Philippians 2:12-16 Work out your own salvation

turn Bibles

The last time we were together we saw

the humble obedience of Jesus

as He served and served and served.

now Paul is going to show us

how we can humbly

obey and serve Him.

so today we are going to first

look at the text

with its meaning and context

then we will focus on the main points

that applies to us all.

as it has to do with our growth

as believers.

pray

Philippians 2:12–16 NKJV

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now 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 do for His good pleasure. 14 Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.

Paul here wants the Philippian church to do well

and he shows them how

as he is preparing to close out his ministry on earth

which Paul is rejoicing about

he is not saying

anything about fear, or dread,

or how he will miss them

Paul is rejoicing over

his soon death.

now he hopes that his service for

the Philippians faith wont be

in vain

Paul says that in the day of Christ

he wants to be able to rejoice

that his work for the Philippians

wasnt done in vain

that he didnt labor over them in vain.

Paul had done a lot for them.

he didnt want the end result

being that they just didnt follow through

that they gave up.

every person that has

discipled someone

wants to know that

they didnt waste their

time or efforts

every teacher wants to know

that their efforts were useful

and beneficial.

thats where we get in the first part of first 12

Paul acknowledges their previous obedience

even while he has been away.

as he says

Philippians 2:12 (NKJV)

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, ....

they have been obedient and that is great

but what was done in past is in the past

He wants this church do well

moving forward.

and so the meat of this section

the focus text for this section

is seen in the last part of verse 12 to beginning of verse 16

here he commissions this church

with what they need

to continue walking with God.

that will keep his work in them from being

in vain.

these are the ways that we can humbly obey

as we follow the example of Jesus.

which will be some great

applications for us

so we will look a little closer

of verses 12-16

to just understand it

then will focus on

its key points.

lets looks at the last part of verse 12 and verse 13

Philippians 2:12 (NKJV)

12 ...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;

phil 2.13

Philippians 2:13 NKJV

13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

so first we see to

work out your own salvation

now this is NOT “work to earn your own salvation.”

Paul never would teach that

This is not a work for your salvation

this work out

your salvation

This is a call to put forth real effort

into their Christian lives.

By Jesus we are saved and

so a new life is worked into us

as we are born again.

what is worked out is a transformed life

as the result of forgiveness

so

this is not saying that we save ourselves

because it says its God who works in us

that we are to work out what God is

working in us.

so whats being worked out is

a transformed life

a work of God that has taken place in our hearts from God

Now we should note with how this

is to be worked out...

we are to work out our salvation

with fear and trembling

this doesn't mean we live our lives in fear

of hell

but of not living out the purposes, plans,

and desires God has for us.

we dont have to live in trembling like a guilty sinner

but a joyful trembling

of wanting to serve and do what God wants.

so as God works in us a desire a will to

do what He wants

(whether to love others, to serve, to give, and to grow,)

it is our responsibility to work that out

into our lives

to work out what He has worked in

and may there be a fear and trembling

to not work that out.

and not just should those inner attitudes

of the will, and fear and trembling

but the next verse shares a couple of

more so outer attitudes

that we should have

when seeking to please God

read verse 14

Philippians 2:14 NKJV

14 Do all things without complaining and disputing,

It doesnt say complain and dispute a little

it doesnt say call it venting and its okay

unlike rebellious Israel of the Old Testament

that complained and disputed with God

during the wilderness sojourn

on ur Christian journey

we should do God’s will

without complaining and disputing.

because

as verse says

read verse 15

Philippians 2:15 (NKJV)

15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

This world is crooked and perverse

the word used for crooked also can mean bent

or tangled

so this world is bent on evil

its tangled in sin

perverse means

to turn different ways

to twist about

its going every different direction

then the way to God

so we are to be lights as we live

in the midst of this world

which means we should be different

in the next verse we will see how

we can be a light

not just in how we act

but in how we handle the gospel.

read verse 16

Philippians 2:16 (NKJV)

16 holding fast the word of life,

the greek word for holding fast

is a word that has been used to describe how someone

would be holding forth a torch

the word of life

in context Paul is likely

referring specifically to the gospel.

but this also can be viewed

as the Word of God

that living and active

which holds the message of eternal life

so i picture

like a torch

raise lift up

hold tightly

to the Word of God

so here we see to continue to move forward

without Paul

this church and ourselves will grow:

in these 3 ways from verses 12-16

1. Work out what God has worked in you (v.12-13)

As God has personally saved you

He has a personal work in you

as you are born again.

a new creation

we have been created for good works to walk in.

so while by no work on our own

will save us.

we can work out our salvation

by letting its effect come out

Our salvation is the beginning to a new life and new work.

