Work out Your Salvation

Scripture Reading

Philippians 2:12–18 NIV84

12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. 14 Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16 as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

Introduction

Farm life, lying outside on a clear night - what a privilege! You can see countless bright stars shining beautifully against the dark backdrop of the night sky. This is the picture that Paul draws out for us in this passage as he continues to exhort the believers in Philippi to live lives worthy of the Gospel.

As Christians, we need to have a clear understanding in our mind that God has saved us out of darkness, and into His marvelous light, in order that we may be the light of the world. We have most certainly not been saved in order to continue our lives as per normal in this dark world. Instead, there is to be a radical contrast between us and the world around us in which we live!

As we’ve been studying this letter over the past few weeks, you will recall that one of the key aspects that Paul has been calling the believers to in terms of their lives is humility in their interactions with one another. They are to live humble lives. They are to consider the interests of others above their own. They are to have the same attitude as Christ, who humbled himself from His own glorious exalted place in the heavens, and came to serve and even die for those who were in opposition to Him. It is a high calling indeed!!

That example of Christ is the context, and the basis upon which Paul now proceeds in his new exhortation to these Christians.

You will note that verse 12 of our text begins with the word “Therefore”. In other words, let all of those teachings on the required humility in the body, and the truths concerning that awe-inspiring humility of Jesus be the driving force behind you, and then proceed to live out the instructions that he will set down.

And really what Paul is going to do is to exhort these believers to work out their salvation, and so be lights in the world. They are to live as those that shine brightly in a dark world that is lost, where people are going about their lives living under the power of Satan, blinded by sin. In this dark world, we are to be lights.

1. The Command to Work out Our Salvation (v.12)

As we look at verse 12 this morning, we are going to consider the command or exhortation that Paul brings to these believers in Philippi. The command is “continue to work out your salvation”. It’s an imperative - instruction - in the Greek. We will come back that imperative in a moment. But notice before we get there how Paul addresses these believers.

He addresses them as “my dear friends.” It is Paul’s deep affection for the people of God, and particularly his close affection for the believers in Philippi that is driving him to exhort them in the manner that he does. That unity that Paul has exhorted these believers to live in, and that humility that Paul has exhorted these believers to live in, is already demonstrated in his relationship and affection for them. And so he addresses them as his dear friends.

I do think that this is significant and important to keep in mind. As a church, it is as we foster our relationships with one another that we will have the liberty to likewise exhort one another in the faith. It is as we build these loving relationships, founded on the deep humility of Jesus Christ, that we will be able as a church to address one another and encourage one another in the faith. This is the attitude that Paul has for these believers, and it is the attitude that is to mark the church - deep affections for one another fostered through humble love.

Paul then goes on to address the obedience of these believers to the Gospel. He writes “...as you have always obeyed...” Paul’s encouragement to them is that they have been faithful disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, and he now goes on to encourage them further in this task. Already in Philippians 1:4-5, Paul said to these Christians that he always prayed for them with joy because of their partnership in the Gospel.

But he also is saying to them that they cannot be content to simply rest on their past experiences and obedience. The exhortation that is about to follow is to continue to work out your salvation. And so, even here, Paul encourages them to obey, but he says that this should be not only in his presence, but now much more in his absence.

As Paul writes here of his absence, he is speaking about his being away from them and in prison in Rome. Perhaps as word and gifts had been sent by this Philippian church via Epaphroditus to Paul in Rome as he was imprisoned there, a concern was raised about their ability to stand firm in the face of the suffering and persecution that was confronting them. But Paul here exhorts and encourages them to continue in obedience.

This obedience that Paul speaks of here should immediately point the reader to the example that has just been given - that great example of Jesus Christ, who became obedient to death, even death on a cross.

Dear friends, obedience is a critical factor in our salvation - ongoing obeidence to the Father in heaven.

Hebrews 5:9–10 NIV84

9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

There is only salvation for those who obey Christ.

1 Peter 1:1–2 NIV84

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

We have been saved as Christians unto obedience to Christ. That is our goal and ambition in our lives - to be obedient children.

With these introductory remarks, Paul then proceeds forward with this imperative - a command that is given to the believers. The imperative is this:

“…continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.”

