The Christ-like Church
Philippians 2:12-16
This passage is still dealing with unity—unity in the church and unity among believers. But the passage is unique because it brings up the great subject of salvation. Keep in mind that salvation means deliverance and that salvation is of God. It is God who has saved and delivered you: “For by grace are ye saved” (Ephes. 2:8-9). But once you are saved, go to work—work out your own salvation and deliverance. Salvation is not stagnant and complacent. A saved person is not to be sitting around doing nothing and letting the chips fall where they may. A saved person is to get up and go to work. He is to do all he can to work out his own deliverance. This is the subject of the present passage. If the church is to be unified—if believers are to walk in a spirit of unity, then they must look at their salvation—at the whole scope of their life and the glorious salvation God has given them—and they must do all they can to work out their own deliverance.
The verb “work out” carries the meaning of “work to full completion,” such as working out a problem in mathematics. We can’t calculate everything God put in us. In Paul’s day it was also used for “working a mine,” that is, getting out of the mine all the valuable ore possible; There are deep riches to your salvation and life and you are more precious to God than all the diamonds in the world or “working a field” so as to get the greatest harvest possible. The purpose God wants us to achieve is Christ-likeness, “to be conformed to the image of His Son” (Rom. 8:29). There are problems in life, but God will help us to “work them out.” Our lives have tremendous potential, like a mine or a field, and He wants to help us fulfill that potential.
“There are no short cuts to maturity. It takes years for us to grow to adulthood, and it takes a full season for fruit to mature and ripen. The same is true for the fruit of the Spirit. The development of Christ-like character cannot be rushed. Spiritual growth, like physical growth, takes time. When you try to ripen fruit quickly, it loses its flavor. In America, tomatoes are usually picked un-ripened so they won’t bruise during shipping to the stores. Then, before they are sold, these green tomatoes are sprayed with CO2 gas to turn them red instantly. Gassed tomatoes are edible, but they are no match to the flavor of a vine-ripened tomato that is allowed to mature slowly.” Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002), 217.
God is developing the character of Christ into our lives. It is not the fast track to maturity but a continual process that requires an effort on our part to grow. If we make the effort we have tremendous potential as Christians and as a church. So let me give you this morning the three steps we must take to develop our Christ-like character and to be a Christ-like church.
I. Work on Being Teachable (v.12-13)
The Apostle Paul as the spiritual leader of the church of Philippi says if I am with you or not work out your salvation. And then in v.13 he writes because when you work it out God is working in you to fulfill His purpose for your life.
See God won’t force us to learn to be more Christ-like. He wants us to remain in His will and follow His plan because then we will live happy productive lives. He works into our lives and we are to work out what He has worked in. That means we have to let God show us what He wants for us to do.
This isn’t easy because He works in things like patience, and kindness, and gentleness so we can develop our faith. So the question today is Am I Teachable? Am I allowing god to work into mu life the things I need to fulfill His will?
Marty Williams a Pastor of Family Ministries wrote 12 thoughts on the question “Am I Teachable?”
1. I am willing to listen more than talk.
2. I admit when I am mistaken.
3. I observe before acting on a situation.
4. I am able to agree to disagree.
5. I desire information more than answers.
6. I enjoy asking questions.
7. I am open to suggestions and new ideas.
8. I feel comfortable asking for advice or directions.
9. I am patient and a willing “Student.”
10. I enjoy reading for information that is practical and applicable.
11. I seek out new perspectives on the questions of life.
12. I can appreciate criticism without being deeply wounded.
If I am teachable then God can use me and enables me to move to the next step of Christ-like character.
II. Work on My Tongue (v.14)
Here in v.14 the Bible tells us to do everything without murmurings that means a secret mumble. You know when your child disagrees with you then walks down the hall…mumble….What did you say? Nothing!
Complaining here means a deliberate outward action an outright disagreement. God says here that we are to control our tongues that whining, griping and gossiping our not to be part of our lives, all through the Bible we are told to guard our tongues.
