Humility Vindicated

Before moving on to speak of Timothy and Epaphroditus, Paul has one last command for our growth and edification and the glory of God.

And he again gives us a plain instruction and the reason for it

Paul with something of a run-on sentence that gives us a full explanation of what we are to do, why, and the result. Vv. 14-16 is one long sentence in the original Greek and it’s broken up into three parts, and the first part is the command.

Paul says, “Do all things without grumbling or disputing.” This is about as straightforward as one can get. Do all things without grumbling or disputing. That seems to cover just about every aspect of life.

Now this verse lacks something that connects it to the previous verses. That as we work out our salvation we are to do so without grumbling or complaining. So we could say, “Do all things pertaining to working our your salvation without grumbling or disputing.” And I think there is of course merit to that.

But I think this is an all-encompassing statement. For one, in the original language, it literally says, “All things do.” And we have seen that Paul has been honing in on the way the individual believer is to live their lives daily. He is focused on instructing the believers on how they are to live for God and grow in sanctification. He is likely continuing here by saying that as we do this, and as we do everything in life, we must refrain from grumbling as we do so.

This is another imperative, so Paul is again giving us a command we are to follow as citizens of heaven. As believers, as brothers and sisters in Christ, why should we grumble and complain? After what we have seen Christ endure in this chapter already how could we find fault with God or doubt Him?

Paul is instructing us that as we strive for humility, as we live lives obedient to the commands or God, and as we go about every other aspect of our lives we should do so in a spirit of contentment. And the reason I use the word contentmentis because of Paul’s harkening back to the OT and the themes found there. In particular when it regards obedience and here, grumbling.

I would bring your attention to the word that Paul uses here for grumbling. It can mean grumbling or complaining. And it is seen throughout the NT. It was used in John 7 when the people grumbled amongst themselves about Jesus on whether He was a good man or leading people astray. It is used to describe the complaints in Acts 6 between the Hellenistic Jewish believers and the Hebrew Jewish believers and the overlooking of the formers widows.

But Paul also uses it in 1 Cor. 10. In chapter 10 Paul is warning believers to avoid the errors of ancient Israel and he does so in detail. He writes in 1 Cor. 10:7-12, “Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, “THE PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND DRINK, AND STOOD UP TO PLAY.” Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents. Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.”

Just as Paul was instructing the Corinthians, he is doing so with the Philippians and with us. That word for grumbling both in Philippians as well as 1 Cor. is the same as the LXX, seven times, when referring to the grumbling of Israel in the Wilderness. And we know what fate befell them.

No, what I am not saying is that the next time the church business meeting does not go the way we want it to we will swallowed up by the earth or a plague will come. But Paul is painting a pretty bleak picture when it comes to how God regards His people when we fail to be content with what the Lord has provided or in some cases withheld.

And we are also not to dispute. Now this word is a little harder to deal with. It comes from the Greek word which means thought, reasoning, or opinion. Now that sounds a little far-fetched to translate this as disputing. But when we see how it is used elsewhere in the NT we see that it never has a positive feel when it regards thoughts. It is used to express doubt, evil thoughts and motives, and even ill thoughts against Christ by the Jewish leaders.

So here disputing might not be the best translation, especially given the context Paul has set up. So, we could better understand this is doubtingor questioning. Which, when coupled with grumbling makes sense.

Paul is calling to mind the murmuring, complaining, and doubting of ancient Israel against God which happened constantly throughout its history. He is saying, “Be content and trust the Lord.”

So We have the command in this long sentence, and now Paul gives us the why, the purpose. Why is it that we should do all things with contentment and trust?

Verse 15, “so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world.”

The reason we should live thus is that it vindicates us. We are shown to be children of God. Notice Paul does not say, “Do this to become blameless and innocent children of God.” We were made children of God at the moment of salvation and that not through any merit or work of our own.

But by our content and humble obedience we are shown to be children of God not simply by proclamation but by visible evidence. Both to believers and unbelievers. There is no denying who it is that we belong to. And if we belong to Christ we are blameless and innocent. Who can bring a charge against God’s elect? No one, because we are children of God.

