Philippians (2016) Work Out Your Own Salvation
Philippians 1:12-17
Work Out Your Own Salvation
(1) WORKING OUT OUR SALVATION MEANS WE MUST HAVE OUR OWN SALVATION – vs12-13
-this is salvation based on Jesus Christ
-salvation is a personal relationship with jesus Christ
v13 – it is God who works in us
works, will & do – speaks of Holy Spirit energy working in us and means to promote the desire
A. the Lord does a work in us until we follow Jesus and realize all Christians are equal
-every believer is the church and each one has the power of God in them
B. The Lord does a work in us so that we will be totally attached to Him – 1 Cor 3:1-13
-even if Paul died or could not be with the church for awhile – continue to obey
-vs 12, 17 – this explains the death of Paul and that he would lose his head for Jesus Christ
(2) WORKING OUT OUR SALVATION IS MIXED WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING – v12
fear and trembling – means to quake with a godly fear
– means to be on guard so we will not fall away
– it suggests not relaxing or doing less
Why have a godly fear?
***Because we wil stand before the Lord one day face to face
***Because there is a place called hell that is real
***Because I do not want to backslide and be miserable
(3) WORKING OUT OUR SALVATION MEANS ITS A SALVATION THAT HAS TO BE WORKED AT – v12
-working out our salvation is not being saved by works. We are saved by grace through faith
-work out – means to carry out to the goal///to a full conclusion
a. the goal is maturity/discipleship
-work out was a term used for working in a mine
a. staying close to Jesus is work
***As you grow as a disciple, you will not complain or dispute
complain – are whisperings/speaks of being discontent/it is normally done in secret
dispute – debating/questioning that can lead to rebellion and division
REMEMBER: people who complain to you says more about you than it does about the person who is complaining
(4) WORKING OUT OUR SALVATION IS A SALVATION THAT MUST BE SHARED – vs15b-18
-Paul lived and we live in a crooked and perverse generation
crooked – means twisted/they have all left the straight path
perverse – means morally distorted and being in a perverted state
-Deut 22:5
generation – this speaks not just of one generation, but a continuous succession of corruption, evil and sin
***But Christianity has the answer and Jesus is the Answer
v15 – shine as lights in the world
shine – means to appear- the lights must be turned on
Hold out or forth – this speaks of bringing the Word of God to people to get them saved
-labor – speaks of being exhausted
-run – speaks of a strenuous effort
v17 – Paul eas excited about seeing all of this before he died