How God Is Bringing The Good Work In Us To Completion

[Michael37]

Php 1:4-6 BSB In every prayer for all of you, I always pray with joy,  (5)  because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,  (6)  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.

The good work that first enlightens us continues . . .

(More later)

[Dennis1209]

I have a reason for asking. Do you think this also applies to decades-long backsliders?

[BornAgain490]

43 minutes ago, Michael37 said:

He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus

He:  God 

began:  Caused; started the process; "the act of beginning or commencing an action or process. It often implies the initiation of a significant event or undertaking, particularly in a spiritual or communal context." (Bible Hub).

a good: The Greek word "agathos" is an adjective that primarily denotes that which is good in its nature and characteristics, and therefore beneficial in its effect. It is used to describe moral goodness, virtue, and the beneficial nature of actions, people, or things. In the New Testament, "agathos" often refers to the intrinsic goodness that aligns with God's nature and His will." (Bible Hub).

work: "The Greek word "ergon" is commonly used in the New Testament to denote work, deed, or action. It encompasses a wide range of activities, from physical labor to moral actions and spiritual deeds. The term is often used to describe the works of God, the deeds of individuals, and the actions that demonstrate faith. In a theological context, "ergon" can refer to both good works, which are the fruit of faith, and works of the law, which cannot justify a person before God." (Bible Hub) "

in you: the object of God's grace, the one who once was lost, but now is found, was blind but now sees. 

Paul is here telling us that God changes us spiritually from the inside, transforming us from our former selves that lusted after the flesh and minded the things of the flesh, to eventually be conformed to the image of the Son of God. 

When that day comes that we are like Him: glorified as Christ is glorified, then God has completed His good work in us. 

Edited Monday at 12:28 AM by BornAgain490

[Michael37]

3 hours ago, Dennis1209 said:

I have a reason for asking. Do you think this also applies to decades-long backsliders?

God is always willing and faithful to enlighten and perfect those who are predestined according to foreknowledge.

Col 1:21-23  Once you were alienated from God and were hostile in your minds, engaging in evil deeds.  (22)  But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence—  (23)  if indeed you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope of the gospel you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

[Ray12614]

11 hours ago, Michael37 said:

God is always willing and faithful to enlighten and perfect those who are predestined according to foreknowledge.

Col 1:21-23  Once you were alienated from God and were hostile in your minds, engaging in evil deeds.  (22)  But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence—  (23)  if indeed you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope of the gospel you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

That is a pretty BIG IF . . . 

Regarding backsliders . . . As long as they are breathing I believe there is hope for them. If not, then I refer to the parable of the Prodigal son.

Whether or not predestination factors into salvation people Always have a part to play and decisions to make. Otherwise . . . . why evangelize at all?

But make no mistake about it . . . the Bible is full of conditional statements, promises, and consequences for our actions.

[Luther]

3 minutes ago, Ray12614 said:

That is a pretty BIG IF . . . 

Regarding backsliders . . . As long as they are breathing I believe there is hope for them. If not, then I refer to the parable of the Prodigal son.

Whether or not predestination factors into salvation people Always have a part to play and decisions to make. Otherwise . . . . why evangelize at all?

But make no mistake about it . . . the Bible is full of conditional statements, promises, and consequences for our actions.

Backsliding? I don't think that's a Biblical concept. 

[kwikphilly]

With a question like @Dennis1209 mentioned we'd have to respond with " backsliding from what"? Many will quote from Scripture,perhaps regarding the Apostle Peter denying Jesus not once,not twice but 3 times but we must remember we have no example of a man Inwelled by Holy Spirit and " backsliding"- do we?... yes,Annointed men who had the Holy Spirit Upon them but they had not Received God's Spirit by Christ Jesus Abiding within( eg: before Jesus Died ,Rose & sent His Spirit)....so can a Born Again Believer ever truly " backslide"

I've not said one can or can not but you have to wonder,don't you?

With love in Christ,Kwik

[enoob57]

We hold the responsibility of the quality of belief:

Ephesians 6:5 (KJV) watch them when no one is looking-> their work...

[5] Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;

[6] Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

[7] With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:

Philippians 2:12 (KJV) Do they complain about others stir up strife...

[12] 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 trembling.

[13] For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

[14] Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

Matthew 6:20 (KJV) where does their devotion lie-> things of God or world...

[20] But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

[21] For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

[22] The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.

[23] But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

[24] No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

1 John 2:19 (KJV) God cannot / will not separate Himself from Himself...

[19] They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

A belief that saves is found true when having The Holy Spirit present within you... it can be faked 

2 Corinthians 11:14 (KJV)

[14] And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

[15] Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

This is why God is the final Judge... He alone knows the bottom line belief within the heart... this a good treatise on the subject
What does it mean that God knows your heart (Luke 16:15)? | GotQuestions.org

[Dennis1209]

1 hour ago, kwikphilly said:

With a question like @Dennis1209 mentioned we'd have to respond with " backsliding from what"? Many will quote from Scripture,perhaps regarding the Apostle Peter denying Jesus not once,not twice but 3 times but we must remember we have no example of a man Inwelled by Holy Spirit and " backsliding"- do we?... yes,Annointed men who had the Holy Spirit Upon them but they had not Received God's Spirit by Christ Jesus Abiding within( eg: before Jesus Died ,Rose & sent His Spirit)....so can a Born Again Believer ever truly " backslide"

I've not said one can or can not but you have to wonder,don't you?

With love in Christ,Kwik

Hi Kwik,

I asked the question based on my former decades-long so-called and referred to as backsliding. I will not go there, as it is in my written testimony.

You raised an interesting point about the Old and New Testament Covenants. Can a person indwelled with the Holy Spirit backslide?

Just as tithing is silent under the new covenant (2 Cor. 9:7), backslider, backslidings, and backsliding are mentioned sixteen times in the Bible, all in the OT. Perhaps the words apostasy and repentance would be technically more appropriate for my use.

Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

I am starting to reevaluate what Paul was talking about above. I now think this does not refer so much to the individual, as it is the work of the individual and church spreading the Gospel and giving until Jesus returns. The Lord started it, and He will surely finish it.

Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

And, I could not discuss without bringing Hebrews 6:4-8 into the mix.

[Luther]

2 hours ago, kwikphilly said:

With a question like @Dennis1209 mentioned we'd have to respond with " backsliding from what"? Many will quote from Scripture,perhaps regarding the Apostle Peter denying Jesus not once,not twice but 3 times but we must remember we have no example of a man Inwelled by Holy Spirit and " backsliding"- do we?... yes,Annointed men who had the Holy Spirit Upon them but they had not Received God's Spirit by Christ Jesus Abiding within( eg: before Jesus Died ,Rose & sent His Spirit)....so can a Born Again Believer ever truly " backslide"

I've not said one can or can not but you have to wonder,don't you?

With love in Christ,Kwik

I think a lot about Romans 7. 

Romans 7:23

But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

I think true believers have a daily battle with temptation, but they can never lose the miraculous work that God has done in us. Will we exercise our will in accordance with the Spirit or flirt with the flesh. The sooner we come to Jesus they better.