Internal Salvation.

"Being confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you, will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Phil. 1:6).

These words set forth a fundamental aspect of salvation that is now widely ignored, and it is one of the vital points at which the pulpit needs testing, for if it is faulty here, then its trumpet gives forth an uncertain sound. Alas, most of the pulpits today are engaged in declaring what man must do. Creature performances are the sum and substance of the great majority of modern sermons—the operations of God being relegated to the rear. True, there are those who have quite a little to say of what God has done for sinners, yet most of these men are radically defective in their conceptions of what has to be wrought in sinners before there can be any salvation for them. These men talk much about the "finished work of Christ," and many are misled by them, for they are largely, if not wholly, silent upon the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit.

How few there are today who perceive that the regenerating and sanctifying work of the Spirit is as indispensable, as is the sacrificial work of Christ. That is why we often hear untaught evangelists say, and read in the "tracts" of our day, "salvation is by the blood of Christ alone," or "we are saved by faith alone": statements which are unscriptural, most misleading, and highly dangerous because of their lopsidedness. A man may hold the most Scriptural views of the Atonement, and though that may evidence his "orthodoxy," yet it is no proof at all that he is a new creature in Christ. He may highly honor faith and vehemently affirm that good works have no part or place in the saving of the soul—and yet be alienated from God. Unless the Holy Spirit has "begun a good work in me" then I am still dead in sins!

"He who has begun a good work in you." Ah, that is what draws the line of demarcation between the living and the dead! That is what distinguishes true possessor, from empty professors. And why? because that "good work" is not in any of us by nature. That statement calls for a word or explanation and amplification. There still remains in fallen man, the remnants of that "likeness" or "similitude of God" in which he was originally created, as is clear from James 3:9. The Apostle Paul did not hesitate to declare that even the heathen "show the work of the Law written in their heart" (Romans 2:15). The most depraved and wicked possess a conscience, which is "the candle of the Lord" (Proverbs 20:27) within them. Nevertheless, the unregenerate are utterly devoid of even a "spark" of Divine life in them, and therefore is it said of them, "There are none who do good, no not one" (Romans 3:12).

1. For our first main division, we will consider the NATURE or CHARACTER of this "good work" of which the Holy Spirit is the Agent. Under this head our text suggests four lines of thought.

First, it is a DIVINE work. "He who has begun a good work in you." The Author of of this good work is God—and not man. The creature contributes nothing whatever to it. The favored subject thereof is entirely passive in it: "For he says to Moses—I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy" (Romans 9:16). This "good work" is a creative act on the part of God, and to talk of the creature "cooperating" with the Creator in connection with creation—is the language of imbecility. I was no more consulted about and had no more to do with my spiritual birth—than I had with my natural birth! Nor does the preacher have any more hand in the resurrection of the soul (which is what this good work is) than he will have in the resurrection of the body. God, and God alone, is the Author of it.

Second, it is as yet an INCOMPLETE work. "He who has begun a good work in you." This Divine miracle of grace is carried forward from stage to stage: "first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head" (Mark 4:28). It is commenced at regeneration, it is continued by sanctification, it is consummated at glorification. It is highly important that the Christian should clearly grasp this fact: God has not finished with him yet! We are impatient creatures, and wish to fly before our wings are grown. Many of our expectations are as unwarrantable as they are unattainable. It is but the initial work which God has wrought in the believer, and it remains uncompleted throughout this life. Then let us not look for that in us, or from us—which will be fully realized only in Heaven. Sinless perfection in this world, is a madman’s delusion.

Third, it is an INTERNAL work. "He who has begun a good work in you." This is the vital, necessary, indispensable sequel to what Christ did for them. The atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus avails them nothing, until they exercise faith in it, and that is impossible so long as a person is dead in trespasses and sins. He must be born again before he can savingly believe and obtain forgiveness from God. The "good work," then, is wrought in the heart. It is no mere making clean the outside of the platter, while the inside is left all foul and filthy. A radical change is effected by the supernatural operations of God. Aprinciple of spiritual life, a new nature is imparted, an "incorruptible seed" is placed within the soul, which radically affects all its faculties—the understanding, conscience, affections, and will.

Fourth, it is a SOVEREIGN work. "He who has begun a good work in you"—it is not performed in all the members of Adam’s race. And why? Because God disburses His charity and distributes His gifts according to the good pleasure of His own will. This "good work" is wrought in none but "God’s elect." Nor is it wrought in them, because they are any better or worthier than the non-elect, for they are notso. There was nothing whatever in them to induce God to perform a miracle of grace in their hearts. It was not because they desired or prayed for it, for "there is no one who seeks God" (Romans 3:11). If it be asked why God favors them rather than others, the only answer forthcoming is, "Even so Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight" (Matt. 11:26)

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