A Faithful Church: Five Imperatives to Hem toegther Humble Christ-Honoring Unity in the Church

What makes this short clever commentary on the church funny is its sad reality. We laugh because we know it can be difficult to get along with each other during different seasons of our life and the life of the church. It is much easier to let love cover a multitude of sins when the church, community, and home are in a season of joy, or at least mundane routine. This get gritty when suffering and hardship press into the lives of believers.

In Philippians 4:2, Paul has two women who are not getting a long. It must have been a real problem that was fracturing the church because Paul felt the need to opening address the issue in his letter. In fairness to the ladies, there was likely grumbling and disputing toward the leadership and toward each other happening as well. Paul felt the need to address the entire church about grumbling and disputing in our text this morning. Grumbling and disputing in the church is the loose thread that gets pulled that unravels the harmony and unity we enjoy in Christ. How do we protect it?

Over the last couple of weeks we have seen Paul command the church to take the initiative to stand firm in the faith with one heart by setting their mind on Christ’s humility. He reminds the church of the Spirit of Christ who empowers every believer not only take the initiative, but to work it out. As we draw to Philippians 2:12-18, Paul now offers us five imperatives we can hem together to strengthen our unity.

Make your heavenly citizenship a reality now by working out the salvation promised to you in the future (Philippians 2:12).

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,

Some have tried to argue that Paul’s view of salvation here is the social relationships of the community. Work on the the salvation of the community, that is the social harmony or corporate well being of the community. People who hold this view contend that the word for salvation has been used in this senses in Greek literature. For example, in the annual feast to Zeus in Magnesia, the priest prays “for the salvation of the city, country, citizens, wives, children, and other residents, for peace for wealth, for growth of the grain and other fruits and cattle.” Walter Hansen notes that Plato thought that the duty of the ruler to save the state, “not just preserve it from out destruction but also maintain it as a constitutionally ordered state. In the new Testament, the term is used to mean good health in Mark 3:4; Acts 4:9; 14:9; 27:34). (Hansen, G. Walter. 2009. The Letter to the Philippians. The Pillar New Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.) So, the idea is that Paul may have intended this meaning of social well-being and corporate health in this context when he called for the Philippians to work our their salvation.

Although the evidence looks good for this interpretation, the fact is the word is primarily used as an eschatological term, a future term, a term that speaks to our future deliverance. Consider for a moment Paul’s use of the word salvation in Philippians 1:28

Philippians 1:28 ESV

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.

Salvation here means God’s future deliverance. Paul has the same idea in mind in Philippians 3:20-21

Philippians 3:20–21 ESV

20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

He expects a future Savior from heaven who will not only deliver his people but transform their bodies. In the immediate context of our text, Paul looks to the Day of Christ Jesus, a future day where Jesus triumphantly fulfills the salvation he promised to his elect (Philippians 2:16). This is the day where every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord (Philippians 2:11). So, Paul uses this word in a eschatological sense, a future salvation. What does Paul, however, think of salvation?

Paul believes that God saves sinners through believing the message of the gospel. Paul says in Romans 1:16

Romans 1:16 ESV

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Furthermore, that salvation is immediate. For those who believe the gospel and receive God’s grace, the eschatological day of salvation is today: “now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor 6:2) (Hansen, G. Walter. 2009. The Letter to the Philippians. The Pillar New Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.) Therefore, when Paul says, “work our your salvation with fear and trembling, what he means is, those who have God’s salvation now are to live it out now within the believing community. That is live as you already are, citizens of heaven, in the salvation that that will ultimately come in the future. Walter Hansen brings to light this idea when he says

“The church is an eschatological community, a colony of heaven. But in order for the heavenly reality to be a present, earthly experience, believers need to work out the salvation promised to them. Paul desires to see an ecclesiological fulfillment of the eschatological promise of salvation.” Walter Hansen

What Hansen means is the church is in an exile. We are foreigners who make up a colony from heaven on earth. We are to work out our salvation, our new citizenship, our new way of life, the way we will live in heaven, on earth. As all of heaven is unified in love and obedience to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, so the church works out that same love and obedience for the sake of unity in the same manner, proving to the world we are God’s people. Paul wants to see the church (ecclesiological) fulfill the future (eschatological) promise of salvation by working it out on earth.

Make your heavenly citizenship a reality now by working out the salvation promised to you in the future. Do this with fear and trembling, or do tis with an heart attitude set on worship. Protect the unity of the church with humble Christ-honoring, heaven-centered worship that loves the Lord our God with every ounce our our being and our neighbor as ourselves on earth as it is in heaven, and will be in heaven when Jesus returns.

Be confident that God joyfully initiates, sustains, and completes the good work He began in you (Philippians 2:13).

Philippians 2:13 ESV

13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

P{aul follows his imperative for the Philippian church to work out their salvation with fear and trembling with the encouragement that it is God who is at work in them for His good pleasure. Going back to Philippians 1:6

Philippians 1:6 ESV

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.

