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Friends of God:
Verse by Verse
Through Paul's Epistle To The Philippians |
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Philippians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. I have heard one preacher say that Heaven will be a surprise for us all. When we get to Heaven we will be surprised at who is there. We will also be surprised at who is not there. The final, greatest surprise that we will have when we get to Heaven is that we are there. There are many Christians who despise the Doctrine of Eternal Security (or "Perseverance of the Saints", or "Once Saved, Always Saved") because they believe that it fosters apathy and carelessness in the life of the Christian. Some of our Pentecostal, Charismatic, or Holiness, orthodox Methodist or Primitive Baptist brethren teach that salvation can be gained, lost, then regained upon repentance. Having come from a Church of God of Prophecy background I can testify that the harsher, legalistic approach to salvation does generate a greater level of fear and carefulness in those brethren. If you believe your salvation can be lost at a moment's notice, based on the slightest infringement of the Law of God, then you will certainly - if you fear death and damnation - be more careful in your walk with God. It is not the purpose of this paper to discuss whether the Doctrine of Eternal Security is Biblical or not (and, for the record, I myself believe in the Eternal Security of the saints. Or, if you prefer, "Once Saved, Always Saved). However we do want to seek to understand what the Bible means by: work out your own salvation with fear and trembling I do not believe that this verse is referring to "working your way to God" to be saved. The Christian is not saved by works, but by faith in Christ. As the Scripture says: Titus 3:5-7 (KJV) "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; {6} Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior; {7} That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." It is "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy" that brings a person to a state of salvation. However, once a person is saved then that person will work. As our Lord Jesus said: Matthew 7:20-21 (KJV) "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. {21} Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." And also, James 2:20 (KJV) "But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?" A Christian is a person saved by faith in THE work and THE person of Jesus Christ, but a Christian as a work of God himself also works. We are saved by faith, not by works. But a faith that does not work does not save. Question: Can a person work his or her way to Heaven? Why or why not? If I am drowning in the ocean and see a life preserver floating nearby I can believe that that preserver will save my life, and yet still drown. If I look at the preserver and make no effort to cling to the preserver; if I float and gargle on ocean water while looking at the preserver, hoping that it will keep me afloat - then I will certainly drown. Common sense tells us that the drowning man must have the presence of mind to reach out and grasp, in faith, that preserver. The drowning man will cling to that preserver. He will not tear the preserver apart and examine its contents to see if it will save him. To do so would cause the flotation pellets to scatter, and would certainly hasten his death. The man would not remain where he was and hope that the preserver save him either. The man would cling to and trust the preserver, place his full weight upon it, relax while gripping that object of salvation. So it is with Jesus Christ and the salvation He so richly provides. We who are Christians have recognized that we were drowning in a hopeless sea of sin, and that our only salvation was to to reach out and firmly cling to Christ. We did not remain in the sea of our sin and hope that Jesus would reach us in spite of ourselves. We did not look at Christ and hope that He would pass by and somehow entangle Himself into our lives. We recognized our failings, our complete inabilities, and reached out to grasp Jesus. We cling to Him for salvation. And now that we hold onto Him, we ride with our heads above water, ever moving toward the Promised Land. If this is true, then what does this text mean when it says "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling"? How are we to interpret this text in the light of the Bible? Biblical Contexts The first thing we want to do is view this verse from all possible contexts. To whom was the text written? What does the original Greek text behind this verse say? How does this verse fit in with the rest of the Scriptural teaching on salvation? Unless we understand the context of the verse, we can easily misinterpret it. Historical Context To whom were these verses written? Since we're studying the Book of Philippians, we know to whom it was written. The Philippians were one of the few local churches that Paul planted that both heard and properly responded to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This church was a unified, God fearing, God giving body of believers. When Paul was cast into Roman prison, this church sent a messenger - Epaphroditus - to care for this beloved Apostle (Philippians 2:25; 4:18). While others attacked Paul and his ministry (Philippians 1:16-17), the Philippians stood fast in following the Gospel and the Christ that they had been taught. In fact, this congregation was so loved, that it