[ ] 11/7/2021 #1404

WORKING OUT YOUR SALVATION

SHINING LIGHTS IN A CROOKED NATION
Philippians 2:12-16

INTRODUCTION: Paul wrote this letter to the Philippians while he was in prison for preaching the
gospel. He called these believers to work out their salvation and live as shining lights as they held
forth the word of life. We are to do the same in our crooked and perverse nation. We can make a
difference.

I. WORKING OUT SALVATION

A. BELIEVER'S EXAMPLE OF OBEDIENCE. (v. 12)
Paul used the word "beloved" to speak to the saints in Philippi. He expressed his love for these
believers. Paul commended them for their obedience in his presence as well as in his absence.
According to Holman's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, the definition of biblical obedience is "to hear
God's Word and act accordingly." He used the example of Christ's obedience to the Heavenly Father
as the example all believers are to follow. In Philippians 2:8, Paul wrote of Jesus. "And being found in
fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."
The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ was sinless and perfect in obedience.

As Christians, we are to follow Christ's example as well as His commands. As we allow the Holy
Spirit to transform us from within, we grow in holiness. The reference to "work out your own
salvation" is not about a person earning salvation by good works. Paul was addressing people who had
already experienced salvation.

A "works salvation" is not taught in the Bible. As someone has said, "Work out your own salvation"
means to "work out" not "work for." What Paul is saying is that believers are to work out what God
has put in us so we can be more like Christ and be a positive witness to the world. A Christian's
salvation brings with it responsibilities to be obedient as he follows Christ. You may ask how can I be
more like Christ. Paul answers this in verse 13.

B. BELIEVER'S ENABLEMENT IN CHRIST. (v. 13)

We are able to live the Christian life when we are obedient to God. Paul said in Galatians 2:20, "I am
crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now
live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." The KJV
Bible Commentary notes: "Our salvation is worked in by the Holy Spirit in answer to faith in God's
promises and it is worked out by the Holy Spirit by our obedience to God's precepts." The outworking
of our salvation is the overcoming of the power of sin in our daily lives.
 1. Power of God's work in us. "God who worketh in you"
One of the motives for working out our salvation is knowing God is at work in us. The fear and
trembling express this thought. God has made us accepted in his Beloved Son, and He is in the
process of conforming us into the image of His Son. We learn from verses 12 and 13 the connection
between God's sovereignty and our responsibility. Verse 12 deals with the believer's responsibility and
verse 13 speaks of God's divine enablement.

God supplies the grace needed to give us the desire and the power to please Him. The word "work" in
verse 13 refers to God's supernatural energy that He gives the believer. Our spiritual growth in
godliness is the result of the power and presence of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. Charles
Spurgeon said, "The assistance of Divine grace is not given to put aside our own efforts, but to assist
them."

2. Purpose of God's work in us. "will and to do of His good pleasure"

It is God, who energizes, enables, and equips His children so we can have the desire to do His will and
do His good pleasure. Jesus reminds us that apart from Him we can do nothing. Dependence on the
flesh only brings about failure and frustration in the believer's life.

Warren Wiersbe said: "Natural power cannot accomplish what only supernatural power can
accomplish!" It gives God pleasure to see His children living by faith, living righteously and living
godly.

Chuck Swindoll said: "As He pours His power into us, we do the things that bring Him pleasure.
Take special note that His pleasures (not ours), His will (not ours), His glory (not ours) are what make
life meaningful.”

II. WALK OF A CHRISTIAN

A. LIFE OF THE CHRISTIAN. (v. 14)
In Romans 6:4, Paul said we are to "walk in newness of life." When the Bible speaks of "walking," it
often refers to a lifestyle. The Christians in Philippi were either murmuring among themselves or
either against God. God hates murmuring and complainers. He judged Israel for their murmuring. It
is extremely dangerous for us to murmur and complain. Grumbling and whining do not sit well with
God.

