“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
(Philippians 2:13)
No Christian can produce such spiritual graces as faith, love, or godliness in their own power. Every godly virtue derives solely from God’s Spirit dwelling within the believer. Scripture is clear on this truth: “Turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the Lord my God. Surely after that I was turned, I repented” (Jeremiah 31:18-19).
Jesus further declares, “Without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5). Paul confesses, “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God” (2 Corinthians 3:5). And Augustine rightly warns, “They are most sharply and vehemently to be resisted who think that without the help of God, by the very force of human will, they are able either to perfect righteousness or to profit in tending to it.”[1]
Christlikeness is wholly dependent on God’s initiating and sustaining grace. He calls sinners, draws them, and sanctifies them, enabling holiness and glorifying Himself through their lives. Without His Spirit, no one can subdue sin, cleanse corruption, or come to Christ. Micah 7:19, Romans 8:13, and Galatians 3:5 all affirm that only God can forgive sin. Ephesians 5:25-27 reveals Christ’s work to present the church “not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing.” And John 6:44 states, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him.”
Human pride often tempts believers to think they can act independently of God. Yet, Scripture affirms that we cannot please God, desire Him, nor bear fruit without His Spirit. Romans 8:26-27 confesses that believers do not even know what to pray for without the Spirit’s intercession. And both John 15:4-5 and Philippians 2:13 tell us that apart from Christ’s mediation, no service is acceptable to God.
God alone grants the desire for holiness and the ability to serve Him. So to presume self-sufficiency is to defy God’s sovereignty and rob Him of glory. The church must cling to this truth while rejecting self-reliance and seeking His Spirit’s work. Only through divine enablement can believers live for His pleasure, bearing fruit that endures to His glory.
Contemplations
- My self-reliant pride. I often think I can please You on my own, Lord, but Philippians 2:13 makes it clear that it’s You who works in me. And yet my heart clings to self-sufficiency, ignoring Your grace. Forgive me for trusting my strength instead of Your Spirit, and teach me to rely wholly on You for every good work.
- Failing to seek Your Spirit. I neglect to pray for Your Spirit’s guidance, as Romans 8:26-27 commands, thinking I know what’s best. I’m guilty of acting without Your help, producing empty works. My prayers are often hollow, lacking Your power. Cleanse me, Lord, from this presumption, and lead me to seek Your Spirit’s direction in all I do.
- Inability to conquer sin. I try to fight sin in my own strength, but John 15:5 says without You I can do nothing. I confess my arrogance in thinking I can overcome my sin apart from Your grace. Break my pride, Lord, and work in me to mortify my sin through Your Spirit’s power.
- Taking credit for Your work. I sometimes boast in my spiritual growth, forgetting 2 Corinthians 3:5 tells me that my sufficiency is from You alone. I rob You of glory when I claim credit for faith or obedience. My heart is deceitful, Lord, and I grieve my offense. Forgive me and fix my eyes on Your grace, that I may give You all the praise.
Prayer (confession)
O holy God, You are the source of all goodness, working in Your people both to will and to do Your pleasure. I come before You, a sinner, confessing my wretched self-reliance. I have trusted in my own strength, believing I could please You without Your Spirit. Philippians 2:13 exposes my foolishness, for apart from You, I can do nothing. Forgive me for this pride that dishonors Your grace.
I confess my presumption, thinking I could subdue sin or bear fruit by my own power. John 15:5 reminds me that my utter dependence is on Christ. I have fought my corruption in vain, neglecting Your Spirit’s work. My efforts are worthless without Your grace. So cleanse me, Lord, from the arrogance that blinds me to Your sufficiency.
I acknowledge my sin in claiming credit for spiritual acts that belong to You alone. When I pray, serve, or obey, I often boast as if I were the source, forgetting 2 Corinthians 3:5. I repent of my pride, Lord. Wash me, that I may rest in Your Spirit’s enabling power.
I have neglected to seek You earnestly, Lord, trusting in my own wisdom. I confess my failure to depend on You fully. Break my stubborn heart, Lord, and cause me to run after You, seeking You for all I need. I plead for Your mercy that I may live wholly for Your glory.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Further Scripture references for Philippians 2:13
Heb. 13:21, 1 Cor. 12:6, Eph. 1:5, 1 Cor. 15:10, Isa. 26:12, 2 Cor. 3:5, Eph. 1:11.
[1] St. Augustine, Gratia preveniens, qua velimus: subsequens, nè frustra velimus. D. J. Prideaux, Lect. 3. de Grat. universali. §. 4. p. 39. Cf. Francis Roberts, The Natural Man Directed to Jesus Christ.
