Why is it important to understand who began the work of salvation?

Who begins the work of salvation significantly affects our understanding of perseverance. If we believe that we initiated our salvation, our confidence will diminish over time as we recognize our failures. However, if we acknowledge that God is the one who begins and sustains our faith, as declared in Philippians 1:6, we can rest assured in His faithfulness. It reinforces the concept that our confidence should be placed entirely in Christ, our sanctifier and redeemer, rather than in our own abilities.