WORKING OUT
PHILIPPIANS 2:12-13
02/23/95
A couple of years ago my family and I had the opportunity to go to Washington to visit my sister and her husband, and to take in the sights. Some the things that everyone who goes to Washington D.C. are the monuments to the presidents. There is the Washington monument with it’s great height. No matter where you are you can pick it out. It is especially beautiful at night when it is all light up. It is there to reminds us of the man who is known as the father of our country George Washington.
Another monument that no one wants to miss if the Lincoln memorial. It is styled after a Greek temple. It has the states names engraved in it’s granite exterior. Inside is a massive status of Abraham Lincoln. On the walls of the memorial you find the words of Lincoln, including his famous Gettysburg address. And let us not forget the little gift shop in the corner were you can but any thing from a poster of a Lincoln to Lincoln coaster for your coffee table.
People come from across the country to be inspired by these memorials to former presidents. We tell our children that if they study hard like Lincoln that one day too they may be president. We used to say always tell the truth like Washington and you to can live in the White House. But now-a-days that one does not seem to have any correlation to the other.
But there are many examples of greatness that inspire people. We can say that we would like to live like them but for the most part the example ends with a momentary inspiration. Why because we lack the ability to be like that person. Admiration for a person can inspire us, but it cannot enable us. They cannot enter into our lives and work their skills in us. Perhaps this is what let Mark Twain to say, "Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example."
Example are great but we need the power to follow them. Now when it comes to using Jesus as our example, God promises us that power. He not only shows us how, but gives us the Holy Spirit to accomplish it.
Let us look at our verse for today Philippians Chapter 2 verse 12-13, it reads;
"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; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure."
What we have seen so far in chapter is first in verse 1-4 Paul commands us to be has Christ. In verse 5-11 he gives us the example of Christ to follow, now in verse 12-13 He give us the how. This is how you are go about with the mind of Christ. This how you are going to follow that example that as been set forth.
Let’s look at these two verses.
Notice what Paul states in the first part of verse 12, "you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only but now much more in my absence."
What Paul is saying is that their obedience should not depend on whether Paul was with them or not. It should not be Paul who was inspiring them to obey the Lord. Paul was concerned the they were placing to much emphasis on Paul.
What is interesting about this book is it is the only book authored by Paul were Paul does not directly rebuke his readers. These people were living the Christian life, but Paul want them to live like Christians not for his sake, but for their own sake.
I think this portion of this verse can certainly be applied to our own lives. Our behavior should not depend on whether the pastor is there or not. Our obedience should not depend on whether we are around other Christians.
We need to ask ourselves am I just a Christian on Sunday or everyday. I now for a fact that people act different when a pastor or minister is around.
I once played golf with the guy who swearing would put a sailor to shame. Now I had never meant him before, we just happened to get paired up with him. After a few holes the guy I was playing with whisper to him that he I was pastor. What a change! He was very polite, and not once did he utter a foul word in my presence.
Let ask, are you like that? Do act different when the pastor or some other Christian is around. They have a word for they way that man acted, and for the way some Christians act, it called Hypocrisy.
So like Paul I say, obey not in my presence only, but in my absence as well.
Concerning the second part of verse 12, I want us to consider the matter which is to be worked
out, "your own salvation."
Salvation is for the most part an individual thing between each person and God. It is a personal relationship between a person and God. Because it is a personal thing between a person and God, it is something that must be worked out on our own.
I as your pastor cannot work out your salvation for you. Paul stressed that you must work out your own salvation. You are responsible for your own growth or lack of growth. You alone are responsible to make a commitment to God, no one can do it for you.
Realize that each person here as a personal responsibility to make a commitment to God. God has a purpose for each one us, and our responsibility it to work out that purpose. The purpose of your life is here referred to a salvation by Paul.
Many times we make the mistake of limiting the word salvation to just the act of being saved. We limit it the act of professing Jesus as our Lord and Saviour. But in the Scripture the salvation mean much more then that.
In the Bible we can actually see three parts or stages to salvation.
1. Justification- this is the past tense of salvation. This is the stage of salvation which happens when we make that profession of faith or the Lord Jesus as our saviour. It is at that point that we are justified by God through Christ. At this point we make righteous to God through the work of Christ. It is at that point that the Holy Spirit enters in us sealing us to eternal life.
2. Sanctification- This can be looked at as the present tense of salvation. We need to understand that we are being saved daily. God is working in us day by day, bring us to the point where we are conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. This is the part of salvation which Paul is addressing in this passage.
