Rest in the Good Work
Rest in the Good Work
“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
How many of you think you are going to heaven?
I remember my father asking this question one day during Vacation Bible School. Some kids would raise their hands and others were hesitant. Some wouldn’t raise their hands at all.
The next question would be:
“How many of you believe in Jesus?”
All the hands would go up. He would then explain that if you believe in Jesus, you can confidently raise your hand that you are going to heaven.
When we consider our salvation and have doubts, those doubts usually come from the thought,
“Have I done enough good and not done anything too bad?”
The Wrong Works
Those thoughts look to our works as the source of our salvation and confidence in that salvation. It’s not our works, though, that will save us. Even the faith we have is not from ourselves. It is God working faith in us.
Philippians 1:6 gives us confidence in our salvation because it tells us to look outside ourselves and to the work of God.
If we look to ourselves, to our works, our sins, even how “strong” our faith is, we look in the wrong place. Our salvation isn’t based on those things. Our salvation is based on the faith God has given us (weak or strong) through His Word in the work of Jesus Christ on the cross.
It Is Sure
We can trust Jesus’ death and resurrection accomplished our salvation. We can trust the faith God has given us through His Word. We can trust that God will complete His work of salvation in our life until the day Jesus Christ returns.
How many of you think you are going to heaven?
I hope everyone will raise their hand with confidence, now, resting in the work and promise of Jesus Christ.
Dear Jesus,
Thank You for saving me. When I start to doubt my salvation, remind me of Your promise and remind me that my salvation is not my work, but Yours, and I can always trust Your good work.
Amen
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
