Series: New New
Philippians 1:6 ESV
I AM sure, certain, I feel sure, I know, and I am convinced are all a strong indication that when the writer or speaker uses those words he/she will be able to back that up with irrefutable evidence that the statement is 100% accurate.
For example when my children were young and I was teaching them “danger zones” I knew I had to be really clear and certain about those zones.
One was stepping into the street. In other words, “I am certain it is dangerous for you to walk across the street without me.”
Another was “I am sure you should not touch any animal you cannot call by name.” When they were small we had a dog and a cat and that meant they could touch our dog or our cat. It meant they could not touch (or pet) any other animal or especially reptile. At the time we lived next door to a country church where we served and that statement also included spiders.
I also told them “I am certain you should never approach or allow a stranger to approach you. Do not ever go any place with a stranger.” I followed that up with they were to run to me the instant a stranger started to approach them. We had a large yard behind the church and I was never far behind them, but it would have been possible for me to be on the front porch while they were at the far side of the church.
You get the idea.
There were certain specific instances where I used the all encompassing words of “I am sure” or “I am certain”. Those words and phrases are used for emphasis when you need the audience to take notice of the importance of the circumstance.
In Philippians 1:6 the Apostle Paul used those words., “I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
Without any doubt what-so-ever Paul knew absolutely every time we put our hand in God’s hand and begin the journey with Jesus, the good work will continue all our days. To Paul it was important that they knew without any doubt that God will not let go of them. God will not fail them. God will bring them to completion in Jesus.
Paul’s opening words to this verse “I am sure” is from the Greek (πεποιθὼς) or pepoithōs. The reason that is worth mentioning is the fact that the word is only found in that version in the New Testament five times.
It’s found in 2 Corinthians 2:3 where Paul wrote, “And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all.”
Paul needed the members of the church in Corinth to know that HE trusted them. Paul felt certain he could trust them. He felt so sure of them that he was filled with joy and he wanted them to be filled with joy.
Paul used it in Philippians 1:25-26, “Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.”
When Paul used those words to the church in Philippi Paul needed them to know he always remembered them and cared deeply about their faith journey. He felt so certain about being an integral part of their faith journey that he tied it to his ongoing connection to their progress and joy. In other words, Paul was “all in” and completely connected to their faith journey.
A similar version of those words were used in Philemon 1:21 when Paul thru Timothy wrote, “Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.” At the time Philemon was written Paul was in prison (custody) in Rome. Biblical historians believe because Timothy was mentioned in Philemon 1:1 he was writing for Paul.
And it’s found in Hebrews 2:13, “And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again,
“Behold, I and the children God has given me.” While this text in the book of Hebrews does not stipulate authorship, experts believe because of the style of the ancient manuscript it was written by Paul.
“I will trust” again are words used with certainty.
When Paul wrote Philippians 1:6 and he used the words “I am sure” he wanted his audience in Philippi to know without having any doubt that God would not fail them. God would not let go of them. God called them for a special purpose and God had a very specific long-term plan for them that would last through eternity.
While it’s sometimes difficult for man/wo-man to fathom the Alpha and Omega no beginning and no end nature of God, that IS God’s long-term plan for us. God’s greatest desire for us (you) is that we will BE with God in God where there is no beginning and no end.
That is quite difficult for man to comprehend because we do have a beginning point and an ending point as humans on earth. In reality on earth we can choose eternity because when we breathe our last breath on earth we do not die, we are simply transformed into an eternal soul in God. By turning to God even once we are part of God.
That’s what the big deal of “I am certain”, “I am sure”, and “I will trust” is all about. As finite beings we cannot be certain on our own. However, we can be 100% certain that God will not fail us. God will not let go of us.
God will never forsake us.
The author of Hebrews wrote in Hebrews 13:5, “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
We do not need to worry about tomorrow.
When we put our hand in God’s hand, God has everything covered.
Just like I asked (or told) my children to trust me and believe the danger zones were real and I would watch for them, we can trust God even more because God can see our heart and our eternity. God sees our now and forevermore.
Spiritual Practice: Trust
Put your hand in God’s hand and trust.
In God, Deborah
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