Philippians 2:12-13
The Christian Workout
Some of us are fitness conscience. Some of us, not so much.
Regardless of where you stand on physical fitness, I hope we all
agree that we should be spiritual fit. To do so, we need to have a
Christian workout.
Notice the command that Paul gave in the latter part of verse 12.
"work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." What does
that mean? Let’s see if we can find out.
I. \\#12\\ Notice the introduction, "wherefore."
A. As I often say, that is a connector. It is connecting what
Paul was about to say with what he had already said.
B. \\#1-11\\ What had Paul already said?
1. There Paul was teaching Christians how to think.
Phi 2:2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded,
having the same love, being of one accord, of one
mind.
2. \\#2\\ He told us to think with the same mind.
a. Paul was saying that all Christians need to choose to
think alike.
b. That in itself needs to be understood.
c. Paul does not want every Christian to think like me or
like you or even like him.
Phil 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also
in Christ Jesus:
d. \\#5\\ He wanted us to think like Jesus.
3. What kind of a mind did Jesus have?
Phi 2:4 Look not every man on his own things,
but every man also on the things of others.
a. \\#4\\ Jesus had a selfless mind, one that thought of
the needs of others before the needs of Self.
Phi 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and
took upon him the form of a servant, and was
made in the likeness of men:
b. \\#7\\ Jesus had a servant’s mind, one that thought to
serve rather than to be served.
Phi 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he
humbled himself, and became obedient unto death,
even the death of the cross.
c. \\#8\\ Jesus had a humble mind, one that thought to
give rather than to receive.
C. We must first set our mind to thinking properly before we can
understand what Paul was going to say.
II. Notice the conditions, "with fear and trembling."
A. Most of the time, the Bible does not encourage but discourages
fear and trembling.
1. 62 times in the Bible, the phrase "fear not" occurs.
2. 19 of those are in the New Testament.
3. I will give you two examples both from Luke.
Luke 12:7 But even the very hairs of your head
are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of
more value than many sparrows.
Luke 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is
your Father’s good pleasure to give you the
kingdom.
B. When the Bible encourages fear and trembling, it is because
the action being done will be examined by God, and thus
warrants much consideration and due diligence.
1 Corinthians 2:3 And I was with you in
weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
Ephesians 6:5 Servants, be obedient to them
that are your masters according to the flesh,
with fear and trembling, in singleness of your
heart, as unto Christ;
Hebrews 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a
promise being left us of entering into his rest,
any of you should seem to come short of it.
C. The implications of these conditions are:
1. This is an important command.
2. Our obedience to it will be examined by God.
3. Our obedience to it therefore warrants much consideration
and due diligence.
III. Notice the command, "work out your own salvation."
A. The command has confused some people for they have misread it.
1. The command is not, "Work FOR your own salvation."
a. The Bible never commands us to work FOR salvation.
b. Salvation is a free gift. It cannot be earned.
2. The command is to work OUT your own salvation.
a. In the Greek, "work out" is one word.
b. It means to work fully, to finish, to perform a deed.
c. The idea is that something has been begun (salvation)
but now it needs to be completed, put into action,
performed fully, allowed to accomplish it end.
B. Notice that God does not give any more instructions concerning
this command.
1. It is a command and how we fulfill it will be examined by
God, but there is no clue on how to fulfill the command.
2. That means God the Holy Spirit is to lead us in obeying
this command.
a. That does not mean we do not have to keep the command.
As already indicated, God will examine our obedience
to it.
b. But it does mean that there is no set course for
everyone to follow.
c. Each Christian must follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance
to fulfill it the way God intends them to do so.
C. Since the Father had not given any instruction on how to
fulfill this command, I cannot either; but I would like to
offer a few suggestions to keep in mind.
1. Remember there are other commandments. There are no
instructions on how to work out our own personal
salvation, but the other commands of the Bible may give
us a generation direction into which to look.
a. There is the first command \\#Phil 2:1-11\\.
(1) That was the command to have the mind of Christ:
a selfish mind, a servant’s mind, a humble
mind.
(2) Without obedience to this command, I do not think
you will ever find out what work God wants you
to accomplish.
(3) Without this mindset, some will not want the
work God has for them.
(a) It is unfortunate, but many Christians do
NOT want to know what God created them for.
(b) They feel that if they do not know, they
will not be responsible.
i. I don’t think that it how it will
work.
ii. If God never tells you, it is more
likely because God knew you would not
do it and so doesn’t bother.
iii. Remember, God not only knows what we
DID, He also knows what we WOULD do.
(4) Without this mindset, some will not do His work
to the proper degree.
(a) God does not just want a body in a place
accomplishing a task.
(b) God wants a heart in a place accomplishing
a task.
(c) The only way to have the heart of Jesus is
to have the mind of Jesus.
b. There is the last command of the gospel:
Matt 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things
whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I
am with you alway, even unto the end of the
world. Amen.
(1) It is interesting that closing the account of
Jesus’ life but then begins the story of the
church (book of Acts).
(2) Acts then gives the account of how the disciples
obeyed that command.
(3) Disciples surrendered their lives and gave
everything to obeying that command.
(4) In my view, that makes this command an important
one.
c. There are repeated commands:
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren,
by the mercies of God, that ye present your
bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto
God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be
ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,
that ye may prove what is that good, and
acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
2 Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these
promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse
ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh
and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear
of God.
Colossians 3:5 Mortify therefore your members
which are upon the earth; fornication,
uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil
concupiscence, and covetousness, which is
idolatry:
(1) These commands are not identical but they are
similar.
(2) They all speak of removing the sin in our lives
and drawing closer to God.
2. Remember there is an urgency.
John 9:4 I must work the works of him that sent
me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no
man can work.
a. The urgency to do whatever we are going to do for God
was placed on us by Jesus.
b. Some speculate that the night that was coming was
Jesus’ death and has no bearing on us.
c. However, Jesus said when the night came, NO MAN
would work.
d. That cannot be Jesus’ death for you and I did not even
start our labors until long after Jesus died.
e. This is a common darkness, one that will stop every
man’s work.
(1) Perhaps it is death in general. Your death stops
you; my death stops me, Jesus’ deaths stopped
Him.
(2) Perhaps it is the rapture of the church, but even
then, new Christians will be birthed who will
carry on the work.
(3) Perhaps it is the world will get so evil that no
Christian can work.
f. Whatever night is, it is closer to you now than it
has ever been before.
g. So we must get busy and work.
3. Remember there is a Bible.
a. The main glory in the Bible is to God.
b. The main story of the Bible is salvation.
c. Whatever you and I do with our salvation, it should
bring glory to God and share the story of salvation
with others.
IV. Notice the power, God.
Phi 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both
to will and to do of his good pleasure.
A. Regardless of what the work is that you do, it is God who will
put the desire (the will) and the power (to do) in you to
accomplish it.
B. It is from this verse, I get my definition of grace.
1. Actually, it is from this verse that Bill Gothard got his
definition of grace and I took it.
2. What is grace? Grace is God working in you and through
you to accomplish His will.
3. As you and I surrender to God and reject sin and this
world, the Holy Ghost is able to reveal more of His will
to us and to move us to where He wants us to be, to move
us to do what He wants us to do.
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