Firstly, we must consider the imperative itself… to work out our salvation. It is essential that Christians take to heart the importance of continued obedience to Christ, even in the face of persecution, trials, suffering, temptations, hardships and turmoil. We are to so die to self, and to so live to Jesus Christ, in submission and obedience to Him, that even in the face of the greatest dangers possible, and all the opposition thrown at us by the evil one, we stand firm in rejoicing in our Saviour. This is precisely what Paul was modelling for these believers when he said in 1:21, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

The words of Jesus to his disciples and followers through the parable of the sower and the seed are instructive for us:

Mark 4:16–19 NIV84

16 Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 18 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.

Dear friends, the true believer in Christ, the one whose heart has been transformed by the Gospel, will stand firm, and will endure the storms of life, because nothing is of greater value, nothing is more important in his life, than Christ. Nothing. The one who has tasted of Christ, and has drunk deep of his mercies and grace, and has experienced the inward working of the Spirit, will increasingly grow to be so delighted in Christ, that nothing in the world will draw him away, drag him away from his treasure.

That is not to say that there will not be much trial and challenges in life. But the question is, in the face of those struggles, is my dependence upon the Savior growing?

So, Paul exhorts these believers that in the face of the persecution and suffering that they face, they are not to abandon the faith. They are not to lose heart. And they are not to sit back and relax in the face of the spiritual battle that is raging. They are also not to start fighting and arguing among themselves. Rather, they are to continue working out their salvation.

And so we need that exhortation today, in the face of the spiritual battle that is being waged against our souls, against the church. We need the exhortation to continue to work out our salvation with fear and trembling.

What does that mean for us? I would suggest just two examples from Scripture.

James 1:22 NIV84

22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

The implication that James brings here is that we are listening to the word. In other words, we are taking the time to here what God is saying through the Scriptures. We are spending time listening to, hearing, and meditating on the word of God. That’s the basic implication, but James goes beyond this and says that we should do what the word says. You see, the person who merely hears the word is no different from the unbeliever who hears the word. That which distinguishes the true believer from the unbeliever is that the true believer hears the word, and then goes immediately and puts it into practice. Friends, as Christians, we will always be growing in our lives, growing in holiness, going through the long and sometimes painful process of sanctification. But we must work this out.

1 Timothy 4:14–15 NIV84

14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.

Paul exhorts Timothy to not neglect his gift that God had bestowed on him. Instead, he was to be diligent in exercising his gift. He was to give himself wholly to the development and maintaining of this gift of teaching and leading in the church. Now we might say that we are not Timothy, and our gifts are not those of Timothy. Quite true. But are we not to diligently use, and give ourselves wholly in serving according to the gifting of God in our own lives? Is this not our spiritual act of worship?

Many more examples could be given through Scripture, but I think the point is made. There is a deep need for us to recognise the urgency of working out our own salvation, particularly within the context of the body, the church. We are to give ourselves to serving one another, and to apply ourselves to growth in the body, so that Christ will be honoured.

Those are just two practical examples of working out salvation.

Notice further, however, the manner in which we are to do this. Paul says to the Philippians that they are to do this “with fear and trembling.” Working out our salvation is prompted and driven by a healthy fear for and reverence of God.

As we consider our great salvation, do we do so with reverent awe of and fear for God? The fact that we have experienced the grace and the love of the Almighty God does not lead us to flippant or irreverent worship. If anything, our renewed spiritual sight will lead us to a deeper knowledge of the holiness and purity of God, and a greater awe for who God is, and this will in turn lead us to serve Him in right manner.

Hebrews 12:28–29 NIV84

28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.”

We are to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, because the God that we serve is awesome and holy. Do we have a holy reverence for God?

Warren Wiersbe:

The joy of the Lord grows primarily out of our relationship with Him, while the fear of the Lord grows out of our responsibility to Him. Joy and fear are neither enemies nor competitors; they’re friends and allies. ‘In heaven, love will absorb fear’, said John Henry Newman, ‘but in this world, fear and love must go together.’ Later in that same sermon, he added, ‘Fear is allayed by the love o Him, and our love sobered by our fear of Him.’ [On Being a Servant, p.174]

The moment we lose our reverence for and our awe of God, is the moment that we lose sight of the importance of holiness for our own lives as believers. When we walk in sin, we are walking with a severe lack of recognition of the holiness of God.

