A Work of Grace from Start to Finish

‘I am sure of this very thing—that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the Day of Messiah Yeshua’ - Philippians 1:6 TLV

Every man and woman who is born of the Spirit is being shaped into the image of our Lord, Adonai. This sacred process of sanctification begins at spiritual rebirth, when we are born again through faith. As it is written in John 3:6, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” From that moment, a lifelong transformation begins—one that will ultimately reach its fullness when we are taken into His Presence, for “those whom He justified, He also glorified” (Romans 8:30).

It is the will of God that His children be changed “from glory to Glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18), being conformed into the likeness of Adonai. Yet this transformation is not accomplished by human effort. Scripture reminds us clearly: “Apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). The work of sanctification, like justification and glorification, belongs entirely to God. No person can make themselves righteous, for “by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified” (Galatians 2:16).

From the very beginning, it is God who initiates this work. “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Adonai” (Philippians 1:6). The Grace that saved us is rooted in the Love of the Father, who sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for sin (1 John 4:10). That same Grace sustains and transforms us daily until we see Him as He is (1 John 3:2).

So what, then, is our role in this divine process?

We are not called to passivity, nor are we mere instruments without will. Instead, we are invited into active dependence. We are to “present [our] bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God” (Romans 12:1), and to “walk by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16). As we abide in Him, He produces fruit in us—“love, joy, peace, patience…” (Galatians 5:22-23).

Our part is to remain yielded, to listen, to obey, and to stay in fellowship with Him. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us” (1 John 1:9), restoring our communion with Him. In this way, God works in us “both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).

We are not striving to earn salvation or perfection; rather, we are responding to the work already begun in us. As Ephesians 2:10 declares, “For we are His workmanship, created… for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

Therefore, let us walk in humble submission and faithful cooperation, allowing Adonai to live through us. Like the apostle Paul, may we come to say, “It is no longer I who live, but Adonai lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). And with confidence, we trust that the One who began this work will bring it to glorious completion. HalleluYah!