Let's Work It Out...Together

Paul is writing from a Roman prison (likely the palace prison) to a church that he dearly loves and planted years before. It’s still a relatively young church in Philippi.

There aren’t a lot of Jews in Philippi. It’s a Roman outpost where citizens there had the full privilege of Roman citizenship. Philippi was setting itself up as a little Rome away from Rome.

It’s a beautiful, tender, rich letter of update, encouragement, contagious joy, instruction, all pointing to the God’s design for the individual Christian to be an integral servant in a thriving Gospel-Revealing local church body.

Philippians 2.12-18

Philippians 2:12–18 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. 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. 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.

Before we look at some of the wonderful dimensions of these verses, You need to know that there are basically 2 big ideas that we’re covering today...

2 BIG IDEAS

Work out Your Salvation…Together…with fear and trembling

Do EVERYTHING Without Grumbling or Arguing

Let’s look more closely at our text this morning...

1. Keep Obeying

“A long obedience in the same direction” (Eugene Peterson’s work on discipleship in an instant society)

Philippians 2:12–13 ESV

There’s a great contrast here between the Old Covenant People and the New Covenant People.

OCP: Deut 31.27

Deuteronomy 31:27 ESV

27 For I know how rebellious and stubborn you are. Behold, even today while I am yet alive with you, you have been rebellious against the Lord. How much more after my death!

You know the type…

the ones who only get close to the speed limit when they see the po-po.

the ones who only work hard when the boss is in town.

the ones who only engage when they’re being observed (kids, can you relate? when your teacher is being observed?)

God knows the type, too…(Isaiah 29:13, Ezekiel 33:31, Matthew 15.8 & Mark 7:6)

Matthew 15:8 ESV

8 “ ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me;

The Philippians weren’t perfect, but they weren’t hypocrites.

At the core of our relationship with Christ is obedience. Press rewind in your mind’s eye back to the wedding at Cana, hear Mary’s tender words to the servants as Jesus was about to speak...”whatever he says do, do it!”

2. Work Out Your Salvation

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,

This “working” is not talking about matters of eternal security. Instead, the focus is on the practical matters of how we ought to live out the gospel in our daily lives.

The word “your” (heautōn) (yow - tone) is plural in the passage, showing again Paul’s stress on the communal aspect of the body

We can’t do this on our own which we’ll be gloriously reminded of in the next verse. So there’s no hint of arrogance that fits the child of God - we’re coming right out of a laying-your-life-down kind of humility from the previous verses.

If we look through our highly individualized lens at this this text with its command, “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” we miss the authorial intent. This does not refer primarily to the salvation of individual believers but to working out our salvation within the church, the body of Christ.

The application of this text is first corporate (how the church must conduct itself) and then individual. This is a both/and text that focuses first on the communal conduct of the church, which, of course, includes individual behavior. The challenge to “work out your own salvation” to the Philippians was both to all of them as a body and to each of them as its members.

(Adapted from Preaching the Word: Philippians—The Fellowship of the Gospel Work out Your Common Salvation (vv. 12, 13)

This verse captures the previous calls to action given to the Philippians:

Walk in a manner worthy of the Gospel (1.27)

Be like-minded (2.2)

Consider others more important (2.3)

This verse focuses on the manner in which we’re supposed to execute these actions: with fear and trembling.

3. Fear and Trembling

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,

In the original Greek, “with fear and trembling” is at the front of the final clause for emphasis.

Believers cannot have a cavalier attitude toward obedience.

Their final salvation has a present outworking among the believing community. “Fear and trembling” (tromos kai phobos; Ex. 15:16 LXX) accompanied “salvation” (sōtēria; Ex. 14:13; 15:2) at the exodus, but there is one key difference: the “fear and trembling” at the exodus was external to Israel; it gripped the peoples surrounding them (Ex. 15:16).

God’s new covenant salvation is greater because God works fear and trembling within his people (“in you”; Phil. 2:13) because of their “salvation” (sōtēria) in Christ. The next verse will further this discussion of “fear” as that which God works within us in the new covenant.

(Benjamin L. Merkle et al., Ephesians–Philemon, ESV Expository Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2018), 158.)

Why the call to such reverence?

4. God working in us…for His pleasure.

Philippians 2:13 ESV

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

Augustine wrote, “Our deeds are our own, because of the free will producing them, and they are also God’s, because of his grace causing our free will to produce them.” And he says elsewhere, “God makes us do what he pleases by making us desire what we might not desire.”

Hebrews 13:20–21 ESV

20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

“...working in us...”

John 15:1–5 ESV

1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 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.

Nothing works…apart from Him.

Even though we live in a culture that values accomplishments far more than Christ-likeness…from Heaven’s perspective, for the sake of the Gospel-Revealing mission of the Church, and from the authority of God’s Word - NOTHING WORTH ANYTHING WORKS apart from Him.

He alone is the Author and the Finisher of our faith.

He is the head of the church.

It is in HIM ALONE that we live, and move, and have our being.

All of this is for OUR GOOD…but for HIS PLEASURE.

5. Do EVERYTHING without Grumbling

Philippians 2:14 ESV

14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing,

If it would have read simply, “don’t grumble and argue”, then many of us would have taken a pass on some demands of life. We’d say, “I’m sorry, I can’t do that without grumbling or arguing…so I shouldn’t be doing this. I don’t feel led to do that! It’s not my calling!”

The command to DO EVERYTHING WITHOUT GRUMBLING OR COMPLAINING raises the standard. Do it. Work it out! Don’t complain.

Here’s your calling: Do it…without grumbling!