Since we are right with God

dont we want to get to know God more?

Since our sins are forgiven

doesn't that cause us to

want to live differently?

these are some effects of salvation

that take place in our hearts

that God has worked in us.

Salvation gives us the opportunity to grow

I can leave my old nature

thats selfish, corrupt, wicked

and take on a new nature from God

that is love, selfless, and that has meaning and purpose

and so we get to work out what God has worked in us

its a transformed life.

for Him not for us.

as God has worked in us

maybe a desire/will to know Him more

maybe a desire/will to live a more righteous life

how will we work that out of us?

maybe God has worked in us

to like Christ

serve,

to seek out the lost

to help the hurting

Will we work those things out?

its God who works in

but its us who are to work them out.

this allows us to personally

do God’s work

whats the point of God

putting things in our hearts

if we dont bring them out?

God has done His part.

He is working in you

Its our part to work it out, to do it.

a good question to ask ourselves is

what has God been working in you

that you need to work out of you?

Maybe we should start

with

has God worked in us to

will … to want… to desire

to please Him?

Do we have that desire

to please God

to love God

to do good for God?

Then the next thing to ask ourselves is

what has God worked in you?

This may be a work for you to grow personally

or a work God has for you to help others grow.

He may be working in your heart

a desire to grow

to learn more about Him

or to address pains in your heart

and some inward battles

maybe God has worked in you

a burden to help , someone, or at church, or be a part of some ministry

He may be giving you a heart for kids

or the sick or the abused

but whatever

God has sown in your heart

has been entrusted to you

For every believer one thing God has

worked in all of our hearts is seen in Romans 5:5

Romans 5:5 NKJV

5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

His love has been poured in hearts.

that has been entrusted to you

but God has a plan and purpose for us all

we all have a place in the body of Christ

and so

if unsure

Pray to God

and ask Him

to work in you

There is so many hurting broken people

so many lost

God cares so much

He loves so much

He sees so much

pain and hurt

He sees the lost

and He wants to use us

to show His love

to be lights

the work is plenty the laborers are few

If you ask God to work in your heart

He will, That greek word for work

where it says in verse 13

“ it is God who works in you “

is in the present tense

its a continual action of God

He will give you

a work to be worked out

whether its personal or

people to love

or a a church to serve

and as the Lord works in you

know that is an amazing gift

entrusted to you

and its also an important one

It is one thing to will to do something

it is another thing to actually do it

IF Gods love toward us

that He has put in our hearts

causes us to want to love others

then what are we going to do about it?

If God who has served and given so much to us

causes us to want to serve and give

what are going to do about it?

if our own salvation has caused us

to want others to be saved

then what are we going to do about it?

Has God put in our hearts to help hurting people

then what are we going to do about it?

God has given us all a calling

He has a purpose for us

Its the opportunity for us to rise up

and follow the call He has for us.

to be about something more then self

and its own struggles and pains

as we hold onto our hope of heaven

like Paul is in Philippians

knowing that what is ahead is far greater

we can press on

and work out what

God has worked in

to be about something bigger

something greater

thats the amazing gift

the amazing love of God

that while we deserved Hell

with eternal seperation from God

by His love He saved us

and gave us a home in heaven

and a work to live out!

what God calls for each of us to do

no matter how big or little it may seem

is an incredible blessing that we get to do

that we didn't deserve

which leads us to the next

point of our obedience

2. Do God’s work with the right attitude (v.12-14)

As it is an amazing opportunity

to be able to do His work

how we do it is also important.

