ELECTION – CALL
Preaching Outline on Philippians 1:6 – “Being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
Introduction to Philippians 1:6
The letter to the Philippians was written by the apostle Paul during his time in prison in Rome. Despite his difficult circumstances, this epistle is marked by joy, gratitude and encouragement. The verse from Philippians 1:6 is set in the context of a prayer by Paul for the brethren of the church in Philippi, a Christian community founded during his second missionary journey.
Paul expresses his unwavering confidence in God’s faithfulness, affirming that the One who began the good work of salvation and transformation in the lives of the Philippians will continue to work it until Christ returns. This verse highlights God’s sovereignty and commitment to perfecting the work he himself has begun in us.
Paul’s message not only reinforces the security of salvation, but also calls on believers to become actively involved in the process of spiritual growth, aligning their lives with the divine purpose.
Just as Paul encouraged the church in Philippi, the Lord invites us to reflect on the work he has done in us and to seek to perfect it. The Lord calls us to deeper experiences, the invitation is clear: to allow God’s good work to be perfected in our lives, preparing us for the great day of Christ.
In this study, we will delve into the understanding of election and calling, understanding how God works in us and how we can cooperate with His redemptive work.
Development
The Lord’s care for our salvation
The Lord’s care for our salvation is a central theme throughout the Word of God. He not only saves us, but also continually teaches us to value and understand the greatness of that salvation. As Paul writes to the Philippians:
“I do not get bored writing the same things to you, and it is assurance for you.” (Phil 3:1).
Salvation is not an isolated event. It is a journey, a process in which God, through the Holy Spirit, is constantly at work in our lives. It is a transformation from the inside out, a change of mentality.
The Good Work: Election and Call
The text of Philippians 1:6 reveals the origin of our salvation and reminds us that it is a work that God initiated and is committed to perfecting. This process can be divided into two fundamental parts:
ELECTION: “HE WHO BEGAN WITH YOU…”
Election is God’s sovereign choice on our behalf. God chose us before we even existed. This choice does not depend on our merits, but on his grace.
“But when it pleased God, who from my mother’s womb set me apart, and called me by his grace…” (Gal 1:15).
Election is an act of eternal love, by which God has destined us to be part of His purpose. Just as He chose Paul, He also set us apart to be part of His family and to be instruments of His glory.
CALL: “IN YOU it began…”
The call is the moment when this divine choice manifests itself in our lives in a personal way. The Holy Spirit reveals Jesus as Savior to our hearts, and we are faced with a decision: to accept or reject the call.
This call is individual, exclusive and non-transferable. Accepting God’s call means renouncing our own plans and submitting our lives to the Lord’s purposes.
Accepting the call is our response of faith to God’s choice.
“For it is God who works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (Phil 2:13).
When we respond to God’s call, we begin to live under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, trusting that he will supply all our needs:
“My God, according to his riches, will supply all your needs in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:19).
Paul’s example: A life dedicated to salvation
Paul is an example of someone who understood God’s call and lived according to it. Before he met Christ, he valued things that the world considers important: his social position, his culture, his religious zeal. But when he met Jesus, all these things became worthless in the face of the excellence of knowing Christ.
“But what was gain to me was counted loss for Christ.” (Phil 3:7).
He decided to forget what was left behind and press on towards the goal, which is salvation in Christ:
“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 3:14).
This same attitude is expected of each one of us. We need to fight for our salvation every day, prioritizing the values of the Kingdom of God and trusting in the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
The process of perfecting the good work
The good work that God has begun in us is an ongoing process that continues until the day of Jesus Christ. This perfecting involves:
- Obedience to the word:
The Word of God is the guide that leads us to perfection. We need to study it, meditate on it and put it into practice.
“Holding fast the word of life, that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, nor labored in vain.” (Phil 2:16). - Renouncing the past:
We cannot cling to what is left behind. Improvement requires us to continually move towards the goal. - Dependence on the Holy Spirit:
It is the Holy Spirit who enables us to live according to God’s will. Without Him, we cannot achieve spiritual perfection. - Focus on God’s purpose:
Like Paul, we must focus on God’s purpose for our lives, rejecting everything that takes us away from the target.
Conclusion
Election and calling are God’s gifts to us. He has chosen us by His grace and called us to be part of His great redemptive work. However, it is up to us to value this choice and fight daily for our salvation.
Like Paul, we must consider everything as loss before the excellence of knowing Christ and press on steadily towards the goal, trusting that he who began the good work in us will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ.
May we obey God’s call, allowing the Holy Spirit to perfect us and prepare us for the great day of Christ.
Amen!
Preaching Outline on Philippians 1:6 – “Being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
More Preaching Outlines
- The Servant’s Balance – Philippians 1:6
- The Good Work – Philippians 1:6
- God’s attributes – Psalm 139:1-18
