Maintaining The Mindset of Jesus- Work Out Your Salvation with Fear and Trembling

Philippians  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  39:01
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How do we continually put on the mindset of Jesus? How do we grow in the area of sacrificial gospel ministry?

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It is one thing to go on a diet and to exercise and to loose weight and to get into shape. It is another thing entirely to maintain your success. So you might work really hard and loose twenty pounds. You might eat well for two or three months in a row and exercise regularly every day and you would be rewarded for your hard work. But, the moment you stop is the moment you start going the other way. And before you know it those twenty pounds might be right back with you.
So too you might have a good day or week or month of putting into practice the mindset of Christ. But how do you maintain it over a lifetime?
Mindset of Jesus-
“Did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage.”
“He emptied Himself by taking on the form of a servant”
“He humbled Himself by becoming obedient unto death, even the death of a cross.”
That kid of mindset might be easy to put on for a day or a week, but how do we maintain it? How do we grow in it?
How do we continually put on the mindset of Jesus?
How do we grow in the area of sacrificial gospel ministry?

I. Enduring obedience mingled with 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,

A. What does it mean to work out your own salvation?

1). It does not mean that we are justified by means of works

How do we know that from the text?
Because of Paul’s use of direct address
“Therefore, my beloved” vocative case in the Geek- this is the case of direct address. i.e. “Friends,” or “Faith Baptist Church” I am directly addressing you using the vocative case.
Here is our text Paul calls the Philippians “beloved,” but how else has he addressed these people in the letter?
Philippians 1:1 ESV
1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:
Here Paul calls them “saints” or “holy ones” or “set apart ones” indicating that the members of the church in Philippi were already saved, they are already called saints. Once you are a saint you cannot become more of a saint by means of your works. So when Paul says “work out your own salvation” he cannot mean justification.
2. Because of the unity of the Scriptures
Titus 3:5 ESV
5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

2). It does mean we are to grow in the area of progressive sanctification

How do we know that from the text?
Because of the parallelism of obedience and working out your own 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,
Obedience is the issue that Paul is focusing on- as you have always obeyed! In other words from the moment of your justification you have been obedient to the commands of Jesus and have been growing in your sanctification.
As you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence- keep on doing what you have been doing- in other words keep on obeying! Paul just uses different words- instead he says “work out your own salvation.” But, quite clearly what he means is keep growing in your obedience. So work out your own salvation is equivalent to the idea of continuing to obey.
2. Because of the different aspects of our salvation taught in the Scripture
So many times when we see the word “salvation” in the Bible we immediately think of the moment of our justification- the moment in time when you put your faith in Christ alone for the forgiveness of your sins and you repented and changed your mind about yourself, your sin, and Jesus. But in the Bible the word salvation is used for the entire process or purpose of salvation. In other words it speaks not only to your justification, but also your sanctification and your glorification.
Romans 8:29 ESV
29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
The goal of your salvation is given here in this verse- God saved you in order to conform you to the image of His Son. God’s purpose in saving you is more than simply forgiving you of your sin- it is to ultimately transform you both positionally and practically in the very image of Jesus.
Romans 8:30 ESV
30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
All of these terms and works of grace by God on our behalf are part of our salvation- predestination, calling, justification, and glorification. God’s view of salvation is much broader than merely justifying you- declaring you righteous.
Hebrews 10:10 ESV
10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Sanctification is also part of your salvation. And the Bible uses sanctification in different ways as well. Here in Heb 10:10 sanctification is something that has already been accomplished for us once and for all by the offering of the body of Jesus. We have been sanctified or made holy by Jesus’ sacrifice. This is more akin to our justification- we have been sanctified positionally because of Jesus’ death on the cross.
Hebrews 10:14 ESV
14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
Notice the language at the end of v. 14- By a single offering (Jesus’ death on the cross) He has perfected (us) for all time, that is we are positionally perfect in the eyes of the Father because of the offering of Jesus who satisfied the wrath of God for our sins and credited us with the perfect righteousness of Jesus. So in God’s eyes we are already perfect in our position in Christ. But then he says this- “he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.” If I am already perfect how can it also be true that I am being sanctified or I am in the process of being made holy? I am perfected in my position in Christ, but in practice I still have sin in my life. But, by the grace of God I am being sanctified, I am in the process of chaining into the very image of His Son in a practical sense. I am growing in holiness and Christlike- I am becoming practically holy. This process is what we call progressive sanctification.
This is what Paul means in Philippians 2:12 when he tells us we are to work out our own salvation. We do not become justified by our works- No, No- we are justified, we are perfected only though the offering of the body of Jesus Christ. We receive this gift of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. But, after we are saved we are commanded to work out our own salvation- that is we must grow in our progressive sanctification- or grow in the area of obedience to the commands of Jesus.

