Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional and the last week in our Summer Inspiration series. Today, we briefly reflect on how our salvation is the good work of God that He is entirely responsible for beginning in us.
‘To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.’ (Philippians 1:1-6)
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Many of us have no problem in saying that, of course, creation and the universe had a beginning, and it was began by God. We know that nothing existed before God spoke all forms of matter and life into existence. It is obviously true that nothing can come from nothing and so only our mighty God could have made everything from nothing by His Word of power. However, some find it harder to conceive of our salvation as the work of God. They believe that there must have been a spark of spiritual life within that enabled them to reach out and put faith in Jesus. However, the nature of our fallen and sinful state rendered us dead and rebellious to God. Without God’s gift of new creation we would never have come to trust in Christ and His cross.
Peter, speaks of how our election to salvation was made a reality by the work of the Spirit’ in New Birth:
‘Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, exiles, scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.’ (1 Peter 1:1-2)
I love this account of Charles Spurgeon that puts it all so well:
‘When I was coming to Christ, I thought I was doing it all myself, and though I sought the Lord earnestly, I had no idea the Lord was seeking me. I do not think the young convert is at first aware of this… One week-night, … the thought struck me, "How did you come to be a Christian?" I sought the Lord. "But how did you come to seek the Lord?" The truth flashed across my mind in a moment – I should not have sought Him unless there had been some previous influence in my mind to make me seek Him. I prayed, thought I, but then I asked myself, How came I to pray? I was induced to pray by reading the Scriptures. How came I to read the Scriptures? I did read them, but what led me to do so? Then, in a moment, I saw that God was at the bottom of it all, and that He was the Author of my faith, and so the whole doctrine of grace opened up to me, and from that doctrine I have not departed to this day, and I desire to make this my constant confession, "I ascribe my change wholly to God”’ (Spurgeon The Autobiography of Charles H. Spurgeon: 1834-1854, 167-9.)
A great example of how God begins His work of saving grace is, is seen in Lydia, the first convert in Philippi:
‘One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshipper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. When she and the members of her household were baptised, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.’ (Acts 16:14-15)
Response
In response, are we celebrating and resting in the grace of God? Does His choice of sinners like you and me fill us with worship and peace? Do we realise that if He chose us despite our totally lost condition, He will never reject us when we mess up! If He began this work in us by grace, He will surely complete it by His grace.
Community group notes and study
Groups will begin again in the week beginning 16th September. If you do meet with your group, feel free to use any of the devotionals as a basis for your study.
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