Do I have to?

Working Out

The law few weeks we have hit some really difficult topics. Among the things that Paul has told us he has said to “live is Christ, and to die is gain”, he has said to “think of others more than yourself”, and he has said to humble ourselves like Christ who became a servant for us. So he has told us to live is to live like Christ, and that means to serve others more than ourselves, to put our own needs second to the Gospel, and to be okay when things are difficult.

So in this passage Paul starts off with “therefore” and whenever you see that word you should ask ‘what is the therefore there for.” And to put it simply he has told them that they are to exercise. What they are exercising are their spiritual muscles, they are to grow stronger in their salvation and how they live that out .

Do you know what happens when you work out? You know that pain that your muscles get whenever you lift heavy things for too long or run? Well you get that pain because your muscles are literally tearing, they are ripping open. But this isn’t a bad thing, in fact, your muscles tearing opens up room for new muscle to grow so you can get stronger. At first it is difficult, but the more you work out the stronger you get and the easier workouts become.

But this working out of our relationship is in connection with Paul has said at the beginning of this chapter. That we are to be in right relationship with others. That we are i fellowship with others. Here he is telling them how to act if they seek to look like Christ. It is the practical working out of that faith. Here Paul gives many statements of how they are to respond to the Gospel. It says they are to

Obey - v. 12

Work out your salvation - v. 12

Do everything without grumbling - v. 14

Be blameless and pure - v. 15

Shine - v. 15

Hold firmly to the word of life - v. 16

But in this responses to the Gospel he also gives us reassurances. That

God is at work in you for His good purpose - v. 13

You are God’s children - v. 15

You are lights - v. 15

So here Paul tells them to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”

We have a responsibility

What responsibilities have we been given?

To obedience

To spiritual growth.

this is a commitment to a life of fellowship, of obedience, and of

To sensitivity

what does it mean to work out our salvation with “fear and trembling”?

It means that we understand our weakness, we understand the power of temptation, and we recognize the penalty of sin.

We recognize the weight that comes with our sin and we see God’s grace toward us so we desire to obey. We know we have a responsibility to be obedience in our lives so that we may look like God in our actions and in our life.

We are made complete

God works in us and through us for His glory. He knows exactly how we are to be used.

As it says in the Bible, “all His promises are yes and amen” this means that we have no doubt that He will do them and that we can praise Him even before He does them because we know they will be completed. God loves you, He wants the best for you, and nothing will stop the work of His love from being completed in you.

We are called to action

We are called to do everything without “grumbling or arguing”

-This is to now selfishly complain, to get upset over miniscule issues, to now be impatient, to not do something with an unwilling spirit when you are supposed to be helpful, but to outwardly and inwardly have an attitude that is willing to do a good work even when we do not want to. But even to inwardly grumble that makes you bitter.

-This can be about your chores, about homework, about wanting to do something that you parents aren’t letting you do. It can be a friend that you disagree with.

Why are we to act this way? So that we may be “blameless and innocent children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation.”

-What Paul is saying is that in a world where people want everything to be about them, where people want to complain about how they feel they are being treated, who want to blame other people for why their own problems, who want to have things handed to them rather than work for it. You be people who are children of God in your actions.

-This “crooked and perverted generation” is an upside down culture from what we know we are called to as Christians.

-There world says “do what is best for you”, God’s word says look out for the interests of others.

-The world says “make as much money as you can, get as famous as you can”, the Word says “empty yourself for the cause of Christ”

-The world says “enjoy life to the fullest, you only live once, and if it doesn’t harm anyone else than do whatever you would like”, the Word says “to live is Christ, to die is gain”.

Consider what Solomon says in Ecclesiastes

-Ecclesiastes 2:4-11

Ecclesiastes 2:4–11 CSB

I increased my achievements. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. I made gardens and parks for myself and planted every kind of fruit tree in them. I constructed reservoirs for myself from which to irrigate a grove of flourishing trees. I acquired male and female servants and had slaves who were born in my house. I also owned livestock—large herds and flocks—more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. I also amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I gathered male and female singers for myself, and many concubines, the delights of men. So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem; my wisdom also remained with me. All that my eyes desired, I did not deny them. I did not refuse myself any pleasure, for I took pleasure in all my struggles. This was my reward for all my struggles. When I considered all that I had accomplished and what I had labored to achieve, I found everything to be futile and a pursuit of the wind. There was nothing to be gained under the sun.

His point is that you can gain everything in this world, you can gain all of the riches, you can buy everything on Amazon, you can watch every show on Netflix, you can try any drug or drink alcohol, you can seek relationships, you can try everything you possibly can in life there is to enjoy. But in the end it will lead to emptiness. Solomon had everything, but when it was all said and done he realized it would all fade away, it wouldn’t last.

But what he then tells them is that they are to “shine like stars” and to “hold firm to the Word of life” so that he can boast in Christ. He says that even if he sacrifices everything so that they may enjoy the riches of Christ that it was worth it.

-He calls us to be a light. Jesus says that “no one lights a lamp and hides it under a basket, but rather holds it up on a lampstand so that it’s light is visible to others.” He says “let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.”

-We are called to be a light in the darkness, a reminder to others about the real purpose of life rather than what we often choose and end up regretting. We are to be the same light to others that Jesus was to us. And the light that Jesus showed to us was because the light for the sake of sinners. Jesus sacrificed all for us.