3. Glorification- This can be seen as the future tense of salvation. This is what we spoke of last week. Glorification is the reward we receive when we follow the example of Christ.
So Paul is here speaking of as I said of Sanctification, that part of salvation that we are responsible to work out.
Now it is very important that we understand the words Paul is using here. Note that he is stating that we need to "work out our salvation" not "work for our salvation". He not teaching salvation by works. There is nothing we can do on our own that would earn us salvation. There are religious groups who take this Scripture and distort it to mean that we are to work for our salvation.
I know the JW’s like to take this passage out of context. The read verse 12 as meaning that we are to work for our salvation. They of course do not read verse 13 which stated it is God working in you.
The word’s "working out" which Paul uses here is used in other writing to describe working a mine to fullest potential. Our working a field so that all is harvested. It literally means "to carry out to a goal". In others words Paul is saying that we need to get all we can out of our salvation. All that God has put in we need to mine out. All that God as planted we need to harvest. We need to carry our the goal of salvation. And what is that goal;
Romans 8:29 "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren."
Our goal is to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. And this goal will not come about by us just sitting on our hands. Paul is saying that we must work toward this goal.
Paul is saying the being a Christian is not an easy thing. Being a Christian is the spectator’s sport many of us think it is. The Christian lifestyle is one of action, commitment, and sacrifice. It is state of struggle, of suffering, or combat again the enemy. Some verse I would like you to note.
1 Corinthians 9:24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.
Colossians 1:29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.
Philippians 3:14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
2 Peter 1:10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;
All the verse refer to the fact that our salvation is not a passive thing. It is something that is to worked out. It is something we must labor for.
Now while we say that our salvation is something that we must work out, now keep in mind that I am talking of that part of our salvation know as sanctification not justification. Again we can never earn our salvation, what we can do is cause it to grow within us.
It is also equally important to note the second part of our passage, verse 13, "for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure".
As I noted before we need to work out that which God as working in us. God is working in us, that we might work for Him.
I wish to point out to you that the word used here for the "work" God does in us is "en-erg-eh-o" it is the work from which we get our work energy. So it is God who give us the energize, he is the one who energizes us to have the will or desire to be like Him. He energizes that which He has placed in us, so that we are willing to work it out.
This Scripture also points to the why God is working in what we must work out. For His will and His good pleasure. God works His will in us. And when we do His will, He is pleased, and when he is pleased, he is glorified.
Another thing which this passage implies is that we are to use the tools which God gives us to accomplish this end. three tool to note.
1. The Word of God. His Bible.
1 Thessalonians 2:13 "For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe."
This verse states that God’s Word is one of those things which He has worked in us. So in working out our salvation we must know the word of God, that means reading it studying it, applying it, living by it. Realizing that in it, we have the Will of God. We can never hope to be conformed to the image of God’s Son if we do not spend time reading the Word of God.
2. Prayer- Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,"
The power of Pray is such a power thing. It is also the most neglected power in the Christian Church. God has given us this power, He has worked it in us, yet so few of us use it to it’s full potential. We all need to be in prayer on daily basis. We need to work out our salvation by first getting on our knees.
3. Suffering-1 Peter 4:12-16 "Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter."
When we suffer for the good of the Lord He is glorified. In suffering we learn to trust in God. If we never had any concerned we would soon turn our backs on God. Yet God works in us suffering that we may work out our trust and faith in Him.
That we might glorify Him in our sufferings. In looking at this list of three tools which gives to us to work out our salvation, we can see why see why many Christians are so lacks in this duty. We neglect the first two, and run from suffering for the Lord any chance we get.
But we need to realize that if we do not use these tools we will never grow, we will never work out those things which the Lord has working in us. We need to trust in not our own power but divine power. Being energized by the power that is at work in us.
So in conclusion I just want to briefly point our why you need to work out your salvation. 1. The most obvious is that we are commanded by God to do it. But being a rebellious kind of being we don’t let the fact that the creator of all things has told us to do something really bother us all that much.
But I call on you to please God, fulfill His will, use those tools He has given you, work out you own salvation.
2. Because we have no excuse not to. He has given us all we need to know to fulfill His will, to
bring Him glory.
Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" God has shown you all you need to know to work out your own salvation.
3. It is profitable to us.
1 Timothy 4:8 "For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come."
Working our salvation is the most profitable thing we can do. Not only in terms of this life time but in the life to come.
So I call upon each one you today to work out your own salvation. Use the tools that God has given you. Work out those things He has worked in. Get involved with your salvation, don’t just sit on the sidelines. Let us work together for the Glory of the God who has given each one of us life.
SHALL WE PRAY