And it is interesting to note that Paul is still reaching back to the OT. Here he is clearly referencing and even inverting Deuteronomy 32:5 to show the difference between believers in the New Covenant and those of Faithless Israel under the Old. Look at the similarities and differences between the two verses.

Philippians 2:15 reads, “so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world.”

And now Deut. 32:5, “They have acted corruptly toward Him, They are not His children, because of their defect; But are a perverse and crooked generation.”

Where Israel had become the perverse and crooked generation, we now live in the midst of one. And if that was true 2,000 years ago it is just as true now. And this flows into the rest of this purpose clause.

As we live in this crooked and perverse generation, this fallen world, we appear as lights. This word for lights is translated as stars, or luminaries in older translations. They are the celestial lights and bodies we see at night.

This most likely brings to mind the commands of our Lord to be salt and light in a dark world. As we live in this world we are to have a purifying, cleansing, and illuminating quality as we share the Gospel, minister to others, and live for Christ. And that is certainly true.

But again, Paul even here is referencing the OT and in this instance, he is making reference to that final day of Christ.

To paint the picture of the believers' identity as lights in the world he pulls from Daniel 12. This is the only other instance in all of Scripture that describes God’s people as stars or shining like stars. And in this portion of Daniel, he is speaking of those latter days.

Daniel 12:1-3 reads, “Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued. “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. “Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.”

We see in this passage the resurrection of the dead which we know will come at the end of days. There are those who will be raised and enter into the new heavens and new earth. Who will enjoy perfect fellowship with one another and perfect communion with the Lord. But there are also those who will be raised and will be cast out of the Lord’s presence into eternal darkness. But those whose names are found in the book, will shine with the brightness of the stars forever and ever.

Paul recognizes the times that the Philippians lived in. The 1st century was not kind to the church. And I believe it is a testament to the truth that Christ will build His church and that the gates of Hell will not prevail against it that it has survived thus far and will continue to survive.

And we now are certainly aware of the increasing hostility to the Gospel and to God’s people these days. I’m not trying to draw comparisons between the early church and the church today. But while circumstances and conditions change, the truth of God’s Word does not. And so we must live for Christ just as those who came before us did. We must be lights in this world and doing so vindicates us as believers and proves that one day we will be as the stars as we bask in the glory of our God.

Paul’s pointing into the redemptive future by reaching to revelation past was likely not lost on the Philippians and should not be lost on us. The message of the Bible has not changed over the centuries, even over the centuries in which it was recorded.

The message has always been God is great and a great savior.

Paul finishes this purpose clause with the holding onto the word of life. This word for holding fast has the sense of application or fixing one’s attention on. As Paul has used Scripture to explain his instructions he makes sure we know that it’s not enough to be told the Word, but we must be in the word. We must apply the word. We must chew on and digest God’s revelation to us if we are to live without grumbling and disputing. If we are to have the attitude of Christ. We must have God’s Word ever before us, ever in our minds, and ever in our hearts.

And now Paul gives us the result of living this way, “so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.” The so that clues us in that if the previous instruction is done by the Philippians it will result in what follows. The result is Paul’s pride and joy in his spiritual children.

Now this is of course not Paul boasting. It is the natural joy that results in one who has poured his life into others in service to the Lord. This is the joy that the pastor has when his congregation grows in sanctification and spiritual maturity. He does not look in a mirror, smile, or pat himself on the back. He instead gives all the glory to God who has wrought such things. It is joy in the grace of God working in others.

And ultimately it will be the joy of seeing the perfecting work of God in others come to its full and final consummation as Paul mentioned in Philippians 1:6. That the good work begun by God in us will be finished.

It is yet another vindication, here for Paul, and today for the pastors of our day. A vindication that they were not engaging in a fruitless endeavor when they mounted the pulpit. That they did not run or toil for no reason.

It is one more reason that we should pray for our pastors over the burdens that they carry in shepherding a flock.

Just as Christ poured himself out for the Philippians the faithful pastor today does the same. The preaching of the Word and the administering of the sacraments or ordinances are no small task or light task and it is the primary responsibility of the pastor. It is a heavy responsibility, and when the pastor sees his congregation grow in sanctification and maturity by those means of grace it can do nothing but build joy within him.

