Being Confident

Philippians 1:3-6 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; Being confident of this very thing, that he which had begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ

‘Prayer’ [Greek: deesis] supplication and entreating; continued strong and incessant pleadings until the prayer is answered (Luke 18:1-8).

‘Confident’ [Greek: peitho] Translated “persuade” 22 times; “trust” 10 times; “obey” 7 times; “confidence” 9 times; and “assure,” “believe,” “agree,” “yield,” and “make one’s friend,” 1 time each. The idea here is being confident that there will be nothing lacking on God’s part in performing the work He has started in them until the final work of grace is performed in them. This confidence in God is based upon meeting certain conditions.

There are thirty-five conditions of assurance given in this book: To become a subject of God’s grace (1:6). To be partaker of God’s grace (1:7). To abound more and more in love (1:9). To approve things that are excellent (1:10). To be without offence till the end. To be sincere until the end (1:11). To be filled with fruits of righteousness. To let your manner of life be as becomes the gospel of Christ (1:27). To stand fast in one spirit and one mind with others striving together for the gospel. To be not terrified by enemies (1:28). To suffer for His sake (1:29). To be like-minded with Christ (2:2). To have the same love (2:2). To be of one accord, of one mind with others (2:2; 3:16). To let nothing be done through strife and vainglory (2:3). To esteem others better than yourself (2:3). To be interested in others (2:4). To let the mind of Christ be in you (2:5). To obey the gospel (2:12). To work out your own salvation (2:12-13). To do all things without murmuring and disputing (2:14). To be blameless, harmless, and without rebuke among men (2:15). To hold forth the Word of Life (2:16). To beware of dogs, evil workers, and the circumcision party (3:2). To press toward the high calling (3:13-16). To walk by the gospel standard (3:16). To be followers of me and mark enemies of the cross of Christ (3:17-20). To stand fast in the Lord (4:1). To help all workers of Christ (4:3). To rejoice in the Lord always (4:4). To let your moderation be known to all men (4:5). To be anxious for nothing (4:6). To let requests be known to God. To think on right things (4:8). To do what you have learned, received, heard, and seen in me (4:9).

‘Until the day of Jesus Christ.’ This is the 1st New Testament prophecy in Philippians (1:6) and it is unfulfilled. This proves that part of this good work will be done on the day of Jesus Christ (1Cor. 1:8). At least the redemption of the body will be accomplished on the day of the Lord Jesus Christ (3:21; Rom. 8:17-24; 1Pet. 1:5-13).