Philippians 2:14-18

The How and Why of “Working Out Your Salvation”

Philippians 2:14-18: “Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.”

I. How? (vs a) “Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life” A. Don’t Be a Complainer (vs. 14) - 2:3: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” - 2:5-8: “Christ Jesus…humbled himself”

“διαλογισμός” (dialogismos) = “inward reasoning” and “argumentation” or “discontentment”.

R. Kent Hughes: “Critical complaining spirits are the historic bane of the church from Philippi to Peoria, Illinois to Philadelphia. They are found in every culture from the nineteenth century Scots who went to see if the gospel was preached. Or today’s McChurch worshippers who leave their church to go down the street to find a church more to their liking.”

“Do ALL things…”

Jerry Bridges: “Complaining about the weather seems to be a favorite American pastime. Sadly, we Christians often get caught up in this ungodly habit in our society. But when we complain about the weather, we are actually complaining against God who sent us our weather. We are, in fact, sinning against God.”

B. Be an Example to Others (vs. 15) “that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world”

“The rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.”

C. Hold Forth the Word of Life (vs. 16a) - Better translated “holding forth”

“Word of life” = The Gospel

- John 6:63: “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” Jesus: “You do not want to go away also, do you?” (6:67) Peter: “Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life”

1 John 1:1-2: “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us”

Acts 5:20: “stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message (word) of this Life”

Matthew 5:14: “You are the light of the world--like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.”

II. Why? (vs. 16b-18) “so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.”

A.For the Joy of Your Leaders (vs. 16b-17)

2 Corinthians 5:10: “all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”

2:16: “so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.” (NASB)

“drink offering (vs. 17) - During sacrifice the priest would take wine, water, or honey; pour it on the burning sacrifice, or on the ground in front of the alter. - Done as a symbol of the rising of the sacrifice into the nostrils of the gods. 2 Corinthians 2:15: “For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ”

Dr. John MacArthur: “The best thing believers can do for their pastors is faithfully to live out the truths of God’s Word that he has preached and taught, so that he can say with Paul, ‘I did not run in vain nor toil in vain’. Every pastor desires that the reward of his efforts will be full, that the people under his care love and obey the Lord without grumbling or complaining and with their lives and words effectively demonstrate the gospel to be true and believable. It is the church’s responsibility and privilege to ‘appreciate those who diligently labor among [them], and have charge over [them] in the Lord and give [them] instruction (1 Thessalonians 5:12)… the greatest joy of any servant of God is the godly living of his flock. ‘I have no greater joy than this’, John said, ‘to hear of my children walking in the truth’(3 John 4)”

B. For Your Own Joy (vs. 18)

God: 1:6: “who began a good work in you” 2:13: “works in you both to will and to work” 2:6-8: “though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Spurgeon: “The sweetest joys, yea, the sweetest of the sweetest falls to his portion who has the Gospel.”