Your Salvation Today

APRIL 18, 2021 STUDY NOTES PHILIPPIANS 2:12-13 BIBLE TEACHER: CLIFTON JONES YOUR SALVATION TODAY INTRODUCTION In the previous verses we learned truths related to the future that should encourage us today What Paul told us should motivate us to do what he is now telling us we must do In the previous verses we learned how important our salvation will be in the future Now Paul is telling us how important our salvation is today, how important is it to be saved? Do you realize how important is it for us to live the daily Christian life? How important is it for us to live like a Christian each day wherever we are? Is it important for each of us, for our own sake, is it important for the sake of others? We must realize how evil the world is that we live in, how dark the sin of today is? The reason our world is so evil and sinful is because they do not know the truth of Jesus They do not recognize that “Jesus” is the name that is above every name Paul told us that when Jesus returns every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord (2:9-11) Paul now tells us as Christians that we must proclaim Jesus as Lord through our daily life Philippians 2:12-13 must be preached and practiced today, learned and lived today Our sinful world must learn from us that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow Our sinful world must learn from us that every tongue should confess that Jesus is Lord Paul tells us what to do, how to do it, and why we can do it In verse 12, we learn of our responsibility, in verse 13, we learn of our capability SALVATION’S RESPONSIBILITY Php 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye 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. “Wherefore” takes us back to the example of the obedience and exaltation of Jesus (vss. 8-11) Which should encourage us to be obedient to what Paul is going to tell us in the next few verses Encouraging us to look to Jesus as our example, Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Peter has words of encouragement to do what Paul tells us to do, 1Pe 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: We must submit to the hand of God who is directing the path of our life, the path of our salvation The word “exalt” is used in a theological way God will lift you up to a higher spiritual plane “In due time” is not referring to a chronological event, but a particular-time, the appropriate time At the proper time, He knows the time, there will be such a time, God has the right timetable Paul is going to tell us that the “hand of God” works in our life to accomplish His purpose for us Paul identifies who he is speaking to and why they should obey his words Paul calls them “my beloved,” because he has the love of God in his heart for them The word “beloved” does not refer to those who are lost, but those who are saved God loves the lost sinner but the term “beloved” is used to identify with the family of God “Beloved” reminds us of who we are and how we should be living our daily life We are united in the love of God, knowing that God loves us, we love God and one another, 1Jn 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. Page 1 of 5 That is exactly what Paul was doing and he had set the example for the Philippians to follow AS YE HAVE ALWAYS OBEYED NOT AS IN MY PRESENCE ONLY Paul reminds them of their past personal testimony, their past conduct as a Christian Their past path of obedience was to be an encouragement to “always obey” The past is not always a good memory, many times the past is discouraging There is an important point in this verse concerning our Christian conduct It is the importance of Christian companionship and Christian fellowship Which is accomplished through our faithfulness to worship together, Hebrews explains it to us, We are told to pay attention to our personal testimony, Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) To “hold fast” is what Paul told the Philippians, to continue on in the faith, to “always obey” The “profession of our faith” is our daily testimony, which is what Paul was concerned about Our “profession” is our public confession of our faith in Christ, our life of obedience to Christ How can we continue to walk in a true living testimony of the work of Christ within us? Hebrews shares with us the same example that Paul does in Philippians 2, “He is faithful” We can be faithful because we know that Christ is faithful to His Word and all of His promises We must tell others by the way that we live our life that they can trust in the promises of Jesus Hebrews tells us to pay attention to “one another,” Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: We are told that we must “consider one another,” we are told what our consideration must be We are “to provoke” one another “unto love and to good works” The word translated “provoke” means to stimulate or to stir up, to excite one another All Christians have a ministry of stirring one another up for a good purpose Our ministry is to excite love and good works among one another, how excited are you? We are to encourage others in the Ministry of God’s Love, do others know that you love God? God teaches us through His love for us to love others, 1Th 4:9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. The evidence of God’s love in us is “good works” that others will benefit from The church will profit from the “good works” of our membership, Tit 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. Hebrews tells us how we must prepare for our ministry unto one another, Heb 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. This verse deals with a major problem of today, especially since the coronavirus pandemic A problem that is found in churches throughout America today Many church members are no longer faithful in their church attendance Compare any church roll with their church attendance and you will see the problem The nonattendance of church members is a major problem of today We are to meet together in order “to exhort one another,” to encourage and excite one another “And so much the more” has never been more meaningful than it is in our day Christians who are not faithful to church do not see the “day approaching” “The day” is the day of the return of Jesus Christ to the earth Christians who are not interested in attending church are not aware of the signs of the times Read the Bible and watch the news, you will “see the day approaching” Both Hebrews 10 and Paul in Philippians 2 are encouraging Christians to faithfully live for Christ Page 2 of 5 We must live a consistent Christian life on Sunday and Monday, and every day of our life Paul tells us that when he says BUT NOW MUCH MORE IN MY ABSENCE There are two things that Paul now says that the church of today needs to pay attention to Every one of us as Christians within the American society of today need to hear Paul The first is, “But now,” now is the time, we must start now, we must keep on “now” What Paul tells us has not been top priority in