B. How do we work out our own salvation?

1). With continual, persistent, enduring obedience

How do we know that?
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,
The grammar of the text makes it very plain. Paul tells the Philippians believers- “work out your own salvation.”
This verb is in the imperative tense! It is a command! “You must work out your own salvation.” God never commands us to do something that we are unable to accomplish.
In the realm of progressive sanctification the Scriptures teach the importance of human responsibility. In other words God isn’t going to do your part in your growth in Christlikeness. There is something that God wants you to do. You must work, you must sweat, you must obey. God isn’t going to do for you what you can do for yourself.
Illustration:
A fellow was stuck on his rooftop in a flood. He was praying to God for help.
Soon a man in a rowboat came by and the fellow shouted to the man on the roof, "Jump in, I can save you."
The stranded fellow shouted back, "No, it's OK, I'm praying to God and he is going to save me."
So the rowboat went on.
Then a motorboat came by. "The fellow in the motorboat shouted, "Jump in, I can save you."
To this the stranded man said, "No thanks, I'm praying to God and he is going to save me. I have faith."
So the motorboat went on.
Then a helicopter came by and the pilot shouted down, "Grab this rope and I will lift you to safety."
To this the stranded man again replied, "No thanks, I'm praying to God and he is going to save me. I have faith."
So the helicopter reluctantly flew away.
Soon the water rose above the rooftop and the man drowned. He went to Heaven. He finally got his chance to discuss this whole situation with God, at which point he exclaimed, "I had faith in you but you didn't save me, you let me drown. I don't understand why!"
To this God replied, "I sent you a rowboat and a motorboat and a helicopter, what more did you expect?"
So what exactly does Paul mean? You must do your part! You must work out your own salvation by obedience. This in the present tense so you must continually work out your own salvation or put obedience into practice. In the context of this passage what commands does Paul have in mind for us to obey?
Philippians 2:5 ESV
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
Putting on the mindset of Jesus! What was the mindset of Jesus- self-sacrificing gospel ministry. So if you are to work out your own salvation- you must continually, persistently, endearingly obey. You must do your part by putting into practice the sacrificial mindset for gospel ministry.
The problem is we might be exactly like the man on the roof in the flood. We might come to God in prayer and beg God to use us for the sake of the gospel. I pray all the time, “Lord, lead me to spiritually needy people.” But, if we never do our part, if we never work out our own salvation through obedience we might be just like the man on the roof. One day we will ask God, “why didn’t you use me for gospel ministry? Why didn’t you answer my prayer and lead me to a spiritually needy person?” And God might answer us something like this, “You never left the walls of your home.” “You never went outside of the comfort of your church.” “How could I lead you to a spiritually needy person if you never went looking for them in the first place?”
Refutation:
“But, Pastor Jon, I have gone looking for spiritually needy people and I still haven’t found any.”
That is why this command is in the present tense! You must keep on working out your salvation.
Luke 8:15 NASB95
15 “But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.
Hebrews 10:36 ESV
36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.
Galatians 6:9 ESV
9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
Application:
How are you going to put on the mindset of Jesus? How are you going to engage in self-sacrificing gospel ministry? How are you doing your part? How are you obeying?
Maybe you have begun putting into practice the mindset of Jesus, but you have grown weary in your obedience. You have not been putting it into practice lately. Keep on working out your own salvation! Don’t give up! Bear fruit by means of perseverance. God is not going to do your part for you! You must obey!

