Philippians 2:12-18

12: So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;
13: for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

14: Do all things without grumbling or disputing;
15: so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,
16: holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.
17: But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all.
18: You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.

*** 

Paul encouraged the Philippians to continue in obedience to God and the gospel of Christ. They had done so when he was with them, and he urged them to continue to do so even though he was absent. They were to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling. As a servant would obey their master, not wanting to fall short or displease him in any way, so should they have the same “fear and trembling” towards their heavenly Master, for it is God who was at work in them anyway.

The salvation a Christian is to “work out” really is God at work within them. We’ve seen that it’s impossible for anyone to please God through the keeping of any Law or commandments. It takes the work of His Spirit within, becoming new creatures in Christ, through faith in Him. Yet even after becoming a believer, we still need to work out this salvation, yielding to His Spirit working within us, keeping His word, obeying His commands as bond-servants of Christ.

Paul told them to do all things without grumbling or disputing. By doing so, they would shine as lights in the middle of a dark generation, proving themselves to be blameless and innocent children of God. This attitude of being free from grumbling and disputes truly is in contrast to the world—those caught up in the perverseness of each generation. Instead of fading into the crookedness of the world, hold on to the “word of life.”

Paul encouraged this so he would be able to rejoice in the day of Christ, when he saw the results of his labor. He said even if he was to be poured out—sacrificed as an offering for their faith, executed because he preached the gospel of Christ through which they believed and were saved—he would still rejoice and urged them to rejoice with him as well. If Paul was not to be released, but executed, it was still reason to rejoice that the gospel had been preached, and they believed.

 

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