Philippians 2:12-18
The key words are: blameless, pure, without fault (all synonyms), glad and rejoice (one of the theme words for Philippians). This section connects to the previous: based on Christ's example of servanthood and humility we should work out our salvation in fear and trembling. This does not mean that we earn our salvation by works but that we continue to make the eternal reality that we are pure and holy a present reality. Paul is using the word salvation here in the sense of our sanctification: you have been saved but now we work or live that out in this life. This echoes what James says: faith without works is dead. Even this is not all up to me - the next verse says that I work out my salvation because God is working in me to fulfill his purpose (my salvation). When I seek to live my faith, I align myself with the purpose of God in my life.
So why the fear and trembling? I think that it's a recognition that if I have no desire to work out my salvation it probably indicates that God is not at work in my life (meaning that he is not saving or sanctifying me). If the purpose of God is my holiness or sanctification and I am not joining him in that purpose it puts me at rebellion against God. So I should be desperate to do whatever is necessary and not do anything that does not move me toward holiness.
However, this holiness is not just about me isolating myself from the world to work on my sanctification. Paul says that I need to be visible to the people around me - I need to be different (specifically Paul says that we stand out when we do not grumble or complain) but I also need to be seen to be different. I am not just supposed to shine for the other believers but against the backdrop of a warped and crooked generation.
I really like what Paul says at the end: if they do all this, then his efforts won't have been wasted and he'll be "proud" to point them out to others in heaven. This really applies to me as a youth pastor: sometimes I feel like I am wasting my efforts. I don't mind pouring myself out like a drink offering but I would much rather pour it out on thier service that comes from their faith. And I can't complain because I often do see God at work in their lives - that's when my work is pleasurable and it hardly seems like any effort at all.
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2 comments:
Jer, this really helps explain what the working out your faith with fear and trembling is all about. Thanks that really made it easy to understand, it makes so much more sense now. Again I say to you continue to use your gift of teaching to glorify him.
Thanks man! Looking forward to next week!
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