2). With fear and trembling

There is clearly taught in Scripture human responsibility, but it is never taught in isolation. You will find that in the immediate context of such clear commands for human responsibility, is the equally clear teaching of God’s sovereignty. While it is your responsibility to work out your own salvation- it will never happen without the divine working of God Himself in your life. And it is with this thought that Paul immediately follows his command to 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,
Work out your salvation WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING!
What does that mean?
With awe and reverence, with humility and a holy reverence, or with a holy vigilance and circumspection.
“It means that as I work out my salvation, I should realize the tremendous seriousness of what I am doing.” —Martyn Lloyd-Jones
It means to be serious about your Christian life and growth, it means being sober in your thinking. It means growing in practical sanctification out of a genuine holy reverence and awe of God. God wants his children to walk with a certain amount of gravity in their lives in realization of the great salvation they have been graced with.
1 Peter 1:17–19 ESV
17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
Life is not a game! You must be serious about your Christian life and growth. You must consider your obedience to the commands of Christ with tremendous seriousness, with humility and a holy reverence! Why? Because your were ransomed with the precious blood of Christ, and you were ransomed from the futile ways of darkness. So obey with fear and trembling, with awe and reverence.
“I must realize that the God with whom I am concerned is ‘the Father of lights, with whom there is not variableness, neither shadow of turning (Jas. 1:17), that ‘God is light, and in him is no darkness at all’ (I John 1:5). If he is in the light, I must walk in the light (v.7). Also, I should have a fear of the world in the sense that I realize that the world is opposed to me, that it is there to drag me down and away from God. I should have a healthy respect for it.”
“I should also fear myself. A man who knows his own heart is a man who cannot be light and carefree and flippant. He knows that in his flesh there ‘dwelleth no good thing.’ The Christian is one who works out his own salvation with fear and trembling; fear lest he should fail or falter, let he should not discern the subtlety of the world, the power of sin and his own weakness, and the holiness of God. So he walks with gravity lest he should be unworthy of this great salvation.” —Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Not notice the reason Paul gives for why we are to obey with fear and trembling in v. 13:
Philippians 2:13 ESV
13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
μετὰ φόβου καὶ τρόμου
with fear and trembling
τὴν ἑαυτῶν σωτηρίαν κατεργάζεσθε·
continue working out your own salvation;
13θεὸς γάρ ἐστιν ὁ ἐνεργῶν ἐν ὑμῖν καὶ τὸ θέλειν καὶ τὸ ἐνεργεῖν
For God is the one working in you both to will and to work
ὑπὲρ τῆς εὐδοκίας.
for His goodwill;
As you do your part- you obey you work out your salvation, you are to do it with a holy reverence and awe, because Almighty God is the one working you enabling you both to desire and to work out His good pleasure. This is a wonderful mystery! God does not tell us how these two truths cooperate together, nevertheless the Bible teaches that both human responsibility and God’s sovereignty work together in perfect harmony.
You must do it, but it is God that is at work giving you both the desire and the ability to do it. God energies all of our good works, all of our growth in Christlikeness. That meant that every good desire and the ability to work out the desire comes from God Himself. God is the one who energies me to sacrifice myself for gospel ministry. God is the one who controls my willing and my desires and my hopes and aspirations and my thoughts to put on the very mindset of Christ. Yet, if I do not work out my salvation and do my part none of it will happen. How do those two thoughts work together? I don’t know! Yet it is what is taught in Scripture.
What does it amount to? It amounts to a humble dependent enduring obedience mingled with fear and trembling. It starts everyday with me doing everything I can to work out my salvation, but it is all overshadowed with a serious, awe and gravity that Almighty God who indwells me is working and energizing me to do all of his good pleasure.
Illustration:
Digging the retention pond- Using the massive excavator to dig a giant trench, plus over 100 loads of earth being moved by dump trucks- then at the end of the project saying something like this, “I dug the pond.” It is true that the workman operated the machines to move the dirt, but the energy and the ability laid outside of himself. But, if the man never got in the machine the work would never have been finished.
Without the power of God working in us energizing us to do His goodwill, it would be like trying to dig that retention pond using a plastic shovel you gives kids to play in the sand at the beach. But, the excavator is not going to dig the hole all by itself. There is both divine energizing and human responsibility!
How do we continually put on the mindset of Jesus?
How do we grow in the area of sacrificial gospel ministry?
Enduring obedience mingled with fear and trembling.
A mix of determined enduring obedience (Human responsibility) and fear and trembling (a dependent realization that God is the one energizing us for his good pleasure).
Application:
Are you obeying with fear and trembling? Are you approaching your Christian life with the gravity it demands?
Are you relying fully on the grace of God to energize your obedience? Are you drawing close to God and living in faith in your service to Him? Is this how you are continually putting on the mindset of Jesus?
May we by God’s grace work out our own salvation with fear and trembling for it is God who works in us both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Amen!
How do we continually put on the mindset of Jesus?
How do we grow in the area of sacrificial gospel ministry?

