Philippians 1:3-8 Thankful for Fellowship

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, 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; just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ. [Philippians 1:3-8 NKJV]

Paul's prayer for the saints begins with an expression of gratitude the their fellowship in the gospel. This is more than just being thankful for their support, but also for their company and friendship.

We should never take for granted the love and friendship we find within the body of Christ. It's too easy to get our eyes on the wrong things. Church politics can cause some to be ambitious, stepping over others to claw their way into a position of authority. Others see church as a networking opportunity; a chance to enlarge their sphere of influence and grow a business. Others are caught up in doctrine and ritual, judging others who don't measure up to their own high standards.

The word "church" is translated from the Greek word "ekklesia", which literally means "a gathering". That's exactly what the church should be; a gathering of people who share a love of Jesus, and of each other, free from the restrictions of religion. No one has authority over another because we are all equally under the authority of Jesus.

Paul expresses his confidence that Jesus will complete the good work that He began in the saints.

There are reminders throughout the New Testament that our salvation is by the grace of God;

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. [Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV]

And, 

“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. [Galatians 2:16 NKJV]

 And not just our salvation, but our sanctification is also by the grace of God, and not of works;

This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? [Galatians 3:2-3 NKJV]

And,

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. [Romans 8:1-4 NKJV]

So we see that Jesus began the good work in us when He called us to salvation. It is by grace through faith in Him that we are saved. He continues to work in us as He calls us to a life of holiness, but just as He didn't expect us to save ourselves, neither does He expect us to make ourselves holy. Sanctification is the work that He continues to do for us.

It will do us well to recognize role that other believers play in our lives as they encourage us to keep our minds on Christ, draw closer to the Lord, and grow in holiness.

Father, I thank you for the saints that You have placed in my life, and for the encouragement and joy that comes from these relationships. Thank You that You will complete the work in each of us by Your grace.