On the other hand, the more we become aware of the holiness of God, the greater will be our desire and our sense of urgency to walk in holiness out of reverence for God.

2. The Creator’s Power to Work out Our Salvation (v.13)

In the context of persecution, in the face of suffering, you could imagine the sense of utter despair that it could bring a believer having been exhorted to walk in this manner, when they know that even their very lives are at stake. But Paul doesn’t leave them hopeless in the sense that they should now just work this salvation out in their own power and strength. Instead, he provides great Gospel hope.

In verse 13, he writes...

Philippians 2:13 NIV84

13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Notice the conjunction there - “for.” For… it is God. In other words, the reason that you are going to be able to do this as Christians is because the strength and the power to do what I’ve exhorted don’t rest with you and in you. The power to do this is entirely apart from us, and that it really is God at work.

It fascinates me that much the emphasis in many churches today is on believing in yourself. You hear plenty of emphasis on positive confessions about yourself. I just think of Joel Osteen - “The power of I AM”… Well, that’s not what Paul is talking about here. The distinction may appear to be subtle, but it is really critical to understand. It really is not about me and the power that I have. It is God, and the power that He has that is at work. The trouble is that we so quickly turn our eyes of praise and wonder to ourselves - aren’t I amazing? Aren’t I strong? Aren’t I such an achiever? And so while we will use the name of God as kind of acknowledgement, we really end up praising ourselves. Andrew Murray, in his book on humility, deals with this very thing, and points to the Pharisee who came to the temple to pray, and knelt down beside the tax collector… He writes, starting with a quote of the words of the Pharisees prayer:

“God, I thank thee, I am not as the rest of men, or even as this publican.” It is in that which is just cause for thanksgiving, it is in the very thanksgiving which we render to God, it may be in the very confession that God has done it all, that self finds its cause of complacency. Yes, even when in the temple the language of penitence and trust in God’s mercy alone is heard, the Pharisee may take up the note of praise, and in thanking God be congratulating himself. Pride can clothe itself in the garments of praise or of penitence.”

So friends, let us be clear that although we are commanded to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, and although there is great responsibility placed upon us to do this, we must always remain trusting in the great power of our God as He does the work in us. It is not our strength!

Ephesians 3:20–21 NIV84

20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

This power that is at work is none less than the power of God Almighty. What a great encouragement this would have been to them. The power of Almighty God at work in their lives, both as individuals and as a body of believers in the church. And this is the encouragement to us today, that He who began the good work in us will bring it to completion on the day of Christ Jesus!

3. The Character of Working out Our Salvation (v.14-15a)

As Paul continues, he goes on to develop the attitude that is to mark the believer as they work out their salvation. These words are simply a building on the humility that Paul has called for, and the others-centered mindset that he’s called for at the start of chapter 2.

In verse 14, he says:

Philippians 2:14 NIV84

14 Do everything without complaining or arguing,

The same verse in the ESV reads:

Philippians 2:14 ESV

14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing,

The life of the Christian community is not to be one that is characterized by the murmuring and grumbling among one another. There is to be no arguing among those of the covenant community. They are all together, united in their goal of exalting Christ in their conduct, and this precludes the sins of grumbling and arguing with other people. I wonder of we realize the significance of this exhortation.

If we go to 1 Corinthians 10, we get a clear sense of the seriousness with which Paul viewed this kind of grumbling in particular among one another. In verses 1-5 of that passage, Paul outlines the significant truth that all of the Israelites, when they were led out of bondage from Egypt, were witnesses of the amazing mercy and grace of God towards them. They knew that God had worked among them. They knew that they were the beneficiaries of His exceedingly great grace and love. But that apparently wasn’t good enough for them, and they rebelled against God. They complained. The moaned. They wanted to appoint another leader to take them back to their place of slavery, just so that they could get better food. Ultimately, all of their grumbling was against God.

From verse 6-10 of that passage, we read these words...

1 Corinthians 10:6–10 NIV84

6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry.” 8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 9 We should not test the Lord, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. 10 And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.

