Philippians 2:12-16
Last time from this scripture, we began to look at more life principles that we as Christians need to embrace. The first principle is found in the words; “continue to ‘work out’ your salvation.” We learned that this has nothing to do with attempting to earn our salvation in any way. The words Paul used here for “work out” carry the meaning to “get the most out of” or “to carry through to completion”. So, once we become Christians, once we accept the work of the Cross and decide that we are going to follow Christ, and begin a new relationship with God, we then must strive to get the greatest potential benefit in our lives from that decision. Paul is saying that God has put a tremendous capacity for good in our lives, and we need to “work it out” to it’s fullest!
He is not talking about knowing about Jesus, he is talking about Jesus knowing us and us knowing Jesus in a growing, personal relationship. He is saying that we need to “work it out” - not figure it out - but work it out. The salvation that God has worked in me, I now need to work it out, or live it! I need to “Put off the old man - put on the new self”…I need to “show my faith by my works…I need to allow the Holy Spirit to “produce the fruit of the spirit” in my life... And, I need to put to use the gifts and talents and skills that He has given me, to promote the growth of the kingdom of God. Can you get excited about that, or is it just something else you feel like you have to do?
Today, Paul gives us the kind of attitude we ought to have, as we “work out” our salvation. He says we are to approach this with “fear and trembling”….Now, he’s not talking about a “Don Knots” kind of trembling and shaking all over…He simply means that we are to recognize who God is and who we are in this relation-ship. We are to acknowledge His sufficiency and our impotency and total dependence on Him.
This type of attitude, or reverent fear, is found in many places in the scriptures such as;
Proverbs 1:7 - “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”
Proverbs 10:27 reads, "The fear of the LORD adds length to life...."
Proverbs 15:33 reads, "The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom...."
Proverbs 16:6 - “Through the fear of the Lord a man avoids evil”…
Isaiah 33:6 reads, "He (that is God) will be the sure foundation for our times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure."
The fear of God not only produces obedience to God, but the fear of God also adds length to life, instills wisdom and opens up the treasures of God in and through our lives…Now, that’s exciting!
Fear has gotten a bad reputation in a society that shuns authority and lives for self. Young people have lost the “fear” - meaning respect for authority. Yet, fear is a built-in part of our humanity, intended to protect us from harm, but never intended to create disobedience to God. In 1st John 4:17 it says “God is love…and there is no fear in love.” I think there are many who have not experienced God’s love because they have the wrong kind of fear.
In verse 13 of our text, Paul gives us the reason why we need to have a proper fear of the Lord; He says “For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose”. Paul is telling us that it is God who provides us with the will and the power we need to properly “work out” our salvation. There are a lot of people in our churches today who are still trying to “live for God”…by that I mean doing what they consider the “right things” and living what they perceive to be the “right life” in order to please God; and they wear themselves out - trying in their own power, to “work out their salvation. There is a big difference between trying to live for God and allowing God to live in and through us.
Did you know that when we truly love someone - even God - we have a desire within us to want to make them proud of us? And, in that kind of relationship, we are not afraid of what that person may do to us…we are afraid of what our actions may do to him or her. The “fear” of love is not the fear of punishment, it’s the fear of disappointment.
So, to bring this first attitude of proper fear down to a sentence, it means; If we have a proper fear of the Lord, or attitude of awe and reverence and dependence, we will want to do everything possible to please, and not disappoint Him.
Now, our outline of this portion of scripture should look like this;
Principle #1 - “Everyone must ‘work out’ their salvation.”
(a.) “With fear and trembling” (Reason; It is God who works in us.)
(b.) “Without complaining or arguing” (Reason; “so you may be blameless, and pure children of God.)
Another translation says “Do everything without grumbling or complaining”…John Maxwell points out that the only thing that separates a winner from a whiner is the letter “H” (which probably stands for “have to!”) Whenever our kids would whine about something, it was always “Do I have to?” Listen, in the context of this verse, Paul is not talking about whining and complaining to or about one another…He is talking about whining and complaining to or with God!
An example of this is found in the Book of Exodus when the people of Israel obeyed God on their desert journey, but they did so with faithless “murmurings and grumbling” it says! God wants us to listen to him, but He does not want our grudging obedience.
We do that more often than we think. We give our money in the offering plate, but we don’t give what God desires…and what we do give, we don’t give willingly or with a cheerful heart! Too many Christians follow Christ with a frown! We hear a truth from God’s Word and we give a half-heart Amen, as if it is something we’re supposed to do. When a trial or temptation comes our way, instead of seeking God and gaining wisdom, we whine and cry and have a pity party! Listen, the worst part of all this kind of behavior is that the lost world around us takes notice of our attitude! We need to pray as David prayed, and ask God to “restore the JOY of our salvation!”
Listen to what the rest of Psalm 51 says; “Restore unto me the joy of your salvation, and grant me a “willing” spirit to sustain me. THEN I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you!”
Does your attitude have that kind of effect? We need to “work it out!”
Why is all this so important for us to learn? Because of verses 15 and 16 - “so you may become blameless and pure children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, IN WHICH YOU SHINE LIKE STARS IN THE UNIVERSE, as you hold out the word of life.” We can “whine” or we can “shine.” Which do you suppose pleases God?
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