was the only congregation that Paul said He would willingly wait to go to Heaven ... (Philippians 1:23-24 NASB) "But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; {24} yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake." ... in order to stay and serve as their pastor. What a wonderful testimony, that a church would be so loved that its Pastor would be willing to say "Heaven can wait - I need to stay here". This was an obedient Church that was given the deeper truths of God's Word because they could handle these truths. There was a danger, though, that the Philippian believers could be more focused on good works than on a right relationship with God through Christ Jesus. Paul's warning could have been to emphasize that Christians are not just moral creatures, but Christians become Christians by accepting Christ as Savior. Good works alone cannot save. Question: Were the Philippian believers good and giving believers? Question: Who did the Philippians send to minister to Paul while he was in prison? Exegetical Context Regardless as to the apparent maturity of the Philippians, it was to this Church that Paul wrote our text in question: work out your own salvation with fear and trembling "Work out" is the Present Middle Deponent (rendered as Active Voice) Imperative of katergazomai {pronounced kat-er-gad’-zom-ahee}. This verb means to "do a thing in order to produce a certain results, to fashion". The Imperative mood makes this verb a command. We as believers are commanded to keep on working out or fashioning our own salvation. Every believer is an important work of God. Every believer is also an ongoing work of God, a work in progress. Every believer is saved and adopted into the family of God because of the satisfactory work of Christ the moment, the very moment that he believes. The Bible says: Romans 10:9-13 (KJV) "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. {10} For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. {11} For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. {12} For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. {13} For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Notice that salvation has a past tense, that is, we are saved at the moment we believe. As our above verse states: whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved We see this in other Biblical texts. The past tense of salvation is seen in these verses: Luke 7:47-50 (KJV) "Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. {48} And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. {49} And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? {50} And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace." 1 Corinthians 1:18 (KJV) "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." Acts 2:47 (KJV) "Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." 2 Timothy 1:9 (KJV) "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began," Ephesians 2:5 (KJV) "Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)" 1 Corinthians 15:2 (KJV) "By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain." John 10:9 (KJV) "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." This is past tense. But the Christian is also a continuing work of God, and though we have been saved we are also being saved. 1 Thessalonians 5:8-10 (KJV) "But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. {9} For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, {10} Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him." 1 Peter 1:8-10 (KJV) "Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: {9} Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. {10} Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:" Ephesians 2:10 (KJV) "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." Further, as Christians we have yet to receive our final inheritance. Salvation also has a future tense, that is, we shall be saved when we receive our final glorified state from God, and are entered into Heaven: Romans 5:9-10 (KJV) "Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. {10} For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life." 1 Corinthians 3:15 (KJV) "If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire." 1 Peter 1:5 (KJV) "Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." 1 Corinthians 5:5 (KJV) "To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus." Question: What are the three tenses of salvation? When the Bible tells us to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (soteria, salvation, is used with the reflexive pronoun heautou {pronounced heh-ow-too’}, translated your own. We are commanded to keep on working out our very own salvation), it refers to the present tense of salvation. Not the past tense of salvation (we have been saved by Grace in Christ), but the present tense of salvation, that is we are being saved, or we are the workmanship of God. Question: Which tense of salvation does "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" refer to? The words fear and trembling, the Greek phobos {pronounced fob’-os} and tromos {pronounced trom’Os}, does mean "fear and trembling", but it also means "reverent trembling" or "careful or respectful attentiveness". This same phrase is used to describe how the Corinthians received Titus when Paul sent him into their midst: (2 Corinthians 7:15 KJV) "And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him." The exact same phrase is also used when the Bible commands servants to be obedient to their masters in order to give a good testimony for