He Who Hath Begun A Good Work
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We can be assured that when God starts a work, that he will accomplish and finish that work that he began.
When God brings about a finish to something…it is understood to mean to bring something to completion or perfection
Something that is complete within itself without any other outside influence or process.
We see this in everything from the creation of earth and humanity…all the way to the finishing of time itself.
The actual creation of the earth and humanity we see is a separate work that God accomplished and finished.
We see a start
the Process
and a finish
We see the plan of atonement was a separate plan as well.
We see a start
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
God stepped on the scene in the form of Jesus Christ and began the atonement process and to restore the broken relationship between God and man.
a process
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
We have been given the instructions in the word of God that we are to follow.
the plan or process needed for individual salvation that includes the complete instructions whereby the process can be successful (the instruction book.....the bible)
We are to model our lives upon the life and example of Christ. By the instruction manual that we have been given.
and a finish
When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
The process of atonement for our sins had finally been established and was finished....meaning it was complete and perfect.
Victory had been won over, death, hell and the grave and the new covenant was to be established
We see then, that the new covenant began upon the death of Christ upon the cross....atonement or payment had been made and a new and living way had been started.
In like manner, likewise, our relationship or the process of our walk with God begins upon our spiritual death
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
We therefor see the start of our walk with God, beginning at our new birth being born again of water and spirit.
The difference being, that our process will never be complete while we are in this flesh…or until we pass on or Christ comes back in the rapture of the church.
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,
For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;
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:
From the very beginning of our spiritual rebirth, we see that our lives remain an open book......
the process of perfecting is continual throughout our lives
when this scripture says “will perform it”, it is saying that the work that Christ has begun in us, he will perfect.
the bible says that we are to move on to perfection…in that, we allow God to have his perfect will performed within us...
We are, as it where, clay in the hands of the potter.
The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying,
Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.
Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.
And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
Throughout our lives, we are continually being molded into perfection according to the will of God, according to his perfect plan and purpose.
The book of Ephesians paints a picture for us.....The plan of God for the perfecting of the saints.
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
The things we must remember is that our purpose and perfecting is not just merely that we are perfected alone....but also for the perfecting of the saints.
working together in unity and harmony for the edifying of the church body.
We must remember that the perfecting process in us is not meant to be temporary...
but to be an ongoing process of growth..
We’ve all heard the saying.....1 step forward and 2 steps back.
We sometimes get ourselves in a position that we are so busy keeping ourselves saved…that we forget about the big picture.
The process of perfection is the process of wins and losses.
The term perfection is defined as “the state of being complete and correct in every way”.
In this literal definition, the concept of perfection can be erroneously perceived as an unobtainable objective, causing it to be rejected.
However, the Pursuit of Perfection, is not meant to be a paralyzing ultimatum, but instead a powerful concept that advocates the adoption of continuous improvement.
There are therefor “Cons” to our perception of perfection
In the context of personal achievement and improvement, if the interpretation of perfection is taken to its literal extreme, it becomes more harmful than beneficial by causing either perfection paralysis or perfection fixation.
Perfection paralysis happens when every idea that falls short of perfection is seen as a “fail”,
this can then becomes a roadblock to action or forward momentum in developing improvements in the process of our walk with God.
When there is a belief that only an incredible, awe-inspiring method change can enhance a process, anything less than that magic silver bullet gets rejected.
Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
Paul is saying that although he is not perfect or has not reached a stated of perfection, he is not defeated....
It is his goal and pursuit to forget things behind and to move forward towards perfection
The elements of perfection is not that we shall compete them and be done
because completing them is not a one-time exercise.
This is a purposeful methodology, not a static model (It is the pursuit of perfection)
Similarly, In the flesh, the pursuit of perfection is not a destination, but a mindful journey of continuous improvement.
a direction and a goal to be pursued.
We find perfection in the obedience of and the pursuit of Gods’ laws
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
Perfection is the impossible pursuit
but it imparts to us the idea of unlimited possibilities.
And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
The meaning of perfection in the Bible relates to a state of completeness or absolute wholeness in Christ.
And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
We are complete in him or perfected in Christ.
In the New Testament, a Greek term for “perfection” can also mean “maturity.
But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Perfection is an approach to quality that emphasizes the need to eliminate errors.
We live our lives unto perfection for the purpose of chance, that we might seek to walk with God more perfectly.
The perfection approach is also referred to as zero defects.
In a business model, Zero Defects, is a business practice which aims to reduce and minimize the number of defects and errors in a process and to do things right the first time.
the ultimate aim to perfection is that we might walk with our God more perfectly or more completely or more consistently...