Phil 2:12-13 (NIV) 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, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
- Why should Paul mention obedience in his presence compared to obedience in his absence?
- Some other translations word it differently:
- (NCV) … you have always obeyed God when I was with you. It is even more important that you obey now while I am away from you. ...
- It does not appear that they were duplicitous, but rather that the future would require their obedience even more
- In context, some of this may refer to the issues of unity. While Paul's presence may help to deal with issues, ultimately they need to exercise obedience in this area without the help of an outside mediator
- What does it mean to "work out" your salvation?
- He does not say "work for"
- Greek word, katergazomai, means to accomplish; by implication, to finish or fashion
- God started the work by their salvation (they are justified), and while God is also the one who sanctifies us, we are required to exercise obedience to grow to maturity in Christ
- Obedience to God's word is how we are sanctified and how we finish the work of salvation which God started
- How does fear (alarm or fright) and trembling (quaking with fear) fit with working out one's salvation?
- In Hebrews, the writer warns about missing the rest that God offers to Christians. The "life-rest" is equivalent to entering the "land" which the Israelites missed because of disobedience
- Heb 4:9-11 (NIV) There remains, then, a Sabbath — rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.
- Hebrews includes warning about loss, not the loss of salvation, but of blessings. As believers we are warned about how we are to live our lives on earth
- Heb 6:7-8 (NIV) Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. 8 But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.
- Heb 10:28-31 (NIV) Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," and again, "The Lord will judge his people." 31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
- APPLICATION: Our obedience to God as believers is a serious matter
- Appreciate the discipline of God. He is both your upholder and, in the last analysis, your environment. All things come of him, and you have tasted his goodness ever day of your life. Has this experience led you to repentance and faith in Christ? If not, you are trifling with God and stand under the threat of his severity. But if, now, he (in Whitefield’s phrase ) puts thorns in your bed, it is only to awaken you from the sleep of spiritual death—to make you rise up to seek his mercy.
Or if you are a true believer, and he still puts thorns on your bed, it is only to keep you from falling into the somnolence of complacency and to ensure that you “continue in his goodness” be letting your sense of need bring you back constantly in self-abasement and faith to seek his face. This kindly discipline, in which God’s severity touches us for a moment in the context of his goodness, is meant to keep us form having to bear the full brunt of that severity apart form that context. It is a discipline of love, and it must be received accordingly. “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline” (Heb 12:5). “It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees” (Ps 119:71). (Packer, Knowing God, p. 146, 1973)
- What does it mean for "God to work in you to will and to act?"
- I think verse 13 is the counter-weight to verse 12. Yes, we must act and choose obedience, but God is at work in us to do two things: to act and to choose
- God chooses not to force us to act or force us to choose
- God works within us. In other words, God provides strength. God has given us the Holy Spirit. God speaks to our spirit and through our conscience
- We are not without resources, only excuses for a lack of spiritual maturity
Phil 2:14-18 (NIV) Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16 as you hold out the word of life — in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. 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. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.
- In verse 14, if Paul had left out the word "everything," how would the application change, or how might we interpret it?
- Response might be "do less grumbling or complaining"
- In everything means that there is no occasion for grumbling or complaining (it needs to be completely excised from our life)
- APPLICATION: if you want to improve your witness, do this one thing
- Why does Paul want us get rid of the grumbling and complaining?
- Blameless -- when grumbling and complaining are absent, we seem appear as if we have done nothing wrong
- Pure -- we appear unstained
- Without fault -- we appear as if we have no faults when we are not highlighting other's faults (opposite happens as we mention other's faults)
- Set apart from a crooked and depraved generation -- it makes us distinct, separate, set apart (holy) from the generation we live in. One would think that Christians would have no problem being different from today's generations, but the opposite is true
- Shine like stars in the universe -- we appear beautiful
- Once we establish our witness, it is a lot easier to hold out the word for others to see -- it is our obedience to the word that changes us and makes us different
- Paul offers two perspective on their obedience and the implication to him
- One. He didn't run or labor for nothing
- Two. Even if he does die, it will be worth it
Phil 2:19-24 (NIV) I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. 20 I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. 21 For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. 23 I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. 24 And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.
- Paul seems to switch gears here, but he really isn't. What is another purpose for bringing up Timothy, and later, Epaphroditus?
- Timothy is a partner (serves in the work of the gospel)
- Timothy is a witness (has proved himself and has the interests of Jesus Christ)
- Timothy and Paul are united (Father and Son)
- Timothy (and Epaphroditus) serve as examples of the life that Paul challenges them to live
Phil 2:25-30 (NIV) But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. 26 For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. 29 Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, 30 because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.
- How is Ephaproditus characterized?
- Roles
- Brother -- believer
- Fellow worker -- he ministers in the Christian faith
- Fellow soldier -- he serves in the Lord's Army
- Their messenger -- he was their messenger to Paul
- Character
- Longs for the church -- cares deeply for them
- Recent events
- Ill and almost died
- Illness almost resulted in his dying for the work of Christ. Risked his life to help Paul
- Attacks the health and wealth gospel -- Serving God, even risking his life, and yet he almost dies. Fits with Phil 1:29 where suffering is considered part of the Christian life
- Attacks the wholeness gospel as well -- Paul says he almost died, why would there be any doubt (ie., almost) if we are to be whole. He was ill not persecuted
- Equates illness with spiritual service (hardly persecution, but treated the same in Paul's eyes)
- What does Paul command the church?
- Welcome him with great joy
- Honor men like him
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