This blog is based on a sermon from Philippians. You can listen to the sermon here.
If you’re like me, you love looking at a beautiful night sky and enjoying the stars. At my parents’ house, there is no streetlight on their property and a clear night sky is something to behold. Of course, the reason that the view is so wonderful is that the stars shine brightly without being dimmed by other light sources.
In our text today in Philippians 2, Paul says that we as Christians are to shine as lights in the world. Just as those stars shine brightly in a clear sky, we are to shine as gospel lights in a world that has been darkened by the stain of sin and lawlessness.
To recap the last few weeks:
- In Phil 1:27, Paul told the Philippians to let their manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ.
- In Phil 2:1-4, Paul emphasized unity in the church. This unity is achieved through practicing humility and serving others.
- In Phil 2:5-8, Paul told the Philippians to have the attitude of Christ, who made himself nothing, took the form of a servant in order to serve the very people he created, and died on the cross for their sins.
- In Phil 2:9-11, we saw that one day we will bow the knee and exalt Jesus. The Father has made Him Lord of all.
Sermon Text: Phil 2:12-18
BIG IDEA: As God works within us, we will produce good works and shine as gospel lights in the world.
We are to work out our own salvation as God works within us (12-13)
“Therefore”
The word “therefore” ties our passage to the previous section. Paul is referring all the way back to Phil 1:27, where he told the Philippians to live in a manner that is worthy of the gospel. Paul then told the church that there should be unity, humility, and service within the church.
Paul wants the church to work together to rid themselves of divisions and disunity. We see this especially in Phil 4:2-3.
“my beloved”
This phrase indicates that Paul deeply loves the Philippians church.
“as you have always obeyed”
Obedience is the greatest evidence of true conversion. Jesus told His disciples, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). Eugene Peterson says it like this: The Christian life is “a long obedience in the same direction.”
“so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling…”
Paul tells the church, whether in his presence, or in his absence, to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling. Paul is not telling the Philippian believers to work for their salvation but that they are to work out their salvation.
Paul is not telling the Philippian believers to work for their salvation but that they are to work out their salvation.
It’s not enough to know the gospel in your head. It must penetrate your heart and lead to actions with your hands. Paul is saying, “Because you are followers of Jesus, you are to live in a new way. By doing this, you are ‘working’ out your own salvation.”
Remember the context. Paul has been addressing disunity within the church. Thus, in this context, Paul wants the Philippian church to work out their salvation by humbling themselves, serving one another, and pursuing unity.
In other words, Paul is telling the Philippians (and us) to follow the example of Jesus (Phil 2:6-8).
Paul wants the Philippians to grow in humility, personal holiness, and selfless service by the power of God’s grace.
If someone was to watch how you are you working out your salvation, what would they say?
- Would they say you are humble or proud?
- Would they say you are holy or defiled by sin?
- Would they say you are selfless or selfish?
Not only are we to work out our own salvation, but Paul also says there’s an attitude we should have: “with fear and trembling.”
In Phil 2:9-11, we saw that Jesus is Lord over all and one day we are going to bow before Him. Therefore, Paul says, “we are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling.”
Proverbs 9:10 says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Our knowledge of God’s holiness should lead us to live in obedience as we work out our own salvation.
Our knowledge of God’s holiness should lead us to live in obedience as we work out our own salvation.
The reality is that one day we will all stand before a holy God in judgment. God is holy, and the Bible says that we’ve all sinned and fallen short of His perfect standard. Therefore, we are guilty and stand condemned. But the good news is that God in His love, sent His one and only Son. God’s Son took on human flesh, was born of a virgin, lived a perfect life, and died on the cross, substituting himself for us. He paid the penalty for our sin, and we can be reconciled with God because of the work of Jesus Christ. Our response to Jesus is to repent of our sins, trust in Christ, and follow Him as Lord.
I’ve explained what Paul means by working out our salvation, but how do we do it? God has not left us alone!
Look at v. 13 – “…for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”
God does not leave us how He found us (Phil 1:6). He gives us His Holy Spirit, to will and to work for his good pleasure. Look at Jesus’ words in John 14:
John 14:16-17
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
As we submit to God’s work within us and humbly serve one another, we will indeed live in a manner of worthy of the gospel and have unity within the church. The more unified our church is, the more we will shine as lights in the world.
This is exactly what we see in verses 14-16.
As a unified church, we shine as lights in the world (14-16a)
14 – “Do all things without grumbling (complaining) or questioning (disputing, arguing)”
In v. 14, we further see Paul’s call for unity. Paul says that one way to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” is by “not grumbling or questioning.”
As Christians, we should not spend our time and energy complaining to God and arguing with one another. If we are always complaining and arguing, then Paul says that we are like disobedient Israel, who was called a wicked generation.
Look at verse 15:
15 – “…that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world…”
Paul says that if we are grateful people who don’t complain and argue that we will shine as gospel lights in the world – we will be “blameless and innocent…in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation.”
The world’s philosophy is that joy comes from aggression: if there is something you want, then fight everybody to get it. Perhaps, once you get it, you’ll be happy. We see this today in the form of violent protests and riots. If you don’t get what you want, threaten them. Blackmail them. Curse them. Attack them. Lie about them. Rig the system.
