Work Out Your Own Salvation

Introduction: Why We're in Philippians

We've been working our way through the book of Philippians. Anyone else that's speaking, I just say to them, do whatever the Lord leads you to do. But I've been going through this teaching series just to keep us in the Word — because the Word is so important.

Remember in the book of Jude, there's a verse where he speaks about the way of Balaam, the rebellion of Korah, and the anger of Cain. You've got three Old Testament stories all in one verse. Jude doesn't once explain what those stories mean. He just expects the early church to know.

And the truth is, they did. You could say, "Remember Moses?" — "Yeah, I know Moses." "Remember Daniel?" — "Yeah, I know Daniel." They knew their Word. That was the big difference between the early church and much of the church today.

Biblically Literate People

I believe the church today is biblically illiterate in many places. That's not spoken over you — I'm trusting you're well-versed. But it is important that we are men and women of God who read the Word.

• It's the Word we stand on.
• It's the Word that will hold us in the storm.
• God gave us this book and said, "Read it."

We're all asking God to speak to us. The truth is, he speaks to us every time we open the Word. But many of us don't open it, and then we say, "I haven't heard God speak to me for ages." Trust me, everything he wants to say is between those covers. And if there's anything else he wants to say, it will line up with what is written there. It will never contradict the Word.

Can God speak outside of context? Yes. Will God speak? Yes. Open the Word — he wants to speak to you. It's important that we have knowledge, understanding, and that we are studiers of the Word.

Paul's Joy in Prison

While in prison, Paul uses the word joy sixteen times in this letter. He's awaiting what he thinks may be his imminent death. One moment he says, "No, God will deliver me." The next he says, "Maybe I will die."

That's an encouragement to us all, because even the great Apostle Paul went from "God will deliver me" to "I kind of think he will, but I'm not 100% sure." Many of us find ourselves in that position at times, but we don't want to admit it because we're Christians and we're meant to be full of faith. But sometimes we think, "I know what the right thing to say is, but I don't feel it inside."

That's why we don't stand on our feelings — we stand on the Word.

"As You Have Always Obeyed" (v.12)

"Therefore, my beloved, as you 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."

Obedience is important here. Paul expected the church to follow the example set, to obey what the Word said. It wasn't up for debate. There was no think tank sitting around a table deciding whether to agree with Scripture. There was no cherry-picking. This is the Word — and they obeyed.

Covenant, Not Contract

We use the word obey in vows. Marriage isn't a contract, it's a covenant. In the same way, our relationship with God isn't a contract we sign — it's a covenant. A contract you sign your name to; a covenant is binding hearts.

We are in covenant with God. And yet we break our little covenants with God all the time. We say, "God, I'm not going to do this anymore. I'm going to be this. I'm going to do that." And then we break it.

A covenant should be held with awe. We shouldn't so quickly make agreements with God and so quickly break them. It is not a New Year's resolution.

Examples of Obedience

When people obeyed God, look at the results:

• Noah was saved by faith — but let's not forget he was also saved by obedience. No ark, Noah drowns.
• Abraham — God said, "Leave this land." He got up and went to a land he did not know.
• Abraham again — "Sacrifice your son Isaac." He didn't understand it, but he said, "Not my will, but yours." Hebrews 11 tells us Abraham reasoned that God could raise Isaac back up.
• Peter — "Cast your net on the other side." He obeyed, and there was a great catch.
• Joshua at Jericho — march around the city for six days in silence, seven times on the seventh day, then shout.

Think about Jericho: hardened soldiers told to be quiet and walk in silence around walls with archers on top. Sitting ducks. Three, four days in, many of us would have said, "Joshua's lost his marbles. This isn't working." But they trusted their leader, and Joshua trusted God.

How many of us in battle would do something that makes no sense, that makes us vulnerable? Very few. But this church had always obeyed.

A Word About Obeying Leaders

Let's be careful not to put too much trust in our leaders, obeying their every word. Too many have fallen under church power that's in the wrong hands — abuse of power. It's not about putting your trust in a man; it's about obeying and trusting God.

Hopefully what your leaders speak is what the Bible speaks. You're not obeying your leaders — you're obeying God. Your leaders are simply sharing what the Bible says. And that's why it's important to know your Bibles. Because if you don't, all you know is what I tell you the Bible says. What if I got it wrong? It's the blind leading the blind, and we all fall into a ditch.

Your leaders, your pastors, your friends might not be with you in that last moment — that "I need God right now" moment. If you've got the Word in you, you'll know what to do, what to say, where to lean, who to call.

