Philippians 1:6
“Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
“Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
The God who begins work completes work.
This verse is talking specifically about our salvation—how, when God draws us to Himself, to faith in Jesus (and think of all we’ve prayed through in Galatians, Ephesians, and now Philippians), we’re sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, seated with Jesus in the heavenly realms, saved—brought from death to life.
This verse is talking specifically about our salvation—how, when God draws us to Himself, to faith in Jesus (and think of all we’ve prayed through in Galatians, Ephesians, and now Philippians), we’re sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, seated with Jesus in the heavenly realms, saved—brought from death to life.
Philippians 1:6 Reminds Us of God’s Good Work in Us
God doesn’t do all that just to leave us alone. No—He has started a good work that He’s going to carry all the way to completion. Our justification before God—being made right through faith in Jesus—leads to sanctification. That means He’s begun a process in each of our lives, as His sons and daughters, for all who’ve trusted in Jesus. He’s begun the work of making us look more and more and more like Jesus.
He’s conforming us into the image of Jesus. And one day, He’s going to bring it to completion—at the day of Jesus Christ. What we often call glorification: the time when we’re fully transformed into the image of Jesus in a 1 John 3 kind of way. When we see Him, and we will be like Him, as He is—not divine as He is, but fully conformed into His image. Free from sin. Free from all of its effects—sorrow, suffering, and death.
This is coming for you, Christian. This day of completion is coming.
He’s conforming us into the image of Jesus. And one day, He’s going to bring it to completion—at the day of Jesus Christ. What we often call glorification: the time when we’re fully transformed into the image of Jesus in a 1 John 3 kind of way. When we see Him, and we will be like Him, as He is—not divine as He is, but fully conformed into His image. Free from sin. Free from all of its effects—sorrow, suffering, and death.
This is coming for you, Christian. This day of completion is coming.
Philippians 1:6 Should Change the Way You Live Today
So how does that change the way you live right now?
Hopefully, it reminds you that God didn’t just work in your life however long ago you came to faith in Jesus. And He’s not only going to work in your life one day in the future when you get to Heaven. No—God is at work in your life right now. Today.
He started that work a long time ago—actually, before you were even born. Before the foundation of the world. And He’s still working today.
That gives meaning and purpose—and I believe a holy sense of anticipation—to life right now. So, what is God going to do today to draw me more into the image of Jesus? What work does He want to do in my life today?
And for us to say, “God, do it.” God, this work that You’ve begun in our lives as followers of Jesus—we pray You would carry it on today. And we say together before You: whatever You desire to do in our lives to make us look more like Jesus, please do it today. Whatever we need.
Hopefully, it reminds you that God didn’t just work in your life however long ago you came to faith in Jesus. And He’s not only going to work in your life one day in the future when you get to Heaven. No—God is at work in your life right now. Today.
He started that work a long time ago—actually, before you were even born. Before the foundation of the world. And He’s still working today.
That gives meaning and purpose—and I believe a holy sense of anticipation—to life right now. So, what is God going to do today to draw me more into the image of Jesus? What work does He want to do in my life today?
And for us to say, “God, do it.” God, this work that You’ve begun in our lives as followers of Jesus—we pray You would carry it on today. And we say together before You: whatever You desire to do in our lives to make us look more like Jesus, please do it today. Whatever we need.
Philippians 1:6 Should Shape Our Desire to Be Like Jesus
However we need to be shaped more into the image of Jesus—whatever You see in our lives, even the things we don’t see—God, do it. Form our character. Transform our hearts, our minds, our desires, our wills, our words, and our actions.
Make us more like Jesus today.
And we’ll pray for the same thing tomorrow. And the day after that. And the day after that—until this day of completion comes. Until the day when we’re fully conformed to the image of Jesus.
We can’t wait for that day. We cannot wait, oh God, to be free from sin. To be fully conformed into the image of Jesus.
So come, Lord Jesus—come quickly. We long for that day.
All glory be to Your name for this truth in Philippians 1:6.
So help us to be aware of Your work in us today, toward that end.
In Jesus’ name we pray,
Amen.
Make us more like Jesus today.
And we’ll pray for the same thing tomorrow. And the day after that. And the day after that—until this day of completion comes. Until the day when we’re fully conformed to the image of Jesus.
We can’t wait for that day. We cannot wait, oh God, to be free from sin. To be fully conformed into the image of Jesus.
So come, Lord Jesus—come quickly. We long for that day.
All glory be to Your name for this truth in Philippians 1:6.
So help us to be aware of Your work in us today, toward that end.
In Jesus’ name we pray,
Amen.
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