August 4, 2024 Service
Philippians 2:12-18
The Gospel is Witness.
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. 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.
Pastor Jacob mentioned that “If God is at work we are at work”, meaning we are working out our salvation with God and with others. This is at the core of Paul’s words to the church in Philippi in our text this week. This hard spiritual work flows from a heart posture of humility, Paul’s exhortation in the previous text. Paul describes what some of this “working out our salvation” looks like; doing everything without grumbling, without complaining or disputing, having faithfulness to Jesus’ words (truth), and rejoicing in Christ’s sacrificial offering on our behalf, which puts us in the heart posture of humility and desiring the good of others.
God invites and instructs us to work out our salvation. This is not speaking of our justification, which is our salvation through Christ for eternity. It is speaking of our sanctification, which is our “being made complete” in this life so that we are one with God, one with each other, and being a beautiful witness of the gospel to the world. Our sanctification is the Holy Spirit’s work to bring about our spiritual formation in and through Jesus Christ. We can cooperate or not, the choice is entirely up to us.
This is a hard teaching that pierces the heart. We are to participate with the Holy Spirit for reconciliation of relationship between ourselves and God and ourselves with others, for the glory of God. This is hard spiritual heart work that begins with our own hearts, then we can move toward others in reconciliation. To be reconciled means to be made one, harmonious with, or in right relationship with others. This is always the way of God’s kingdom. Paul urges the church, a community of God’s people, to do this work of sanctification and reconciliation.
Reflection
As we slow down to give attention to our hearts in response, let’s be honest with what we find and seek to move toward God and others in ways that bring about reconciliation.
- How has God worked our salvation with you personally? What do you want to say to Him in response?
2. Is there anyone you need to forgive? Forgive as you have been forgiven in Christ is the biblical instruction.
3. WHO do you need to be reconciled with? God, a family member, a friend, a community?
What is God asking you to do for this to be possible?
4. How can you participate with God in this season of our (working out our salvation) sanctification As a church body?
Paul writes a similar message to the church in Corinth in 2 Corinthians 17-18, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.”
It is God who moved toward us when we were not looking for or moving toward Him to reconcile us to Himself. Because we have received His work of reconciliation through His death and resurrection, we are commanded to have this same ministry of reconciliation with others. May we be this kind of people!
COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION
Read the passage for this week: Philippians 2:12-18
Talk about the meaning and outcome of “working out your salvation.” What does this mean? What happens when we cooperate with God’s work in this way? What happens if we don’t?
What does grumbling, complaining, not holding fast to the words of life lead to within your heart? Within a community of believers?
Talk about what Christ did to reconcile you to Himself.
What does it look like to have this same ministry with others?
How does this lead to the gospel being a witness? Describe this as a group.
Share what God has done in your heart this week through His word, the personal reflection, and/or your continued prayer.
Spend time praying for each other and for our church to be reconciled in the ways God desires and for our witness to be made good, pure, and glorifying to the LORD.
Grace and peace on this journey together,
Chad Hollowell
Executive Pastor