we need to be careful of the attitudes

we have when we do God’s work

if we do God’s work dreading it

we are missing the point

we are misrepresenting Christ

who humbly served, and lovingly gave

and when it comes to being a light

who in this rooked world

would want to be a part

of something that is being complained about

If we are complaining about

serving the Lord

what a terrible witness

like we saw in the last study

Jesus served and served and served

He never complained

but also Paul mentions that as we do

God’s work to do it without disputing

If we act like the world

and claim to have been transformed

or born again

It shows harm when we should be showing love

if we are complaining and disputing

it is a misrepresentation of who Christ is

and what we should be about

and so doing those things puts us at fault

We are to be lights in this crooked

and perverse generation

this world is dark,

we dont need to be acting like them

God will be working in us love

so they should be seeing love worked out of us

we are to be known for the love we have for one another

this doesnt mean

we will always agree with each other

but we need to lovingly

sort out any disagreements.

otherwise we are just acting like the world

and handling it all like the world

so lets flip it

we should work out what God has worked in us

with joy and thankfulness

its an honor and privilege we

are considered sons and daughters of God

that we get serve Him

and be a part of His work

we are part of God’s eternal kingdom

may we have joy serving and being a part of it

...

So whether God’s work for you

seems lowly

like Jesus washing feet

or seems great like

doing the work of an evangelist

its an incredible blessing

and opportunity

to serve the Lord

so let that be done

with joy, and thanks.

because as this texts says

we are in the midst of a crooked and perverse world

being joyful and thankful is powerful

and so

note it doesnt say we run from the world

or hide from it

or move away from it

but that in the midst of the world

we shine as lights

but the question for us is

is how brightly do we shine

and so may we have a fear and trembling

in doing God’s work with the right attitude

so that we dont

miss out on the work He has for us

or misrepresent Him

or not shine as lights to this world.

which takes us to our last section today.

3. Hold fast to the word of life. (v.16)

Remember this gave us the picture

of holding up the gospel

like a torch

Spurgeon said

“You are to hold forth the Word of life as men hold forth a torch. Your shining is largely to consist in holding forth the Word of life.”

in ancient harbors

torches were lit

to direct the ships

on where to go

how else could the ship see?

it was important for those torches to be lit

so they could be directed where to go.

In the same way

the way we hold the Word of God

is a light

that brings others to God

How high are we setting the torch?

Is the light dimmed

is the light hidden?

as we saw in the previous section

from the last message Jesus

gave His life to bring others to Him

Are we seriously going to

take His salvation

then hide it

from others

what Jesus worked so hard to do

how terrible it would be

to hide it from others

the message of the Word of life

should be held high

Its the message that saved us that changes us

its where often God works in us

other people need this to

When you light a candle

or a torch

some of the wax is consumed

If we are going to shine for Christ,

we must give of ourselves.

it will take sacrifice

it will take loss

but it will never take more

then what Jesus already has done for us

so may we never complain

or dispute with God or others

as He willingly suffered on the cross for us

being a light, lifting up the Word of life

is a privilege, an honor

as worship team comes forward

....

these 3 commands

1. Work out your salvation (v.12)

2. Do God’s will with the right attitude (v.13-14)

3. Hold fast to the word of life. (v.16)

So work out what God has worked in you

and do it with the right attitude

with joy and thankfulness

not complaining and disputing

so that we can shine as lights in this world

raising up the word of life

that brings people to God.

turn Bibles to Gal 5.

to reject the Lord work in us

is to have the flesh continue to have its way in us

Where God has given us His Spirit so we no longer have

to live bound to cravings of the flesh

where

Galatians 5:16 NKJV

16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

whether I

I walk in the Spirit

or

I am working out my salvation

our part in the work

is to obey

its essentially me relying on Him

looking to Him.

saying yes God

As He sanctifies and does the work in our life

otherwise if I dont

I am walking in the flesh

or I am working out my own

wants and desries

I am doing things my way

that doesnt please God

its doesnt bear lasting fruit

and we miss out on

what God was wanting from us

Now part of the sanctification / the work of God

is that there is a war between the flesh and the Spirit

read v.17-25

as Gal 5:17-25

Galatians 5:17–25 NKJV

17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

you can turn back to Phil 2

One thing that God has worked in all believers

its seen in Romans 5:5

Romans 5:5 NKJV

5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

He has worked His love in us.

and so as He has worked His love in us

He will work in us to do

which could be seen in sharing His love to others.

now that is something all believers have