The Work Goes On - Part 2 of 2

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Today we bring you the second part of a message entitled, The Work Goes On. The text for this message is Philippians chapter 1 verse 6. Being confident of this one thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. Keeping this truth in our minds and in our hearts should give us ongoing joy. Joy is a theme in this book of Philippians from which this text is taken.

And many times there are distractions, there are trials, there are afflictions that weight us down. But here is a source of joy to know that the God who has begun a good work will complete it. So first we have looked at the fact that the text speaks of a work that God has begun. No man could begin this work, but God has done it. The work is all of God because he planned it before the foundation of the world.

He is the one who executes it. It is all by his sovereign grace. So consequently, man cannot boast, but of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, that according as it is written, he that glorith, let him glory in the Lord. Well, it is God who hath begun this work and it is described as a good work. It is a good work.

It is according to the goodness of God the Father, the goodness of the Son who came to give himself at Calvary, the goodness of the Spirit. There are many good things involved in it and so we can rejoice in it. And to know that even when we may be traveling in the darkness, God has not forgotten us. He will complete this work. The work goes on. And then we've pointed out that when this good work has been accomplished in one's heart, there is a transformation and one of the evidences of it, that there will be good works then displayed. So we come to that point today and we're talking about good works, not the cause of salvation, but the evidence that one has it. Not only good works, but good words. 2 Thessalonians 2 16 says, Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God, even our Father, which hath loved us and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work. So the result of this work that is ongoing in us leads us to good works and to good words. So that we should be concerned about how we talk, what we say. If we're talking about something that is good, edifying, or something that is foolish and maybe harmful, what we say ought to be said in the right spirit.

If we disagree with somebody, we don't become angry and bitter, we can yet speak kindly. Comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work. So everything good in the Christian's life is because of this good work of God according to his grace.

There is fruit born. It's described in Galatians 5 22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.

Against such there is no law. You can't produce that because it's produced by the Spirit, but you can live it out by the grace of God because of this work that he has begun and continues to work in you. Love is part of this.

It's described as the fruit of the Spirit. 1 John 4 19 tells us we love him because he first loved us. And then it says, and this commandment have we from him that he who loveth God love his brother also. In fact, part of that reading says that if a man hates his brother, he can't say that I love God.

Because if you claim I love God that I haven't seen, but I hate my brother that I have seen, that doesn't work. The evidence that this work is taking place in your life is that there is love. Then the third thing we consider, it is a work that he will complete. He has begun a good work in you while he will perform unto the day of Jesus Christ. We trust in God who finishes what he starts. He is a faithful God.

He will not fail us. Psalm 89 30 says, if his children forsake my law and walk not in my commandments, then will I visit their transgressions with the rod. Here is the Heavenly Father chastening those that he loves because it is his purpose to transform them and make something worthwhile out of them.

But get the rest of it. He will chasten them with the rod and their iniquities and stripes. Nevertheless, my loving kindness will I not utterly take from him nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. This God who hath begun this work in us will perform it to the end. So even when there is failure, I will not take my loving kindness utterly from him nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. Psalm 138 speaks of his faithfulness. The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me. Thy mercy, O Lord, endureth forever.

Forsake not the works of thine own hands. The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me. So this again is what the promise says that we're looking at in Philippians 1.6. You have begun a good work and you will perform it unto the day of Jesus Christ. It is a covenant that cannot be broken.

Jeremiah 32, 40. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them to do them good. But I will put my fear in their hearts that they shall not depart from me. There's two blessings of the covenant. God says, I will not depart from them.

And furthermore, I'll put my fear in their heart that they'll not depart from me. There's the perseverance of the saints. God is at work. It is a covenant not broken.

It is a gift not reclaimed. God doesn't give grace. Jesus Christ doesn't give eternal life and then take it back. It wouldn't be eternal life if you only had it temporarily. Jesus said in John 10, 28, And I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. What could give us greater peace, hope, and security than for Jesus himself to say, I give unto them eternal life. They're not going to perish, and nobody can pluck them out of my hand. Somebody said to me one time, well, nobody can pluck them out, but a person could get out if they decide to go astray. Well, that's not the lesson, obviously. It says that if you're in his hand, you are secure.

It's a chain not broken. We read a moment ago Romans 8, 29, and 30. And that chain begins with foreknowledge.

God knew his people intimately before the foundation of the world. And all the foreknown are predestinated. And all the predestinated called, and all the called justified, and all the justified glorified. That's a chain that cannot be broken.

Every link is important, and it connects one to the other. It is a calling that cannot be revoked. Romans 11, 29, The gifts and calling of God are without repentance. In other words, when God calls, he's not going to reverse that. He's not going to change that.

It's not going to be revoked, a calling which cannot be revoked. It is a foundation that cannot be destroyed. 2 Timothy 2, 19, Nevertheless, the foundation of God standeth sure. The foundations of civil government can crumble.

The foundations of the economy can crumble. But here is a foundation that cannot be destroyed. Having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his. He knows every one of them.

He knows all about them. And let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. So this good work continues to bring us back, not only to the good work that's being done on their behalf, but the good work that's being done in them so that everyone that names the name of Christ should depart from iniquity.

And then it is a love from which you cannot be separated. Romans 8, 38, I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Now when you have one of your down times and you're thinking about all the things that could go wrong, you can make quite a list. But here's a list that will outdo yours.