Christ: (Ephesians 6:5 KJV) "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;" In fact, the Apostle uses the same phrase for himself when he came to visit the Corinthians the first time he ministered to them: (1 Corinthians 2:3 KJV) "And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling." Based on its usage in Scripture it appears that the phrase phobos tromos, fear and trembling, is a reference to reverential care, or respectful attentiveness to details because you are aware of the importance of your actions. Question: What does "with fear and trembling" refer to? Why "fear and trembling"? The Christian is commanded, commanded the Bible says, to produce from the source of his own salvation with a respectful attentiveness to every detail. Why? Because you are aware of the importance of your actions. There is absolutely no place in Scripture where the Christian is told that he is saved so he can relax his way to Heaven. There is absolutely no place in Scripture that says we have a "fire and forget it" salvation. The Scripture is adamant that, as believers, we are required to work for God once we are saved by faith in Christ. The faith that saves is also the faith that works. If you claim Christ as Savior but care nothing at all about Christ or His Will then you should - with fear and trembling - examine whether you are truly saved or not. In The Book Itself We've looked at the verse historically, that is - to whom was it written; and exegetically, that is - how it was written; now we need to look at the immediate context of the verse in question. (Philippians 2:12 KJV) ".... work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." (Philippians 2:13 KJV) "For it is God which worketh in you ... " I am commanded to work out my own salvation with care, reverence, and attention to all details - because it is God who keeps on energizing or working in me. The word "worketh" is the Greek verb (Present Active Participle) energeo {pronounced en-erg-eh’-o}. Remember that the word for "work out" in the previous verse is the Greek katergazomai {pronounced kat-er-gad’-zom-ahee}, which means "to fashion, shape, or produce". There is a reason that the Bible uses two different words for work in these two adjacent verses. The Christian is commanded to fashion his daily life in such a way that God can use him. The Christian is not merely a person who has "walked the aisle" or who is added onto some man made roll book. These things, though they may be desirable, do not make the Christian. Question: What are the contexts of Scripture? How do these contexts reveal deeper truths in the Biblical text? Question: Does Church membership or inclusion on a church roll alone make me a Christian? What makes me a Christian? Question: How can I know that I am saved? What is a Christian? What is a Christian? Is a Christian someone who goes to Church? Well yes, Christians do go to Church, but unbelievers also go to Church - so just seeing someone in Church is no proof that they are a Christian. What about good works and charity? Is a Christian someone who does good works and charity? Well yes, Christians indeed do good works and charity - but so do the unbelievers in Christ. So good works and charity do not make someone a Christian. What is a Christian? How do we identify ourselves? 1. First of all, most importantly, a Christian is someone who has accepted Christ as Savior. (Romans 10:8-13 KJV) "But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; {9} That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. {10} For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. {11} For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. {12} For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. {13} For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." The Bible says that the only way to be a Christian is to confess with your mouth your need of salvation by Jesus, and that you have believed in your heart that Christ rose from the dead for you. Anyone who recognizes his or her need for salvation can call on that sole provision of salvation. You must recognize Jesus Christ as your Savior, and believe that He died and rose from the grave for you. This procedure is so simple that people have continually messed it up from the very beginning of the Church Age. Salvation is obtained by confessing Christ and believing Christ. Jesus made one payment: (Hebrews 7:25-27 KJV) "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. {26} For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; {27} Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself." For the sins of the world, a payment that was more than satisfactory to pay For our sins. We who have believed on Jesus are saved to the uttermost because of His one, sufficient payment For us on the Cross. 2. Now that you are a Christian, you need to know that God lives in you. The Bible clearly teaches: (1 Corinthians 3:16-17 KJV) "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? {17} If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; For the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 KJV) "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? {20} For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." The Ministries of the Spirit To The Believer The Corinthian believers were unaware of the Biblical truth that God the Holy Spirit indwells every believer. Jesus Christ promised that He would send the Spirit of God to indwell us (John 14:17-18). The Holy Spirit has a definite impact on the life of the believer.
