I thank my Gods upon every remembrance of you, (4) always in every prayer of mine making request for you with all with joy, (5) for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, (6) being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;……..(8) For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you with the affection of Jesus Christ. (9) And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, (10) that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, (11) being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.

The letter to the Philippians was written by the apostle Paul while he was under arrest in Rome facing possible execution. Where it was written gave Paul the opportunity of influence over the Roman Praetorian guards and all those who visited their quarters. It gave access moreover to those of Caesar’s household as the gospel spread to the known world. Our verses today address the crucial question of how can we know we are saved: We are taught that no one whom God has brought to saving knowledge of Jesus Christ will ever be lost. If there is evidence that God has begun the work of salvation in us, we can be confident that He will complete it.

In faith we have new life; we are justified in faith in Christ’s sacrifice. We have a changed heart and apart from any human merit God supernaturally imparts to the believing person an abiding change of nature through this “new birth.” The faithful person is given knowledge of truth and faith to believe it. Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone and that is not by ourselves but is a gift from God, not as a result of works. It is totally of the Lord. This justification happens when the sinner trusts Jesus Christ as his/her savior. Progressive sanctification continues to the Christian’s death and culminates in his/her glorification. Where we have a hand in sanctification and can affect it by our obedience or disobedience, God alone justifies us. Since it could only be God who has begun this work, Paul is confident that God would finish what He has begun.

The apostle Paul writes in his last letter which was written to Timothy (2 Timothy 4: 6-8) “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” Paul looked back at the end of his live without regret or remorse and looked ahead to eternal righteousness. This is the goal of the Christian.