Culver Community Church
Pastor Chris Sweeney
Sermon Notes
February 23, 2020
Working Out and Working In – Philippians 2:12-13 NIV
Therefore – because of all this (what I have just given you), the motivations and Jesus’ example – therefore continue to work out your salvation. Now we must be careful here! Many have misconstrued Paul’s meaning here. In fact, many twist this text to prove that there is work that must be done to earn salvation! However, that is not what Paul is teaching. That message would contradict the gospel Paul preached which was given directly to him by the Lord Jesus Himself (Galatians 1:11-12). We know that this true gospel clearly states that it is by God’s grace (His unmerited favor) alone that we are saved! (Romans 3:22-24, 28; Galatians 2:15-16; Ephesians 2:8-10) Notice this verse in Ephesians, it parallels the thought of our text today – God’s grace (His gift) saves through faith not works, and as new creations (God’s handiwork) we have been created to do good works (God’s plan for us). As the saying goes “Saved not by good works but unto good works!”
Before we get to far into this … we are reminded that Paul is writing to “my dear friends”, these believers who have heard the message and taken it to heart – obeying in Paul’s presence. These are Christians, those who have not only heard and believed on the message but have become ‘doers’ as well. Paul commends them for this and there is an exhortation to continue – even if Paul cannot be among them. Whether this is because of Paul’s imprisonment, his travels (wherever God and the gospel takes him next) or if his time here on Earth is coming to an end (the ‘to die is gain’ that he is looking forward to) - Paul wants to be sure that they continue to live for Christ. The last thing that Paul or the Holy Spirit wants is for us to become so dependent on our leaders and teachers that we don’t grow as believers! They were not supposed to just wait for God to send another Paul to be their mentor! Some of us as believers wait for our shepherds before we try to take a step, before we feed, before we pray . . . before we do anything! The thing is God hears the prayers of every believer (hopefully we are vitally abiding, without anything to hinder our prayers) – so why do we call the Pastor or Elders? We should have them praying in agreement with us (that’s scriptural) but come on people - - - let’s start by praying on our own! Similarly, I hope that you are not just waiting for Sunday service to hear from God; Are we learning on our own? God calls shepherds for our benefit but every shepherd is also a sheep! Let us learn to build one-another up, in unity and to “stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel” (1:27)! So Paul tells them to “continue to work out your salvation”. Again, not work to earn your salvation (they are already Christians) but keep working in my absence!
The verb used here for ‘work out’ or ‘perform’ is not the common form of ‘to do’ or ‘to work’ but carries the idea of working to full completion or working to draw out something (as if already there). This verb was used secularly of working a math problem all the way to completion, of working a mine (getting every bit of precious ore out of the ground) and of working a field (so it yields the greatest possible harvest)! Now let’s apply these to the saint working (not to be saved) but to:
· Achieve the full completion (like a math problem) to work alongside the Holy Spirit in the ongoing sanctification process (part of our salvation!) This is important – we are not done, we are not yet what we will one day become by God’s work in us! Let’s strive to get there (quickly!)
· Make the most of our Earthly lives, not for ourselves but for Christ (like mining for precious ore). It is living up to the full potential of what God has called us to – the works He “prepared in advance for us to do.” Not every believer lives up to the potential that God has placed within them (most do not!) – but we can “run our race” (working metaphor) “in such a way as to get the prize” not “aimlessly” (1 Corinthians 9:24-27). How disciplined and determined is our run?
· Finally, we work to bring in a harvest, knowing that God brings the increase or controls the yield. However, we also know “…Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously” (2 Corinthians 9:6b)! It is not our work alone, because apart from Christ we can do nothing (John 15:5) but our willingness, our humble submitted mind with Christ reaps great rewards!
“With fear and trembling” – again, not as some would take this – a fear of losing or not attaining salvation and the potential of Hell. There should however be a real fear, but of what? These words are not light or some minor uneasiness; fear is the same root from which we get phobia and trembling the concept of trauma! So Paul wants us to have a phobia and trauma about this working. As believers, there should be no fear of condemnation because there is no condemnation in Christ, so what should we fear? Somehow, we today have lost the fear and trembling of living a sad, lackluster or mediocre life. It was the Greek ideal to strive for glory, to become the best you that you can be. However, today so many of us are content to live a muted life, not only spiritually but in every area of life. We settle for less than our best physically, not staying healthy, exercising or watching our weight. We reduce our mental abilities by staring at our phones or televisions far too long. And … we neglect our God-given spiritual potential by forgetting to pray, to open our Bibles and to live for Christ! Paul has just presented to us the ultimate example, Jesus Himself and asked that we strive to get as close as possible. Let us not become spiritual couch potatoes – content to be saved and then wait for Jesus to return. We should, we must work (strive, run, walk, become doers – whatever action verb you like), adding our feeble efforts to the Holy Spirit’s work so that we become what God desires for us! Jesus Christ did not come just to save the mess you and I are and leave us there – eternal life begins now, so let’s start living!
“for it is God who works in you” - We see this partnership (very uneven partners, God really lifts all the weight!) in these two verses (12-13). We, working out our own salvation, the very same salvation that God has worked in us. God has placed so much within us, but it can lay dormant there unless we take hold of it! We have to submit our will and cooperate with His process - - - in order to get the most out of our lives, our fields or mines! What a paradox! Like many of God’s thoughts, we just can’t fully comprehend them. Like free will versus God’s selection. They are both 100% true and seemingly incompatible! We see it in the person of Jesus – somehow both fully God and fully man (can you explain how that works?) And what about the authorship of Scripture? Did Paul write Philippians, with his style, personality and thoughts or did the Holy Spirit inspire (Ghostwrite, dictate, empower and preserve) it? The answer to many of these seemingly either-or questions is YES or Both! While we do not have an ignorant faith, God gives all the reason and proof we need to believe, but there are still things beyond our reasoning!
So what is it that God is doing in us? He is prompting and producing the will (the mental and emotional powers manifested as wishing, choosing, desiring, or intending something) and the action, which will cause us to become what He purposes. In somewhat simple words, God wills that we want and do His will! Not in some detached, impersonal way like the idols and false gods men create but through a personal interaction! Our God is relational, He interacts with His children - - - and we are affected when we relate with (abide in) Him! This is why Jesus tells us “If you remain [abide, are in relationship] in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5) This is how we work, how we do – by abiding in Christ! He is moving us to want what He wants. He is transforming us to think as He thinks and yes, to act as He would act. This is always the way it starts; first comes the will and then the actions follow! We see this in Paul when he says he wants to do the Godly/righteous things but somehow does not do them - “what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do” (Romans 7:15-20). As we spend time with Him, we become like Him! As we spend time in the Word, it renews and transforms our minds!
Therefore, my dear friends … continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose.
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