"Confident of This Very Thing"

 

Philippians 1:3-7 "I thank my GOD upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, for your fellowship in the Gospel from the first day until now; 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: even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defense and confirmation of the Gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace."

     The believer has many things about which he can be "always confident" (2nd.Corinthians 5:6 pictured at top of post). Yesterday's text emphasized the LORD's promised provision for the replacement of our earthly body with a heavenly, perfect, eternal body (2nd.Corinthians 5:1-8). Today, our text speaks to the wonderful truth that every believer can be absolutely certain of eternal salvation. The simple reason for this is that the LORD never starts a work HE cannot or will not finish: "HE which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of JESUS CHRIST" (v.6 pictured below). Paul could pray with certainty that the fellowship he so enjoyed with the Philippian believers at a distance would continue under GOD's hand of blessing (vv.3-5); he was completely confident that CHRIST would keep them secure in HIM to the very end -- until that day when they would be glorified at HIS appearing.

     Our eternal salvation depends entirely upon GOD's work, not our own. Galatians 3:1-3, pictured above, refutes the erroneous belief that one is saved by grace but kept saved by works -- this produces fear rather than confidence. And, without certainty in the continuing work of the indwelling HOLY SPIRIT "until the day of JESUS CHRIST" (V.6), every incident of human failure gives Satan an opportunity to fill that person with doubt as to his redemption. This apprehension and unease that the Devil delights to impress upon us is a terrible enemy of the soul. The confidence that the LORD wants all of HIS children to have concerning the eternal security of their salvation does not beget indolence or carelessness, but rather it produces fidelity to the WORD of GOD as well as gratefulness to the SAVIOR for the fact that HIS keeping power is as great as HIS saving power. MHR

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

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