You can't find anything that's not covered here. Whether it's things present, the things to come, height, depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is given us in Christ Jesus our Lord. Furthermore, it is an inheritance that will not fade. 1 Peter 1, verse 4, to an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that faith is not away, reserved in heaven for you who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed at the last time.

Isn't that good to know? You have an inheritance on the other side. You may lose every material thing you have here, but you're not wiped out because you've got an inheritance and you'll be there someday to enjoy it because you're being kept by the power of God.

The inheritance is reserved and you will be there on schedule to enjoy it. And then it's a source of encouragement and joy. You can say, Lord, you have begun this work and I know you're not going to shut it down. Does that not give you encouragement? It's not a work of short-term endurance.

He's not going to shut it down. You can say, I have doubted, but you have not left me. You did not forsake me. I have feared, but you have held me up.

I have sometimes strayed, but you have brought me back. How good to know we have such a Savior. This truth also provides practical instruction and hope. Isaiah 50 verse 10 says, Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness and hath no light? Now that presents a picture that perplexes because they have the idea that if you're obedient, you'll never be in the dark. But this describes the individual who fears the Lord.

And as he hears God's servant speak, he obeys the voice of his servant. But he's walking in darkness. And it's a troubled time when you're walking in darkness. It seems you can't find the promise that you have the faith to claim. You feel like you're left out of all of them.

They're for somebody else. Your emotions are troubled. Your mind is upset. You feel that your heart is broken. You're walking in darkness. And Satan, when he attacks you, would say, You might as well give it up. No need to go on. But what's the instruction we get here?

Let him trust in the Lord and stay upon his God. You don't give up. Yes, Lord, this is a dark place.

This is a low spot in the valley. But I'm trusting you. He promised never to leave me nor forsake me, and I'm trusting you. He stays upon his God. He doesn't give up. He doesn't turn aside. In Malachi 3.6, it says, For I am the Lord, I change not.

Therefore, ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. What's the basis, then, of our confidence that God doesn't change? And therefore, we can trust him even when we're in the dark. Furthermore, it's a truth that moves us to perseverance.

Paul says in the second chapter of this book of Philippians, verse 13, Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and truth. I said, Well, I might say, Well, I thought it was given to me. Well, it is, and you can't work it out if you haven't got it. But when it's given to you, you are to work it out. That means you've got something to do.

You've not become idle. I'm going to obey these instructions that are given in God's Word. But here's the good news, even in this. For it is God which worketh in you, both willing to do, of his good pleasure. So you're not out there by yourself. You're trying to work it out. You're trying to serve him. You're trying to obey him.

You're trying to put him first in your life. He's working in you, both willing to do, of his good pleasure. You may be tired, discouraged, but God is working in you. In all your trials, he is continuing his work.

He uses those trials, even chastisements, to shape you more in his image and to make of you what he would have you to be. Keeping before you this truth that he who hath begun a good work in you will perform it on the day of Jesus Christ, then should give you joy. When your circumstances are such that there's nothing you can see right at the moment to give you joy. In fact, the joy that's talked about in Scripture is different from the happiness people talk about from time to time. Somebody can come home and say, Well, I am really happy. I got a raise at work. But joy is another thing.

You might come home and say, I lost my job. But I've still got joy because my joy is in the Lord. Rejoice in the Lord always. And again, I say rejoice. 1 Peter 1-3, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance which we have made reference to, which is incorruptible, undefiled, and fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept with the power of God through faith and salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time.

I get this part. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season if needs be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations. So it may be that at the moment you're facing many trials and many difficulties. But at the same time, we can greatly rejoice in the anticipation of one day being there to enjoy this inheritance. That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen ye love in him, though you have not yet seen him, believing ye rejoice, get this, you rejoice with joy, unspeakable and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. And so though now you're in a time of trial and difficulty, you can rejoice with joy, unspeakable and full of glory, because you're anticipating that day that you're going to see Jesus. You pray to him now, you depend on him now, but in that great day you're going to see him. He hath begun a good work in you and will perform it, will continue with it, will not shut it down, will continue until the day of Jesus Christ. The hymn writer expressed it like this. My name from the palms of his hands, eternity will not erase.

Impressed on his heart, it remains in marks of indelible grace. Yes, I to the end shall endure as sure as the earnest is given. More happy, but not more secure are the glorified spirits in heaven. He who hath begun a good work in you will perform it under the day of Jesus Christ. How firm a foundation these saints of the Lord is laid for your faith in his excellent Word. What more can he say than to you he has said, You who unto Jesus for refuge hath fled. Fear not, I am with thee, hoping not dismay, for I am thy God and will still give thee aid. I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, all held by my righteous, omnipotent hand. What a comfort, what wonderful assurance to know that this salvation is not based on man's fickle free will, upon his good works, his effort, but on the finished work of Jesus Christ at the cross. And on that basis, the God who hath begun a good work in us will perform it unto the day of Jesus Christ.

If you keep that in mind, what a joy. The work goes on. God does not fail in his determination to save his people. He saves them by his grace. May we rejoice in the truth.

The work goes on. Till next week at the same time, may the Lord richly bless you all. I come to remind the soul that on Jesus still leans for relief. The Baptist Bible Hour has come to you under the direction of Elder LeSaire Bradley, Jr. Address all mail to the Baptist Bible Hour, Cincinnati, Ohio 45217. That's the Baptist Bible Hour, Cincinnati, Ohio 45217. That's all, though all hell should endeavor to shake. I'll never, no never, no never forsake.