The Grounds of Our Assurance – Philippians 1:3-11
Paul’s prayer of thanksgiving to God for the Philippians teaches us about Christian assurance; that no one who God redeems in Christ will fall away from Christ because they are kept in faith by God’s power. They may fall into temptation but cannot fall away from Christ and lose their salvation.
THE TEXT:
Our text for today comes from Philippians 1:3-11. These are the words of God:
3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
SUMMARY OF THE TEXT
Paul’s prayer of thanksgiving to God for the Philippians teaches us about Christian assurance; that no one who God redeems in Christ will fall away from Christ because they are kept in faith by God’s power. They may fall into temptation but cannot fall away from Christ and lose their salvation.
Every time the Philippian church comes to Paul’s mind, he speaks a word of thanksgiving to God. Their love for God produces joy in Paul. (v. 3-4) And how have they expressed their love for God? They’re financial partners in Paul’s gospel mission. The word, “partnership,” is the same word we often use for fellowship (koinonia). (v. 5)
The Philippians are on that mission because God first decided to save, forgive, and adopt them. And, even though they often fail in this life, they will be conformed to the image of Christ on the last day because God is also the one who has purposed to fully sanctify and glorify them. (v. 6)
Keep in mind that Paul was not universally loved. Even within the churches, many were ashamed that Paul kept was a jailbird. (2 Timothy 1:8) But not the Philippians. They stood by Paul when his ministry defended and confirmed the gospel in power, and they stood with him when he was imprisoned. (v. 7)
Paul prays that the inner life of Christ would bear external fruit: more missionaries sent, encouragement given, hospitality to strangers, & generosity to struggling saints. That can only happen if God grows their love with discernment. (v. 9-11)
THE AUTHOR & FINISHER
The objective ground of our assurance is God. God begins our salvation. God completes our salvation. He’s the author and the finisher of our faith. While our good works in Christ are evidence that we are true believers, God alone is our true confidence that we’ve been born again. The theological bullseye of the passage is verse 6:
6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
The words “began a good work,” were often used to describe the inauguration of a great and glorious project. Like a medieval cathedral that took 250 years to complete, God lays a foundation stone of our salvation that he will build upon for eternity. When God rescues a dead sinner, he inaugurates a great work of grace that will end in glory. This is intentional and deliberate work. Christ purchasing sinners with his blood wasn’t an impulse buy, it was part of the master plan laid down before the foundations of the world (Eph. 1:4)
As a church, we’re working to design a building. We’re working to secure a property, and as these contracts come together and we sign we fix dates on the calendar. In the same way, regarding our salvation and glorification, God the Father and God the Son have covenanted together. They are under contract together. Every term of the contract will be met. There will be no compromises made on the details. No last-minute rushes. No punch list of items left undone. The date of completion is fixed, and they don’t miss deadlines.
So, can we lose our salvation? Let me ask it in a different way. Will God be a liar? Will the Father, who promised to adopt all who the Son redeems, go back on his word? Will the Son, who bled for the church now turn his back on her?
The soul who on Jesus has leaned for repose,
I will, I will not desert to his foes.
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.
WORK OUT YOUR SALVATION
God is the objective ground of our assurance. In his mercy, he also gives us a subjective ground for our assurance: good works.
10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. (2 Pet. 1:10)
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (Phil. 2:12)
24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us. (1 John 3:24)
How do you know, on a day-to-day level that you are a Christian? You delight in obedience. Your faith is evidenced by works (James 2:17) So, what kind of works should we be looking for? Paul gives several in the passage:
• Unity in the truth. (v. 7)
• Concern for (“partnership in”) the spread of the gospel (v. 5) – In your homes & around the world.
• Perseverance through difficulty (v. 5) “from the first day to now”