The Call to Christian Living

If you would, turn with me to the book of Philippians. We will begin this morning by reading the greater portion of text in which our focus for the day can be found. We will focus on verses 12-18 of chapter 2, but I would like to begin reading in chapter 1, verse 27.

Read the Text

Let’s pray...

to see what Christ has done in being humiliated and exalted

to strive to be sanctified, more like Christ in thought and deed

to be unified with one another as we are unified with Christ

to be steadfast amid opposition

and that in all we think, say, and do that we would be witnesses to the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Glory of God

Introduction:

Obedience Exhorted (vv. 12-13)

Now looking specifically at our text for the morning, we begin, FIRST, by seeing Paul’s exhortation to obedience.

Who?

“…my beloved...”

Paul begins by addressing the Philippians affectionately. This church was the “child-in-the-faith” we see planted in the book of Acts and a church that he says in the beginning of this book has been in “...partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” This is the church that he planted over a decade ago, beginning with the conversion of Lydia and her household, a church of faithful saints in Christ Jesus…a church that has supported him on his mission, even when facing opposition and trial as Paul is imprisoned and beaten near death. This is a people whom Paul holds most dear, and who shares this feeling in return, to the point of sending a gift through Epaphroditus, causing him great sickness and the congregation much worry. This church didn’t have the supposedly great issues we see in Corinth or Galatia, but this was no cause for rest and relaxation, but because of their standing with Paul, he encourages them to continue in their work.

What?

“…as you have always obeyed … now much more … work out your salvation...”

Paul now exhorts the Philippians that they need to be obedient, and to work out their salvation. In this text, we see that to be obedient is to work out our salvation…these ideas are essentially the same, but what does it mean for these saints to work out their salvation. To begin, this is directed first at the congregation as a whole. This is focusing on how the community of believers conducts themselves, then how they as individuals are to conduct themselves. Their obedience, working out their salvation is the church in the process of being sanctified, becoming more like Christ. Salvation is typically referred to in three stages: Justification, Sanctification, and Glorification. These believers have been justified on the day they were saved from the penalty of sin, are now in the process of being sanctified or saved from the power of sin, and look forward to a day in which glorification will save them from the presence of sin. The Philippians are to “conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the Gospel” as 1:27 says, thus they are to handle discord like that of Euodia and Syntyche not how the world does, but as those freed from the power of sin…with grace, self-control, striving for justice, etc.

How?

Continuing on, we see that the Philippians are not just merely to begin obeying now, but to do so more than they already had. They have a history of obedience with Paul present, so now they are to be obedient while he is away, and to be more obedient than they had been…this shows that as we progress in Christian Living, we are to be marked by progression, by growth. This work is not instantaneous, and it is going to require effort, but this effort is not to be from ourselves apart from God, but as an outworking of what He has done within. We are to grow into the image of Christ more each day and to do so with “fear and trembling” This is an act of holy reverence for the God of our salvation. Out of love and respect for what He has done in us and for us, we are to think and to live in a way that reflects that. We must live as people whose doxology reflects our theology…we must act upon truth. As Romans 6 says “we are no longer slaves to sin” and as we have been “united to Christ in His death, will certainly be united in His resurrection” and “should walk in newness of life.”

Who?

But, just as we do these things for God and what He has done for us…every step of the way, God continues to enable us along the path of Christ-likeness. “for it is God, who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”

What?

God in His grace as D. A. Carson says, “works in us at the level of our wills and at the level of our doing.” God doesn’t merely work with us, He works IN us. We aren’t left to ourselves to do our best or to fight between willing and working for God. He is active and personal in our lives, freeing us from the power from sin by His power in us to will or to desire as He does and to work or to act as He wants us so that we may do all things “…for His good pleasure.”

Why?

By virtue of God’s love for His people, when we work for His pleasure, His pleasure entails our ultimate good. And specifically in the case of the Philippian church, the good pleasure of God and the good for them via God’s love is that the dissensions among themselves would be dissolved…that they would be motivated to become more like Christ, by being obedient to humble themselves, regard one another as more important than themselves, and be unified with one another as they are unified with Christ Jesus.

Obedience Expounded (vv. 14-16)

Now, seeing that Paul exhorts the believers in Philippi to obedience, we look, SECONDLY, at Paul expounding this obedience.

Paul helps the church by giving them a practical illustration of how they are to be obedient.

What?

The believers in Philippi are told to “Do all things without grumbling or disputing.” Depending on the translation you have these may also be listed as complaining, quarreling, or arguing.

How?

In trying to be like Christ, in being obedient, we are not to be complainers. We are to continually be without grumbling, arguing, and ultimately the bad attitude…the corrupted will which brings forth these actions. We see how this attitude and its out workings have brought great judgement in the past, this is no small grievance to God. This is no petty sin or as John MacArthur says it, “it is no mere character flaw that can’t be helped in our humanity.”

