Series: Philippians
Sermon: “We are Different – Really!”
Philippians 2:12-18
Pastor John Bright
Philippians 2 “12 Therefore, my beloved, as you 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 who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
14 Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.
17 Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.
Last week we put the Mind of Christ into the context of an earlier verse – 1:27. It begins with “Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ,…” We need to do the same this week as we continue looking at the conduct of each Believer in the Church.
Paul used letters – from the Latin we call them “Epistles” – to stay connected to the networks of house churches he had help start in various cities. In this scripture we have a couple of references to his trying to connect:
v. 12 – “not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence”
v. 18 – “you also be glad and rejoice with me.”
Staying connected has become vital during the last few months of Pandemic restrictions. We have heard about virtual proms where folks went ahead and got dressed up to virtually dance with their date across town. There were ZOOM graduations and family reunions. We stayed connected as the church was shuttered using recorded videos of my sermons and Youtube videos of songs to worship in our homes. It was not what we wanted to do… but we made it work! Paul could never have imagined a tweet or a text to stay connected… but he made these letters work!
As I just mentioned, Paul returns to the topic of the Philippian Believer’s conduct in this passage.
First – They should continue to OBEY
“12 Therefore, my beloved, as you 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 who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”
In our reading last week, Paul used the example of Christ’s obedience. Now he is directly speaking to the need for obedience in the life of the Believer. It was common for him to seek agreement from those in the Early Church to continue in the teaching that was given to them in the beginning. Later in this book we read: 4:9 “The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.”
He was not seeking that they obey him – rather to obey the teachings of Christ that he worked so hard to spread through the Roman World. Others were teaching a different gospel and Paul was quick to warn them not to turn away – Galatian 1 “6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, … 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.”
The means by which they would continue in obedience to the Gospel of Jesus Christ was to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” This is definitely a phrase we need to “unpack.” There is no way to read the New Testament and come to assumption that you can EARN salvation through any form of human effort. No matter how many good things you do or the days you spend being nice, without the blood of Jesus there is no forgiveness of sin. If sins are not forgiven, there is no salvation.
We use a particular term in the Church to describe the forgiveness of sin – “JUSTIFICATION.” Where do we get that word? From Paul’s writings. Romans 5:1 “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…” For the Believer, that justification came when we trusted Christ for our salvation. I have been justified and one day I will be received into the Heavenly Arms of the Father. Then my salvation will be complete. Until then we use another word for the ongoing work of grace in the life of a Believer – “SANCTIFICATION.”
As Methodists, we have long taught each generation that the journey of sanctification in the life of a Believer depends on cooperation – not an effort of the will. I can’t make it work. You can’t make it work. So how does it work? “13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”
Before we are saved, God is calling us… wooing us to come into relationship with Him through the Blood of Jesus. After we are saved, we have the Holy Spirit within us – the very Power of God – to help us. We can choose to cooperate, or we can choose to “quench the Spirit.”
What have you chosen?
Second – Specifically, Stop Arguing and Complaining
“14 Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life…”
Their ongoing sanctification needed to be evident – inside and outside the Church. How? Paul reached back to a negative example in the Old Testament. In the Book of Exodus, the Israelites have left Egypt and as long as there were no problems, they were happy. As soon as trouble came – they “murmured.”
Paul does not tell what the source of their mummering was, but he is clear about the need for them to stop.
They lived in a world of darkness – do we? Does it look like the world is getting better? The solution by some in that day and in our day is for the Church to become a reflection of the world. So how has that worked out so far? It’s not working. WE NEED TO BE DIFFERENT – REALLY DIFFERENT!
Last week, Jerry Falwell, Jr. was asked to step down from leadership in Liberty University. Why? The most recent problem was a picture on social media of him imitating a woman who was pregnant and could not button up her shorts. This was his most recent problem with social media. There was nothing in any of these incidents that could be defended because he was not trying to “shine as lights in the world.”