And we continue to see the pastor’s heart in these final verses. And we also see one of the major themes of this epistle, and that is of joy. In fact we see that joy is expressed no less than four times in these two verses.

Paul writes, “But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share all my joy with you all.”

I don’t know if Paul knew at this point or maybe had an idea of how his life would end, as a martyr. He had already been a firsthand witness to the death of Stephen in his youth, so he may have an idea of where his ministry career was leading him.

He certainly expresses his willingness to die for his congregation in 2 Corinthians and by 2 Timothy he knows his time is near.

But he gets ahead of that and says, “Even if I must die on your behalf and on behalf of my service towards you, that is fine.” And not only is that fine he says he will rejoice. He will express his joy even in light of his death. Why? Because of the sacrifice and service of their faith.

Paul has given his life for the Philippians, and other churches as well. As was mentioned before, how can one not be joyful when they see their spiritual children walking in the truth and serving the Lord with humility and obedience?

The life of the pastor is one of ebbs and flows because they see everything in the church. They see things that can cause great sorrow. The loss of life, quarrel, division, and those who fall away from the faith.

But they also see that which brings tremendous joy: obedience to the Word, unity, love, and growing in the faith. And here Paul expresses his joy for seeing the unity, humility and obedience of the church.

And not only that he makes it known to the Philippians. He cannot contain his joy and must share it with them. Joy for the Christian should be contagious if you’ll indulge me with this imagery.

When a brother or sister comes to us with the news that a family member has been saved and they are rejoicing over it, our joy should burst forth as well.

When we learn of a newborn coming into the world we rejoice with that family over the blessing that has been given to them.

In the same manner when we see lives of humble obedience and service to Christ we should express no less joy, and that goes for ourselves as well.

And before Paul closes this section, believe it or not, he has one final command for us. But this one is unique among the many that have been laid out thus far.

He writes, “You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.”

Now in this translation, the words I urge you, are provided in the English but are not present in the original Greek. The translators provided this to get the point across that the word rejoiceis imperative. It’s in the imperative mood. Paul is instructing us, telling us, commanding us to rejoice.

We are to have joy just as Paul had joy and to share it as he did. The Christian life is a life of joy. And I get it. The world makes it really easy to become jaded, cynical, and bitter.

I watch the same news you do. I go out into the same world you do. With a 24-hour news cycle, the internet, and social media we are constantly bombarded with things and events that try to sap us of our joy.

It was no different in the 1st-century church. They faced the overwhelming power of the Roman government and a religious system so integrated into society that they could not comprehend the Christian faith and labeled it dangerous and subversive.

But in the face of that, and in the face of the growing hostility we see today we are to be joyful. And while the list of what should bring us joy is a long one, we should just look at the text that has been before us these past weeks and see what it is that should bring us joy here.

When we are faced with opposition to the gospel and ourselves, and when we suffer on Christ’s behalf it is a confirmation of our faith and salvation, and we should rejoice.

When our faith is confirmed by our encouragement in Christ, His love, and the indwelling of the Spirit, we should rejoice.

When the church is united in one Spirit and focused on one motivation we should rejoice.

When we ponder the wonder of the incarnation and mediate on the fact that the Son of God came in human flesh and suffered utter humiliation and death for us, we should rejoice.

When we look to that final day of Christ when we bow the knee and confess Him as Lord over all, we should rejoice.

When we see God at work in our lives and within us to conform us to the image of Christ and do good works that glorify Him, we should rejoice.

And when we and our brothers and sisters walk in humble obedience to God we should rejoice. We should rejoice when the Church is like Christ.

In this epistle of joy Paul has given us the example of how to be like Christ by presenting Christ to us and giving us instruction on how to live out the Christian life in view of our Savior.

It is, to be honest, an impossible task to be exactly like Christ. How can we in the slightest come close to following perfectly in the footsteps of Christ? And yet, that is exactly what we are instructed to do. We do so because we are instructed to. We do so because we love our Lord. We do so because it is what grows and sanctifies us, despite the hardship of doing so. But rejoice, dear Christian, For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Let us pray.