A Gallup poll once conducted a survey to see if people would move out of the state that they lived in. The question asked; “Regardless of whether you will move, if you had the opportunity, would you like to move to another state, or would you rather remain in your current state?” On average, in all 50 states, 33 percent of the people want to move to another state. That’s one in three people who want to move to another state, yet a couple of the states (Connecticut and Illinois) half of the people want to move.
However, this does not mean that these unhappy residents will take the initiative to pack up and move. “In the same poll, Gallup asked state residents how likely it is they will move in the next 12 months.” Six percent said “very likely,” eight percent said a move would be “somewhat likely”, 14 percent “not likely”, and 73 percent “not likely at all.”
The data shows that most people would rather complain about their life than go through the work to make a change. (Lydia Saad, “Half in Illinois and Connecticut Want to Move Elsewhere,” Gallup Economy, 4-30-14; www.PreachingToday.com)
I invite you to study Philippians 2:12-18 with me, where we find we are to shine bright in a darkening world. So, we will need to exert some effort …
- WORK OUT OUR SALVATION.
As Philippians 2:12 states : “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.”
In the fitness culture, we might be thinking about working out, as like in a gym with our arms and legs. Or working out with weights, or a cardio routine? But in these verses, Paul is referring to a different kind of work out.
First, notice that this “work out” is not just a personal routine but working out as a unit, a church, the body of Christ. The context of this letter is to a group of believers in a church.
This is evident from the grammar the context. Paul address them as “beloved” a plural term. He is implying God’s love for the people that represent the church as well.
Secondly, all of the verbs in 2:12–13 are plural in reference to this body of believers in Philippi.
Thirdly, the pronoun “your” (heauton) is a reflexive plural, which literally would read “work it out among yourselves.” Implying a church wide activity. The command is not just personal introspection, but that we should look out for each other spiritually in the church.
Just how does a church work out our salvation? Well, when we work out, we are submitting to the Spirit’s leading. Specifically, in this context, we are to work out salvation; through our actions by being humble in regard to others (vs. 8), by having a servant’s attitude towards others as we imitate Christ (vs.5), and by striving for unity within the Body of Christ (vs.2).
Importantly, this verse doesn’t say, “Work FOR your salvation.” NO. It says, “Work OUT your salvation.” Eternal salvation is a gift from God, freely given. Salvation is not something we work for. It’s a gift received from the Lord.
The emphasis is that salvation is a gift that God expects us to do something with, He expects us to work with it, to make it operational in our daily lives so others can see that there is another way to live in the world. It’s the gift that keeps on giving!
We looked in verses 2-11 and learned that spiritually working with each other requires respect and submission to each other. Now we will see that working with God also starts with respect for God. It starts with a reverential awe for Christ, who died on the cross and is now in the place of all authority. Verse 12 says…
- WORK OUT OUR SALVATION WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING
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.”
Now, this is not a cowering, cowardly fear. It’s a captivating fear. It’s not a paralyzing fear, but an exhilarating fear, one that energizes a church to accomplish God’s purposes.
It’s about keeping a reverential awe for Christ, who died on the cross and is now in the place of all authority. I like how Paul tied into this the emphasis of whether or not in his presence, they have kept their obedience. For us today, Jesus might not be physically seen, but we know that He is present and aware of our actions. We want to keep honoring Jesus Christ as His body here on earth and we should obey Him.
In 2:13, Paul explains the reason (“for”) working out our salvation with fear and trembling: “for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”
Paul places “theos” (“God”) first in the sentence for emphasis. He doesn’t just say, “God works in you”; he says, “It is God who is at work in you.”
There are two little phrases in verse 13 “to will” and “to work” that describe God’s activity. Both of the desires and the deeds that we are involved in, are for God’s glory. In other words, both the prompting and the performing are attributed to Him as we see at the end of verse 13 “for His good pleasure.”
Nevertheless, our work is submitting to Him. But what happens, when we don’t submit to God?
There is a passage to turn to, when we talk about obeying or fearing what God could do in a church. We find that recorded in Revelation. The seven churches in Revelation chapters 2 and 3 were to consider what it meant to be a church. The warnings from God in Revelation were that He would remove their witness and blessings and quench their light and their joy if they did not honor God’s purpose.
However, Paul’s intention has a positive spin. He is not simply encouraging them to stay true. He means a church that loves and honors God is a light to the world. Because of God’s love, we will continue to be motivated to be in His service. We will continue to obey His Word. We will cooperate with the Holy Spirit in the work that He is doing in our lives and others. And in the process, we will find joy, we’ll see this later in v.17.
The thought is that we can’t afford to oppose the Lord in His work. Instead, we should be willing to work with Him to work out salvation, and do it with fear. Do it with a reverential awe for Christ, which will energize us to be all that God wants us to be.
When we work out our salvation with fear, it will allow us to shine as lights in a dark world.
- WORK OUT OUR SALVATION AS CHILDREN OF GOD.
Philippians 2:14-16 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 forth 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.
Interestingly, the opposite of “fear and trembling” is “grumbling or disputing.” The word for grumbling is an onomatopoetic word. It sounds like “boom, crash, whoosh and a whisper.” (Gonggosmos)
What exactly is grumbling? It isn’t loud or boisterous, but rather it is an attitude found in a person that does not want to humble themselves and work for unity and the love of Jesus, with others.
When grumbling is coupled with disputing with others it causes strife and dissension. These attitudes reflect poorly to the outside world and are the antitheses to unity.
Paul’s point is that absolutely nothing is to be done with a spirit of grumbling or disputing. Therefore, we must encourage those who grumble and dispute to work out their salvation with fear and trembling (2:12).
