God Finishes What He Starts

One of the great promises in the Bible is that “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” In this sermon, we lift up this promise and examine it from various angles, the many good works of God that He brings to completion. We also examine how the completion date of the day of Jesus Christ changes our hopes. Finally, we wrestle with a couple of truths that we need to accept in order to fully rest under this promise. (Philippians 1.6) October 6, 2024

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In our journey through life, we often find ourselves starting projects or endeavors that we never see through to completion. This is a common human experience, often due to limited resources, changing desires, or simply biting off more than we can chew. However, the promise we find in Philippians 1:6 offers us a profound contrast: God is not like us. When He begins a work, He sees it through to completion. This assurance is rooted in His sovereignty and faithfulness, qualities that are unchanging and eternal.

Paul's confidence in this promise is not based on wishful thinking or subjective feelings. Instead, it is grounded in the objective truth of God's character and His past actions. Paul has experienced God's sustaining grace and knows that the work God begins, whether it be the gift of life, our salvation, or our sanctification, will be brought to completion at the day of Christ. This completion is not something we will necessarily see in our earthly lifetime, but it is assured in the eternal timeline of God's plan.

The promise extends to various aspects of our lives. Firstly, the gift of life itself is a work that God began and will sustain until the day of Christ. Our daily prayers for provision, protection, and wisdom are rooted in the confidence that God is actively involved in our lives. Secondly, our salvation is a work that began with Christ's sacrifice and continues as we are being saved and will be saved from the wrath of God at the final judgment. Thirdly, our sanctification, the process of being made holy, is ongoing and will only be completed when our sin nature is fully redeemed. Fourthly, the good works we are created to do are part of God's plan, prepared in advance, and will continue to bear fruit even after our earthly lives end. Lastly, the work God began in the church will also be brought to completion, as the church continues to bear fruit and witness until Christ's return.

To rest under this promise, we must embrace the eternal perspective, recognizing that the completion of God's work is not confined to our earthly timeline. We must also accept that suffering is part of the process, trusting that God is with us through every trial and tribulation. This promise is a source of hope and assurance, reminding us that God is faithful and will complete the good work He has begun in us.