I have seen social media rip a church apart when a 20-something got mad and chose to do an “emotional dump” on Facebook. I have seen bothers and sisters in the ministry damaged by not thinking before sharing questionable pictures and crude humor online. I am not calling for us to leave social media – unless you hare addicted to it – but rather to have us be different. Stop arguing and complaining. Ok, then what? Let’s see what the Bible says about this:
Love one another (John 13:34 - This command occurs at least 16 times)
Be devoted to one another (Romans 12:10)
Honor one another above yourselves (Romans 12:10)
Live in harmony with one another (Romans 12:16)
Build up one another (Romans 14:19; 1 Thessalonians 5:11)
Be likeminded towards one another (Romans 15:5)
Accept one another (Romans 15:7)
Care for one another (1 Corinthians 12:25)
Bear one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2)
Forgive one another (Ephesians 4:2, 32; Colossians 3:13)
Be patient with one another (Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:13)
Be kind and compassionate to one another (Ephesians 4:32)
If we conducted ourselves in these way – consistent with God’s Word – I believe we would be seen as really, really different. We would be accused of being God’s Children. When I was in the youth group way back when, the leaders would often ask this question: “If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” And your answer is?
Third – A Cause to Rejoice
“16… so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.
17 Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.”
Paul seeks to rejoice in their obedience to the Gospel of Christ seen in their behavior. If they will not – he describes what it would look like to him in the last days… “run in vain or labored in vain.” Not sure what you hear in that, but for me – I hear the heart of a pastor. We pour ourselves into our work – NOT for the big bucks – NOT for the fancy homes – NOT for the weekly accolades when your walk by the pastor compliment the “nice sermon.” We do this for the precious people that we have been called to shepherd. Listen to Paul’s heart when he came to the end of this letter – 4:1 “Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.”
He is under arrest. He is separated from the Believers he loves. Why not complain? They would understand. We would understand. Paul’s joy, like ours, should flow from the Holy Spirit within us and have nothing to do with the circumstances – Galatians 5 “22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
All the Fruit of the Spirit makes us different than the world. We can cooperate with God’s working within us each and every day. Let me offer a few suggestions this morning.
#1 – Let’s try to get everyone’s BP to go up! Not blood pressure – big problem today. The American Heart Association estimates 103 million Americans have elevated blood pressure. The BP that I’m talking about is Bible & Prayer. Those are the 2 basics for every Believer. If you are not reading your Bible every day I will suggest the 5-5-5 PLAN. Very easy. Just set aside 15 minutes every day. Then read the Bible for 5 minutes. Then spend 5 minutes considering what you just read. Here is a helpful guide for the second 5 minutes of reflection that’s in the form of an acronym– S.P.E.C.K.
S. – Sin to confess & avoid In the passage. Does God say something about sin? Is there a sin to confess? Is there a sin that I should avoid?
P. – Promise to keep. Does God communicate a promise for me to claim?
E. – Example to follow. Do I find people in this passage that give a good role model? What character traits and which actions are commendable? Which are not?
C. – Command to obey. Are there any specific commands given for me to follow?
K. – Knowledge about God. What does this passage tell me about God or about Jesus Christ or the Holy Spirit?
The last 5 minutes are prayer time. That’s your 15 minutes. Don’t stress – if you start with four minutes on each step, it won’t be long before the 5 minutes will seem to be easy. Most folks find their time increasing as this becomes a habit.
# 2 Prayer – There are lots of ways to pray, what are called forms of prayer, in our Judeo-Christian tradition. See me if you want some to try
#3 Come together & grow together in small groups. Right now those would be virtual with 3-5 men or women spending time together every week or every 2 weeks. All you need to do is get a book for Christian growth and discuss a chapter every time you meet. I have a book suggestion for your groups – just find a few folks willing to agree that everything you say is private – no matter what!
If we are going to be different, we need to do something different… will you join me? Amen.
