Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Last week we finished at the mountain top as it were.

We ascended into some very profound and magnificent truths about Christ.

Christ’s obedience, condescension, humiliation, His death by crucifixion, and finally His exaltation.

All of this was Paul’s illustration of how and why we must obey; because Christ is our example for living (and dying), and greater still, He is Lord of all.

Paul brings the Philippians responsibility back into focus against the backdrop of verses 6-11.

If you recall Paul’s plea was one for unity and goes back to 1:27

Many scholars recognize the theme or main proposition of this letter to be found in 1:27: “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel.”

Several concerns surface in this verse: the unity of the church, the integrity of the gospel, and steadfastness in the face of opposition.

At several points in the letter, Paul urges the Philippians to pursue the unity that is theirs in Christ and to which Christ calls them (2:1–18; 4:2, 3).

Paul also urges the Philippians to preserve the integrity of the gospel against false teachers and false teaching (3:1–11).

There can never be true Christian unity when the gospel is not clearly proclaimed and maintained.

Neither can one genuinely embrace the gospel while being indifferent to the claims of Christian unity

The gospel promotes unity.

Justification is by faith alone and on the basis of Christ’s merits alone, and not on anything that believers have done (3:9).

One’s ongoing Christian life, imperfect as it is (3:12, 13), finds its focus and power in Christ’s death and resurrection (3:10–16).

All that believers do is owed to the grace and strength of God (2:12, 13).

Knowing these realities helps to prevent boasting in the flesh and promotes glorying in God alone (3:3).

It is precisely this attitude that is conducive to unity in the body of Christ.

So the unity we are called to is directly tied to our faith in the gospel and serves to uphold the integrity of the gospel as it is perceived by the unbelieving world.

Our lives bear witness to it’s transforming power and serves as the unshakeable grounds for unity and service in the church.

In verses 12-18 Paul resumes his appeal and continues with further motivation “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”

That is both exciting and terrifying, God working in and through us.

Responsibility to Obey

Verse 12 begins with a ‘therefore’.

Again, this follows veses 6-11 where Paul uses Christ as the example.

Paul’s appeal is on this basis and thus the ‘therefore’.

As you have always obeyed - Paul commends them all the while entreating them to continue in obedience.

We mentioned last week Paul’s tactics were warm and positive, not harsh.

He also (for the second time) express his desire for them to pursue greater unity whether he is present with them or not.

It can be our tendency, in the absence of spiritual leaders, to shrink back in our obedience and service for the Lord.

God knows this and we can be thankful for godly spiritual leadership in the church but even in their absence we have responsibilities.

It is of great benefit to surround ourselves with godly people that will keep us accountable.

Distancing ourselves from other believers is unhealthy.

Paul’s concern is that when he personally isn’t present with them that there will be division and disobedience within the church.

Work out your own salvation

to exercise authority, wield power

g2716.

κατεργάζομαι katergazomai; from 2596 and 2038; to work fully, i. e. accomplish; by implication, to finish, fashion: — cause, to ( deed), perform, work ( out).

AV ( 24)- work 15, do 5, do deed 1, to perform 1, cause 1, work out 1;

to perform, accomplish, achieve to work out i. e. to do that from which something results

We have mentioned at an earlier point.

This isn’t working for salvation, but a working out.

It’s a call to fruitful lives.

romans 3:221-24

ephesians 2:8-10

Those verses clearly tells us that it is not our works that save us.

Salvation is a gift.

Verse 10 also portrays us as God’s ‘workmanship’, which emphasizes God’s working in us and that we are created in Christ Jesus for good works.

This means that the ‘good works’ are the result of being in Christ not the means of being in Christ.

So we don’t work for salvation but the Bible is very clear that we have a responsibility to work out our salvation.

I mentioned before but I like to think of working out your muscles, you don’t work to create the muscle but we work it out so as to grow and develop it.

The image is to bring it to full completion.

So progressive sanctification is the Spirit working in us and us working with the Spirit.

It’s not ‘either-or’ but a ‘both-and’.

Also, he says work out ‘your own salvation’.

Emphasis ‘your own’.

Salvation is personal and on an individual basis.

So this refers to the individuals responsibility.

The NT portrays the church, yes even the local church, as a body.

Each person is a vital and functioning part.

So while we are saved on an individual basis, we are to be part of the bigger picture, not lone rangers.

There is not one individual who makes up the body of Christ, either locally or globally.

Also, this is salvation in the fullest, redemptive sense.

With fear and trembling

The word for fear here can be used in the way that we normally think of fear but includes reverence

+g2192 1;

... used to describe the anxiety of one who distrusts his ability completely to meet all requirements, but religiously does his utmost to fulfil his duty

fear and trembling.

This is awe and reverence rather than panic and alarm.

The right emotions are stirred by the presence of God (v.

13), and not by misgivings or despair about one’s standing in Christ.

We might think of rejoicing and trembling as opposite but the Bible doesn’t.

Our society has programmed us to think this way but the Bible wants us to tremble, but tremble biblically.

Our tendency can be to try and minimize ‘fear and trembling’ but we shouldn’t.

I take it as ‘fear and trembling’ just as it says.

Even the NIV translates it that way.

My definition of fear: Having our emotions stirred, whether positively or negatively, by the understanding of a reality greater than and more powerful than ourselves, that we are subjected to.

There is certainly an element of helplessness and a recognition of our insufficiency.

All this FOR or because God is at work in you.

I mentioned earlier that this can be both comforting and terrifying.

Knowing that God is working in us is our motivation and it humbles us greatly.

The fear and trembling we are to work out our salvation with isn’t such that it would serve to paralyze us in our service to God but rather to motivate us.

And the fear and trembling isn’t a fear of hell, no, it’s just the opposite.

We should be so moved in our souls knowing God is working in us for good that all we can do is obey.

It’s our natural tendency to be motivated more by the thought of loss of pain rather than gain.

The thought of pain is certainly a powerful motivator but Paul’s motive as we see clearly in Philippians is ‘gain’.

Paul uses ‘gain’ 3 times in Philippians.

Philippians 3

We aren’t running from hell, we are running, rather sprinting, to Christ, our salvation.

I believe that is the mindset of Paul.

Lights in the World (V 14-17)

In verse 14 we have grumbling and disputing sharply contrasted against being blameless, innocent, children of God.

They are opposite.

We could even say to grumble or complain is antithetical to Christianity and faith in the gospel.

They simply aren’t compatible.

I want to spend the remainder of our time examining this idea of grumbling and disputing.

The verse reads do ALL things without grumbling or disputing.

So how many things are we to do without grumbling or complaining?

All things.