Shine Like Christ

Pray for Spirit’s leading and enlightening

Introduction

Last week we were able to begin our journey together through Paul’s letter to the Philippians. We know from his opening chapter that he writes from prison, he is very grateful for their gift to him while imprisoned and that he finds joy even though not everyone is preaching Christ with pure motives. We specifically looked at how God gives us the power to live blameless lives through Jesus Christ and that so long as we abide in Him he will carry out the good work he began to completion.

Writes from prison, grateful for their gift to him, and shares how joyful he is Christ is being preached even if through impure motive. He is willing to die as long as Jesus is exalted, but feels his work is not yet finished in training up others into maturity in their faith. At the end of the chapter he warns them that they will suffer for following Jesus.

Summarized Bible: Complete Summary of the New Testament Chapter One

Triumph of the believer over suffering and persecution.

Read Philippians 2:1-16

During the concluding part of Bible study this past week we looked over one of my favorite passages briefly and we just read through it again today (Philippians 2:5-11). It is extremely moving to think of the fact that one of the “three persons in the Godhead” (Doctrine #3) of whom the titles of “Creator, Preserver and Governor of all things...” (Doctrine #1) belongs to “did not think of equality with God as something to cling to...”

Philippians 2:6 (CSB)

6 … did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited.

Paul writes to the church in Philippi to …

Philippians 2:2 CSB

2 make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.

Selfishness and arrogance have no place in the body of Christ and to give us the best example of how we should be like Christ he shares one of the most beautiful hymns ever penned. “This hymn is the most concentrated New Testament passage to combine the doctrines of the person (identity—who he is) and the work (actions—what he did) of Christ.” (Easley, 2002)

-Kendell Easley

Having Christ, the true King, as this amazing example, not the Roman emperor, Paul begins to describe what should be some of the characteristics of a follower of Jesus that allows them to bring the light of Christ to those around them.

By obediently working

Philippians 2:12–13 CSB

12 Therefore, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, so now, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose.

It was crucial for Paul that believers in Philippi would see the responsibility that fell on their hands to make sure they continued to “work out [their] own salvation with fear and trembling” (v. 12) especially now that he was absent among them because of his imprisonment.

Behavior is often much different depending on who is around. Ask any elementary student and you will see what I mean. I know that when the teacher was in the room it was much easier for some to behave in the correct manner. In the same way, many times it is much easier to live out your faith around those who are of good influence.

Now this working out of their salvation would be impossible were it not for the very next part of the Scripture that makes us aware…

Philippians 2:13 CSB

13 For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose.

Transition: Along with obediently working out their salvation, Paul also teaches writes to them it is not all about doing, but just as much about being.

Being blameless and innocent

Philippians 2:14–16 (CSB)

14 Do everything without grumbling and arguing,

15 so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world,

16 by holding firm to the word of life…

For us to understand fully what I think Paul was trying to convey to the Philippians we need to go back to Jesus’ first temptation by the devil in the desert (ARE you the Son of God? TURN (DO) these stones into bread…)

God is showing the Philippians through Paul not only what they need to do and not do, but who they need to BE. The Philippians need to “be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish...” “But how is this possible?!” you might ask to which I reply by “holding fast to the Word of Life...”

John 15:4 CJB

Stay united with me, as I will with you—for just as the branch can’t put forth fruit by itself apart from the vine, so you can’t bear fruit apart from me.

John 15:7 CJB

“If you remain united with me, and my words with you, then ask whatever you want, and it will happen for you.

It is by holding fast, by retaining the Word of Life, Jesus himself through the Holy Spirit, that the Philippians could be blameless and innocent. This is done completely by faith. In stark contrast to the first point, there is nothing you can DO to have the assurance that you ARE who God says you are.

The enemy of souls will try to convince you that you have to DO something to BE blameless and innocent.

Jesus has done what was needed so we could be who God wanted us to be.

Conclusion

Summary

In today’s passage...

Paul tells Philippians to “work out [their] own salvation with fear and trembling” through God who is the one giving them the will and the strength to do so.

Paul tells Philippians to be blameless and innocent children of God by “holding fast to the word of life” who is truly Jesus himself. This is by faith in Him.

Application

We ask God to give us the fruit of His Spirit to do what he requires of us in the manner that glorifies and reflects His character.

We live out who we are by faith in Jesus Christ, the Author and Perfecter of our faith.