But the way of Christ is different. Consider this:
- Jesus never used a sword, yet he won the greatest battle in human history.
- He defeated hatred with love.
- He overcame lies with the truth.
- Jesus achieved victory by surrendering His rights.
As I said in my introduction, there is hardly anything more beautiful than looking up into a clear night sky and seeing the stars. As I contemplated that this week, I looked it up and the nearest visible star we have is 5.88 trillion miles away. But it’s so bright, we can see it from earth!
In the same way, Paul says that when we are grateful people who are full of joy, thanksgiving, and contentment, we shine like the stars in the sky. We stand out from those who are always complaining and arguing to get their own way.
Just as we see a star that shines brightly, when we have unity in the church, the world will see the brightness and beauty of our Savior.
On the other hand, Paul says that people who grumble and complain and argue are part of a crooked and twisted generation. Paul is alluding to the Israelites in Deuteronomy 32:5.
Deuteronomy 32:5
They have dealt corruptly with him;
they are no longer his children because they are blemished;
they are a crooked and twisted generation.
In Exodus 16, these people grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. They grumbled against the Lord. They were an ungrateful people who didn’t fear God or follow the leaders he had appointed over them. God had just delivered them from 400 years of slavery, and this is the question they asked a mere 2.5 months later:
Exodus 16:2-3
And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, and the people of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”
The point is clear – those people who constantly complain to God and argue with our pastors, and fellow church members are at best discontent and ungrateful people and at worst may not even be Christians at all.
The people that Moses referenced in Deut 32:5 were judged and not allowed to enter the promised land. Just as they were not allowed to enter the promised land, those who are perpetually ungrateful to God will not enter heaven.
Considering these words, I want to ask you:
Are you shining brightly before the world, or is your witness clouded by complaining and arguing?
Remember, a transformed life is an effective witness to the power of God at work within us (v. 13). Instead of grumbling, we are called to glorify God in all that we do (1 Cor 10:31).
Those that shine the brightest are those who are “holding fast to the word of life” (16a). Paul means that we are to hold fast to the word of life, the gospel.
Paul is saying, “Look! God has begun a good work in your heart through the gospel. He is still at work in you and he will bring that work to completion. Be unified around this gospel!”
Instead of complaining to God about your circumstances, you should thank God for sending Jesus.
Instead of grumbling about your pastor(s), you should pray for him.
Instead of arguing with church members, you should serve them.
We could summarize verse 14-16 like this: We are to be a proclaiming church, not a complaining church.
We should be glad and rejoice as we look forward to the day of Christ (16b-18)
Paul says that if the church cannot get along and advance the gospel, then his work among them would have been in vain (16b): “so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.”
In the Old Testament, God commanded the Israelites to pass down their faith from generation to generation (see Ps 78:1-8). Similarly, for Paul, it was not enough for the church at Philippi to receive the gospel and be saved; he wanted them to also further the gospel.
Otherwise, Paul says, that he would have “labored in vain.” As a church, we must realize this – to the extent we complain and argue and bicker and are focused on ourselves, we will have a terrible witness and will not be able to advance the kingdom of God.
Brothers and sister, what do your kids learn from you at home about God?
What do they hear you say about the church, its leadership, and its members?
What do they hear you say about the worship service?
Are your words building up their faith or undermining it?
Do your words point to the goodness of God or do they reveal a grumbling and argumentative heart?
It always confuses me when people who go to church their whole lives and always complain about the church and then wonder why their children and grandchildren don’t want to go to church.
Paul continues in vv. 17-18: “Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise, you also should be glad and rejoice with me.” (17-18)
In verse 17, Paul uses Old Testament language. He speaks of the faith of the Philippians as a sacrificial offering. Paul sacrificed to bring the gospel to the Philippians, and he says that the Philippians’ faith is a sweet sacrifice to God.
The drink offering that Paul mentions is wine or water that was poured on top or in front of the sacrificial offering. Once this drink offering was given, steam would rise up from the sacrificial offering, signifying that the sacrifice had gone up to God.
Paul sees his death as worship, a sacrifice, and a life that is consecrated to God (Rom 12:1).
In the same way, the Philippians are to give themselves to Christ and His gospel, whatever the cost.
If Paul must give up his life, then his sacrifice is merely a drink offering poured out on top of their sacrifice. But here’s the kicker: The drink offering is meaningless unless it is poured out on a more substantial sacrifice.
In other words, if the Philippians faith doesn’t endure, then Paul’s sacrifice to get them the gospel is worthless. But praise the Lord, Paul is sure that God will bring his work to completion (Phil 1:6).
If Paul had to die, he was content, knowing that he had brought the gospel to Philippi and helped the church live for Christ.
Friends, the gospel is not just for us. If we have been saved by the gospel, then we must work out our salvation and shine as lights in the midst of a wicked generation.
Conclusion
- As you read this, is God at work in your life?
- Is your life any different from the world?
- How has your life changed since you came to know Christ?
- Are you working out your own salvation?
- Are you producing good works?
- Are you a grateful person or a complaining person?
- Are you a person that brings peace or are you argumentative?
- Are you pouring yourself in service to others?
Church:
- Let’s work out our own salvation as God works within us.
- Let’s be unified and shine as lights in the world.
- Let’s be glad and rejoice as we look forward to the return of Christ.