II. Enduring obedience devoid of grumbling and disputing

Philippians 2:14 ESV
14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing,
“There is nothing that leads to such havoc in the Christian life, there is nothing that so ruins life, as this spirit of murmuring and disputing. It ruined the whole story of the ancient people, it has ruined the Christian life and experience of many a Christian in this world. It makes you ill at ease; you become despondent; you do not understand anything; you feel your lot is the only difficult one in the world. It leads not only to that, but to a poor testimony; it brings disgrace and disrepute upon the Christian name. That is why the Apostle urges the Philippians to avoid it at all costs...” —Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Nothing will kill your opportunities of sacrificial gospel ministry more than a grumbling and a disputing spirit!

A. What is the significance of the command?

This verse is an imperative.
14Πάντα ποιεῖτε χωρὶς γογγυσμῶν καὶ διαλογισμῶν,
All things you must do without grumbling and disputing / arguing
Grumbling
Murmuring (like the Israelites in the wilderness) a complaint uttered in a low and indistinct tone. Behind-the-scenes talk.
Illustration:
Did you ever do that when you were a kid? You parents tell you to do something and you comply, but in an undertone or an indistinct tone you murmured. You complained. You argued under your breath as to why you were right and your parents were wrong? That is grumbling.
The Children of Israel did it while they were wandering through the wilderness.

1). How seriously does God view murmuring according to I Cor. 10:6-11?

1 Corinthians 10:6 ESV
6 Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.
We are not to desire EVIL like the Israelites did in the wilderness. Paul gives three examples of EVIL!
1 Corinthians 10:7 ESV
7 Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.”
Here Paul lists the evil of idolatry. What was the consequence of the Israelites that turned back to worshiping idols?
1 Corinthians 10:8 ESV
8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day.
Here the evil of sexual immorality. What was the consequence of those who indulged in sexual immorality?
1 Corinthians 10:9–10 ESV
9 We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, 10 nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.
Here the evil of putting Christ to the test or grumbling- and this evil is mentioned in the same breath as the evils of idolatry and sexual immorality! What was the consequences for those who grumbled?
Do we normally put the sin of grumbling on par with the sins of idolatry or sexual immorality? We normally classify grumbling as a lesser evil don’t we? How does God classify grumbling?
1 Corinthians 10:11 ESV
11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.

2). How does grumbling affect your ministry according to I Pet. 4:8-11?

