Work Out Your Own Salvation (Philippians #9)

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Text: Philippians 2:12-13

Paul’s encouragement to the Philippians is work out your own salvation in the fear of the Lord. It ought to scare you and me to go after a member or members of the body of Christ. Notice the next verses (2:14-16), do all things without murmurings and disputings because you’re the light. And if the light takes on characteristics of the crooked and perverse nation then Paul said I’ve wasted my time. But if you’ll be obedient and act like sons of God then all the labor is worth it and there will be rejoicing in the day of Christ.

Unconditional obedience (vs 12)

…not as in my presence only…
God’s contention is that people will obey their loving Creator and trust Him. The devil’s contention is that all men have a price. When that price is met, that man or woman will consider God’s words a curse and return to business as usual in this dark world.
For some the cost may be high. For others it is as simple as obeying while Paul is around, then going back to normal life when Paul leaves.
The best results to any troubling situation will come from you and I being obedient to God.
What is it in us that we think disobedience to God will yield a better outcome? I ask myself that. What kind of foolish thought is it that I think disobeying God in this situation is going to make for a better outcome.
- Husband and wife have trouble. Husband says if she’s going to act like that then I’m going to do this. Wife says if he’s going to act like that then I’m just going to do this. Then you’re stuck with no one in the house in God’s will. The Holy Spirit is no longer welcome in the house, but that’s somehow going to make things better?
- Or we Moms and Dads know what our child is doing is wrong, but we don’t want to hurt their feelings. As our kids become teenagers this gets more difficult because they just have more feelings.
…but now much more in my absence…
- The verse could’ve said not as in my presence only, but also in my absence. But it doesn’t say that, it says MUCH MORE in my absence.
- So Paul goes even further to say that in the times you think you’ll be justified in being disobedient, that your conditions have been met for disobedience, it’s those times you need to double down on obedience.

Personal accountability (vs 12)

…work out your own salvation…
- Work it out among yourselves.
- See 2:3, 2:14 and all about the humility of mind in Jesus Christ. See also 4:2.
Wouldn’t it be great if we had as much concern for our sin as we do for the sins of others?!
- How about being more concerned about what God thinks than getting our way? You know something doesn’t go my way instead of getting on the phone and gossipping and murmuring, I consider that it may be a good thing that this isn’t going my way.
- Then I consider that even if I’m right, gossipping and murmuring isn’t the solution to any problem.
- Before I build a case against a brother or sister I have to consider the body of Christ. And it ought to scare you and me to go after a member or members of the body of Christ.
Fear of the Lord …fear and trembling… is what will help me work out my own salvation
- Fear of the Lord is essential if I’m going to allow the Lord to work through me.
  - 2 Corinthians 7:15 And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him. When Titus was sent to help the Corinthians straighten out their problems they received him with the right spirit.
  - They could’ve received him looking for fault.
  - They could’ve received him in pride with the “who does he think he is” attitude.
- Fear of the Lord is effective in allowing the Lord to work through me
  - Proverbs 14:26-27 In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge. 27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
  - Proverbs 19:23 The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.
- Fear of the Lord is the basis for understanding the next steps
  - Psalms 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom…
  - Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge…
  - Proverbs 1:29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:
  - Proverbs 15:33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.
- Fear of the Lord is inevitable
  - Remember what was just said in 2:10-11?
  - 2 Corinthians 5:10-11 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

God’s inside work (vs 13)

For it is God which worketh in you…
You work out what God works in
He’s working in you to WILL his good pleasure and TO DO his good pleasure.
Ephesians 1:5, 9 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, … 9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
2 Thessalonians 1:11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: