Why Your Past Doesn’t Define Your Future with God: Philippians 1:6–11
Today’s Episode: Why Your Past Doesn’t Define Your Future with God
Scripture: Philippians 1:6-11
Series: Philippians: The Unshakable Joy of Life in Christ
Join us for Episode 3 of Timeless Truth as Pastor Jim Thomas continues our series, Philippians: The Unshakable Joy of Life in Christ. In this study of Philippians 1:6-11, Pastor Jim discusses God’s faithfulness and the confidence we can have that He will finish the good work He has begun in us.
“This world is a great sculptor’s shop. We are the statues and there is a rumour going round the shop that some of us are some day going to come to life.”
C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
1. Proper confidence is trusting that God has plans and purposes for our lives. “He Who began a good work in you…”
“It is the Lord who has begun the good work within us; it is he who has carried it on; and if he does not finish it, it never will be complete. If there be one stitch in the celestial garment of our righteousness which we are to insert ourselves, then we are lost; but this is our confidence, the Lord who began will perfect. He has done it all, must do it all, and will do it all. Our confidence must not be in what we have done, nor in what we have resolved to do, but entirely in what the Lord will do.”
C.H. Spurgeon, Morning and Evening
2. Proper confidence is resting in the power of the sovereign God whose plans and purposes always result in God’s greatest glory and our highest good. God began “A GOOD work in you and will complete/perfect it.”
“Our confidence is not in our love for Him, which is frail, fickle, and faltering, but in His love for us, which is steadfast, faithful, and persevering.”
John Stott
3. Proper confidence is looking forward to the day of Christ Jesus when the LORD will return to set the world to rights. “Until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Christianity is honest about what is wrong with the world, and the Bible is hopeful because of what God has done to begin setting the world to rights.
Paul saw the gospel as impacting us across time and in every way, transforming every part of who we are, whether we’re talking about our past, present, or future; whether we’re talking about our hearts, minds, or souls. As we treasure God’s Word, as we commune with God in prayer, the Holy Spirit is at work in us and will continue to work in us until Christ returns.
“Prayer is the way to experience a powerful confidence that God is handling our lives well, that our bad things will turn out for our good, our good things cannot be taken from us, and the best things are yet to come.”
Tim Keller, Prayer
Paul prays for the Philippians regarding their…
- Reputation: Abounding love, in real knowledge and all discernment v.9
- Inner disposition of heart and mind: Approving the things that are excellent, sincere, and blameless v.10
- Outer character: Filled with the fruit of righteousness v.11a
- Purpose: Living for the glory and praise of God v.11b
“It is a very important consideration that we are consecrated and dedicated to God. It means that we will think, speak, meditate, and do all things with a view to God’s glory.”
John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion
