Philippians 1:3-11- The depth of the work of God

The book of Philippians was written to the Church at Philippi and in extension The Saints in Christ. - Those who have put their trust and confidence in the Lord Jesus Christ.

We read this as believers in Jesus, to know better and more deeply the love of God expressed to us in Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit.

Philippians 1:3-11

Read Philippians 1:3-11

Paul starts off verse 3 letting us know that he thanks God in remembrance of the Philippians, and their partnership in the Gospel. Then in verse 6, he says something radical about their faith, and work in Christ. - That God was the one who started the good work in them, and that God would be the one to finish that work.

This thought is completely different from what we tend to think about in terms of our obedience to God. Many people start accountability groups, build up systems, read bibles, pray, (all good things), follow a set of rules and more, thinking that those things will change them. Although those things are helpful, and useful, ultimately, our growth in Christ is due to the Holy Spirit working in us.

In fact, when we read Romans 8, we find that the Spirit has done what the law of death could not do. In the old testament, we read about the Israelite people, who had been given God’s law to follow. Instead of following the law, they fell short over and over again. Then they set up Kings, thinking that would help them, and the Kings utterly failed them. One king would try to follow God, and the next would not. 

In my own life, when I was in high school, I struggled with a persistent sin. I would sin, and then immediately ask for forgiveness. I would promise to God that I would change, only to repeat the same old sin again 2 days later. I knew what to do, and I was trying to do the right thing by my effort and by beating myself up. This did not help me

Read John 6:35-40

The Father gives those who believe to the Son, and those who the Son receives will never be cast out. Not only will God bring those who believe into belief, he will keep them in belief, and he will raise them up on the last day!

Our righteousness, our faithfulness, our love for God, is all a gift to us. A work of God.

This is incredible news. Good news. That is why we call this the Gospel, or Good News.

Paul goes on in Philippians 1 to say that his joy for their faith is good and right. As believers, we can take joy from knowing God is working in our lives and in the lives of others. We’re a family, and what should give us the most joy in life is knowing that God is near and working within us.

Read Philippians 1:9-11

Paul's prayer continues that the Philippians' love would grow in knowledge and discernment, so that they would approve good things, and grow in purity. Our love for God causes us to want to know more about God, what is true, and that causes in us a holy life! God is working in us through and through. Not only in making us right before him, but transforming the way we live our lives.

To continue with my own personal story of my fight against the persistent sin in my life, I get to a place around the age of 21-22. I was meditating on Romans 8, and I reached the part where the question is asked- “Who is there to condemn us? Christ Jesus, is the one who died, who rose, and is at the right hand of God the Father, interceding for us.”

When I read this that morning, it was like a strike of lightning pierced through my heart. Suddenly, I realized that there was one who could condemn me- Jesus! HE lived the perfect life, Only Jesus! There is no one else who has lived the perfect life, who is able, who has the right, to condemn me. But, instead of condemning me, he is at the right hand of God, interceding for me. In the Amplified Bible, the term here is pleading for me. 

Then I knew that my continual beating myself up, my efforts, were meaningless. In fact, it was sin. I was thinking that my justification was rooted in my own sense of repentance, not in the finished work of Christ.

From that moment on, I found real change in Jesus. 

I think this is what the Holy Spirit is telling us with these verses in Philippians. As we grow in our love for God, this produces knowledge and discernment, which in turn produces fruit of righteousness in our life.

This is incredible news.