STOP WHINING

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Philippians 2:12-17 ESV

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, 

13 for it is God who works in you, 

both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 

15 that you may be blameless and innocent, 

children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, 

among whom you shine as lights in the world, 

16 holding fast to the word of life, 

so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 

17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering 

upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, 

I am glad and rejoice with you all. 

Philippians 2:12-13 ESV

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, 

13 for it is God who works in you, 

both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

• Therefore…

• So then…

• Paul is building upon what has just been written

• “On Christ the solid rock i stand…

• All other ground is sinking sand”

• Paul desires that these Philippians live that certain way.

• “Continue working out your salvation”

• Paul is not saying:

  • work for your salvation.

  • Work to earn your salvation.

  • Work to prove to yourself & everyone around you that you’re saved.

• We are saved by grace alone…through faith.

Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

• By grace we have been saved…through faith.

• Faith in Jesus Christ as Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

• Paul is encouraging the Philippians to live their lives in a certain way:

• That the salvation that they already possess…works its way into every area of their lives.

• The gospel of Jesus…

• “...for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…” (Rom 1:16)

• should affect every area of our lives.

• Paul is restating the exhortation from chapter 1…verse 27

Philippians 1:27 ESV

27 Only let your manner of life be worthy[h] of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent,

• Let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ

• Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling

• They are 2 encouragements toward the same thing.

• Paul connects both encouragements to a similar phrase.

Philippians 1:27 ESV

27 Only let your manner of life be worthy[h] of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent,

Philippians 2:12 ESV

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, 

Philippians 2:12 ESV

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, 

• So then, my dear friends…

• Just as you have always followed my instructions…

• Continue working out your salvation with fear and trembling.

• Continue living out obedience to Jesus…

  • Within yourselves

  • Within your community.

How are the Philippians going to work out their salvation?

3 WAYS →

1. Salvation is worked out by following Paul’s instructions…whether he is present or not.

2. Salvation is worked out with fear and trembling.

3. Salvation is worked out as God does His work among them.

1) Salvation is worked out by following Paul’s instructions…whether he is present or not

• Paul is saying…

• Do the thing that honors Jesus whether I’m watching you or not.

2) Salvation is worked out with fear and trembling.

• This is the fear of the LORD.

• Deep reverence.

• Awe.

Proverbs 16:6

By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, 

and by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil.

Proverbs 19:23

The fear of the LORD leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; 

he will not be visited by harm.

Isaiah 66:2 ESV

But this is the one to whom I will look:

    he who is humble and contrite in spirit

    and trembles at my word.

• As Christians, we live out our salvation with fear & trembling.

• This doesn’t mean we always get it right.

Proverbs 16:6

By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, 

and by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil.

• Life with Jesus is living with the fear of the Lord before our eyes

• Fear & trembling prevents us from 2 errors:

  • 1) Despair.

  • 2) Familiarity.

• Working out our salvation with fear & trembling leads to lives of:

  • Joy

  • Freedom

  • Repentance

3) Salvation is worked out as God does His work among them.

Philippians 2:13 ESV

13 for it is God who works in you, 

both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

• God is the one doing the work

• His good work is the source of our good works

• His good work is the source of our desire to do good works

Romans 3:10 ESV

10 as it is written:

“None is righteous, no, not one;

11     no one understands;

    no one seeks for God.

12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;

    no one does good,

    not even one.”

• God is the one doing the work if we do anything of eternal significance

• Jesus is giving us the desire to please Him.

• Jesus is giving us the ability to please Him.

• All the more reason to live out your salvation with fear & trembling before Jesus.

Philippians 2:14-16 ESV

14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 

15 that you may be blameless and innocent, 

children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, 

among whom you shine as lights in the world, 

16 holding fast to the word of life, 

so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 

Philippians 2:14 ESV

14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 

• 2nd exhortation:

• ‘Do everything without grumbling or arguing’

• This is a tangible way that the Philippians can work out their salvation

• Let your Life with Jesus be characterized by unity and peace

• Connects to the beginning of Chapter 2:

Philippians 2:2-3 ESV

2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

• No Grumbling

• He has the Israelites in mind as they wandered thru the wilderness

Exodus 17:1-3 ESV

1 All the congregation of the people of Israel moved on from the wilderness of Sin by stages, according to the commandment of the LORD, and camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?” 3 But the people thirsted there for water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?”

Numbers 11:1-2 ESV

1 And the people complained in the hearing of the Lord about their misfortunes, and when the Lord heard it, his anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some outlying parts of the camp. 2 Then the people cried out to Moses, and Moses prayed to the Lord, and the fire died down.

Numbers 11:4-6 ESV

4 Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, “Oh that we had meat to eat! 5 We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. 6 But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.”

Numbers 14:2 ESV

2 And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness!

• Don’t grumble…or complain…or argue…or quarrel.

Philippians 2:14-16 ESV

14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 

15 that you may be blameless and innocent, 

children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, 

among whom you shine as lights in the world, 

• Again, Paul is referencing back to the OT

Deuteronomy 32:4-5 ESV

4 “The Rock, his work is perfect,

    for all his ways are justice.

A God of faithfulness and without iniquity,

    just and upright is he.

5 They have dealt corruptly with him;

    they are no longer his children because they are blemished;

    they are a crooked and twisted generation.

• Don’t be like the Isrealites who weren’t allowed to enter the promised land

• Don’t be grumblers

• Let us have the mind of Christ & humble ourselves for the sake of unity

• We are children of God.

• We are brothers and sisters in Christ.

• Jesus desired that we love one another.

John 13:34-35 ESV

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

• This is countercultural

• We become bright lights.

• We become witnesses to God’s holiness.

• We shine.

Philippians 2:14-16 ESV

14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 

15 that you may be blameless and innocent, 

children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, 

among whom you shine as lights in the world, 

16 holding fast to the word of life, 

so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 

• How are we going to shine?

• By holding fast to the word of life

• The Word of God

John 1:1 ESV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Revelation 19:11-16 ESV

11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in[b] blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule[c] them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

• Life with Jesus is a life saturated by the Word of God

Philippians 2:16 ESV

16 holding fast to the word of life, 

so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 

• The purpose of Paul’s exhortation is for their endurance

• Paul wants the Philippians to finish well.

• He wants to celebrate on that great day their enduring faith.

Philippians 2:17 ESV

17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering 

upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, 

I am glad and rejoice with you all. 

• Paul is glad to be able to pour himself out for the sake of the faith of others.

• Because Jesus Christ poured Himself out.

Isaiah 53:10-12 ESV

10 Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him;

    he has put him to grief;[g]

when his soul makes[h] an offering for guilt,

    he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;

the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see[i] and be satisfied;

by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,

    make many to be accounted righteous,

    and he shall bear their iniquities.

12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many [great],

    and he shall divide the spoil with the strong,[k]

because he poured out his soul [unto] death

    and was numbered with the transgressors;

yet he bore the sin of many,

    and makes intercession for the transgressors.

• We can also rejoice to pour out our lives for the sake of others.

• Have this mind among yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.

• Put on the posture of humility.

• Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 

• Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 

• Be blameless and innocent, 

• Shine as lights in the world, 

• Hold fast to the word of life, 

• Pour out your lives as a drink offering for the sake of the faith of others.

• Rejoice!

• Paul is not executed during this imprisonment.

• But later he is in prison once again in Rome.

2 Timothy 4:6-8 ESV

6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

• Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 

• Let salvation do its work for you…and in you…and through you.

• Grow in the gospel.

• Allow the grace of God to affect every area of your life.

• Life with Jesus

Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith,

Hebrews 13:20-21 ESV

20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us[b] that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.