1 Peter 4:8–9 ESV
8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.
You might be heavily invested in serving other people. You might be sacrificing your life for the sake of gospel ministry, but if you also have a spirit of grumbling what is your service devoid of? It is devoid of love! So Paul says, ABOVE ALL, keep loving one another EARNESTLY! What does that look like? It means serving one another without grumbling!
1 Peter 4:10–11 ESV
10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Notice what is at stake! If we have a spirit of grumbling in our service to others what does NOT happen? God is NOT glorified! But if our service is mixed with love and fueled by God’s grace (end of v.10 “as good stewards of God’s varied grace), then the result is that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To Him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Disputing
Arguing- verbal exchange that takes place when conflicting ideas are expressed.

3). What is the root cause of an argumentative spirit according to Luke 9:46-48?

Luke 9:46–47 ESV
46 An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest. 47 But Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a child and put him by his side
The disciple’s hearts were filled with pride, they were comparing themselves among themselves. They were not counting others as more significant than themselves. They were not giving the bulk of their interests to others, they were looking only to their own interests, and so were arguing about which of them was the greatest. This has no place in the life of a Christian!
Do you remember how the Lord expertly answered them? Jesus took a child and put him by his side,
Luke 9:48 ESV
48 and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great.”
Mark 9:35 ESV
35 And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”
Arguing / disputing reflects a heart that has no interest in putting others first- it has no interest in sacrificing and becoming a servant, and thus it quickly kills a Christlike mindset of sacrificial gospel ministry.
Imagine if Jesus had gone to the cross and the whole time he was grumbling. There was a low undertone and his whispers were overheard, “I can’t believe I have to sacrifice myself for a bunch of lousy sinners! I can’t believe that I, the creator of everything, has to bear the sins of the world.” But, what was the attitude of Jesus?
Isaiah 53:7 ESV
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.
Imagine if Jesus’ sacrifice was accompanied with disputations or arguments! As he was hanging on the cross imagine if he argued with the crowd that He was the greatest and that they deserved to die and not Himself. How would that diminish His sacrifice? Instead, what words did Jesus utter on the cross?
Luke 23:34 ESV
34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.
So, believers if you are to maintain a Christlike mindset you must …
Philippians 2:14 ESV
14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing,
Nothing will kill your opportunities of sacrificial gospel ministry more than a grumbling and a disputing spirit!
Husbands and wives- do you grumble and complain about each other? Do you argue with each other? Worse yet do you do it in front of others? I am grateful that my wife was taught by her mother to never grumble and complain about her husband in front of other people.
Refutation:
The command to do all things without disputing or arguing does not mean that you will never argue about things. There is a time and a place to talk about disagreements. There is a right way and a wrong way. There is a gracious way and a way that is fueled with a prideful heart. What Paul is getting at is a murmuring and a disputing spirit!
Think about what your grumbling and disputing spirit is doing to your testimony of the gospel!
Children- do you grumble and complain about your parents? Do you argue with mom and dad? Have you ever done that in front of other people? Kids, you have all seen another child complain and throw a fit in public haven’t you? What goes through you mind when you see that?
Think about what kind of testimony you are displaying for other people!
Christians- do you grumble and complain in your workplace? Do you have an argumentative spirit? In your conversations with your neighbors and your friends in the community do you complain? Do you complain about the weather? or politics? or your dismal lot in life?
Think about what that is doing to your testimony!

B. What are the reasons for obedience to the command?

Philippians 2:15 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,
Do ALL THINGS without grumbling or disputing. Why?
SO THAT you might be blameless and innocent

1). How does obedience to the command cause you to be blameless and innocent?

Blameless- without fault, innocent
1 Thessalonians 2:9–10 ESV
9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers.
Innocent- Pertaining to being without a mixture of evil and hence to being pure, untainted
Romans 16:19 ESV
19 For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil.
Philippians 2:15 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,
Do ALL THINGS without grumbling or disputing. Why?
SO THAT you might be blameless and innocent
Do ALL THINGS without grumbling or disputing. Why?
SO THAT you might be faultless children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted / perverse generation among whom you are shinning like stars in the world

2). How does obedience to the command impact the effectiveness of your witness?

