"A Biblical Response In A Broken Age"

"A Biblical Response in a Broken Age"

Philippians 2:12-13

Philippians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. 14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; 16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. 17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. 18 For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.

Introduction: Andy Patterson: "America is walking the Romans road to ruin! Romans 1:18-32" Oklahoma State Association of FWB's: "Remember that we are not the first believers called to proclaim the Gospel to a godless culture. God's truth is not diminished by any government's actions not is our responsibility to proclaim those truths diminished. May God give us wisdom and courage as we strive to obey God rather than man." First:

I. We should place our hope in the truth

a. Our salvation was consumated by the Savior's obedience

In verses 1-8 Paul declares that Jesus was glorified as a result of his obedience and humiliation. It was his obedience to the word and will of his Father that produced this glorification.

b. Our salvation is contingent on our obedience

In the middle of verse 12 he refers to their obedience in his presence and states that now that they are separated their obedience is even more critical. "...how much more in my absence..." Friend, have you obeyed the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Are you continuing to obey the gospel?

c. Our salvation is completed by our obedience

Our salvation is an ongoing work. Paul says to "...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling..." Does this mean that we can work for our salvation? Absolutely not! Read what he has to say in verse 13.

Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Both the "willing" and the "working" come from God who does the energizing, Robertsons Word Pictures but make no mistake friend we must make sure that we are saved and that we know it. It's never been more important that it is today!

Have you been saved? Do you see yourself as a sinner? Have you confessed your sins? Have you repented (turned away from) your sins and turned to God? Have you asked God to forgive you and cleanse you and change? Have you surrendered yourself to the Lordship of Jesus Christ?

A young couple moves into a new neighborhood. The next morning while they are eating breakfast, the young woman sees her neighbor hanging the wash outside. "That laundry is not very clean; she doesn't know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap."

Her husband looks on, remaining silent. Every time her neighbor hangs her wash to dry, the young woman makes the same comments. A month later, the woman is surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and says to her husband: "Look, she's finally learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this? "

The husband replies, "I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows." And so it is with life... What we see when watching others depends on the clarity of the window through which we look.

AMEN!!!

www.Rubyschallenge.com/watch -- with Jennifer Thompson.

II. We should hold to the truth

Robert Morgan: "How much better to obey a God who is wrapped in light rather than men who are clad in black."

How do we hold the truth? We do it by the way that we live. Let me be honest with you and state an "inconvenient truth" (remember Al Gore?) The reason we are where we are today in this culture is primarily the result of profession Christians who talk about the truth, sing about the truth, write about the truth, FB, Twitter, Instagram the truth but do not live the truth of the Gospel of Christ. What does Paul say about living the truth?

a. He talks about our mouth

Several translations of verse 14 read: "Do everything without complaining or arguing,"

b. He talks about our manner

The first four words of verse 15 translate "...that ye may become..." and then he mentions 2 things about our manner: First, we are to be blameless (in ourselves) and harmless (to others.) Second, we are to be "...the sons of God, without rebuke..." which means our conduct should demonstrate that we are God's children, that we have been born of God. The last part means that we live in such a way that no charge can be laid against us.