Philippians 1:1-7 (KJV)
1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
2 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,
5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;
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:
7 Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.
God initiates the Christian life — God seeks for the lost. He calls all to salvation Jn 6:44 John explains that the Father draws all to Christ for salvation. This drawing thru the Holy Spirit is the awakening of our conscience to the fact we are lost sinners in need of a Savior.
Jesus came to seek and save the lost; God sent Jesus to die for the lost (Jn 3:16). God sends the Holy Spirit to call people to Him. He awakens their conscience and helps them see their need of salvation. He points out their sin by proclaiming the law. (Rom 7:7). He even gives us faith to believe – faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word.
God initiates the work of Christianity in us by giving us the faith to believe in Him and accept Christ.
God also initiates the work in us — He makes us alive spiritually by the indwelling Spirit. He blots out our sin we have committed – makes us just before Him by placing our sin upon Christ when we confess and repent. He cleans out our life (Ti 3:5). We then, can respond to Him – either accept His offer of salvation by confession, repentance and submission, or reject His wooing and go on in our sin.
Once we accept His offer of salvation He begins to work in our life the plans He has for us. We start a walk of faith which includes reading and studying His word and also attendance and fellowship at Sunday School, church and Bible study. God will chasten us when we go astray but all the while it is for our good to be partakers of His holiness.
God will allow or bring adversity into our life to strengthen and challenge us. He will never allow or bring more than we can withstand, but offers grace, strength and guidance through these life events.
Then as Paul says if we allow, He will continue the work until the day Christ comes for the church or he summons us home. All of this will God due but He never oversteps or runs rough shod on our wills.