When, by God’s grace, you no longer have a murmuring spirit or a argumentative spirit, but rather your speech, in an overabundance of the grace given to you by the Spirit, overflows and ministers grace to the hearers, when that happens what effect will it have on the effectiveness of your ministry?
Ephesians 4:29 ESV
29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Colossians 4:5–6 ESV
5 Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. 6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
What kind of impact can gracious speech have on unbelievers?
Philippians 2:15 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,
Notice- we have to be in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation for this to make any difference! If we are not in the midst of the world we are like a candle that is hidden under a bushel. But if we GO out into the world and are in their midst what is the effect of lives and speech transformed by grace?
ἐν οἷς φαίνεσθε ὡς φωστῆρες ἐν κόσμῳ,
among whom you are shinning[1] like stars[2] in the world
[1]Pres, Pass, Ind- because of the gospel we are emitting light, the source of the light is not innate to ourselves.
[2]C.f. Rev 21:11- the radiance of light like brilliant stars in the sky; c.f. Matt 5:14-16
Revelation 21:10–11 ESV
10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.
When we get in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, and we so grown in grace that it overflows in our speech (and murmuring and arguing have no part in our spirits), then God’s grace shines like the radiance of the light of brilliant stars in the sky!
Matthew 5:14–16 ESV
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

C. How can you put the command into practice?

It is one thing to preach from the pulpit or to say while sitting in the comfort and safety of my study- do all things without murmuring and disputing! But, how do you actually work out your own salvation and practically change?

1). What identity is highlighted in v.15 that is crucial to the application of the command?

Philippians 2:15 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,
Children of God- it must start here, without spiritual new birth you are helpless. You are underneath the power of sin and your sin nature and you cannot root out murmuring and disputing because you do not have access to God’s grace. What you need is first and foremost to be born again- to become a child of God. You must repent of your sin and put your faith in Christ alone to save you from your sin.

2). How does understanding your identity enable you to apply the command?

Illustration:
How are you today? I’m blessed!
How are you blessed?
Ephesians 1:3 ESV
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,
How does this connect to our text? If you are a child of God then you are IN CHRIST! You are united to Christ and because you are united to Christ you have a share in EVERY spiritual blessing in the heavenly place!
Like what?
Ephesians 2:4–5 (ESV)
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
Ephesians 2:6 (ESV)
6 and raised us up with him
Ephesians 2:6 (ESV)
6 and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
Think about your position as believers- you are children of God! You share in every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places!
What do you have to complain about? What do we have to argue about? Instead what should be our response?
Ephesians 5:3 NIV
3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.
Ephesians 5:4 ESV
4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.
One way you can practically stop murmuring and complaining and arguing is to fight the greed in your heart with the grace of thanksgiving.
I challenge each one of you to sit down this week and make a list of the top 10 things you are thankful for! Then, make a list of the top 10 spiritual blessings that are your in Christ because you are a child of God.
The next time you are tempted to complain or argue, stop, and offer up thanksgiving to God. Open up your lists and pray through them and thank God for them all over again!
I promise you will be amazed at how powerful the grace of gratitude can be in your war against murmuring and disputing.
Illustration:
Septic system overflow
Application:
Are you in the midst of your crooked and twisted generation? Are you in the world?
Is God’s grace radiating from you like the brilliant light of a star?
Do you struggle with complaining and arguing?
Will you determine to grow in grace this week? Will you take the time to make a list for the things that you are thankful for? Will you work out your own salvation by fighting the greed of complaining and arguing with the grace of gratitude?
III. Enduring obedience overflowing with gladness and shared joy
Philippians 2:16 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.
Philippians 2:17–18 ESV
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.
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