Friends, the salvation that we as Christians have received by the gracious hand of God far outweighs the earthly deliverance that the Israelites experienced. We have beheld, we have been shown the exceedingly extravagant grace of God through Jesus Christ, purchasing us with this exceedingly great price. As we live in communion and fellowship with one another, do we do so as those who constantly remembering that great love for us, the great price that was paid, and thus living with joy in Christ.

Disputing, arguing, grumbling against one another in the body of Christ is out of place!

This kind of life, free from complaining and arguing, leads to that which is exceedingly beautiful to behold. And so, as Paul moves on into verse 15, he presents the consequence of believers working out their salvation...

4. The Consequence of Working out Our Salvation (v.15-16a)

There is a development that Paul outlines here as he considers this life free of complaining and arguing… What will flow out of this? What will be the consequence?

Firstly...

4.1. We Will Become Blameless and Pure

v.15 - “...so that you may become blameless and pure...”

It is through a life lived in deep humility, love and concern for others, and not always pushing our own wills, that we become the blameless and pure people that God seeks us to be. This is a consequence the humble life.

Put another way, in order for us to be blameless and pure, we should live thankful lives, rather than lives in which we push our way forward. When we are filled with thanksgiving; when gratitude in our hearts is the rhythm of our lives - this is simply the manner in which we live - then we will hardly find time for complaining. We won’t have a desire to argue, because what actually is there to argue about when we are content?

And so I would ask you, is your life characterized by this lack of complaining and arguing, so that you are living a blameless and pure life. This is the test marker for one who is walking in the ways of God. Paul’s desire for the Philippian church

Paul then goes on to mention a further consequence of this kind of life…

4.2. We will be Children of God

"...children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation...”

This is indeed what we are called to be - children of God.

1 John 3:1 NIV84

1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

But that reality of being children of God comes about as we live according to the manner that God has enabled us. In other words, this “being a child of God” doesn’t not merely speak to a judicial standing, although it does refer to this. But it refers to our manner of life. We need to live out this reality. We ought to be the children that we have been made to be.

It is as we work out our salvation with fear and trembling before our holy God, that we will do all things in our lives without complaining or arguing, and so show ourselves to be children of God. This is nothing less than us imitating our heavenly Father in our own lives.

Ephesians 5:1 NIV84

1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children

Friends, the critical nature of this manner of life is in the fact that the world in which we live is a crooked and depraved generation. As we live our lives in this context, we are called to live as imitators of God, as those who do all things without complaining and arguing with each other. It is a crooked and depraved generation that lives in constant friction and lack of peace and unity. This is foreign to the Christian life and family. Both normal family units, and church families.

As Christians, we have been delivered from this very manner of life.

Acts 2:40–41 NIV84

40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

It is as we live our lives as children of God, without complaining and arguing, that it will lead to a further outworking, and that is that...

4.3. We will Shine as Stars

“...in which you shine like stars in the universe...”

When we live this kind of life before the world, and they recognize that we are living in peace, that we are marked by unity, not self-seeking, following our own personal ambitions always, but rather considering others, and thus living in peace, that we will shine as stars. We must ask, how brightly are we shining the light of the Gospel in our lives.

I can’t emphasize enough how important this is for our lives as Christians. Do we recognise what it means to live in this manner, and then do we do it? Are we working this out? Are we working out our salvation with fear and trembling? Not looking at others and condemning them for failing to live out their lives in right manner, and thus causing me to fail in my efforts, but rather, in the context of my own life, saying that no matter who does what around me, I’m going to strive for peace.

As far as it depends on me, I’m going to live at peace with everyone.

4.4. We will hold out the Word of Life

v.16 “...as you hold out the word of life...”

Not only does this lead to us shining like stars, but it also leads to us doing so while at the same time holding out the word of life. These believers had themselves been transformed by the living and powerful word of the living God. It is that very Word of God that had brought them out of darkness and into light, and into the family of God. It is that very Word that formed the means through which they would be able to live out the life of humility that they had been exhorted to. And it is that very word that should be held out, proclaimed, and passed on to a dying and lost world.

Paul is telling these Philippians believers that they are not only to live a life that preaches God’s grace, but they are to speak the word that teaches God’s grace.

