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.
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