PHILIPPIANS 2:12-16 – 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, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 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, 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.”
THEME OF THE DAY: WORKING OUT OUR SALVATION. Today’s scripture is a familiar portion to most Christians. It is often referred to as the “sanctification passage” because of its emphasis on working out our salvation, not working for, but working out what has already been given by grace and received by faith – salvation. Such a labeling of this portion of scripture is correct. We don’t live the Christian life under the title “Let go and let God.” That sounds good as it appears to point us to surrender of self and our situations to God, but it is bad theology and promotes passivity in the Christian life which the Bible never teaches. To say “let go and let God” is like saying, “God will never give us more than we can handle in life.” To hear that sentence might be intended as words of encouragement but two problems exist within it. First, it isn’t true. God always gives us more than we can handle so we will live by faith. The second problem is it presumes upon the Person of God. Let me explain. Be very careful to say in a conversation or in writing what we think God does or how He is working in a life, even ours. His ways are mysterious, and frankly we know little of His ways of dealing with us. The safest ground is always to quote what God says in His Word, and not to go beyond that. And now the theme of the day . . .
The Apostle Paul is defining the Christian life. It is a daily “working out of salvation” which is simply living out what Jesus said are the requirements to be His disciple – And He said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). To work out salvation is to say “no” to oneself and his or her will, embrace suffering that is inevitable with self-denial and being a Christian in public, and to aggressively obey the commands of Jesus. These are what are to occupy the Christian daily and throughout the day. However, we are not the only people at work. The Apostle Paul would also add “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”
Here is the application. We don’t need to figure out the how of God’s working in us. Again, His ways are beyond ours. We need to do three things. First, remember God is not like us, and we cannot impose upon Him any of our “humanness” that blasphemes Him. Here is an example. God is at work in us all the time. He does not operate on our desired timetable so don’t grow impatient at His! The next thing we are to do is do what we are required to do – deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Christ. Be consumed with being a disciple of Jesus. Finally, remember the goal of us working out our salvation while God is at work doing His part – conforming to Jesus. That will simplify the whole of the Christian life as we work out our salvation.
PRAYER: “Father, help me to simply rest by faith in Your constant working in my life, even when I don’t sense or feel it.”
QUOTE: “God is not bounded by time, space, circumstances, or anything else like us. Don’t create His image into ours.”
In the affection of Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jim