A Joyful Work
Philippians: got joy? • Sermon • Submitted
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Transcript
Introduction:
Introduction:
There’s an old saying, “If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, chances are, it’s a duck.” Sometimes our kids will throw a fit and Amanda or I will say to them, “If you want to act like a baby, we’ll treat you like a baby.”
Paul’s been writing to the Philippians about their need to live like gospel-citizens, and in the two verses we’re looking at together tonight, he’s essentially telling them to act like Christians.
These two verses are to of the more misunderstood verses in Philippians, and if we don’t understand them rightly, we can fall into some pretty dangerous gospel-errors. But when we understand what Paul meant, it can energize us and fire us up to live like Christians.
Body:
Body:
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Philippians 2:12–13 (ESV) — 12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
There are certain words in the Bible that should give us pause, and this passage begins with one of them, “Therefore...”
hoste = for this reason, therefore, so...
What’s the “therefore” there for?
The word focuses on the outcome intended by a given action, in this case Jesus’ emptying himself.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV) — 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
In our text, Paul was calling for action in response to what Christ had done for us. The gospel is good news to be received and responded to. Someone might bring you good news that really requires no response from you. The McRib is back at McDonald’s! Great. Thanks. But the gospel is a different kind of good news. It’s good news that has an impact on our lives. That’s why verse 12 begins, “Therefore.”
P1: Realize the Gospel Calls for Action (v. 12a)
Again, there are some truths that simply exist without impacting us.
Human’s landed on the moon
____________ people climb Everest every year
There are almost 8 billion people in the world
Then there are truths that have a direct impact on how we live our lives.
Your mom and dad worked hard to raise you.
Your employer hired you and has given you a job to do.
There are laws that have been passed in this country as to what is what is not legal.
The gospel falls into this second category of truth. There is an intended response to what Jesus has done for us.
It begins with belief like we talked about last week. But it doesn’t stop there.
Think about Paul’s own testimony from Acts 26:12-21 (Galatians 1:18-24)
Think about Peter’s transformation from fearful follower to the bold proclaimer of the gospel in Acts 2.
The gospel doesn’t just passively happen to us, it effects change in us.
My testimony:
I was self-righteous, prideful, boastful, and arrogant, and a total jerk.
The gospel transformed me, broke me, wrecked me, grabbed me.
Colossians 3
Galatians 5
2 Peter 1
All of these passages point to the same reality that we’re driving at right here. A true encounter with the gospel of Jesus Christ warrants transformation.
END P1
Paul describes the specific change he had in mind as he continues:
Philippians 2:12 (ESV) — 12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,
“as you have always obeyed”
Philippians 2:9-11 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
To confess that Christ is Lord is to acknowledge our submission to his Lordship over our lives
That means we are acknowledging a desire and will to submit to him in obedience
That’s what this word “obeyed” means: to follow instructions as you would do with a person in authority
Ephesians 6:1 - parents
Ephesians 6:5 - masters
Hebrews 5:9 - Jesus
The Philippians were doing this! This isn’t Paul coming down on them but commending them and calling on them to keep going!
What were they doing? They were...
Philippians 2:12b (ESV) — 12 Therefore...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,
This verse is not about how a person gets saved, but how saved people should live.
It does not say “work for your salvation with fear and trembling”
Romans 4:5 5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,
Rather, it says, “work out your salvation with fear and trembling”
Hebrews 12:1-2 Run with endurance
(Corporate Focus)
If we were reading the TSV here we would see it say: “work out y’all’s salvation...”
In other words, Paul’s emphasis here is on the body of believers, not primarily on the individual
So this salvation isn’t our individual salvation but the corporate salvation or deliverance of the body of Christ
The word for “work out” means “produce” or “bring about”
27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.
1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
So corporately, as we live in humble unity with one another, living in a manner worthy of the gospel, we are in effect “bringing about” the fullness of our salvation.