A closer look reveals three reasons why verse 14 is bound up with this passage.
- First, Paul has been exhorting his readers to develop a spirit of like-mindedness and unity.
- Second, to “do all things without grumbling or disputing” as individuals and as a community requires nothing less than the grace of God, and this is the point of 2:12–13. This command is so contrary to natural human inclinations that it is unattainable without the work of the Holy Spirit.
- Third, grumbling is precisely the opposite of the Christlike attitude in 2:5–11 that the Philippians were encouraged to model.
Verse 15 says we are the Children of God living side by side the crooked and perverse world. We are to be blameless and harmless.
We are not to live like wealthy privileged children who has their father bail them out; Or so spoiled, we treat others poorly, or having a mindset to do as we please.
We are to “shine a light” as verse 16 reads by “Hold forth to the Word of life.” The Greek word ἐπέχω epèchō; means to hold out towards, to direct upon. (some translations read “fast” poor rendering!)
What does “holding forth the Word of life” look like? Arguably, it involves bearing witness of the Word of God by our actions, through speech and lifestyle. We will keep an active influence and observable difference before others.
The Apostle Paul must have had his devotions in Deuteronomy 32 the morning he wrote this, because a lot of the imagery he uses comes straight out of Deuteronomy. In Deuteronomy 32, Moses is getting ready to die. But before he does, he gives a prophetic charge to the people that there will be generations of Jews to come. And Moses warns them that they will reject the Lord, their Rock, and turn to idols. And in true prophetic fashion, he describes it as if it has already happened. He says, “They have dealt corruptly with Him (i.e., with the Lord); they are no longer His children because they are blemished; they are a crooked and twisted generation” – Deuteronomy 32:5.
Then Moses admonishes the current generation to “take to heart his words” and to teach their children “to be careful to do all the words of this law” – Deuteronomy 32:46. For this law, he says, “is no empty word for you, but your very life”. – Deuteronomy 32:47. In other words, God’s law is the Word of Life!
Now in the New Testament, JESUS is called “the Word of Life.” The Apostle John, in 1 John 1 says, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life – the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us” -1 John 1:1-2. He is talking about Jesus! JESUS is the Word of Life.
As Children of God we are to shine as stars in the midst of a warped and crooked generation, and hold forth Jesus as the answer to this wicked world.
“Hold forth” in vs.16 meant another idea in the culture of that day. The words “Holding forth” in that Greek culture was used in the context of offering a drink to refresh a guest. Well here, believers are instructed to offer Christ and His Word to our generation as a refreshing answer to life.
That is how we work out our salvation, that is how we work out our salvation with fear. That is how we work out our salvation with the light of Christ. And finally…
- WORK OUT OUR SALVATION WITH JOY.
Paul chooses joy even though his life may be ending, and he invites us to choose joy as well, to rejoice with him, no matter what our circumstances are.
Philippians 2:17-18 “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 insists that we should have joy in the ministry.
Paul sees himself as a drink offering—one that has been poured out for others. In the sacrificial system under the Old Covenant, the priests would take a drink offering and pour it on top of the altar. Inevitably, the liquid would turn into steam and it would go up as a refreshing wisp representing submission and humility to God.
What I think Paul is saying here: He loves people, and he humbly serves people and is willing to sacrifice for people. Yet, Paul’s focus is upon the ministry of the Philippians. The main message as he writes to the Philippians is that their ministry to others is important to God.
Did you know that in verses 17–18 Paul uses a form of the word “rejoice” four times!
This is his point, Jesus made it possible not just to rejoice in difficult days, but in our ministry and the ministries of others because of what lies ahead. It is God’s purpose for every believer to offer Jesus to others so they can know His salvation and have eternal life that Jesus offers to those who believe, and victory over sin, the abundant life here on earth, the fruit of the Spirit and so much more.
On December 18, 1666, Hugh McKail, a 26-year-old Scottish Presbyterian pastor, was brought to trial in Edinburgh for opposing the king’s efforts to control the Presbyterian church. At the trial, he was given four days to live and then marched back to the prison.
There was a crowd of people on the street, and many were weeping that one so young and brave should have only four days to live. But there were no tears in McKail’s eyes. “Trust in God!” he cried to the crowd as he marched past. “Trust in God.” And then he saw a friend standing on the edge of the crowd and shouted to him, “Good news; wonderful good news! I am within four days of enjoying the sight of Jesus, my Savior!” (James S. Stewart, “The Rending of the Veil,” Preaching Today, Tape No. 57; www.PreachingToday.com)
Then on December 22, 1666, four days later, when McKail stood on the scaffold about to be hanged, he cried out, “Farewell, father and mother, friends and relations! Farewell, the world and all delights! Farewell meat and drink! Farewell, sun, moon and stars! Welcome, God and Father! Welcome, sweet Lord Jesus, the mediator of the New Covenant! Welcome, blessed Spirit of grace, God of all consolation! Welcome glory! Welcome eternal life! Welcome death!”
His final speech made such an impression that the king’s soldiers were ordered to begin playing their drums loudly whenever a Scottish Presbyterian was about to be hanged to drown out his last words. (Dan Graves, MSL, “Hugh McKail Hanged after Torture”, www.christianity.com/church/churchhistory/timeline/1601-1700/hugh-mckail-hanged-after-torture-11630145.html)
My brothers and sisters in Christ, in these days when we’re tempted to grumble and complain about our world, we need to remember that we are called to “Shine as lights in the world.” We are to offer Christ to a world in desperate need of Him. We are to live as Children of God with the joy of eternal life set before us.