Sermon Tone Analysis

Philippians 2:12-16

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stephen Caswell © 2003

 

Christian Life – Living Under New Management

 

Soon after a family moved into their new house, it began to show the effects of their slipshod lifestyle.

The yard was littered with trash.

The lawn withered for lack of care, and, even when replanted, died out again.

To enter this house was to enter a shambles.

It never was clean or in order.

Another family eventually bought the house and moved in.

They painted the house, cleaned up the yard, and replanted the lawn.

The results were completely different.

What had happened?

There was a dramatic improvement in the appearance of the house because there was a change in those who lived in that house.

In the same way, it is impossible that there not be a change in a person’s life once he or she becomes a Christian — because there is a perfect new resident within: the Holy Spirit.

In today's passage Paul continues his theme on service.

Last week we saw the assistance Christ provides for believers through the Holy Spirit.

We saw the */command/* to be Christ minded.

We observed how Jesus Christ put aside all His rights and privileges to serve mankind and save us.

We then saw how the Father exalted Christ to the highest position because of His service and sacrifice.

Today Paul gives us further instructions from the */Christian Service Manual/*.

*Philippians 2:12* /Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, *work out* your own salvation with fear and trembling;/

/ /

Paul commands Christians /to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling./

The words */work out/* katergazomai mean */to accomplish, to finish, to fully work out, to complete/*.

/Hasn’t Christ already saved us?/ *Ephesians 2:8, 10:* explains this: /For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; for we are His workmanship, *created in Christ Jesus for good works*, which God prepared beforehand *that we should walk in them*.

/

/ /

The Bible tells us there are 3 stages in our salvation.

*/Justification,/* we are saved from the */penalty/* of sin.

*/Sanctification,/* we are being saved from the */power /*of sin.

*/Glorification,/* we will be saved from the */presence/* of sin.

In verse 12, Paul is talking about our */sanctification/*.

Through this process God enables us to overcome sins power in our lives.

God conforms us to the image of Christ.

However, we must cooperate with the Holy Spirit if we are to complete God's plans for us.

In verse 12, God commands us to finish the work He gave us.

Paul lists 4 points in the /Christian Service Manual/.

*/Our Motive, Our Might, Our Manner, Our Message./*

/Firstly,/ Our Motive - /God's Judgment/

 

*Philippians 2:12* */Therefore/*/, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with *fear and trembling*;/

/ /

Paul begins with the word */therefore/*.

The reason we /should work out our own salvation /is linked to the previous verses.

In *Philippians 2:9-11* we read of Christ's universal worship.

Every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

This universal worship of Christ is connected with God’s judgment.

*Romans 14:9-12 says this:* /For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.

But why do you judge your brother?

Or why do you show contempt for your brother?

For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

For it is written: As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.

So then each of us shall give account of himself to God./

/ /

*/This is the reason why we should serve the Lord with fear and trembling./*

One day each one of us will give an account of himself to the Lord./

/Unbelievers will stand before the great white throne for judgment.

At that time, they will be condemned to hell.

Believers will stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

The */judgment seat/* for believers is called the *β**ῆ**μα*.

It is a completely different word from the one used to describe the */great white throne/* *θρόνος*.

The Bema Seat  *β**ῆ**μα*

 

The term */judgment seat/* comes from a Greek word /bema,/ which was the platform in Greek towns where speeches were made and decisions handed down by the rulers.

The platform was raised a step above the ground.

It was the place where the awards were given out in the annual Olympic Games.

The judges sat on this platform and observed the athletes competing in the games.

After each contest they would crown the winning athlete with a crown of laurel leaves.

The observed the athletes performance to see who won the race according to the rules.

Disqualified athletes were never punished, but they were disgraced before their fellow countrymen.

/ /

*1 Corinthians 3:11-15 deals with this:* /For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.

If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.

If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

/

 

John Chrysostom On The Bema Seat

 

John Chrysostom said this about the Bema seat judgment.

Let us imagine that we are now present before Christ's judgment seat, and reckon each one of us with his own conscience the account we must give to our judge.

Let us reckon that everything is revealed before Him now.

For we must not only stand before the judgment seat but also be laid bare.

/Do you not blush?

Are you not dismayed?/

These are very solemn words and rightly so.* *

* *

*2 Corinthians 5:8-11a says:* /We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Knowing, therefore,  the terror of the Lord, we persuade men./

Application

 

Everyone is */commanded to/* */work out their own salvation with fear and trembling./*/

Are we doing the good works God has prepared for us to do? Are we serving Christ?

Are you using your time, gifts, possessions and abilities for Him? Do we think about the judgment seat of Christ?

We should!

If you stood before the judgment seat of Christ now would you receive a reward or suffer loss?

/If we would reckon on this judgment as present now we would be the better for it.

Such thoughts would motivate us /to complete our service with fear and trembling!

/

 

/Secondly, /Our Might -/ God's Power/

/ /

*Philippians 2:13* /for it is *God who works* in you both *to will and to do* for His good pleasure/.

/ /

/a.

Deeds/

/ /

Paul commands us to complete our service.

Previously he commanded believers to/ have the mind of Christ/.

/But isn't this an impossible standard to reach?

How can we serve like Jesus' served?/

This could only be achieved if Jesus Christ were to take up residence inside us and show us how.

You know, that's exactly what He has done.

Christ has taken up residence in us through the Holy Spirit.

God doesn't expect us to */work out/* our salvation on our own.

*/He wants us to work out what He works in./*