Question: In what ways does the Holy Spirit of God impact the life of the Christian? The Christian is the temple of God, and the Spirit of God indwells, impacts every believer. That means that God is intimately aware of everything you do. If our God could see the sin of the wicked, and the good of the righteous in the Old Testament era: (Psalms 34:15-16 KJV) "The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. {16} The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth." Do you not think that He cannot see your every move now. God is inside you. God took up residence inside you at the moment you were saved by believing in Jesus Christ. There is nothing you can hide from God if you are a Christian. You can move into a locked room to sin, and God is in the room with you. You can walk where you will, and God is yet with you. As the Proverb says: (Proverbs 18:24 KJV) "... there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." We who are Christians keep on fashioning our lives, working out our salvation with reverence and respect, with care and attention to detail, because we know that God is ever present with us. If God is always in my presence, if Jesus always walks by my side, then I will take care lest I offend my Beloved. This alone should cause me fear and trembling as I work For God. I am the work of God, a new supernatural creature. The Bible makes it clear that a Christian is both a work of God as well as a worker For God. The Bible shows the relationship between work and worker in: Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV) "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: {9} Not of works, lest any man should boast." Which clearly states that the Christian does not become a Christian by by any work that he or she does. No, instead of working your way into salvation, the believer is saved by faith alone. It is "Not of works, lest any man should boast". However, once saved the Christian is a person with purpose, For we are also told: Ephesians 2:10 (KJV) "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." We who are saved by faith in Christ are also the "workmanship" of God. In fact, God has "ordained" that His believers, children by the Grace of Christ, "walk" or live our lives in the sphere of good works. When the Bible tells us to "work out" or "fashion" our salvation with all care and reverential attention, this is not a statement that supports the false doctrine of a "works salvation". No Beloved, our works do not save us. Only one work, the work that Christ did For us on the Cross and at the empty tomb, only this work saves us. However if you are saved then you are the poiema {pronounced poy’-ay-mah}, the workmanship or creation of God. You are not just another religious person, nor part of a religious crowd. Question: What is the difference between the religious and the Christian? Question: The Christian is both the ______ and a ________ For God. No Beloved, you are someone special, a "new creation": 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NASB) "Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." Galatians 6:15 (KJV) "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature." This is Biblical truth - a Christian is a new thing, a creature distinctly different than any other creature ever made by God. On the sixth day of creation our Lord Jesus made all creatures great and small and, before He pronounced creation complete and perfect, He made man and gave him dominion over all other creatures (Genesis 1:24-31). Everything was very good until man brought sin into creation. After the fall of man there were the animal creatures, man and woman, and the angelic beings. These three categories of life were all that existed within creation. Of the three categories of life there was fallen man, fallen and unfallen angels, and the animal kingdom which followed man into the Fall. Though animals and man may have underwent minor micro-evolutionary changes because of climate and environment, these three categories of life were all that existed up until the time of the Cross of Christ. Following the blood atonement of our Savior on the Cross, God Himself reached down into creation and whosoever did accept Christ as Savior became a new creature. This creature was not like Adam before the Fall, For this creature was tainted with the sin of Adam. But this creature was not like Adam after the Fall either, For this creature was indwelt by God Almighty. Question: What are the four overall categories of created life that exist? Any man or woman who is in Christ is a new creature. a kainos {pronounced kahee-nos’}, an unprecedented, unheard of, unlike anything ever creature. This new creature was created by God to work For God within the Plan of God. This creature, this Christian may fall into sin like the Corinthian believers did, but if He does He can expect to suffer the consequences of a premature death. 3. Because the Christian is a work of God indwelt by God, it is vital that we remain closely attentive to Jesus Christ in all that we say or do. Jesus is our rule, our standard of life. He is not only our Savior, He is our Lord, and He is our survival in this world. Jesus said: John 15:5-8 (KJV) "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: For without me ye can do nothing. {6} If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. {7} If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. {8} Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples." The Christian believer should work within His salvation, should produce works that are pleasing to his God. You must understand that the Bible does not teach that the Christian is saved so that he can freely and without guilt approach a life full of sin. Though we may slip into sin, even willingly slip into sin, we can