Introduction

Welcome, beloved children of God, to this sacred gathering, where we unite as one family under the loving eyes of our Heavenly Father. We are here today to celebrate His goodness, to marvel at His mercy, and to learn from His living Word. We are here to grow, to learn, to be shaped and molded by the divine Potter's hands.

Our focus today rests on Philippians 1:6, a verse that encapsulates the beautiful journey of salvation, sanctification, and the surety of our Savior's work. The apostle Paul writes, "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."

This verse, my dear friends, is a promise. It's a beacon of hope in our often storm-tossed lives. It's a reminder that God is not finished with us yet, that He is faithfully working in us, molding us into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. But what does it mean for us today? How do we understand this in the context of our own lives?

As we ponder this, let us remember the words of the great preacher Charles Spurgeon, who once said, "I have a great need for Christ; I have a great Christ for my need." This profound statement reminds us that our need for salvation and sanctification is not a burden, but an opportunity to experience the limitless love and grace of our great Savior.

As we embark on this spiritual exploration, let us remember that we are not alone. We have the Holy Spirit as our guide, the Word of God as our map, and the community of believers as our companions.

Before we proceed, let us bow our heads in prayer. Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for your Word that guides us, your Spirit that leads us, and your Son who has saved us. As we reflect on the verse from Philippians today, we pray for wisdom and understanding. We pray that you would open our hearts and minds to your truth, and that we would be receptive to your teachings. Help us to grasp the depth of your love for us, and the extent of the work you are doing in our lives. We ask this in the precious name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Salvation's Start

When we think about the start of salvation, we're drawn to the very beginning of our faith journey. It's a moment, a point in time, when we first realize our need for a Savior. It's when we acknowledge our sins, our shortcomings, and our inability to save ourselves. It's a humbling moment, but also a freeing one. Because it's at this moment that we turn to Jesus, accepting His sacrifice on the cross as the payment for our sins.

This is the start of our salvation, the beginning of our relationship with God. It's a gift, freely given by a loving God who desires a relationship with us.

This start of salvation is also a process, a continuous work of God in our lives. From the moment we accept Christ, God begins a good work in us. He starts to change us, to mold us, to make us more like His Son. This process, known as sanctification, is an integral part of our salvation. It's how we grow in our faith, how we become more Christ-like in our thoughts, words, and actions.

The first aspect of this process we'll look at is the role of the Holy Spirit. When we accept Christ, the Holy Spirit comes to live within us. He is our guide, our counselor, our comforter. He convicts us of sin, leads us into truth, and empowers us to live a life pleasing to God. The Holy Spirit is instrumental in our sanctification, in the ongoing work of salvation in our lives.

Next is the Word of God. The Bible is our guidebook, our roadmap for life. It teaches us about God, about His love and His plan for us. It shows us how to live, how to love, how to serve. As we read and study the Bible, the Holy Spirit uses it to change us, to shape us, to make us more like Christ.

The third aspect is prayer. Prayer is our lifeline to God, our direct line of communication with Him. Through prayer, we can express our love for God, confess our sins, seek His guidance, and intercede for others. Prayer is a powerful tool in our spiritual growth, a vital part of our ongoing salvation.

The fourth and final aspect is fellowship with other believers. We were not meant to walk this faith journey alone. We need the encouragement, support, and accountability of other Christians. Through fellowship, we learn from each other, pray for each other, and help each other grow in our faith.

These four aspects are the tools God uses to shape us, to mold us, to make us more like His Son. And this work, this process, will continue until the day of Christ Jesus, when our salvation will be complete. So, as we reflect on the start of our salvation, let's remember that it's not just a moment in time, but an ongoing process. Let's remember that God is at work in us, using the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, prayer, and fellowship to make us more like His Son.

Sanctification's Struggle

In the light of our understanding of the initiation of our salvation, we find ourselves in the midst of a process ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO