And 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. (ESV)
One of the things that we must get into our thick heads is that salvation is a God thing from beginning to end.
Justification is entirely a God thing. God is the One who took the initiative and did the work (at the cross) to make us righteous in His sight. We could do nothing because we were dead in our sins. God did it all. He is the One who made us alive again in Him. He is the One who brought us out of darkness and into the light. He is the One who redeemed us from slavery to sin. He is the One who rescued from the enemy camp and made us sons of the King. Justification is entirely a God thing.
Sanctification is entirely a God thing. God is the One who even now is at work in our lives conforming us more and more into the likeness of His Son. We can do nothing to make ourselves more holy. It is absolutely a work of the Holy Spirit. It is His Spirit who transforms us from sinners to saints. It is His Spirit who transforms us into God-fearing worshipers. It is His Spirit who teaches us to delight in obedience. It is His Spirit who fills us and fuels us for the work God wants us to do. It is His Spirit who produces in us the kind of character that glorifies our Father. Sanctification is entirely a God thing.
Glorification is entirely a God thing. It is only God that can change these earthly bodies into bodies that will be fit for eternity. It is only God that can create a new heaven and a new earth that will absolutely stagger the imagination. It is only God that can eradicate sin once and for all and liberate His faithful followers forever. It is only God that can manifest His glory to His people in a way that produces ultimate joy. Glorification is entirely a God thing.
Why this BRICK is foundational: Christianity is distinguished from every other “religion” because God is the one who invites us into and establishes the relationship. We cannot earn our way into heaven or into His good favor by anything that we do. Which is great news because nothing we could ever do would be good enough to please a holy and most glorious God. It is all His doing. Yes , we work out our salvation everyday but God is the One who worked in us so that we can work it out.