Joyful Anticipation

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, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. 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. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.

First Step to Joy

Obey

'continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling'

"God works; therefore you can work.…

God works; therefore you must work."

-- John Wesley

Works that Matter

The Philippians can only work out their salvation because God is already working in them

Second, in Greek, God (theos) is given special emphasis at the beginning of the sentence. This puts the accent squarely on divine, not human action (literally, the one who works in you is God

Third, it is God’s power that “energizes” (energeō) the community’s “working out”

This divine work does not mean that God is doing everything for them. Rather, it shows that God is “working mightily” to supply the needed empowering (Fee 1995, 237). God’s work underlies our work.

Fourth, God is the one who enables Christians both to will and to act. Through the Holy Spirit, God energizes the human will to desire the will of God. Chrysostom was quite right that God does not deprive us of free will but rather increases our willing (Hom. Phil. 8.2.12–16).

Moreover, the Spirit of God gives us the ability not only to want to do what pleases God (see Rom 7:15–24) but also to do it (Rom 8:3–4). Wesley puts it this way: “God breathes into us every good desire, and brings every good desire to good effect” (1979, 6:508). Here both God’s work and the Philippians’ work are evident. The same verb, energeō, is used of God’s powerful work and that of Christians. As Adam Clarke insists, the power to will and to do comes from God; the use of that power is our human response (n.d., 497).

Fifth, the motive for God’s empowering work is his good purpose (literally, “for the sake of the good pleasure”; hyper tēs eudokias). God’s saving activity in the lives of the Philippians is his great purpose and pleasure for his people (see 1:6). This implies that God is moved to work in us, not because of anything we do, but solely because of his undeserved grace and for his glory. Verse 13 begins and ends with God.[1]

We are called on to work for God, whether others see our work or not.

We are called to be faithful, and pure, so that we do not disappoint God, and because there is joy in obedience. If God ain’t happy ain’t nobody happy.

If papa ain’t happy

Ain’t nobody cares

If Mama ain’t happy

Ain’t nobody happy

Well, Paul says disobedience leads to broken hearts and broken lives.

No grumbling no arguing become blameless and pure

The prize the goal is so great that you need to put up with inconveniences and difficulties, without complaining, maligning God for what you are going through.

Live blameless and pure. Without fault in a warped and crooked generation.

Live morally straight while the reset of the world is crooked

A straight line in a crooked world

A bright light in darkness

THEY STAND OUT

The Word is your Guide

Holy Spirit inspired

Living, sharp, rightly cutting

THE WHY OF OBEDIENCE

Paul’s ministry with them.

Others have prayed for you, cared for you, discipled you, don’t let them down.

In jail suffering, his life being poured out like a sacrifice.

Being poured out Paul rejoices, in their faith, and calls them to rejoice with him.

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