Max Lucado tells of the man who came home one day and immediately his wife started complaining
which led to an intense argument. Arriving at 6:30 in the evening, he spent an hour trying to make
things right. Nothing worked. Finally he said, “Let’s start over and pretend I’m just getting home.”
He stepped outside and when he opened the door, she said, “Its 7:30 at night and you’re just now
getting home?”
Since we all grumble, we may say that it is not such a "big" sin. God does not see it that way.
Complaining and murmuring do not give God glory. He hates this sin. When we whine and grumble
about our lot in life, we are complaining against God. He is in control of our circumstances. Romans
8:28 helps us to understand that God is working all things for our good. We read in Ephesians 1:11
that God "worketh all things after the counsel of his own will."

Ray Pritchard said: "Do we understand that complaining is an attack on God’s sovereignty? Every
time you complain about your circumstances, you are really saying, 'If I were God, I would do things
differently.'”

You find whiners and complainers in homes, at workplaces, and in churches. Some people never see
anything as good but everything as bad. Their life is miserable, and they want everyone else to be
miserable. You can never please a complainer, and they are never satisfied with anything that others
do.

The only way we can fulfill this command not to murmur is to be under the Holy Spirit's control. The
word "all" in this verse is challenging to say the least. We should never be a complainer and especially
about doing the Lord's work. Spurgeon offers an antidote for a complaining, murmuring spirit when
he wrote that "If we complained less, and praised more, we should be happier, and God would be
more glorified."

B. LIGHT AS A CHRISTIAN. (v. 15)

The Bible uses the phrase "walk in the light." It means among other things to follow Jesus who is the
light. It also means to live a life separated from the darkness of sin. In Ephesians 5:8, Paul said to
"walk as children of light." In Colossians 1:10, Paul said we are to "walk worthy of the Lord unto all
pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God." The Bible also
tells us in Romans 13:13-14 to "walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in
chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make
not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof."

In Matthew 5:14-16, Jesus said, "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be
hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light
unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
Paul reminded the Christians in Philippians 2:15 to "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." To be a shining light in a crooked and perverse nation, we must be blameless and harmless
children of God. The Bible speaks of Job as being blameless and upright. What does it mean to be
blameless? Job was a man of integrity. Luke 1:5-6 says that Zacharias and Elisabeth were righteous
before God. They kept the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

The word "blameless" means to be free from fault or defect. When a person is blameless, it does not
mean he is sinless. A blameless person is someone who confesses his sin and makes things right
whenever possible. We can only make an impact in culture when our lives are different from the lost
world.

III. WORD FOR THE WORLD.

A. WORD OF LIFE. (v. 15)
God has a Word for the entire planet. It is His Holy Word. The Bible is the Word of the living God.
The words in the Bible are life. " In Hebrews 4:12, we read that the word of God is quick" or living.
Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 3:16, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God." The Lord literally
breathed out His Word. Peter wrote in 1 Peter 1:24-25 that the grass withers and the flower falls away,
but the Word of God endures forever. The living Word produces new life. The Holy Spirit uses the
Word of God to accomplish the new birth in the life of a sinner.

B. WORD GIVES LIFE.

Jesus said in John 6:63 that "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I
have spoken to you are spirit and are life." It requires the Word to be saved. 1 Peter 1:23 states: "Being
born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth
for ever." The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to generate spiritual life. James 1:18 states: "Of his
own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures."

A person cannot have salvation apart from the Word of God. Jesus called the Word a seed. When a
seed is planted in fertile soil, it brings forth life. It grows and produces fruit. The Word of God is like
milk to a baby that gives him nourishment. The Word of God is like meat to a mature Christian that
gives him spiritual strength. We read this in 1 Peter 2:2 and Hebrews 5:12-14. The Bible has changed
more lives and nations for good than all the books that have ever been written or yet to be written.

LESSONS FOR LIFE:

1. As Christians, we should desire to be like Christ.
2. As followers of Christ, we should have a good witness before the lost.
3. As Christians, we should stand for the Word and share its truth.
4. As Christians, we should shine as lights in the world.