Philippians 2:12-18

Introduction

Over the summer, one of the most exciting things that my wife and I did was attend Rachel and Luke’s wedding in Virginia. It was one of my first times really spending time there and we really enjoyed the scenery and the wedding. For the wedding, we stayed at this sort of summer camp, I cant quite recall the name, but nearly everybody who was involved in the wedding party stayed there over the weekend. My wife Lindsey was singing in the wedding, so we got the privilege of staying there. One of the nights, somebody had mentioned that there was a great place to look at the stars, may have been Rachel, and we all headed to the middle of the field to find this place. On the way to the middle of the field, it was pitch black. I couldn’t see the person that was standing right next to me, and on the way to the spot, I even brought out my cell phone flashlight so I could see where I was walking. Finally, we had reached the spot. I looked up into the sky and what I saw was beautiful. The whole sky was lit up by stars. I had seen pictures like this but seeing it in person was a way better experience. I was used to looking up at the sky and seeing a few stars here and there but looking up and seeing the sky full of them, not being able to count how many there were, was an amazing picture that I will never forget. The interesting thing about it is that the sky was so bright and lit up, yet where we were walking was pitch black. These stars in the heavens served a purpose of lighting up the sky. Apart from the stars, we may look up and see a little light from the moon, but other than that, it would be only darkness. We must be thankful for the stars or the lights that God has given us to illumine the heavens.

Transition

The text we will be looking at today calls us to be lights in the world. We live in a dark place, a dark world, a place that is filled with sin and evil. Through the light that Christ has given us, we are to let that light shine through us. (Matthew 5:16) Jesus tells us to let our light shine before others, that they may see our good works and give glory to our Father who is in heaven. Jesus came into the world as a light in the darkness, and as the context of our text in Philippians show us, we are to be imitators of Christ. We are looking at chapter 2 of Philippians for today’s message and we will begin reading in verse 12.

Philippians 2:12-18

English Standard Version Chapter 2

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.

Obedience

One of the first themes that we see in our passage today is that of obedience. We find the supreme example of obedience in the Lord Jesus Christ. Verse 8 in this chapter says,

English Standard Version Chapter 2

8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

We see that Jesus worked out his obedience to the fullest, all the way to the point of death, even death on a cross. We are called to also be obedient to God. The apostle is not talking about an obedience only when we are around people or with our parents, but an obedience to Gods commands even when nobody is around. We know that God sees and knows everything we do, so nothing is done that ever goes unnoticed. Paul says as you are obedient in front of me, be even more obedient when I am not around. It is interesting as soon as the teacher walks out of the classroom, the kids start acting crazy as if they no longer have to follow the rules. Paul is speaking out against this mindset.

They are called to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling. Let me first say that our works do not equal salvation. We are saved by grace through faith and this Gods doing. It is easy to look at this passage and think that we have to earn our salvation but that is impossible. When Paul was present with the church, he was helping them tremendously in their walk with Christ. Now that he is no longer with them, they are left without his influence in working out their salvation. Salvation is a process that is started in us here on this earth and brought to completion at the end of time. Out of respect and reverence for the God who saved us, we are to work hard at living the Holy lives which he has called us to.

If you are thinking there is no way that you can do this on your own you are right. We are told that it is God who works in us, both to will and work for his good pleasure. The good news is that we have the Spirit of God to help us work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. It is God who through his Spirit, gives us to the desire that leads to the working for his good pleasure. It is interesting in the first verse we are called to work and in the second verse it says God is the one working. This is because God lives in you who believe in the Lord Jesus, so in all reality you are at work as God is at work. As God works in you, it is for the purpose that you may be a light to the world.

Community of Lights

Not only one person is God at work in, but the whole church. The church is considered the body of Christ, doing Christs work here on Earth. Do you remember how I mentioned I was used to only seeing a few stars in the sky? The few stars didn’t produce that much light, but when the sky was full of them, it illumined the whole sky. The lone wolf mentality doesn’t work in the context of this passage. We are called to work together with one another as lights of the world. While we are doing this, we are to work in humility counting others more significant than ourselves. This means that when we are wronged or when we have to do something that we may not necessarily want to do, we are to do it without grumbling or disputing. The unity of the church is important. When there is division and disputing, the working out of our own salvation with fear and trembling along with humility are put on the back-burner while we think about ourselves. As we put the text into practice, working out our salvation together without grumbling or disputing, it leads to us shining as lights in this dark world. God had called Israel to this task. He saved them from their bondage of slavery in Egypt and was ready to bring them into the promised land to be light into the dark sinful world around them, and what did they do? Deuteronomy 32:5 says,

English Standard Version Chapter 32

5  They have dealt corruptly with him;

they are no longer his children because they are blemished;

they are a crooked and twisted generation.

