For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6
What Jesus has begun; He will continue to do. He does not get tired; He does not need to take a break. In fact, His grace is shown in His unlimited patience.
Paul says he is confident. That means he is absolutely certain that this is true. He also says that Jesus will perfect, or complete, this work. This is not a politician making a promise the day before an election. This is not the weatherman saying there is a thirty percent chance of rain. This is a statement of fact; and we can, and should, stake our lives on it.
From this we have hope. Not a worldly never to be fulfilled hope. But the hope that comes from the one true eternal God. He does not make promises and then backs out on them. He continues His promise for as long as it takes us to grow into the people He wants.
What is this good work? In verse eleven is says “…having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ…”. This good work is living a life that reflects the life of Jesus, that we have His patience, that we give grace like He did, and that we live a clean, holy life.
Just remember that His work in us is perfect, even when we are not. When we fall, we must repent. When we go astray, we must return. And we can, by grace through faith! That is our great, eternal, hope. The God of mercy and salvation is still working in us!
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