Confidently Committed

Sermon on Philippians 1:3-6 prepared by Jonathan Shradar

Philippians 1:3-6

God is all-in for your good, so we can go all-in for each others’ good.

It is amazing the places you can go, the things you can face, when you are not alone.

In reference to a question about how Christians should respond to the news of our day, I have been thinking about innocence.

Remember being a little kid, maybe hesitant and/or fearful of the unknown. Scared of the dark. Sure, maturity is learning to overcome fears — venture into the unknown. But in that state of innocence, what makes venturing into the darkness easier is having someone with us.

If it’s a grown-up, someone strong, wise, safe — all the better. It is as if the fear evaporates.

Increasingly, I believe this is how we respond, once we view the world through biblical or a Christian lens, there may be times for action and certainly never acquiescence to evil, but primarily our call will be to “go with” each other and others — to accompany one another as we await the day of Jesus Christ, his return, eternal reign, when all enemies are defeated and absent, and sin is no more.

This accompaniment is rooted in Jesus, the God for us, and we get the good news of all of this in Philippians today.

God is all-in for your good, so we can go all-in for each others’ good.

Paul is in prison writing to the church with thanksgiving, to encourage, bolster and spur them on.

Three verses that is one Greek sentence.

I am going to pull out two themes from the text that are both comforting and compelling.

Christian Assurance and Christian Accompaniment

Christian Assurance

“Cogito, ergo sum.” This is a famous philosophical statement by Rene’ Descartes — “I think, therefore I am.” Meaning that the act of thinking proves ones existence as a conscious being. It’s suppose to serve as foundational truth. However modern interpretations suggest: “I am, therefore I think.” Either way, trying to confirm existence.

How can we be sure we are? As if life is a sort of dreamstate, “Pinch me so I know I am awake.”

This is all of humanity relating to the “I AM” — God our creator.

People of faith also face questions of confidence, “are you really saved?” “A Christian?”

Externally, the cosmis accuser, Satan, is constantly dripping doubt, “you are too far gone, not good enough.”

Internally, even some branches of the faith build walls rather than gateways, sounding similar to the accuser, “have you done enough? Are you too far gone?”

A dozen years ago I met regularly with a young father who was despondent thinking he was not saved. He was dealing with anger and other issues. Continued to remind his that the fact he cared was evidence of the Spirit’s residency in his heart!

Scripture declares to these external and internal voices, “shut up and sit down!”

Here Paul thanks God, in every prayer remembering this church because of their partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. Then comes the gold of verse 6.

Philippians 1:6 “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.” (ESV)

God commences, continues, and completes his good work in partakers of grace!

What God has done and is doing is the great theme of these verses. No other agent is at work but he alone, and what he does covers the beginning, the continuation and the completion of Christian experience.

This church is frequenting in this truth, it is meant to embolden them in life and ministry.

God commences — what did the first day look like? I love that this church in Philippi is found by women of prayer.

Acts 16:13–14 “And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. [14] One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.” (ESV)

The Lord opened her heart - to respond - to believe. And she did. And this in not unique to Lydia, this is the way salvation works.

This is the regenerating work of the Spirit upon your heart at conversion, the application of Christ’s saving work upon you.

“Salvation would be a wretchedly unsure thing if it had no other foundation than my having chosen Christ. The human will blows hot and cold, is firm and unstable by fits and starts; it offers no security of tenure. But it is the will of God that is the ground of salvation. No-one would be saved had not the Lord been moved by his own spontaneous and unexplained love to choose his people before the world was, and, at the decisive moment, to open our hearts to hear, understand and accept ‘the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation’.5 This, then, is assurance: God has willed my salvation.” J. A. Motyer

But what’s more, it is not just a welcome to a mountain you must climb, it is God by his Spirit accompanying you, carrying you to the top!

This is how he continues his salvation in us, keeping us secure in Christ.

“The assurance God gives us not only guarantees the outcome; it guarantees too every experience of every day, for in all things God is ‘putting the finishing touches’. Good news, bad news, difficulty, blessing, unexpected happiness, unexpected trouble—it all has a purpose. Concerning all such situations faith affirms, ‘Without this, I would not be ready for the day of Christ.’ This is the immediate, practical and strengthening benefit of the truth of Christian assurance.” J. A. Motyer

The perseverance of the saints rests on the perseverance of God with the saints and he has made clear he is not going anywhere!

Where would we be without this truth!

Let me share some of my sin with you, gluttony used to be a sin, so this fits. This week heading home from visiting Children’s Hopsital of Colorado, we were having lunch in the Denver airport and while Stacy and Adia seemingly made better choices, I chose McDonald’s. Like all sin, it felt good, briefly, it was the hot mustard sauce.

But within mere minutes the grease, the preservatives, the McDonald’sness of it set in and I felt awful… the rest of the day. It was a long day too. And I found myself praying, admitting my foolishness, and thanking God for his refusal to leave me. I still had him. Silly, I know, but this is life.

Our perseverance, it will require effort. In Philippians there is the call to humility and contentment. Elsewhere the call to sanctification is broader.