Obedience Is Faith in Action

Obedience often leads to blessings and the miraculous. That's not a promise that every act of obedience ends with a reward bow on top — but ultimately God works for the good of all who love him. So even when the puzzle piece you're holding doesn't look like victory, God paints on a much bigger canvas than you and me.

On Thursday at a seniors' service I talked about two men of God. Stephen was martyred. Then in the next chapter, Peter is thrown into prison, the church prays, and he's delivered — though when he knocks on the door, they say, "No, that's not Peter, it must be his ghost." That's often us: we pray, God answers, and we can't believe it.

Was one greater than the other? Absolutely not. Both were men of God. Why was one delivered and one martyred? I don't know. But one went straight into glory. The other stayed to represent God's glory. As Paul says in Philippians: "Whether I live or die, I bring glory to his name."

Work Out Your Own Salvation

Paul doesn't mean work to earn salvation. He means put forth real effort into your Christian life.

• Obedience is faith in action.
• There is effort required from the Christian.
• There are times when we have to fight.

There is sin and there is righteousness. There is one line — no gray areas. It's either sin or it's not.

When Temptation Comes

The Lord's Prayer says, "Deliver us not from temptation, but deliver us from evil." Temptations will come. Some of us just give in and lean on the grace card. I don't believe that's healthy. I think it's dangerous.

When temptation comes to a Christian, a fight begins — an internal struggle. It's not easy being a Christian. There are things I used to do in my old life without batting an eye. Now, as a Christian, I can't do that. Why? Because there is righteousness and unrighteousness.

"But Nobody Can See"

Don't worry about that — integrity. God can see all things. Remember the show Big Brother, with cameras everywhere? Well, this is the world we live in. When you come toward God, it's like the ultimate Big Brother show. There are cameras everywhere. You cannot hide. It doesn't matter if you put the quilt over your head — he sees.

God sees what no other man or woman can see. He sees the heart. He sees the motives.

"God Knows My Heart"

A lot of people do things they know are wrong and say, "God knows my heart." Let me explain: your actions show your heart. So when you say "God knows my heart," don't lie to yourself to continue in sin. Be real: "God does know my heart, and my heart gave over to what was wrong today, and I need to put it right."

"Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

This isn't condemning — it's being mature. Stand up and deal with the issue. Do I have to hide it? No. The Bible actually says, "Confess your sins to one another." I'm not saying tell everyone. I am saying we should have accountability — someone we can go to and say, "Let me share this with you."

The enemy wants to keep sin in the dark. In the dark, it becomes a stronghold. Sin is like mold — it grows best in the dark. So take it out of the dark and bring it into the light. When you bring it into the light, the enemy loses power over it. Those chains become paper chains. But you have to be honest. You can't lie to God.

Don't Let Judgment Delayed Deceive You

Many will stand and say, "Didn't I do this in your name, Lord?" And he will say, "I don't know you. Away from me." Don't let that be your ending.

Samson lived in compromise for so long that he began to think it was okay. Don't take delayed judgment as God accepting what you're doing wrong. You don't need anyone to tell you it's wrong — you already know.

So if there's something you've been thinking about while I've been talking, it's probably because you know it's wrong. Deal with it. Bring it to the surface. Whether with someone else or as your first step alone — deal with it. Don't let the enemy win in that part of your life.

He Works In; We Work Out

"He must work out what God in his grace has worked in." — Müller

"Therefore we must work out because God works in." — Spurgeon

God first worked in us. Now we work it out.

Your Own Salvation

Sometimes we're so bothered about other people's salvation, always trying to win others to Christ — but do we ourselves perish?

That was my one prayer when I took on this church. In my office before leaving, I prayed:

"God, I will run after the world. I will take this opportunity. I will leave it all — if you promise you'll save my children."

That was my covenant with God. Because what I can't have happen is me trying to win the world for Jesus while my own family perishes. And I had my answer — obviously the answer is what it is, because I'm here going for it.

Keep the order: God first, family, then church. God central in all our decisions.

Paul's Own Words

"Therefore I run thus, not with uncertainty. Thus I fight, not as one who beats the air, but I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified." — 1 Corinthians 9:26–27

We're told to love our neighbor as ourselves — we usually go above and beyond for others. But in this case: look after number one. Your salvation.

On an airplane, the flight attendant says, "If we lose pressure, put your mask on yourself first before helping others." Same principle. Help yourself first, then help others.

Ask yourself some questions. Spend time with God. Make sure you're on the right path — not because you used to be, not because your nan had great faith, not because you went to church last Easter, but because you choose Jesus. And you don't choose Jesus every six months. You choose Jesus daily. You know if you're choosing him first or not.

Do All Things Without Complaining (vv.13–15)

"For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for his good pleasure. Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless..."