We as the church are to live as lights in a dark world, but not merely by the way in which we live our lives, but also through the taking of God’s word and proclaiming it to others. Most certainly, a godly life is the critical starting point. But we must not leave our witness and testimony with our lives and stop there. Rather, we are to take this life-giving, powerful sword, and use it in order to penetrate into the hardened and dead hearts and lives of those living in darkness.

This leads Paul to speak of something of a motivation behind their efforts in this, which is found in our 5th point for consideration this morning, and that is...

5. The Crown of Working out Our Salvation (v.16)

Paul writes in verse 16...

“...in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing...”

Paul says here that if this church continues in the way, producing this fruit of godliness, holding out the living word of hope, it will lead to his boasting on the day of Christ that his own labours in taking the Gospel to them would not be in vain.

As an apostle, Paul was always concerned that his labours for the Gospel would bear fruit. In Galatians 2:2, Paul expresses concern that perhaps he had run his race in vain; in 1 Thessalonians 3:5, Paul again expressed concern that somehow the believers in Thessalonica had given into temptation and been led astray, which would lead to his own ministry again having been in vain.

But while Paul had a desire for Gospel fruit, he did not see himself as anything. This boasting here is not going to be in himself; in his own strength; in his own efforts. He wants to boast - celebrate - the work that has been done by God.

1 Corinthians 1:31 NIV84

31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”

Galatians 6:14 NIV84

14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Remember, Paul has already confirmed to the Philippians that He who began a good work in you would bring it to completion on the day of Christ Jesus.

Paul is simply urging them on, and he states that he has a personal interest in their own lives, and he longs for them to persevere in this race. If that happens, he will rejoice greatly!!

And this to him would be a crown, would it not? A joyous celebration, as these believers are brought into the kingdom of heaven on the last day.

Finally then, let us consider...

6. The Celebration of Working out Our Salvation (v.17-18)

Paul writes in verses 17-18...

Philippians 2:17–18 NIV84

17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

In these two verses, Paul writes of celebration - rejoicing. There is going to be rejoicing on the side of those preaching the Gospel. And there is going to be rejoicing on the side of those to whom the Gospel was preached.

In verse 17, Paul emphasizes the celebration from his side as the one who is preaching the Gospel. He says that even if he is being poured out like a drink offering, he will rejoice. There is a definite picture of martyrdom here - dying for the faith. Paul knows that even as he writes this letter, there is a strong possibility that his life will be taken from him, even due to his proclamation of the Gospel. If anyone knows how strongly the Christians were persecuted by the Jews, it’s Paul. After all, he is involved in persecuting Christians, and even standing watch and giving approval to the martyrdom of Steven.

But as Paul pens these words, although he has in his mind the idea of being put to death, poured out as a drink offering, he is able to and he does rejoice with all of them. He is rejoicing knowing that they share with him as partners in the Gospel. He is rejoicing, knowing that they themselves have sent him gifts of encouragement through Epaphrodites.

And he says to them too - so you should be glad and rejoice with me. They are not to become despondent as a result of the opposition that there is to the faith. They are not to become disheartened due to persecution. They are to rejoice in the fact that the Gospel has gone forth, and will continue to go forth as they continue their partnership in it.

Application and Conclusion

Much has already been mentioned by way of direct application, but as we close, let me exhort and encourage each person here today.

Firstly, continue with all diligence to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. Apply yourself to this. Strive towards this every moment of every day. We face a spiritual battle that is unseen, but is most certainly a reality. And we are not to sit back and relax while the enemy wages war against our souls. Work out your salvation. Grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ. Put the effort in!!

Secondly, as you do that, remember and be encouraged by the fact that it is God who is at work in you, bringing about the change and transformation that you may think is impossible for you. Rely fully on God; seek Him through His word; bow the knee daily to him, continually through the day; know in your heart and mind that without Him, you are nothing, and have no strength; but know that He delights to work in and through the man or woman who is humble in heart.

And then, let us shine as lights in this dark world. Let us live as children of the light, not of the darkness. Let us live as children of the living God, bringing and honor and glory to the great name of our Father in heaven.

May He receive all honor and glory and praise as we do this.