too many Christians for too long Too many other things of today are “now” placed ahead of our salvation, our personal testimony The second thing we need to hear is “much more,” which naturally follows the first statement There will not be a “much more” faithful testimony until we are “much more” faithful to church Everywhere we look, everywhere we go, there is the need of “much more” of what Paul says The need of “much more” grows day by day in America, our government needs “much more” There is a third point, “in my absence,” which is also important for the Christian of today Paul said, when I am away from you, when we are not together, when you find yourself alone Much of our daily life will be lived apart from other Christians, we live in an ungodly world We must continue to live like a Christian even if we are the only one in the crowd who is Christians must prepare ahead of time to be spiritually strong when the time comes Strength comes from exercise, capability comes from practice, success comes from planning The faithfulness of Daniel is a good example for us, Dan 1:8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Daniel made up his mind a long time before he found himself in a difficult position Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself before the king ever tempted him Determine now, make up your mind to be what God wants you to be, wherever you might be Daniel did what Paul tells us we must do, he had worked out his own salvation We must hear Paul “now,” WORK OUT YOUR OWN SALVATION “Work out” means to accomplish or achieve an end, to finish, to carry on to a conclusion The point is to do the right thing at the right time in the right way, which is the Christian way Continue to obey God and God’s Word, continue to live for Christ at all times, in all places Don’t misinterpret “your own,” be sure you understand what Paul is telling us Throughout my 54 years of ministry, I have heard people say, “I can do my own thing” I can worship God “my way,” I can serve God “my way,” no you can’t, it must be His way Satan has used the coronavirus pandemic to tell people you can do your own thing your own way “Your own salvation” is the salvation that God gave you His way, you did not attain it your way You do not work to attain salvation, you “live out” the salvation that Christ attained for you “Your own salvation” is to be lived God’s way and not according to your own selfish desires The same original word translated “work out,” is translated “having done” in, Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. “Working out” your salvation is the pursuit of holiness, following the example of Christ Being obedient to God and God’s Word, defeating Satan and sin, living by faith To “work out your own salvation” is not something you do alone, it is a united effort Yourself, God, the Holy Spirit, your brothers and sisters in Christ must all be united in the effort You must follow the example of Christ and the example of Godly Christians, Heb 6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Paul describes the “faith and patience” when he says, WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING Within the context of this verse, “fear” refers to reverence, respect, and honor unto God Realizing the truth of “your own salvation,” which Paul stated in, Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: Page 3 of 5 nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. To work out your salvation “in fear” is to think right about God and His will for your life Think right and live right, with a sense of accountability toward God, which is “trembling” The word “trembling” expresses profound reverence and respect toward our awesome God The same word is found in, 1Co 2:3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. Paul trembled at the thought of not working out his own salvation, the thought of not serving God Paul was aware of the task of his ministry, he came to preach the gospel in Corinth Paul trembled as he realized that he was the one God had sent to tell them about Jesus Paul trembled at the importance of his mission, he knew the “must” of his message He knew that he must preach that the cross of Jesus is the only way of salvation He did not fear being stoned, his fear was that they might not listen and reject Jesus The lost must believe in Jesus and receive Jesus or they will die and go to Hell Paul feared for those who were lost, he trembled at the thought of them going to Hell “Fear and trembling” are not that which causes us to hide from God but to seek God Without God’s help we cannot work out our own salvation Our responsibility of Philippians 2:12 is possible because verse 13 is true SALVATION’S CAPABILITY Php 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. “For” explains how it is possible for us to work out our own salvation Paul explains it this way, it is God that is working in you, the ongoing work of God in salvation In-order to understand what Paul is telling us we need to put two verses together: Jesus said, Joh 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. Paul does not disagree, he confirms what Jesus said, Php 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. The capability of working out our salvation is Christ in us, which is how God fulfills His will Your salvation is God’s will, it is also God’s power working in you, 2Pe 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: “Divine power” is power that can only come from God God has given us everything we need to live a Godly Christian life, in this present world God’s saving grace has bestowed upon us God’s sustaining grace, Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Plan to live for God and you will learn that God has already planned for you to live for Him Your desires and your goals will become what God has already planned for you Your achievements and your accomplishments will be because of God’s guidance and direction God energizes the Christian to obey and serve Him, His power enables us to live for Him To work out your own salvation is a supernatural activity, God will help us--BOTH TO WILL AND TO DO OF “his” GOOD PLEASURE “To will,” has to do with determination which comes with our salvation, the will to do His will “To do” according to “his good pleasure” is the purpose of our salvation, to live for Christ To work out your own salvation is that which pleases God CONCLUSION Page 4 of 5 The Christian life is not a bed of roses, it is not a life without trials, troubles. and tribulation The Christians life is not a life of ease, it is a life of strenuous effort, hard work, and labor Gal 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Col 1:29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily. Paul said we must “work out our own salvation,” will all that work, and effort be worth it? We will find out when Jesus comes again, Rev 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. Hear the song today, agree with it and do what it says, listen to it--- Page 5 of 5