1 Thessalonians 4:3 “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; (ESV)

1 Thessalonians 4:7–8 “For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. [8] Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. (ESV)

This is God’s will, and he gives you the Spirit to accomplish it.

1 Thessalonians 5:12–24 “We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, [13] and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. [14] And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. [15] See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. [16] Rejoice always, [17] pray without ceasing, [18] give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. [19] Do not quench the Spirit. [20] Do not despise prophecies, [21] but test everything; hold fast what is good. [22] Abstain from every form of evil.

[23] Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. [24] He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.” (ESV)

He will surely do it — he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

“God will never let them do, but will make them fully perfect.”

Christian assurance rests not in the Christian-ness of our Christianity but in the God-ness of God.

He has gone all-in.

“Salvation is not by human achievement, but by divine accomplishment through the finished work of Jesus Christ upon the cross. This free gift was applied to our lives by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. From beginning to end, salvation is entirely a divine work of grace. If God has caused you to be born again, you can be assured that he will complete this work until “the day of Christ Jesus.” As a believer in Christ, you are as certain of heaven as though you have already been there ten thousand years. God finishes what he starts.” Steven J. Lawson

From this assurance, we live.

Christian Accompaniment

Building from what Paul begins here, and write in the rest of this letter and the other epistles, accompaniment means walking with people not just doing for them, building genuine relationships through humble presence, active listening, and meeting needs, reflecting God’s love by creating belonging, offering practical (like meals, repairs), sharing faith naturally as relationships grow, and extending radicall hospitality to all.

It’s being a Christ-like friend fostering communion through shared life.

That’s a lot.

Where so much of Western expressions of faith are individualistic — all about “me” or as Bill used to say “Yo” – we saw last week that in Christ we are not our own but live now for Jesus, and that living is for others.

Relates here as Paul is thankful for their partnership or fellowship (Koinonia) in the gospel.

So Paul’s relationship with the church serves as a model. The joyfully support each other’s spiritual journey to completion. Sharing in God’s grace and labor, confident that God faithfully continues the good work he starts in them, fostering deep connection, mutual encouragement and shared purpose in ministry, even in the middle of suffering.

It is kind of like a book club. I have started reading Les Miserables, “The Miserable Ones” by Victor Hugo. Huge classic. One my own there is no way it could come to completion, but in community, there is encouragement and accountability… so I am part of a book club with the goal of reading it in four months. Given my penchant to read six books at a time, Stacy is pretty confident I won’t make it… but there is hope.

This fellowship is better - with the help of God, by his Spirit, and a better cause!

Koinonia, this partnership transcend casual fellowship. Rather it’s a shared relationship in Christ on multiple levels — both spiritual fellowship and active ministry within their community, as well as generous financial support for Paul’s apostolic work in other cities.

Theologically, accompaniment in this passage rests on God’s faithfulness rather than human consistency. Paul anchors thanksgiving in a shared vision of transcendent importance—the work of salvation itself—which God initiated and will complete, not human will or power. This divine guarantee provides security when earthly circumstances appear hopeless.

It was the grace of God at work in them which produced this fruit, and it is fruit that is still produced int he church today.

They accompany – alongside, physically and/or spiritually, each other and it drives affection.

Philippians 1:7 “It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.” (ESV)

Assurance evidence by their partnership and love of these genuine Christians.

In the church this is glorious. Accompanying those with similar theology is easier…

But this is the model we al take to our neighbors, to the world. A world groaning for redemption.

Paul in his letter to the Roman church, grounds our efforts in the hope of the completion to come, future glory.

Romans 8:18–25 “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. [19] For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. [20] For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope [21] that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. [22] For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. [23] And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. [24] For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? [25] But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” (ESV)

The groaning encompasses multiple dimensions. Creation has been subjected to frustration—unable to fully carry out its designed purpose of providing for human thriving. Simultaneously, believers who possess the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of future redemption also groan inwardly while awaiting full adoption and bodily redemption. This brings together past, present, and future: the creation’s past subjection to frustration, its present groaning, and the future joys of birth that will follow its labor pains. The universe will not be destroyed but rather liberated, transformed, and suffused with God’s glory—a vision where present suffering becomes the necessary prelude to cosmic renewal.

We wait for perfection/completion, knowing it’s coming by the Spirit — confidently committed to one another and the defense and confirmation of the gospel in our day.

All-in for all of the world.

God is all-in for your good, so we can go all-in for each other’s good.

Begin - like the long novel, you start with page one. Pursue Christ and the Christlikeness mean to follow, holiness. Now more than ever. You are not meant for stasis.

Belong - gather formational friends that will do more than talk about the weather, but will pray with you, read Scripture with you, confront you with the truth of the gospel and the upward call of Christ. And be that friend to others on your way to completion.

Be Bold - Show Jesus to this groaning world. Stand where needed, pray fervently, love always.

Walking through the dark is not scary when we are together, holding hands united in purpose – walking through the dark is not scary when we are being held by the light!

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.

Thanks be to God.