Or a different way to say it: as the Philippian church lived in harmony with one another, they were demonstrating the future reality of the people of God dwelling together in eternity.
“fear and trembling”
This is the right mindset for us to corporately embrace in light of Philippians 2:9-11
Not only should we be obedient, but our obedience should also be characterized by a sense of awe and reverence
This is not a passage about works-based salvation. This is not a passage about works-based salvation. This is not a passage about works-based salvation. It’s about the same thing that Paul has been writing about since back in 1:27. It’s about selfless service of one another. It’s about the body of Christ working together as one, united by our common faith in the one who emptied himself for us.
P2: Let the Gospel’s Impact be Evident Among Us (v. 12b)
If you’re questioning this interpretation, consider the context that has preceded these verses, and look at where he’s going to go from here.
14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.
2 I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 3 Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
The gospel does produce action, and this passage is saying that one of the key aspects of that action should be the selfless unity of the bride of Christ.
When we look at the church and see a group of Christians loving each other well, serving each other selflessly, standing firm in the face of the world’s opposition, we are seeing a church that has been impacted and transformed by the true gospel.
There’s a balance, this is not just about love and harmony
There needs to be the unity that comes from doctrinal conviction as well
This is what it means to work out our salvation.
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
This means we must be on the lookout against any threats to this as well, because a threat to this harmony is a threat to the gospel itself.
Romans 16:17–18 (ESV) — 17 I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. 18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.
1 Corinthians 1:10 (ESV) — 10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.
Titus 3:10–11 (ESV) — 10 As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.
This is another evidence from Scripture about why the local church is so important. We can’t work out our salvation without doing so in and around our brothers and sisters in Christ.
You and I have a responsibility to one another and to the Lord to live in a way that shows the impact of the gospel on this church!
END P2
Maybe you’re thinking that this sounds like a lot:
We’re supposed to follow the example of Jesus that we read about last week?
He died for us?! Am I supposed to do that for these people?
Isn’t he God? How are we supposed to do this?
The standard seems impossibly high
Or maybe you’re bowing up thinking that this is where you get some credit:
We’re working out our salvation
God will be impressed with us
To both groups I say...keep reading.
Philippians 2:13 (ESV) — 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
If you’re part of that second group looking for credit, and I don’t know that we even have anyone that would fall into that camp, but if you are, Paul just robbed your glory or rather, he just took it back and put it where it rightly belongs, with God.
But if you’re part of that first camp–pondering the magnitude of the call to work out our salvation by demonstrating a unity that patterns itself after the selflessness of Jesus–let this verse encourage you.
You’re right. To love others like Jesus has loved us is impossible in our own strength. We can’t do it.
Luke 10:30-37 The Parable of the Good Samaritan
Guess what that man couldn’t do no matter how hard he tried? He couldn’t love like that Samaritan had loved. That was the point of Jesus’ parable. There’s a standard that exceeds our capabilities, that should cause us to say “God, unless you do this thing, it can’t be done.” That’s why Philippians 2:13 is such an encouraging verse.
“for it is God who works in you...”
Philippians 2:13 (ESV) — 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
“works” = energeo = “to put one’s capabilities into operation”
13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. 12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
Two things this isn’t:
“Let go and let God”
“Preachers these days are expected to major in ‘Christian moral renovation.’ They are expected to provide a practical to-do list, rather than announce, ‘It is finished.’ They are expected to do something other than, more than, placarding before their congregation’s eyes Christ’s finished work, preaching a full-absolution solely on the basis of the complete righteousness of Another…Moral renovation, in other words, is to refocus our eyes away fro ourselves to that Man’s obedience, to that Man’s cross, to that Man’s blood–to that Man’s death and resurrection!” (Jesus + Nothing, 117-18)
“The gospel grants us the strength to admit we’re weak and needy and restless–knowing that Christ’s finished work has proven to be all the strength and fulfillment and peace we could ever want, and more.” (ibid., 120)
“God helps those who help themselves”
He said, “For we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do” (2 Nephi 25:23).
