Have you ever struggled with sin so much that you lost hope that it would ever go away? I know I have. Thankfully, the Bible offers great hope for those discouraging times. If you’ve ever lost hope that sin will be defeated, or if you’re there right now, take hope with me from these Scriptural realities.

Paul’s Hope for the Philippians

Paul begins his letter to the Philippians with hopeful, joy-filled words. “I gives thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:3-6).

Paul thanks God when he remembers the Philippians, and he prays with joy for the Philippians. Why? Because of the Philippians’ partnership in the gospel and because of Paul’s confidence that God will complete the good work he has begun in the Philippians.

Paul’s unshakeable confidence in God’s work in the Philippians fueled his joyful prayer life. He knew that God would not abandon the Philippians halfway to glory, but that he would complete his good work in their lives. In the same way, God will fully complete his work in every believer, including you and me. But what is that work?

God’s Work in Believers

Paul has just told us that he prays and why he prays, and a few verses later he tells us what he prays. “And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, so that you may approve the things that are superior and may be pure and blameless in the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God” (Phil. 1:9-11).

Paul prays that the Philippians’ love would abound in knowledge and discernment so that they would make the best choices in life so that they would be pure and blameless “in the day of Christ.” Sound familiar?

In his prayer, Paul looks forward to that great day of Christ when God will complete his work in all believers. That’s when you and I will be perfectly pure and blameless. But how do we get there? By making excellent decisions based on discerning love, and by being filled with the righteousness that comes from Christ. Ultimately, this is all for the glory and praise of God.

That’s Paul’s prayer in a nutshell. As he looks ahead to the completion of God’s work in the future, he prays for the Philippians to abound in discerning love and righteousness in the present. That’s how God carries on the work he will complete in us.

Encouragement for Today

Paul was confident that God would complete his sanctifying work in believers. In that case, we don’t have to worry about striving for holiness, right? If God is going to take care of everything in the end, we don’t have to worry about sin in our lives, right?

Wrong. That’s the opposite of how Paul responded. As Paul thought about the future certainty of God completing his work in Christians, it motivated him to pray and strive for that work to abound and continue in the present. Why would Paul respond in such a way?

Present Growth Proves God’s Work has Begun

For God to complete a work, it means that work had to have begun at some point. As we bear the fruit of God working in us, it proves that God has begun working in us in the first place. It would be ridiculous to think that God would “begin” a work in us that has no effect in our lives and then—bam!—we’re suddenly glorified. Unfortunately, many people think that way. However, God’s work will manifest itself in our present lives, so we should pray and strive for that work to continue.

Present Growth Proves Our Efforts are Not in Vain

Sometimes it may feel like there is no progress in our spiritual growth, but Scripture assures us that we are on an upward trajectory. It won’t be perfect, and there will be times of backward progress, but overall we are headed toward the completion of God’s work in us. As we strive and labor and fight for holiness by God’s grace, we can know that our efforts are not in vain. We should never give up, because on the day of Christ our works and God’s work will culminate in our glorification.

Present Growth Gives us a Foretaste of the Future

Every step of growth we take, we experience more and more of what it will be like on that wonderful day when we are finally and fully changed into His image. When we consider how glorious and amazing that will be, how could we not want as much of that as possible now?

So, what sin are you losing hope over? Lust? Anger? Selfishness? Laziness? Pride? Whatever it is, don’t lose hope, Christian. God’s Word assures you that when Christ returns, God will complete his work of transforming you into the image of Christ. As you fight for holiness now, it proves that God’s work has begun in you, and you can know that your efforts are not in vain. And every bit of growth is another sweet taste of the indescribable future that awaits you. Set your hope on the glorious future that Christ will bring, not on your present struggles. Take hope, and don’t stop fighting today, or tomorrow, or any other day until the battle is won on the day of Christ.