Philippians 2:12-18

Rachel Workman: 12 Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Verse 13 is a key verse. I've heard it said that it seems a little unfair that God just forgives whatever people do. Seems like people can just do what they want to. How is that? This verse explains it perfectly. If God is is you, he is giving you the desire and power to do what pleases him. It's not that we can't sin but we no longer have the desire to sin.

14 Do everything without complaining and arguing, 15 so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. 16 Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. 17 But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. 18 Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy. I fail at a lot of these verses especially verse 14, do everything without complaining. I need to do better in that department.

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John Burnett:  ¹² So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; ¹³ for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

¹⁴ Do all things without grumbling or disputing; ¹⁵ so that you will ^[a]prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you ^[b]appear as ^[c]lights in the world, ¹⁶ holding ^[d]fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain. ¹⁷ But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all. ¹⁸ You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.

Verses 12 and 13 are some of the most misunderstood verses in the Bible.  I’m not sure that I completely understand them but I know that the work out your salvation does not mean you have to work to be saved.  I do know that you should be fearful and trembling if you are not working out your salvation because if God is not working in you, then you have not started the process of sanctification and if you have not started this process, you are not justified by the blood of Christ. 

Our attitude is more important that what we are doing so do all things without grumbling or disputing.  If we don’t do this, we look just like the crooked and perverse generation and our testimony is worthless.  Our Glory is based on those whom we disciple like Paul’s glory was based on the Philippians Paul was discipling in this letter.

Christ is returning soon and we should share this joy with each other.  I was thinking earlier today, how cool it would be if the rapture took place five minutes after the buzzer of the Championship game that Bremond wins next week.  God is good.  

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Krista Cook:  One of my very favorite verses is v.15 - we are to live in such a way so we shine as lights in the crooked world around us.  So be that star that shines brighter than the rest!!

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Allen Michaels:  ¹² Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, The Philippian Christians needed to be especially careful to obey Christ, now that Paul wasn’t there to continually remind them about what was right. We too must be careful about what we believe and how we live, especially when we are on our own. In the absence of cherished Christian leaders, family, and friends, we must focus our attention and devotion even more on Christ so that we won’t be sidetracked. ¹³ for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. God has not left us alone in our struggles to do his will. He wants to come alongside us and be within us to help. God helps us want to obey him and then gives us the power to do what he wants. The secret to a changed life is to submit to God’s control and let him work. Next time you pray ask God to help you want to do his will.

To be like Christ, we must train ourselves to think like Christ. To change our desires to be more like Christ’s, we need the power of the indwelling Spirit, the influence of faithful Christians, obedience to God’s Word, and sacrificial service. Often it is in doing God’s will that we gain the desire to do it. Do what HE wants and trust him to change your desires.

¹⁴ Do everything without grumbling or arguing, God has made it clear in His word that He hates constant complaining. The Israelites in the Wilderness constantly complained and murmured about their circumstances, and they all perished in the Wilderness. Only two went into the Promised Land and they were Joshua and Caleb. When we murmur or complain about our circumstances, we are not murmuring against our fellow Christians, but against God. The book of Numbers is loaded with scripture on murmuring (complaining). Even complaining to ourselves is a sin in God’s eyes. Our lives should be characterized by moral purity, patience, and peacefulness, so that we will “shine like stars” in a dark and depraved world. A transformed life is an effective witness to the power of God’s Word. Are you shining brightly or are you clouded by complaining and arguing?

¹⁵ so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky ¹⁶ as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. ¹⁷ But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. Even if he had to die, Paul was content knowing that he had helped the Philippians live for Christ. When you’re totally committed to serving Christ, sacrificing to build the faith of others brings a joyous reward. ¹⁸ So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.