“For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”
It was one thing for the leaders at Philippi to try to resolve the church split even with a sensitive approach (v.12). However, it was another thing to trust God to work it out. This is the subject of verse 13.
The only way this could be realized was through God, who would enable them to do it (v. 13). Both divine enablement and human responsibility are involved in getting God’s work done.
“for it is God who works in you”
Believers are partners with God, laboring together with Him. The verb “works” (v. 13) means energizes or provides enablement. God makes His own both willing and desirous to do His work. This has to do with confidence in God’s work in God’s church. If we submit to God’s will, He will work in His own inimitable way. The word “works” in the Bible is always used supernaturally and of effective action. God’s work will not be frustrated. God will effect the result.
God is working according to a blueprint, according to specifications. He will carry out His plan. Either He will work in us, or He will work on us. Either way, He will accomplish His purpose. God has taken an oath that every Christian will ultimately be just like the Lord Jesus, no matter what it costs that person.
We have all seen the sign on the highway: “MEN AT WORK.” We can put a sign over the Christian: “GOD AT WORK.”
“Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (1:6).
PRINCIPLE:
God will enable us to resolve conflict.
APPLICATION;
Once we are born again, that triggers a process that will last until we go to glory (are glorified). God will ultimately resolve broken relationships. In the meantime, He may have to chisel, sand, steel wool, and polish us. God constantly polishes us until we have a humble attitude like the Lord Jesus. He works until we are not nearly as selfish as we were. We begin to recognize that we are hurt because we have too much pride for the size of us.
I loved this explanation…. it was easy to understand and brief but filled with truth… thank you♡
Ashley, did you read all the studies on this verse?
Been studying and praying through this verse. It seems on the surface that if God gives both the will to do and the strength to do then what is it that keeps us from doing. I understand enables us but the will to do is either followed or not. The will is either strong enough to move us to change or not. When we are inclined to will something it must overcome the opposing will not to do it or we won’t do it. I often get lost in this area. It seems either God gives me a strong enough will/desire to do something or my flesh is to weak to follow the will He as put in me. Somewhere my flesh and my faith seem to battle for which invokes the greatest will in me.
Steve, did you advance to 2:13b?
In verse 12 there is human responsibility and in v 13 divine enablement. We need to keep both in balance. One cannot exist without the other in authentic Christian living. There is a mutual cooperation between us and God in this regard. This was Paul’s battle in Ro 7.
If you are interested in a theological point. I develop the doctrine of concusus in Romans 8:28 and following.
I like what you said “Believers are partners with God laboring together with Him”.
His purpose can be accomplished if we trust and believe. The Master will chip away the old man and eventually we will become like Jesus. We must be willing to allow Him to do whatever it takes for this to happen.
agree with one of the posts above. I think it’s that we’re to do/perform, but we depend on God to grant us the very strength to do so as we go along.
He also provides us the desire or impetus to do His will, which we wouldn’t have absent Him.
But He definitely instructs us to be obedient, which is where we come in.
Even so, again, He’s providing the very energy and ability to accomplish His will in us.