IS THERE A BASIS FOR THE
CHRISTIAN'S HOPE?

Philippians 1:6

An amazing verse is given us as Paul writes to the church at Philippi: ". . . 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:", Philippians 1:6.

There is a matter of confidence. For us to be confident, we must have something to have confidence in. In this case, it is:

(1) Jesus Christ, 1;

(2) Christ Jesus, 1;

(3) God our Father, 2;

(4) the Lord Jesus Christ, 2;

(5) God, 3; or

(6) "he". So we conclude that we have confidence in the promises of God.

It means that the "you" in verse 6 is the hearer, repenter, believer - - - thus, they have faith in what is said in the Word of God that makes the future glorious. It also makes us know the promising God will do what He says - - - and, as He says about the hereafter. There is "..the grace that to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ", I Peter 1:13. We can have confidence in Him about this future, Jude 1, he uses the word "preserved" when speaking about our relationship with Christ.

As a child I was puzzled by my parents, aunt, and grandmother about 'preserves'. They so processed the fruits, berries, jams, jellies, etc. in such a way that they would 'keep' and not spoil away. Incidentally the word rendered "preserved" is translated "keep" elsewhere. So a saint, with Eternal Life, is kept, or "preserved" unto that glorious future which God "hath prepared for them . . ., Hebrews 11:16. Much is said about the prepared place for the preserved people who trusted in Him as Saviour.

Our text speaks of this preserved people, and their earthly sojourn as witnesses for Him as ". . . a good work"; and He began it, and will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ". It is asserted by Jesus in John 10:28-30: "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one."

Paul states His confidence in the good begun by God as he wrote to the Roman saints:" I am persuaded, that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. I can only say 'Amen, brother Paul'. DDH