We read in Philippians chapter 1, verse 6, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which has begun a good work in you will perform it, until the day of Jesus Christ.” I suppose that I have read this many times and preached on it a few times and as I read this verse this morning, it took on a new and deeper meaning than I have ever seen before.

We have always seen the eternal working of Christ in our lives through regeneration, or the term being born again or being quickened by the Holy Spirit and made alive in Jesus Christ showing that this is the work of God, that it is an eternal work, that we can not finally fall away eternally, because we are preserved and kept in Jesus Christ. This in itself is a beautiful and wonderful doctrine that we can believe in and it is sure and steadfast. This is our hope, our assurance, our confidence; this causes our hearts to rejoice in the finished work of Christ.

Then this morning I began to see that a practical lesson was also being taught, that through the working of grace in our lives, through him that has begun a good work in us can and will enable us to serve him in a church capacity way. In verse 1, Paul speaks or writes to the saints at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons. Sometimes we address the saints of God at some local assembly and do not seem to point out the importance of the bishops and deacons. These two offices are just as much a part of the assembly of the saints.

Paul says that I thank God for all of you, for every remembrance of you, always making request with joy for you in every prayer. Thanking God for your fellowship in the gospel. Being confident of this very thing, that he, which hath begun a good work in you, will perform it, until the day of Jesus Christ. Then in verse 9, 10 and 11 Paul says, “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment. That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.” This good work of grace that is worked in the heart that assures us and gives us confidence that we are the children of God. This same work of grace causes each and every member of the church, the pastor of the church, the deacons of the church to have a desire to serve one another, that our love for one another may abound and that it may abound in knowledge and in all judgment.

The Lord did not work a work of grace in our hearts and then leave us to our own devices. This work of grace is a work that is in us, a work that causes us, helps us, gives us more knowledge and gives us a spirit of judgment that we are able to approve things that are excellent; that we may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ. Being filled with the fruits of righteousness. Oh what a blessed Savior we have that performs and keeps performing, working in us both to will and to do of his own good pleasure. Let of pray today that we are able to work out what God has worked in, that we can be in unity with one another, that we can have only one goal and one purpose in life and that is to honor Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords.