Today’s devotion comes from Philippians 1:1-6.
“Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus,
To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. 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 1:1-6.
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There was nothing good in us that motivated God in the beginning to elect us and begin His good work within us (remember “Total Depravity”, the “T” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation). Any later sin or inability within us will not surprise God nor cause God to cease His good work within us. “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.”
God is not fickle. ““For I, the LORD, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.” Malachi 3:6.
God does not divorce. “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.” Ephesians 5:25-27.
“For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” Romans 5:6-10. In other words, if Christ died for us when we were at our worst, then having done so and forgiven us and cleansed us of all of our sins and reconciled us, then Christ will certainly continue His work within us.
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10.
This is God’s work. Man always thinks it is about himself: “Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” John 6:28. But, notice Jesus’ reply. “Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” John 6:29. It is all about God and His work.
God accomplishes all of His good pleasure. “9 “Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;
11 Calling a bird of prey from the east,
The man of My purpose from a far country.
Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.
I have planned it, surely I will do it.” Isaiah 46:9-11.
In conclusion, this precious truth is called “Preservation of the Saints”, the “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation. “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.” Romans 8:29-30.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 