Philippians 2:12-13 – The Christian Workout – Bible study

Philippians 2:12-13 The Christian Workout Some of us are fitness conscience. Some of us, not so much. Regardless of where you stand on physical fitness, I hope we all agree that we should be spiritual fit. To do so, we need to have a Christian workout. Notice the command that Paul gave in the latter part of verse 12. "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." What does that mean? Lets see if we can find out. I. \#12\ Notice the introduction, "wherefore." A. As I often say, that is a connector. It is connecting what Paul was about to say with what he had already said. B. \#1-11\ What had Paul already said? 1. There Paul was teaching Christians how to think. Phi 2:2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 2. \#2\ He told us to think with the same mind. a. Paul was saying that all Christians need to choose to think alike. b. That in itself needs to be understood. c. Paul does not want every Christian to think like me or like you or even like him. Phil 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: d. \#5\ He wanted us to think like Jesus. 3. What kind of a mind did Jesus have? Phi 2:4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. a. \#4\ Jesus had a selfless mind, one that thought of the needs of others before the needs of Self. Phi 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: b. \#7\ Jesus had a servants mind, one that thought to serve rather than to be served. Phi 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. c. \#8\ Jesus had a humble mind, one that thought to give rather than to receive. C. We must first set our mind to thinking properly before we can understand what Paul was going to say. II. Notice the conditions, "with fear and trembling." A. Most of the time, the Bible does not encourage but discourages fear and trembling. 1. 62 times in the Bible, the phrase "fear not" occurs. 2. 19 of those are in the New Testament. 3. I will give you two examples both from Luke. Luke 12:7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. Luke 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the kingdom. B. When the Bible encourages fear and trembling, it is because the action being done will be examined by God, and thus warrants much consideration and due diligence. 1 Corinthians 2:3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. Ephesians 6:5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; Hebrews 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. C. The implications of these conditions are: 1. This is an important command. 2. Our obedience to it will be examined by God. 3. Our obedience to it therefore warrants much consideration and due diligence. III. Notice the command, "work out your own salvation." A. The command has confused some people for they have misread it. 1. The command is not, "Work FOR your own salvation." a. The Bible never commands us to work FOR salvation. b. Salvation is a free gift. It cannot be earned. 2. The command is to work OUT your own salvation. a. In the Greek, "work out" is one word. b. It means to work fully, to finish, to perform a deed. c. The idea is that something has been begun (salvation) but now it needs to be completed, put into action, performed fully, allowed to accomplish it end. B. Notice that God does not give any more instructions concerning this command. 1. It is a command and how we fulfill it will be examined by God, but there is no clue on how to fulfill the command. 2. That means God the Holy Spirit is to lead us in obeying this command. a. That does not mean we do not have to keep the command. As already indicated, God will examine our obedience to it. b. But it does mean that there is no set course for everyone to follow. c. Each Christian must follow the Holy Spirits guidance to fulfill it the way God intends them to do so. C. Since the Father had not given any instruction on how to fulfill this command, I cannot either; but I would like to offer a few suggestions to keep in mind. 1. Remember there are other commandments. There are no instructions on how to work out our own personal salvation, but the other commands of the Bible may give us a generation direction into which to look. a. There is the first command \#Phil 2:1-11\. (1) That was the command to have the mind of Christ: a selfish mind, a servants mind, a humble mind. (2) Without obedience to this command, I do not think you will ever find out what work God wants you to accomplish. (3) Without this mindset, some will not want the work God has for them. (a) It is unfortunate, but many Christians do NOT want to know what God created them for. (b) They feel that if they do not know, they will not be responsible. i. I dont think that it how it will work. ii. If God never tells you, it is more likely because God knew you would not do it and so doesnt bother. iii. Remember, God not only knows what we DID, He also knows what we WOULD do. (4) Without this mindset, some will not do His work to the proper degree. (a) God does not just want a body in a place accomplishing a task. (b) God wants a heart in a place accomplishing a task. (c) The only way to have the heart of Jesus is to have the mind of Jesus. b. There is the last command of the gospel: Matt 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (1) It is interesting that closing the account of Jesus life but then begins the story of the church (book of Acts). (2) Acts then gives the account of how the disciples obeyed that command. (3) Disciples surrendered their lives and gave everything to obeying that command. (4) In my view, that makes this command an important one. c. There are repeated commands: Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 2 Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Colossians 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: (1) These commands are not identical but they are similar. (2) They all speak of removing the sin in our lives and drawing closer to God. 2. Remember there is an urgency. John 9:4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. a. The urgency to do whatever we are going to do for God was placed on us by Jesus. b. Some speculate that the night that was coming was Jesus death and has no bearing on us. c. However, Jesus said when the night came, NO MAN would work. d. That cannot be Jesus death for you and I did not even start our labors until long after Jesus died. e. This is a common darkness, one that will stop every mans work. (1) Perhaps it is death in general. Your death stops you; my death stops me, Jesus deaths stopped Him. (2) Perhaps it is the rapture of the church, but even then, new Christians will be birthed who will carry on the work. (3) Perhaps it is the world will get so evil that no Christian can work. f. Whatever night is, it is closer to you now than it has ever been before. g. So we must get busy and work. 3. Remember there is a Bible. a. The main glory in the Bible is to God. b. The main story of the Bible is salvation. c. Whatever you and I do with our salvation, it should bring glory to God and share the story of salvation with others. IV. Notice the power, God. Phi 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. A. Regardless of what the work is that you do, it is God who will put the desire (the will) and the power (to do) in you to accomplish it. B. It is from this verse, I get my definition of grace. 1. Actually, it is from this verse that Bill Gothard got his definition of grace and I took it. 2. What is grace? Grace is God working in you and through you to accomplish His will. 3. As you and I surrender to God and reject sin and this world, the Holy Ghost is able to reveal more of His will to us and to move us to where He wants us to be, to move us to do what He wants us to do.