Philippians 1 “⁶ being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Some people think that a man has to make the effort to believe in Jesus and then endure in faith till the end to be saved. They say that it’s completely man’s effort of faith that saves them. They believe that the man can lose salvation if they stop believing in Jesus. So they have to make sure they believe till the end. In this case man begins and completes the work of salvation.

Some others think that a man must make the initial effort of faith in Jesus and then God will do the rest in keeping our salvation secure till the end. They believe that man cannot lose salvation because God ensures that it is secure. They believe that man begins it but God completes it.

But the verse tells us it is Jesus who begins and completes the work.

We have no effort at all.

Paul tells us that he is the example of salvation

1 Timothy 1 “¹² I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. ¹³ Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. ¹⁴ The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. ¹⁶ But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. ¹⁷ Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

Paul did not choose Jesus. The Lord chose Paul while he was on his way to kill Christians.

Jesus poured GRACE on Paul and made him the main Apostle in the Bible to the Gentiles.

Paul was chosen from his mother’s womb. He had no choice in this. Paul’s choice was to be the biggest Pharisee practising the Law. But Jesus chose him to be the biggest preacher of Grace the world has known!

Galatians 1 “¹³ For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. ¹⁴ I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. ¹⁵ But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased ¹⁶ to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles,”

You see it is Jesus who began the work in Paul’s life and completed it.

That is why Jesus is called the author and finisher of the faith.

Hebrews 12:2 “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Jesus began the work of faith in the believer by choosing us in His grace!

Jesus endures in the believer by His grace.

Jesus completes the work of faith in the believer by His Grace.

Therefore ALL Glory goes to Jesus.

We cannot even boast in our faith because even that is a gift ! We are saved by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2 “⁴ But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. ….⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast.”