Instead it says, he’s working to will and to work in us...
God effects the desire we have to live in a manner worthy of the gospel
“Even our purpose, our willing an desiring to live and work for God, comes from God.” - Hansen
He effects the actual obedience within us that we should live in a manner worthy of the gospel
His work precedes ours but doesn’t negate the need for us to work
One way to think of it may be to picture all of the background processes that have to run on your computer to make it do everything you want it to do. Those processes are all happening to enable you to work without you even realizing it. Those processes are necessary and they enable me to type. Without them, I can’t do anything.
This is hard to understand, this relationship between God’s sovereign enabling and our human responsibility. The same God who has exalted Jesus is the one working in us! That’s what inspires fear and trembling in us! He’s set the bar impossibly high, yet he hasn’t left us on our own to try to achieve it.
P3: Appreciate that What God Expects He Effects (v. 13)
Philippians 1:6 6 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.
Illustrate: It’s like when I leave the house and ask Josh to have the kitchen cleaned up and dishes done before I get back. I’ve provided everything he needs to accomplish the task, but I can’t put the desire in him or prompt him to actually do it.
Yet, this is what God does with us. In our endeavor to be a unified body of Christ, to love each other the way Christ has loved us, God has provided all we need and he will work in us to cause us to desire to do what is necessary to bring this about!
How does this work?
First understand that it is possible to quench the Spirit within you. This isn’t God giving you a default mode of operation.
1 Thessalonians 5:19 (ESV) — 19 Do not quench the Spirit.
It’s a mystery in so many ways, but here’s how you can set yourself up to experience this in the greatest capacity: Abide in the vine
John 15:4–5 (ESV) — 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
If we want to be a body that’s working out our salvation we need to be individuals who are abiding in Jesus on a regular basis. We’ve got to be caring that our brothers and sisters in this room are doing the same thing. We’ve got to see ourselves as components of the much larger corporate organism that is the church.
1 Corinthians 12:14-26
But notice one more part of the verse that I haven’t mentioned yet.
Philippians 2:13 (ESV) — 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Why is God going to do this? How can we be so sure that he’s going to effect what he expects?
Because it brings him pleasure to see the body of Christ united.
He’s working in us to cause us to will and to work together, to cause us to live in a manner worthy of the gospel, to cause us to stand firm in one spirit striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, to cause us to consider others more important than ourselves, to cause us to look to the interests of others and not only to our own, to cause us to have the mind of Christ, to cause us to work out our own salvation...for his good pleasure.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
This is one of those passages that can cause paralysis by analysis real fast for us.
How do I know if God is working in me?
How do I know if I’m doing something because I want to or because he wants me to?
How do I make sure I’m not relying on my own work?
We know what to do and whether it’s us or God if we don’t do it we’re being disobedient. God is the cause and we are the effect. It’s a fruitless endeavor to try to parse out the when or how God’s working produces our work just like it’s a fruitless endeavor to try to figure out what the background processes are that make it possible for you to type a paragraph.
What’s important coming out of this text is to understand that our relationship to God through the gospel is not static, it’s not passive, it’s active and dynamic.
Because of the gospel we work to be the body of Christ here and now, to manifest a unity that only comes through faith in Jesus.
Application Questions:
Read Philippians 1:27-2:13. Considering all of this focus we’ve had on unity from 1:27 until now, why is disunity such a big concern for Paul? Why should it be a concern for us? What are some of the threats to the unity of our church?
Why doesn’t the let-go-and-let-God approach work? Why doesn’t the “God helps those who helps themselves” approach work?
How would you use a passage like this to encourage Christian struggling under the weight of feeling burdened by the commands of Scripture? How would you encourage them if they felt like God was a disappointed Father?
Read John 15:4-5. What does it look like for us to abide in Jesus and how does that help us work out our salvation with fear and trembling?