In this message, Pastor Matt teaches us how Christ will complete the work he has begun in every believer. 1. HOPE that sin will die 2. HUMILITY, for all righteousness is God’s Work in us. 3. HARD WORK, because God is working
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

A Letter Written for the Whole Church

As we open the book of Philippians, we are beginning a journey through this letter over the next ten weeks. Paul writes alongside Timothy, sharing his heart in ministry, addressing not just a local assembly in Philippi, but the church at large—including right here at Valley Alliance Church. When Paul writes to the “saints,” the holy ones set apart by God, he is speaking directly to believers today.

You might look at your life and ask, “Pastor, do you know how much of a sinner I am?” In some cases yes, and in some cases no, but I certainly know enough about my own sin. Yet, the wonder of the gospel is that God first calls us holy in Christ, and then by that same good news, he makes us holy.

Joy from a Prison Cell

Paul is bubbling over with joy as he writes this letter, thanking God in every prayer for their partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. But we have to remember where Paul is writing from: prison. He is facing the possibility of death under Caesar after a long season of being tossed about by rulers, enduring shipwrecks, and facing unjust imprisonment.

Yet, rather than grumbling or complaining, Paul responds with overflowing thanksgiving because he knows he is right where God wants him for the purposes of the gospel.

We see the roots of this partnership in Acts 16, when Paul and Silas were beaten with rods and thrown into a Philippian jail after casting a demon out of a fortune-telling slave girl. Instead of despairing during the midnight earthquake, Paul and Silas stayed, leading the jailer to ask, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Their response remains the bedrock of our faith: “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

The Confidence of Completion

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. (Philippians 1:6)

This is a showstopping verse, a promise that has sustained believers through the darkest seasons of sin, doubt, and hardship. If God started a work in your life the day you believed, he will finish it.

Running the Christian life can sometimes feel like running a long-distance race where you question every step. But the promise of Scripture is that God does not work despite the trials, prayers, and circumstances of life—he works through them. He utilizes the church, his Word, repentance, and the fellowship of believers to ensure that you stand victorious at the finish line, hearing “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Growing in Love, Knowledge, and Discernment

It is right for Paul to feel this deep affection, because the Philippians share in the grace of his imprisonment and the defense of the gospel. Because of this, Paul prays for their continued growth:

And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:9–11)

Salvation is not merely a ticket to heaven; it is a transformation that leads to abounding love. But this love is not a vague, unguided sentiment. It must be shaped by God’s Word, giving us the discernment to distinguish between good and evil, to choose what is excellent, and to live lives that reflect the righteousness of Christ.

Standing Before the Judgment Seat

We must talk seriously about what it means to be pure and blameless on the day of Christ. Scripture is clear that we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. Second Corinthians 5:10 tells us that we must all appear before Christ so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

How can this be good news if we stumble and fall short? The answer is found in the promise of God: he will do it.

The same grace that justifies us through Christ’s blood is the grace that sanctifies us through the Holy Spirit. John 5:24 assures us that whoever believes does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. Because God completes every task he starts, we can trust that he will present us pure and blameless on the last day—not because of our flawless execution, but because of his faithful, triune saving work.

Three Applications for the Christian Life

As we reflect on this incredible text, how should we respond?

• Have hope. If you feel like you are stumbling in your marathon, do not despair. The power driving your perseverance is not your own willpower, but God’s faithful grip on your life. He is bringing his work in you to completion.
• Walk in humility. If you are experiencing a season of spiritual victory and growth, give all the glory back to God. Every good work in your life is a gift of his grace from beginning to end.
• Press on in hard work. Recognizing that God is at work in us does not mean we sit back and do nothing. Instead, it fuels our efforts. Because God is actively at work, we shovel harder, press on further, and serve Christ with all our energy to the glory of God.

Church, let us have hope, let us walk in humility, and let us press on in the work of faith, knowing that the God who began a good work in you will bring it to completion. Amen.