Finding Joy in Philippians
Background: For the next three weeks, we will be studying the Book of Philippians, another of Paul's letters from his Roman prison. In Philippi, men were using Paul's imprisonment as proof he was not genuine and seeking to undermine his authority. Many in the church were shaken at the fact that the Apostle was imprisoned. He wrote the letter to explain his imprisonment and to encourage his readers to walk in joy despite all the evil in the world.
Philippians is not nearly as easily outlined at Ephesians was - it is much more personal and exhortational compared to the theological intent of Ephesians. Philippians was the church that was founded when Paul received the vision of the Macedonian man saying, "Come and help us."
As often as time allows, the reader is encouraged to read the entire book - it will not take more than a few minutes. Each day we will work our way through the book passage by passage.
Therefore, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed,
so now, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, work out your own
salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God who is working in you both
to will and to work according to his good purpose. 14 Do everything without
grumbling and arguing, 15 so that you may be blameless and pure, children of
God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you
shine like stars in the world, 16 by holding firm to the word of life. Then I
can boast in the day of Christ that I didn’t run or labor for nothing. 17 But
even if I am poured out as a drink offering on the sacrificial service of your
faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 In the same way you should
also be glad and rejoice with me.
If you wish to read through the Bible in a year, follow these readings.
Devotional: Work Out Your Salvation
After Paul's epic hymn of praise about the name of the Lord of all, Jesus Christ, he gave the Philippians an admonition to "work out their salvation" with fear and trembling. I remember years ago (I mean, a LOT of years ago) talking to a visiting Jehovah's Witness who pointed to this verse as proof positive that salvation is a product of our works. See, here Paul clearly told us to work out our salvation, to work hard to attain a palace in heaven, right?
Of course, in this verse, Paul would not undo all those other clear teachings, like Ephesians 2:8-9, the book of Galatians, Romans - all of those places where he made it clear that salvation was by grace through faith apart from the works of the law. He wasn't confused or double-minded. Whatever he meant by "work out your salvation" did not stand in contradiction to "you are saved by grace through faith."
What does he mean? Working out your salvation simply means bringing the work of Christ that is in you out into the open - living out who you are in Christ. Jesus is IN you through his blood shed on the Christ. The question is whether the life you are living represents the work of Christ adequately. So, Paul says, "see that the Christ in you becomes the Christ THROUGH you."
He also makes it clear where the power for that comes from. It is God who works in you both to will and to work according to his good purposes. God gives you both the desire and the ability to obey him. His strength. His will. His power.
Father, work in me by your will and power to bring out of me the work of Christ you have done in me.
Think and Pray:
Are you living out daily the salvation you've been given in Christ?
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