God is the one who initiates the good work of salvation in the church. He promises to sustain the work and complete the work according to his good desire. If the Philippians mistaking believe they are to build the heaven colony so to speak on their own they will be frustrated by self ambitions, selfish-centeredness, and conceit. Human nature is sinful and self-centered and shreds the very fabrics of unity in any community.

Psalm 127:1 (ESV)

1 Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain...

Paul encourages the Philippian church by reminding them that God is the one who works in you. The Greek verb for works means “to put ones capabilities into operation, work, be at work, be active, operate, and be effective.” God’s unlimited power and ability is operational, active, and effective in every believer. You might ask, how? Every believer is indwelled with the Holy Spirit. God put his Spirit inside of you to regenerate your heart, illuminate your mind, transform your desires and your life. The Holy Spirit is the source of your strength and wisdom to work out your salvation. John MacArthur wisely notes,

The Holy Spirit is not the goal of the Christian life but is its source. He is not the product of faithful living but is the power behind it. A higher level of living does not bring the Holy Spirit; rather submission to the Holy Spirit, who already indwells the believer, includes a higher level of living.

John F. MacArthur

The Holy Spirit works to sanctify you and transform you into the image of the Son and at the same time works to sanctify the community and transform the church into a community of heaven. That is the will and pleasure of God.

Let your words shine as stars in a dark sky leading the lost to the kingdom (Philippians 2:14-16).

Philippians 2:14–16 ESV

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.

As we’ve already noted, Jesus came to earth with a mission.

Mark 10:45 ESV

45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

The bible also describes Jesus as the Word

John 1:1–3 ESV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

John 1:14 ESV

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The gospel is the good news, a message, about the Son of God coming to serve mankind with his life, death, resurrection and ascension. Jesus placed a great deal of emphasis on your words and your deeds. Jesus says, from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34). He also said, you know a tree by its fruit. A good tee produces good fruit and a bad tress produces bad fruit (Matthew 7:15-20). Your actions and your words mean something to Jesus, and Paul says that the church must do all things (words and deeds) without grumbling and disputing.

All things refers to everything in the three spheres of life: the church, community, and home. Your Christian faith is all encompassing of every aspect of your life: your marriage, your parenting, grand-parenting, your job, you volunteering, and your ministry and relationships in the church. To grumble is to complain, speak of displeasure, expressed in murmuring and behind-the-scenes talk; often in conversations of gossip. It refers to secret talk about fellow believers and possibly the leaders. To dispute is to be argumentative, or to have an unhealthy desire to debate.

Paul’s use of grumbling and disputing echoes back to Israel’s attitude in the wilderness. Israel constantly complained against God’s sovereignty, faithfulness, provision, and protection. They also grumbled agaisnt Moses and Aaron for their leadership decisions. It angered God to see such faithlessness, especially considering all the wonderful works He did to prove Himself to His people. In the way Israel grumbled against God, so the Philippians were in danger of grumbling agaisnt the Lord and each other.

Paul does not say why the church might be grumbling and disputing, but there are some clues in the text that may indicate that their hearts were hardening toward the Lord and each other. First, Paul spent a good portion of his letter calling the church to be unified (1:27-2:2). In chapter 2, he specifically calls them to forsake selfish ambition (1:17; 2:3) and he commends them to welcome their leader Epaphroditus and people like him (2:29). He corrects Euodia and Syntyche of their divisiveness and pleads for them to be reconciled (4:2). Furthermore, one might see his unusual mention of overseers and deacons in his salutation and his instruction to follow those who live as Paul and his companions as an indicator the church was struggling to follow the leadership (3:17). (Hansen, G. Walter. 2009. The Letter to the Philippians. The Pillar New Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.) In some ways, the Philippian church was falling into the same pattern of sin as Israel in the wilderness, and this was dangerous for their faith and the unity of the church.

First off, grumbling is divisive and raises doubts in the faith of believers. Moreover, grumbling comes from a heart of unbelief. Unbelief was Israel’s biggest problem in the wilderness. They would not believe God and the Philippian was showing signs of unbelief through their grumbling and disputing with each other and the leadership. Paul says as much when he offers the reason why you should not grumble in verse 15.

Philippians 2:15 ESV

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,

The blameless and innocent are those who are in Christ Jesus. Those in Christ are children of God without blemish who contrast the the world’s darkness with their light. The grumbling and disputing is coming from an unbelieving heart that does not shine God’s glory in the darkness. Grumbling and complaining is wordly. You are not working out your salvation with fear and trembling when you grumble and complain and argue. You are revealing unbelief. You are not shinning as lights in a crooked and twisted generation. Jesus said blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God. He said let your light so shine before the world so that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Grumbling and disputing are not a good work of God but a work of Satan; the great Slanderer, the father of lies.Martin Luther says,

9856 Satan is a chronic grumbler. The Christian ought to be a living doxology.

Martin Luther

A heart ruled by Jesus works out their salvation by being a living doxology; a living song of praise and thankfulness to God. The church who works out its salvation then should be a living doxology that sings a chorus of harmonious praise of God that is heard and seen by a dark and lost world.