expect to be taken out of this life prematurely if we revert to our old way of being. Jesus used the illustration of the vine and the branches to show that a Christian is to be intimately linked to Jesus Christ at all times. When the Christian separates himself from Christ then Jesus said that this is like the dead branches in a garden vine. I have heard preachers use John 15:5-8 to explain the doctrine of Hell, yet this is an inappropriate interpretation of the verse. Jesus uses phrases in this parable like burned and cast into the fire, but if you'll look at the context you'll see that men are the ones who gather the withered branches, that is, the Christian who has separated himself from Christ. When the Christian separates himself from Christ, even momentarily, he becomes susceptible to the destructive forces of the world. There are many Church rolls packed with the names of withered branches, fallen away from the assembly of God and the fellowship of Christ. These withered branches have wandered off into the poison fields of the world, often drinking deeply of sinful excess. These withered branches are, sadly, useless to the testimony of the Gospel. In fact, many become household curses, reasons that the unbeliever points to to justify their own cursed and God forsaken lives. Question: Is John 15:5-8 a reference to loss of salvation, or a reference to loss of fellowship with Christ and the ensuing destruction and decay this brings? Question: Who or what is the Christian's rule of life? The thought that a child of God, one who once drank deeply of the fountain of Christ's Grace, would slip so far away from home is enough to fill us with fear and trembling, with reverential care over our own performance. Who but the most callous would want a lost person to point to us on Judgment Day and accuse our lifestyle of leading them into hell's eternal lake. Such a thought makes any devoted believer produce For God with all fear and trembling. 4. As new creatures intimately linked to God and indwelt by God, we who are Christians walk as exalted beings. The Bible says: Revelation 1:5-6 (KJV) "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, {6} And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion For ever and ever. Amen." Revelation 5:9-10 (KJV) "And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: For thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; {10} And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth." We who were the enemies of God are now, because of the Blood of Christ, Kings and Priests unto God. We are exalted because he was debased. We are blessed because he was cursed. Though the world may view us as of no account, we who are saved will one day rule and reign with Christ on earth. Any child of any earthly king knows that he must be exceedingly careful in how he represents his Father in public. No child of an earthly king would, in his wildest dreams, do anything to stain the reputation of his Father, For he - with fear and trembling - regards both his and his Father's estate tied together. To besmirtch his Father is to ultimately impact the family name. Would you, O Christian, want Christ held up to an open shame because of your behavior? In one of the darker chapters of Scripture there is a warning reminiscent of Christ's warning in John 15:5-8, which reads: Hebrews 6:4-8 (KJV) "For it is impossible For those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, {5} And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, {6} If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. {7} For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet For them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: {8} But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned." The Christian who wanders away from God, who, with apathy and carelessness shames Christ with their behavior, may not, if they do this publicly and openly, be given the opportunity Forrepentance (focus on the key of this text, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance). This verse does not deal with salvation or loss of salvation, but it deals with the careless attitude of many in their Christian walk. Many believers, walking not as kings and priests, but walking as carnal Christians, have found themselves under Divine Discipline, many times unto the point of a premature death. Just as Jesus said in John 15:5-8, the believer who separates himself from the Vine, Jesus Christ, begins to wither and dry up. In time the shallow believer is harvested by the world, becoming totally useless to God, and eventually suffers the sin unto death. This alone should cause every believer to produce For God in their Christian walk. Question: What is the terrible danger of the Christian who wanders away from God and his Savior Jesus Christ? Doctrine of the Sin Unto Death
5. The Christian is also someone who is in partnership with God. Ephesians 2:10 (KJV) "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." Ephesians 5:6-21 (KJV) "Let no man deceive you with vain words: For because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. {7} Be not ye therefore partakers with them. {8} For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: {9} (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) {10} Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. {11} And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. {12} For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. {13} But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: For whatsoever doth make manifest is light. {14} Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. {15} See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, {16} Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. {17} Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. {18} And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; {19} Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; {20} Giving