Considerations ~ The Good Work God Began, Continues, and Completes

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).

Here is a beautiful expression of the three glorious doctrines of our salvation: justification, sanctification, and glorification.

“BEGAN A GOOD WORK”: God began his work in us by justification by faith, bringing us into the salvation that delivers us from our sin, removes us from all the judgment of God against our sin, and into the fellowship with God we were created for in the beginning.

“WILL BRING IT”: God continues his work of restoring us to his image and likeness through our sanctification by faith. Our becoming like Jesus is not our work to do for God, but God’s work to make us like his Son.

“TO COMPLETION”: God will complete all the work he planned and purposed from before the beginning of time in the final step of our transformation known as glorification. On that day when we see Jesus as he is, we shall become just like him (I John 3:2).

Paul says this another way when he writes this wonderful encouragement of truth:

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified” (Romans 8:28-30).

While the believer in Jesus Christ is called to “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord” (Colossians 1:10), it is always meant in relation to all the work God is doing. God began the work, he brings it along, and he completes it, all in fulfillment of his glorious blueprint to make us like himself in true righteousness and holiness.

Our place is to, “be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18), “walk by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16), “live by the Spirit,” and “keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25), because God is doing his work through his Spirit.

© 2015 Monte Vigh ~ Box 517, Merritt, BC, V1K 1B8 ~ in2freedom@gmail.com

Unless otherwise noted, Scriptures are from the English Standard Version (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.)