Paul is telling us not to be like these Israelites, who grumbled and disputed against God and their leaders, were not blameless and innocent but blemished, and instead of being in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, they were the crooked and twisted generation. Paul has pointed out a perfect example of what not to do. Let us not make the same mistake that they made. We are Gods children, those of us who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and as lights in this dark, crooked, and twisted generation, we are called to shine through our purity, being blameless and innocent. How are we to do this? By holding fast to the world of life. The Israelites, the crooked and twisted generation were called to write Gods words on the doorposts in their houses and on the gates that they might not forget them. It is when they turned from the Word of God that they put themselves in situations to deal corruptly with God. If we are not holding fast to the word of life, the gospel of our salvation, we will find ourselves following down the same path as those Israelites.

Sacrificing and Rejoicing

Paul has labored for this church with blood, sweat, and tears and hopes that it is not all in vain. This is why their obedience to God is so important to him. If he were to put in all that work and prayer and suffering for this church, and they were to turn away from God after all of that, Paul would be upset that all his work in this church was for nothing. So call Paul calls this church to hold fast to the word of life, work out your own salvation, shine as lights among the world that in the day of judgement, he may be proud when he looks and sees that this church he labored for has fought the good fight unto eternity. At what cost does Paul desire to see this? Even if it cost Paul his life that this may happen, he would rejoice in the matter. Paul has made many sacrifices to see Christ formed in this church and if it cost him the ultimate sacrifice of martyrdom, he would rejoice. Not only would he rejoice, but he calls this church to rejoice with him. If you find out the guy that labored in love to see Christ formed in you may be killed for the work he is doing, the natural reaction would be to be sad and upset. Paul says don’t be that way, look at me, I rejoice in the matter and you should too. Paul was concerned that this church would shine as lights in the dark world, not conform to the darkness.

Reflection & Application

We have seen in this text we are called to obedience

How can we be obedient to God today?

God has first and foremost called us to believe in his only begotten son Jesus Christ. We must believe that there is no way for us to be saved or make it to heaven apart from him. Being a good person wont save us because we cant do it. We must trust that Christ has paid for our sins on the cross. We read about the day of judgement in this passage and if we are found outside of Christ, we will spend all eternity separated from his love forever.

Secondly, we are to work out our salvation with the church. Are you a part of this church or do you just go to it? What I mean by this is do you just show up for service or do you also show up with service? Are you a part of Gods work through this church? If you are not, you should consider what talents the Lord has given you and how you can use them to serve the church he has put you in. If you are a very friendly person, maybe you should consider working with the welcome team. If you have little brothers and sisters or really like kids, maybe you should consider helping Travis Sunday morning with the kids. Your talents may be used in helping out at threads of hope or even signing up for a City Gospel Mission service opportunity. There are many different ways that you can be active in the church. If you are having trouble deciding, you can see Travis and he can point you to an opportunity that may best fit your skills.

We are called in this text to hold fast to the Word of Life

I may sound like a broken record because every time I teach here, my application is to spend more time in your Bibles. The Israelites were called to write the word on the doorposts and gates, but if you do that today, you may be charged with vandalism. The point that was being made in to the Israelites was that they were to become extremely familiar with the word of God. If it was written on their door posts and gates, they would see it all the time and they would know it better. Is the word of God written anywhere in your life? Do you take time to memorize it or study it?

I challenge you this week to find one passage in the Bible this week that you find to be really important and commit it to the heart. Maybe that means putting a poster in your room with it on there or putting the verse as the background on your phone. Not only memorize it, but meditate on it. Know the verse so well that you could explain it to someone with absolutely no Bible knowledge. For those who like to go above and beyond, I challenge you to do this every week.

I challenge you all through your conduct to 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 by holding fast to the word of life.

Lets pray!