thanks always For all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; {21} Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God." Titus 2:13-14 (KJV) "Looking For that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; {14} Who gave himself For us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." The Christian is a person who has an integral part in the Plan of God. Can you imagine this? If I were invited to take part in a plan that the President of the United States had I would be honored, excited, and I would want to do my part just right lest I shame my country. How much more careful should we be as the children of God? The thought that, as a partaker, a partner with God, that what I do counts Forall eternity. This in itself is amazing! As a partner in the Plan of God I am accountable For what I do in this Plan. The Scripture says: Matthew 12:36-37 (KJV) "But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. {37} Forby thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." Romans 14:12 (KJV) "So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God." Hebrews 13:17 (KJV) "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: For they watch For your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: For that is unprofitable For you." Beloved, we are accountable, if we have accepted Jesus Christ as Savior. The Apostle Paul - let me say this again - the APOSTLE PAUL took care with his Christian walk lest he "become a castaway": 1 Corinthians 9:27 (KJV) "But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." When we accepted Christ as Savior we were saved, but God wants this salvation to be operational in our lives. We are not saved just to have a free ride to Heaven, but are saved so that we can grow and contribute to that Great Plan of God. God expects our works, works worthy of our new status, within our Christian walks. Paul did not want the Philippian believers to be dependent on him, who was but a man, but to be dependent on the Spirit of God within each of them. A Christian who does not grow is a carnal believer, and a professing believer who never contributes to the Plan of God may yet dead in his sins! We who profess Christ as Savior should look For the fruit of salvation in our lives. We should carefully examine ourselves as to whether we are truly saved or whether we are religious. We are both the work and the workers of God. As the Bible says: Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh<16> in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. God never asks us to do something that we cannot do. If He asks, then it is equally true that He has empowered <16> (energeo {pronounced en-erg-eh’-o}, Present Active Participle = keeps on working, a fully active energy, something at work at all times completing a task). God keeps on being at work in each one of us and in the Church that He paid For with His own blood. Knowing that God is at work among us should bless us. Knowing that God is at work in us should cause us to want to be workers together with God. The Bible says that Jesus Christ our Lord gave the Church a "Great Commission" that we were to accomplish (Matthew 28:19-20). There were no other "backup" plans made For the evangelization of the world. Jesus knew that we would be fully equipped to carry out our mission of telling others about salvation in Him. Conclusion Philippians 2:14 Do all things without murmurings<17a> and disputings<17b>. The Bible says: Deuteronomy 32:2-6 "My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distill as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass: [3] Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God. [4] He is the Rock, his work is perfect: For all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. [5] They have corrupted themselves, their spot is not the spot of his children: they are a perverse and crooked generation. [6] Do ye thus requite the LORD, O foolish people and unwise? is not he thy father that hath bought thee? hath he not made thee, and established thee?" Grumbling (<17a>GONGYSMOS = complaining against others) and complaining (<17b>DIALOGISMON = evil thoughts, anxious reflections, doubt. Complaints against God) is sand in the gears of the Church. No good ever comes out of murmuring and complaining. If the Church is not as you would like it, then work in the power of God to effect a change where you are. The first generation of Israel murmured its way across the desert. The first generation of Israel lost the promised land because of grumbling and complaining. One way to look at it is this: We are children at a parade, and we often can only see the events that pass directly before us. In the reviewing stand, high above the crowd, God can see both the beginning and the end of the parade. He knows what has passed, and what is to come. Besides this, He controls the parade with His sovereign hand. If we truly trust Him, we will cease grumbling and complaining and wait on His parade. Question: How does grumbling and complaining effect this Church, and my life in Christ? Philippians 2:15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; In the midst of the moral blackness that is our world, we are accountable to shine as lights, leading others to the Christ by our examples. When our lights are dimmed by sin, others cannot see the Christ. The Church of Christ must stop its mimicry of the world. It must stop compromising the truth of the Scripture in order to become more palatable to those who know not Christ. In short, the Church is not the world, and should never use the same operating parameters that the world uses.
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