In this book of joy, I want to remind you that there is no greater joy-robber than grumbling and complaining.

If we are reading Paul correctly, “do[ing] all things without grumbling or questioning” is a watershed state of the soul. Those who persist in such murmuring are not obedient to Christ and his gospel and are rejecting the divine call to “work out your own salvation.”

They impede their own souls and the souls of their brothers and sisters in this matter.

They are undertows to the body of Christ. So if you are one of these people, understand that when you finally stand before your Savior, you will answer with shame. (R. Kent Hughes)

Grumbling: Poisonous, Contagious

Disputing/Arguing: Constant Questioning, Second-Guessing, sowing seeds of discord and rebellion. You’ve met these people, they’re “contrarians”.

“It’s rarely the complaint club or the grumble group that do the heavy lifting in the church.”

This is what it looks like to work it out together. But this is hard work. Tony Merida brings some helpful grace to the matter:

Why would Paul mention this temptation to grumble? One reason is obvious: Christian perseverance is difficult. Discipleship isn’t an easy road. Pursuing holiness, giving generously, practicing hospitality, loving one’s spouse and kids appropriately, sharing the gospel, and other facets of Christian discipleship could tempt one to complain and murmur. The temptation to complain and argue is not only a temptation personally; it’s a big temptation corporately as well. Remember the context: the Philippian church had some internal strife (4:2-3; see also 1:27–2:4). They also had external pressure (1:28). These problems could lead one to complain both to God and to one another. Complaining is a temptation for anyone in a local church because people often can’t live up to the expectations of others. At some point, the pastors, the small group leaders, the singers, the greeters, or your accountability partner will disappoint you. What will you do? You will be tempted to complain.

(Merida, Tony. Exalting Jesus in Philippians (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) (pp. 110-111). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.)

That’s about as counter-cultural as we can get…but that requires us to go to war with our flesh, submit to one another, GET IN THE WORD SO THE WORD CAN GET INTO US…and we do this WELL when we do it together.

When we do this, we

6. Shine In A Dark World

Philippians 2:15–16 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, 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.

Blameless

Innocent - (unmixed, in this world but not mixed up in this world)

Children of God

without blemish

All of this is in start contrast to the world around the Philippians:

crooked

twisted

It was in stark contrast even to the Old Covenant People:

Deuteronomy 32:5 ESV

5 They have dealt corruptly with him; they are no longer his children because they are blemished; they are a crooked and twisted generation.

In Paul’s mind, these calls to specific behavior are about shining God’s light in a dark and dying world.

You cannot shine brightly as a reflection of His glory, if you don’t hold fast to the Word of Life, the Scriptures, the Whole Counsel of God. How do you hold fast?

memorize it

believe it

live it

share it

Not only will obedience draw us closer to God and help us experience His blessing, it also accomplishes God’s larger purpose - to make himself known to the nations!

I see this beautifully in Heb 12.14-15

Hebrews 12:14–15 ESV

14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;

7. Make me proud / Make it count

Philippians 2:16–18 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. 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.

Not an unhealthy pride here, but Paul is making them aware of their impact on his fruitfulness.

One of the marks of a fruitful ministry is maturing disciple-making disciples.

There is great cost for ministers. He’s likely thinking, “if I never get out of prison, KEEP on LOVING, KEEP ON LIVING OUT THE GOSPEL, KEEP ON WORKING OUT YOUR SALVATION TOGETHER regardless of what happens to me.”

Whose work was it if it shuts down after Paul fades from the scene?

Whose work is Grace Covenant if the doors close when the founding Pastor retires? Or 30 years later when you finally run us off? LOL...

It reminds me of the account in Acts 5:38-39

Acts 5:38–39 ESV

38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice,

I tell you, THIS IS THE LORD’S DOING AND IT’S MARVELOUS IN OUR EYES.

APPLICATION:

BIG IDEA #1: Work out Your Salvation…Together…with fear and trembling

My salvation…or ours?

ON ONE HAND OR THE OTHER - Personal or Corporate

Our Western thinking inherited from the Romans / Greeks: black OR white. “On one hand or the other”.

It’s either of Evangelism or Discipleship

If we’re too outwardly focused, we may reach a lot of people and get decisions but make no Biblically literal Disciples

If we’re too inwardly focused, we build this deep cistern that a small handful of us like drinking from. We become professional students…that rarely put any GO in our Gospel responsibilities.

My FAITH is PERSONAL, it’s not anyone’s business. (give an example)

You’re looking for a social club or community organization that gives good talks…you’re not looking for a Biblical church.

No, we are called to live this out, to even work out our own salvation TOGETHER.

If your faith is only personal…you will stunt your own growth, and the church’s.

It’s BOTH CORPORATE AND PERSONAL!

Speaking care of PERSONAL & CORPORATE...

BIG IDEA #2: Do Everything Without Grumbling and Arguing

Grumbling: Poisonous, Contagious

Disputing/Arguing: Constant Questioning, Second-Guessing, sowing seeds of discord and rebellion. You’ve met these people, they’re “contrarians”.

Both are “growth-stunters” personally and corporately.

When you look around and are tempted to complain, let it be a call to arms (to war against your flesh…but also, be a part of the solution to the problem).

CONCLUSION

Up until now, all mentions of JOY have belonged to Paul - they’ve been descriptive of him.

But in the midst of this wonderful passage on the beauty and necessity of working out these things together to display to the world the progression of thought is:

do it with fear and trembling

do it without grumbling and arguing/disputing everything

You will shine in a dark world because of this

There is much joy and gladness as we lay down our lives for Jesus…for each other…for the sake of the Gospel!