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Friday, 19 March 2021

Christian Contentment - A Study through Philippians (7)

 


This blog was created by Martin Davids

A light in the darkness

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 labour in vain. 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. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me. (Philippians 2:12- 18)

Well known Christian, John Stott said “I know what Great Britain is like. I know something about the growing dishonesty, corruption, immorality, violence, pornography, the diminishing respect for human life, and the increase in abortion. Whose fault is it? Let me put it like this: if the house is dark at night, there is no sense in blaming the house. That’s what happens when the sun goes down. The question to ask is, “Where is the light?” … If society becomes corrupt like a dark night, there’s no sense in blaming society. That’s what happens when fallen human society is left to itself and human evil is unrestrained and unchecked. The question to ask is, “Where is the church?”

Indeed! The Philippian Church existed in a fallen human society where human evil was unrestrained and unchecked. And, truth be told, things have not changed much in the millennia since then, and will not change much until the return of Jesus Christ. So, also Manor Park Church exists in a fallen human society where human evil is unrestrained and unchecked. 

Work out your salvation

This is one of the most misunderstood verses in all of Scripture. Many people believe that God saves us when we do our part. After all, doesn’t Paul say, “…work out your own salvation”? This is where context is so important. Verse 13 will tell us that the gospel saves us because of what God has first done in us. But, even the words themselves in verse 12 should help us if we examine them carefully. You will notice that the verse does not sat to work FOR your salvation.  Bible believing Christians have understood this clause is to say that we are to live out our salvation. So, because we have believed the gospel, we are to live out our lives in light of the gospel. We are to work out (live out) our salvation in our daily lives because of God’s prior work in us.

Paul’s general exhortation in verses 12-13 teach us about man’s responsibility and God’s sovereignty. We expend tons of energy pitting the two against each other when in fact the Bible insists that they belong together. We are responsible for how we live and God is completely sovereign in all things. I like the way D. A. Carson puts it: “God’s continuous, gracious, sovereign work in our lives becomes for us an incentive to press on with fear and trembling.”

Lights in the world.

So, if God has worked salvation in us, and we are to work out (that is, live out) that salvation in our lives, what does that look like? What does gospel conduct look like practically?

First, gospel conduct does all things without grumbling or disputing. Prior to Covid, when we could plan a holiday, I would often go on ‘Trip Advisor’ to see a review of the hotel or location.  No matter how good a resort or how many 5 star reviews it gets you will always find at least one from a person we would call a ‘professional complainer’.  This is the person who doesn’t miss an opportunity to complain (often to those in authority) when they feel that something isn’t right or what they expect.  I’m sure that you have met people like that – you know the first thing out of their mouth is going to be a moan or a complaint.  How do other people react to such a person?  Do you want to be around them or would you rather avoid them? 

This should not be said of Christians.  Paul wrote in verse 14, “Do all things without grumbling or disputing….” Why? He continued in verses 15-16, “…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.” In other words, Christian contentment (the overarching theme of this series) stands out in a selfish, whining, self-pitying world. Gospel conduct causes believers to live in such a way that they do all things without grumbling or disputing.

Paul wanted the Philippian Church to do all things without grumbling or disputing…“so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labour in vain”. Paul wanted to see the maturing faith of the Philippian believers. He wanted to be delighted by their gospel conduct.

This kind of gospel conduct produces joy in leaders and believers. Paul wrote in verse 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 then said that the Philippian believers should join his double-dose of joy with their own.

Summing it up.

Have you ever wondered what made Christianity spread so quickly in such a short period of time whilst suffering periods of immense persecution? Though they had much to find fault with, the Early Church didn’t gripe about what was going on in their culture. Rather they worked out their salvation in practical way and were lights TO their culture. They just did things that baffled and astonished the Romans. They rescued and raise babies left out to die of exposure. They cared for sick and wounded. In their meeting slaves and free called each other brother. They went willingly to their deaths for what they believed. These actions so softened the hearts of the Romans that they wanted to know more about who these Christians were and who was the God they represented. The godly contentment we can find is knowing that gospel changes lives, and gospel conduct produces joy in leaders and believers.

Prayer for the day.

Lord God,

We live in a fallen world and the darkness appears to keep getting darker but you have placed us here to be lights in the darkness.  We confess that we can only do so because you have opened our eyes to the truth of the Gospel and caused us to follow you.  Help us work out our salvation by being a light to others pointing them to Christ, the true light of the world.  Let is not be people who are known as complainers but rather by our conduct, as examples of Christian living.

We ask in Jesus’ name. 

Amen.     



Callum Shaw on Unsplash

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