Turn with me to the book of Exodus:

5:1-22

Israel complained that Moses talking about the Promised Land made life harder in Egypt.

14:11-12

Israel complained to have Moses leave them alone, to quit bothering them.

And they go on complaining over a dozen times!

The most notable being their complaints for water and food as God provides manna and the rocks to flow with water.

But as they continue, their judgement comes…Miriam is cursed with leprosy, pestilence comes upon them, the earth is opened, and ultimately all the adults in the wilderness would be kept out of the Promised Land!

Why?

So why is this act of grumbling, or the attitude of pride and discontentment so heinous to God?

It defiles the witness of the church. Through these deeds, the church becomes like the world around them. As we are told in John 17, disciples…followers of Jesus Christ…believers are “not to be of this world” but Jesus prays that His disciples remain in it. He prays that as the Father sent Him, he sends His disciples into the world and asks that “they be kept from the evil one.” As David Mathis says in reference to this passage, “we are not given light so we may flee, but so we may go back for others.” The light, the salvation which has been given us is to enable us to traverse the darkness, to live set apart, and to go after those who remain.

What now?

Now we see this is how we are to live the Christian Life, this is how we are to be obedient. We are to live “ … above reproach … in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation …”

Illustration:

We are to “appear as lights in the world,” as Paul illustrates for us. Making a connection to the book of Daniel, specifically in chapter 12 it is written that “the wise shall shine as luminaries” and “those who lead many to righteousness as stars.” We see that those who shine are wise and in Proverbs, “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, knowledge of the Holy One understanding.” Salvation causes this light to exist and as we follow the call to live like Christ, to follow Christ as fisher’s of men, seeking the lost and guiding them to Christ, we shine ever brighter in the midst of a generation that grows ever darker. The times in which Paul was writing were very dark, chained to guards in a place where Nero reigned and wickedness was rampant, within the empire of the Romans, awaiting a verdict on whether or not he would live to return to Philippi, but this did not stop his shining. His light grew, even amid persecution as chapter 1 tells us that the whole Praetorian Guard knew the cause of his imprisonment.

What?

As those living as lights in the world, the Philippians were also to “hold fast the word of life” Again, as they are called to be lights and be set apart from the world, there is a standard to hold. The Philippians are not of the world because they have been “brought into newness of life” and now their lives are to be marked by the word given them that the world may see them faithful to their calling and so they may be witness to it as they present the word of life to others. As lights, they are to seek those lost in darkness and they are to hold firm the word of life as to present it clearly and without blemish, so they may be blameless and witness with purity to those around them.

Why?

And Paul asks that they do this, so “on the day of Christ. he may have reason to glory” not having “run in vain or toiled in vain.” Paul encourages the Philippians in that their effectiveness in ministry on the day of Christ would help prove the effectiveness of his own and this moves him to thoughts of tremendous joy!

Obedience Exemplified (vv. 17-18)

Looking at Paul’s joy in the ministry of the Philippian church gives us a clear picture of, THIRDLY, an example of obedience in Paul himself.

Who?

As Paul speaks of his joy in seeing Christ and being sure he had not labored in vain, he also finds joy in the midst of his suffering. The apostle can rejoice knowing that if he were to become a martyr, he would be poured as a drink offering.

What?

And that as a drink offering, he would be poured out upon the sacrifice and service of the Philippians.

For?

As the Philippians were faithful to work for the Lord, Paul equates this to them worshipping him. Faithfulness is an act of showing reverence for and adoration of God, it is an act of worship! And when Paul sees that the people in which he has planted in Philippi worshipping God with their lives, how can he not be moved in his heart but to rejoice. To have joy in the Lord for what he has done for them, what he has done in them, and how that has translated into how they think and live for Him.

How?

And we see that this isn’t a joy he keeps to himself, rather a joy he shares with them. He sees these things and rejoices, so should they. The world finds any number of ways to rejoice in self, but as believers are called to humble submission and realize just how poor and lowly our standing before God, it can be hard to rejoice. But Paul here sees their service, he sees their sacrifice and intends to encourage them to rejoice in how the Lord is working in their lives and using them for the advancement of the Gospel around them.

How?

But Paul doesn’t stop there, he urges that they rejoice “in the same way and share their joy with him.” They too as 1:27-30 says are to suffer for Christ’s sake, and are to experience the same conflict they see and hear in Paul, and because of this they need to be reminded that as they are united to Christ in His suffering, and united with Paul in his sufferings, they too will suffer…but looking to the hymn in the preceeding verses…as Christ was humiliated then exalted by the Father, so too shall believers be exalted on the day of Christ. In Christ, His disciples are victorious and in this precious reality is found great joy!