Sermon Tone Analysis

A Sure Guarantee

Ill.

J. Vernon McGee Story

Dad killed in cotton gin accident when Vernon was 14

Mother him and sister to Nashville.

Had to get permit to work at 14.

Had to quit school.

Up at 5 o’clock every morning to go to work.

Later finished school because a man helped him and paid his way through college.

Every year he thought it would be his last year.

Had little faith.

Last year of college was during the depression.

Graduation day depressed.

Didn’t have the money for seminary.

Received phone call from widow from church.

Two widows gave him each a check for $250.

Church had farewell banquet, received check for $100.

With that $600 went to seminary next year.

Someone at the banquet gave him this verse and became his life verse.

Now let’s consider this verse for a little while this morning...

“being confident” is causative and could be translated, “Since I am confident of this very thing” - Paul knew what he was talking about.

This firm conviction is based on God’s faithfulness.

Then we turn our attention to the next pronoun.

In your Bible it's probably capitalized.

There’s a reason for this.

This pronoun refers to none other than the God of the universe.

And what has He begun?

“A good work”.

What is this work?

The expression good work may refer to the part taken by the Philippians in the work of the gospel, but more naturally it points to the activity of God at the time of their conversion.

Because of this, I believe the “good work” that God began refers specifically to their salvation, and continues in their sanctification.

And this brings us to our first takeaway...

Salvation is God’s Work

This good work that God started is that work of grace in the readers’ lives that began with their reception of the gospel.

So, God is at work in us both to will and to do His good pleasure.

The expression refers to the new creation that He had begun in them.

The Philippians’ eager participation in the gospel ministry with Paul was not the good work itself, but clear evidence of this work of salvation.

The Philippians did not begin the work of salvation in themselves only to have God come along and add a little to it.

It was entirely God’s work.

God has provided the way of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ, and He enabled the Philippians to receive that salvation.

So what is God’s work in our salvation?

A. He first draws us in.

He salts the oats, so to speak.

The HS convicts us of sin, helps us to realize our need for Him

B. God made the way for our salvation in the atoning death of His Son, Jesus Christ.

C. Then God regenerates the believer and creates a new life.

D. Then God begins the work of sanctification in us.

First positionally immediately upon our trusting Christ, then progressively as we become more like Christ in our attitude and life.

E. And ultimately, glorification.

Ephesians 1:11-14 summarizes the progression of God’s work in our salvation.

God’s work begins before our salvation and works all the way to our ultimate glorification in His presence in eternity.

The work “perform” in Phil.

1:6 means to “carry through”.

He will consummate what He began.

So what does this mean for you and me?

Well, everything, actually.

We’ll get back to this in a moment.

Secondly...

Salvation is a Good Work

Salvation lifts the sinner from eternal condemnation and ruin and makes that person part of God’s family and a partaker of God’s eternal glory.

Who would dare say that this is not a good thing?

Our salvation is the very best thing that could happen to us.

I think of all the awesome things I’ve experienced in my life.

But they all pale in comparison to the sure salvation I have in Jesus.

It really is awesome.

And the writer of Hebrews would agree...

It is a great salvation!

I love this quote I read this week...

“Salvation is simple enough for a child to understand, but it’s also so profound that we can’t plumb its depths.”

How true.

And then thirdly...

Salvation is a Sure Work

As we mentioned earlier, God will carry through what He has begun in our lives.

And He will continue to perform it “until the day of Jesus Christ.”

Typically the phraseology is “Day of the Lord” and refers to the second coming when Jesus will set foot on planet earth again.

But here, it’s the day of Jesus Christ.

We’re not living in the Day of the Lord, we’re living in the day of Jesus Christ.

That day will be consummated when He comes to take His own out of this world.

And the Holy Spirit has sealed you and me until the day of redemption (Eph.

4:30).

And until then, you can count on God to consummate whatever He intends for you.

He is going to see it through.

Isn’t that awesome?

Now, let me ask again.

Is this practical for you and for me?

God does not begin it and then abandon it somewhere along the way.

He does not pull his people from the flames of destruction only to allow them to slip back and be consumed.

God completes the work of salvation.

We know what it is to plan a work and undertake a work only to see it fail.

But it is not so with God.

We must not picture him looking over the redeemed multitude in eternity and saying: ‘We did fairly well.

Eighty per cent of the saved finally made it home.’

God will not have to say such a thing because all his people will make it home.

Not one will be missing!

The faithful God will faithfully complete his work!

I don’t know what your circumstances are, but if you are a child of God, I am sure you can testify that God has brought you up to the present moment, hasn’t He? Can’t you look back over your life and see how He has led you and provided for you?

Then why should you be concerned about tomorrow?

Do you think He is going to let you down now?

And that brings us back to Dr. McGee.

He said that was his thinking when he finished college.

That God might let him down.