a good work in you"
Our salvation commences with the decision to accept Christ as our personal Savior.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son." - John 3:16-18 (NIV)
"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life." - John 5:24 (NASB)
Through faith in Christ, I have been saved from the penalty of sin because I have accepted the payment of Christ.
Many people, though, don’t see themselves as sinners in need of salvation. They make excuses like these: "My good deeds outweigh my bad," or "I’m not as bad as some people," or "Usually I’m a good person."
Their shortcomings, they feel, don’t jeopardize their standing before Almighty God.
But imagine a citizen being brought to trial for several charges of shoplifting. It would be useless for that person to appeal to the judge by saying: "Don’t forget, my good deeds outweigh my bad." "I’m not as bad as many others." "Most of the time I’m a law-abiding citizen." The offender must be judged according to the offense, not according to previous good deeds. If justice is to be done, someone must pay, and that someone should be the offender - unless another is allowed to bear the penalty instead. That’s exactly what Christ in love did for all sinners, namely, you and me.
"But he was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped, and we were healed! All of us have strayed away like sheep. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the guilt and sins of us all." - Isaiah 53:5-6 (NLT)
"We are made right in God’s sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done. For all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty."
- Romans 3:22-24 (NLT)
(We are reminded of this when we partake of the Lord’s supper)
But not only are we freed from the penalty of sin by virtue of the salvation provided by Christ’s sacrifice. We can now be freed from sin’s power in our daily life.
"Christ carried the burden of our sins. He was nailed to the cross, so that we would stop sinning and start living right. By his cuts and bruises you are healed." - 2 Peter 2:24 (CEV)
2. Salvation Continued - "will carry it on"
I am saved from the power of sin as I acknowledge my position in Christ.
"But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so very much, that even while we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s special favor that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ, and we are seated with him in the heavenly realms--all because we are one with Christ Jesus."
- Ephesians 2:4-6 (NLT)
"Our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin." - Romans 6:6 (NLT)
By the power of His cross, we can daily overcome the power of sin!
"As for me, God forbid that I should boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world died long ago, and the world’s interest in me is also long dead." - Galatians 6:14 (NLT)
(We are reminded of this when we partake of the Lord’s Supper)
I experience the victory over sin’s power as I daily decide to turn from sin’s control and yield ourselves to Christ’s control.
"Do not let any part of your body become a tool of wickedness, to be used for sinning. Instead, give yourselves completely to God since you have been given new life. And use your whole body as a tool to do what is right for the glory of God." - Romans 6:13 (NLT)
"If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action]." - 1 John 1:9 (Amplified)
3. Salvation Concluded - "to completion until the day of Christ Jesus"
God’s work of salvation in me will be concluded when Christ returns and eternity is ushered in. On that day, I will be made to be completely like Jesus!
"When Christ returns, we will be like him, because we will see him as he truly is." - 1 John 3:2 (CEV)
In that day, not only will I become like Christ in every way, but I will be saved from the very presence of sin as I enter to presence of Christ!
"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a beautiful bride prepared for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, ‘Look, the home of God is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will remove all of their sorrows, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. For the old world and its evils are gone forever.’ No temple could be seen in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. The nations of the earth will walk in its light, and the rulers of the world will come and bring their glory to it. Its gates never close at the end of day because there is no night. And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city. Nothing evil will be allowed to enter--no one who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty--but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life."
- Revelation 21:1-4; 22-27 (NLT)
Here in this world, He bids us come; There in the next, He shall bid us welcome.
- John Donne
(We are reminded of this when we partake of the Lord’s Supper)
"I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father’s kingdom." - Matthew 26:29 (NIV)
Conclusion: Conduct Lord’s Supper observance.