Unfortunately I’m afraid many gossips are like this story:
Zig Ziglar tells the story of boy that went with his mother to the old general store. He liked to sneak away from his mother and when no one was looking he would dip his finger into the large barrel of molasses. The storekeeper caught him doing this and decided to teach the boy a lesson. He picked up the boy by his britches and dunked him head first into the barrel of molasses and then set him out on the front porch of the store. But instead of crying the boy was out there praying, “God, give me the tongue to equal this opportunity.”
“The second most deadly instrument is a loaded gun. The first is the human tongue. The gun merely kills bodies. The tongue kills reputations and oftentimes ruins character.” William G. Jordan
“Complaining minds send a wagon to bring their troubles home in.” Charles H. Spurgeon
Bob Russell writes, “I really believe the most important step in developing inner peace is to quit complaining and start praising.”
When we learn to guard what we say we will not hurt others and become more like Christ.
III. Work on my Testimony (v.15-16)
Here we are introduced to the word blameless. It means outside of the church and in the church the Christian’s testimony must be where no one can accuse them of anything. Harmless means a life of purity.
A. In the World (v.15)
We are to be pure in the eyes of the world. People at work or at the store should see a shining example of Jesus in us.
At the beginning of a new year, a high school principal decided to post his teachers’ new year’s resolutions on the bulletin board. As the teachers gathered around the bulletin board, a great commotion started. One of the teachers was complaining. "Why weren’t my resolutions posted?" She was throwing such a temper tantrum that the principal hurried to his office to see if he had overlooked her resolutions. Sure enough, he had mislaid them on his desk. As he read her resolutions he was astounded. This teacher’s first resolution was not to let little things upset her in the New Year. The world is watching.
A man once wrote to D.L. Moody, “Now that I am converted, must I give up the world?” “No”, answered the evangelist, “you need not give up the world; if you give a ringing testimony for the Son of God, the world will give you up pretty quick. They will not want you around.”
B. In the Word (v.16) here’s how we manage our testimony “holding fast the word of life.” To heed and give our attention to God’s Word. To hold it securely as the compass of our lives and to follow God’s Word even at a great sacrifice to us personally.
James Westervelt writes, When I was in Bible College, a tractor trailer load of Tropicana Orange Juice was dropped off at the cafeteria every week. I wondered how a low-cost Bible College could afford so much expensive O.J. One morning in chapel, I found out how an older Italian man in broken English, gave his testimony. He said he had come to the US from Italy in the 20’s as a young teenager, with nothing but the clothes on his back. A Christian couple befriended him and through their love he came to know Christ as his Savior and Lord. One Sunday in church, he prayed: "Lord, if you give me an idea for a business, I will be faithful to give a portion of everything I make back to Your work." That very morning, the idea of "Fresh squeezed orange juice" popped into his head - and the rest is history: Anthony Rossi founded the "Tropicana Co" and has been faithful to give God - not 10% of his income, as many faithful believers do, but 50% of his income, for the past 60 years! He also gave truckloads of FREE O.J. to Christian colleges throughout the country!
Conclusion: Pastor and author A. W. Tozer, said this: “The widest thing in the universe is not space; it is the potential capacity of the human heart. Being made in the image of God, it is capable of almost unlimited extension in all directions. And one of the world’s greatest tragedies is that we allow our hearts to shrink until there is room in them for little besides ourselves.”
God is developing His image, Christ-like character into our lives. If we’re not careful we will not let Him do His work. But if we do let God have His will for us than Christian you have unlimited potential.
This doesn’t mean that God wants us all to go be missionaries to Africa. He wants us all to be ambassadors here in Bradford County. This means we must remain Teachable, Guard our Tongues and develop a testimony that is blameless.
So the Question today is: Will we let Him work in us His purpose and plan for us? Will we church?
PRAY
