Download The Very Best Way to Show That You Believe Philippians 2:12

Philippians 2:12
Obedience:
The Very Best Way to
Show That You
Believe
Philippians 2:12:
“Therefore, my beloved, as you
have always obeyed, so now,
not only as in my presence but
much more in my absence,
work out your own salvation
with fear and trembling”
I. “Therefore…” (vs. 12a)
“What is the
‘Therefore’
there for?”
2:3-4:
“in humility count others more
significant than yourselves. Let
each of you look not only to his
own interests, but also to the
interests of others.”
2:8:
“he humbled himself by
becoming obedient to the point
of death”
II. “…my beloved…” (vs. 12b)
“ἀγαπητός” (agapētos)
=
beloved, esteemed,
dear, favorite,
worthy of love
1:3: “I thank my God in all my
remembrance of you”
1:7: “I hold you in my heart”
1:8: “I yearn for you all with the
affection of Christ Jesus.”
1:12: “brothers”
- Proverbs 21:23: “Whoever
keeps his mouth and his tongue
keeps himself out of trouble.”
- Ecclesiastes 5:2: “Be not rash
with your mouth, nor let your
heart be hasty to utter a word”
- Psalm 141:3: “Set a
guard, O Lord, over
my mouth; keep
watch over the door
of my lips!”
- Ephesians 4:29: “Let no corrupting talk
come out of your mouths, but only such
as is good for building up, as fits the
occasion, that it may give grace to those
who hear.”
- Colossians 4:6: “Let your speech
always be gracious, seasoned with
salt”
James 1:19:
“slow to speak”
III. “…as you have
always obeyed, so
now… ” (vs. 12c)
IV. “…not only as in my presence but
much more in my absence…” (vs. 12d)
1:27: “Only let your manner
of life be worthy of the
gospel of Christ…whether I
come and see you or am
absent”
V. “…work out your own
salvation…” (vs. 12e)
Ephesians 2:8-9: “For by grace you
have been saved through faith.
And this is not your own doing; it
is the gift of God, not a result of
works, so that no one may boast.”
“work out”
= “κατεργάζομαι”
(katergazomai)
=
a command that has a
continuing emphasis.
Dr. John MacArthur: “Salvation has
three time-dimensions: past, present
and future. The past dimension is
that of justification, when believers
placed their faith in Jesus Christ as
Savior and Lord and were redeemed.
The present dimension is
sanctification, the time between a
believer’s justification and his
death…The future aspect is
glorification, when salvation is
completed and believers receive
their glorified bodies. Believers
therefore have been saved, are being
saved, and will be saved. They are to
pursue sanctification in this life to
the time of glorification.
- Acts 13:43: “to continue in the grace
of God”
- Romans 2:7: “to those who by
perseverance in doing good seek glory
and honor and immortality”
- 1 Timothy 4:6: “Pay close attention to yourself
and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for
as you do this you will ensure salvation both for
yourself and for those who hear you.”
1:6: “And I am sure of this, that he
who began a good work in you will
bring it to completion at the day
of Jesus Christ.”
2:13: “for it is God who works in
you, both to will and to work
for his good pleasure.”
Spurgeon: “I have heard it said that the good
sculptor, whenever he sees a suitable block of
marble, firmly believes that there is a statue
concealed within it, and that his business is but
to take away the superfluous material, and so
unveil the “thing of beauty” which shall be “a
joy forever.” Believer, you are that block of
marble! You have been quarried by divine grace,
and set apart for the Master’s service, but we
cannot see the image of Christ in you yet as we
would wish; true, there are some traces of it,
some dim outlines of what it is to be…
… it is for you, with the chisel and
the mallet, with constant
endeavor and holy dependence
upon God, to work out that image
of Christ in your-self, till you shall
be discovered to be by all men
like your Lord and Master! God
has sketched the image of His Son
in you; in the slightly carved
marble He has fairly outlined it,
and you have but to go on
chipping away those sins,
infirmities, and corruptions till the
fair likeness of the incarnate God
shall be seen by all.”
VI. “…with fear and trembling” (vs. 12f)
2:10-11: “at the name of Jesus
every knee should bow, in
heaven and on earth and under
the earth, and every tongue
confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.”
1 Corinthians 11:23-29: “The Lord Jesus on the night when
he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given
thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for
you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also
he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new
covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in
remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and
drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the
Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the
body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself,
then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For
anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body
eats and drinks judgment on himself.”