Paul says we are lights in the world. The term Paul uses for lights can be used to describe the stars in the night sky sailors used for navigation. When you are content in Christ you shine as a light in a dark world. When your words are filled with God-honoring, Christ-exalting, Bible-saturated Church-loving truth, your words guide those who are lost in the kingdom of darkness home to the kingdom of God.

Church, our attitudes toward each other and the words we use with each other matter to the advancement of the kingdom of God. Have you ever noticed that when the church is divided the community and home suffer division? When the community and home hear us grumble and argue with each other, the light of Jesus does not shine and the community and home cannot see the good work of salvation of the Father and give him glory. So they remain in the darkness, lost, heading toward eternal condemnation. Grumbling and disputing keep the church from fulfilling the gReat Commission.

Guard your heart from unbelief. Guard your tongue from grumbling and disputing with each other and the leadership. Let your words shine as stars in the dark sky that lead the lost to the kingdom of God.

Keep the Judgment seat of Christ before every conversation in the church, community, and home (Philippians 2:16).

Philippians 2:16 ESV

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.

One of the ways you can guard your tongue from grumbling and disputing is by keeping the Great White Throne of Judgment before every conversation in the church, community and home. In verse 16, Paul says to hold fast to the word of life, that is the gospel. Keep the gospel at the forefront of everything you say and do. That should be the attitude of every believer with every relationship they have tin the three spheres of life. We are always about the Great Commission; joyfully advancing the kingdom of God by making much of Jesus until the church, community, and home joyfully abide in Jesus.

Paul offers another purpose statement as to why you should do this. He says, “so that in the day of Christ I may be proud I did not run in vain or labor in vain.” The day of Christ refers to the judgement seat of Christ. All of us will give an account to Jesus for our life and ministry on earth.

Paul says in,

2 Corinthians 5:10 ESV

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul’s concern was not how the Corinthians felt about him, but that Christ would judge his works in time and bring everything into light that is now hidden in the darkness (1 Cor 4:1-5). In his letter to the Romans, Paul encourages the church not to pas judgment on each other or to despise each other. Why?

Romans 14:10–12 (ESV)

10 .....For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; 11 for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” 12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

Jesus taught his disciples,

Matthew 12:36–37 ESV

36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

There is coming a day, Christian, where Jesus will unravel your entire life, every word, thought, and deed. Everything you’ve done in the name of Jesus for the kingdom will be rewarded. Everything else will be destroyed. So, Paul wants the church to grow in maturity through this season of suffering so that when He gives an account to Jesus for his ministry he will be proud of his work in Philippi.

Finish the race strong by stirring each other up with joy in the midst of suffering (Philippians 2:17-18).

Philippians 2:17–18 ESV

17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

In verse 17, Paul offers his heart for the Philippians once again. To be poured out as a drink offering is to suffer death for Jesus. If Paul must die as a martyr for their Jesus as he serves the Philippian church, he does not resent the opportunity. This was a real concern for Paul considering he was writing the letter from a Roman prison cell. Paul was suffering for preaching the same gospel that the Philippian church was suffering persecution. Instead of grumbling about their hard circumstances, use your words to stir each other up with joy.

Please note that Paul is not referring to becoming a masochist; those who espouse to be happy by being miserable. No one should look forward to suffering or even ask for it. Suffering is part of living in a broken world. When it comes because of our love for Jesus and each other, however, we must embrace it as a gift from the Lord (Phil 1:28). Joy is a major theme in Paul’s letter and he often commands the church to rejoice when it id difficult. Furthermore, Paul emphasis that their partnership with the Spirit and each other makes suffering bearable and even joyful because they do it together for the glory of Jesus. Therefore, finish your race strong by using your words to stir each other up with joy, not grumbling and disputing, when suffering comes for Jesus.

A different Story...

The world is use to the church fighting and bickering. It feels like our greatest strategy for church planting has been churches splitting. Churches that do not protect the unity of the body eventually fracture. My prayer for FBCL is that we will fight for each other, not with each other. I pray that we will,

Make your heavenly citizenship a reality now by working out the salvation promised to you in the future (Philippians 2:12).

Be confident that God joyfully initiates, sustains, and completes the good work He began in you (Philippians 2:13).

Let your words shine as stars in a dark sky leading the lost to the kingdom (Philippians 2:14-16).

Keep the Judgment seat of Christ before every conversation in the church, community, and home (Philippians 2:16).

Finish the race strong by stirring each other up with joy in the midst of suffering (Philippians 2:17-18).

We can be a different story, a great story of Christ’s unity with His bride. And out unity can preach the gospel to a dark and crooked generation.

To dwell above with saints in love,

O my! that will be glory,

To dwell below with saints we know,

Will display such Christ-honoring unity the world has ever known!

Related Media

Related Sermons