The language of complaining and disputing echoes the Israelites coming out of Egypt — that grumbling spirit. Don't be like rebellious Israel.

The word harmless in the Greek means pure — like metals or perfumes that weren't mixed. Have a pure mind. Don't mix it with evil.

• Righteousness and unrighteousness don't mix.
• Light and darkness don't mix.
• You don't drink the cup from the table of demons.

That's why the Bible instructs us not to be unequally yoked. One living for Christ is in a completely different world from one who isn't. The two don't mix in the moments that matter — the moments of which direction do we go?

An Example: Remarriage

Paul lists reasons for divorce, but God hates divorce. He wants it as a last option. In the world today people go to the divorce courts too quickly — and sadly in the church too. It's not that divorce is never an option; it's a last option.

But Paul says that if you're widowed, you're free to remarry — "in the Lord." That phrase matters. It wasn't advice; it was a command. If you remarry, remarry in the Lord.

It's important we don't read the Word through the world's lenses, because if we do, we'll water it down. We'll find loopholes. As the church, we need to take it for what it says.

And honestly — why would any Christian on fire for Jesus not want to marry another Christian on fire for Jesus? If I died, Helen wouldn't say, "Oh, I've got Fred Bloggs who gets hammered every Friday." She'd look for a man of God. (Though she wouldn't get remarried anyway — just so everyone knows.)

Wisdom, Not Rules

A lot of what's in the Word isn't rules and regulations — it's the soundest of advice. "Don't have sex before marriage." The young people might not think that's great advice, but as we get older we look around and think:

• Fewer children would grow up in single households.
• Fewer STIs.
• Less brokenness.

Imagine if the world just took the Ten Commandments: "You shall not murder, commit adultery, steal, lie." Imagine what the world would look like. God knows what he's doing. He's been at this since creation. He's the best one to follow.

So when you see the word obey, don't see it as anything else. Why wouldn't I want to obey Jesus? Why wouldn't I want to follow his lead? If we love him, we will obey him — not in part, but in all things.

Holding Fast the Word of Life (v.16)

"Holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain."

The sword of the Spirit is the word of God. Let me paint a picture from 2 Samuel 23:10.

"Eleazar arose and attacked the Philistines until his hand was weary and his hand stuck to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day."

Why did his hand stick? Blood, contractions, nerves — it doesn't matter. He held that sword so tight that his hand stuck to it.

Let us be people who hold so fast to the Word that when we get weary, our hand is still stuck to the Word. Our heart is still stuck to the Word. And what did it finish with? "The Lord brought about a great victory."

Trust the Process

Even when we don't understand, the Lord is working for the good of all who love him. It used to be blind faith for me — but not anymore. Now it's experience. I've been there. I've done it. You come out the other side. Whether it's a month later, two hours later, or twenty years later, 99% of the time you look back and say, "Now I get it."

There are a few things in life I don't get. My daughter died. I don't get why. At the same time, I see what God managed to do through that. Do I say she died so I could become a Christian and lead Helen to Jesus and tell many people about him? I wouldn't say that's the reason — you'd be filled with guilt. But fruit came from it. I don't truly understand, but I trust the process.

Remember Acts 3 — the man at the gate called Beautiful. He must have looked at that gate every day and thought, "What a horrible gate. Why do people call it beautiful?" Until the day Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I have I give you: in the name of Jesus, stand up." I imagine he looked back at that gate and thought, "What a beautiful gate."

In the same way, I once sat at my gate saying, "What a horrible gate." Years later, I can look back and find beauty in the ashes. It's not easy — there's still pain. But there's beauty among the ashes.

Theologically? An enemy did that. Sin entered the world. We live in a corrupt, decaying world — and it all goes back to the beginning when mankind chose to disobey God. That's why it's important to obey God.

"Blessed be the Lord my rock, who trains my hands for war and my fingers to fight." — Psalm 144:1

Let's be men and women who hold firm to the Word so that when we get weary, we shall not fall.

The Joy of Fruit That Remains

Paul says he hopes he has "not run in vain or labored in vain." The fruit validated his ministry.

"For what is our hope or joy or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For you are our glory and joy." — 1 Thessalonians 2:19–20

I connect with what Paul means. When I look around the room, I see people in LBC over the last ten years I had the pleasure of leading to Jesus. Members of our worship team. I remember Lee coming to faith. Leanne coming to faith. Sharon — we went to school together, same year. One day she turns up at church and gives her life to Jesus. You were nice at school as well!

It's one thing to see someone respond to the gospel — that brings joy. But nothing compares to seeing them two, three, four years on still going strong. That's what Paul is talking about.

A Balance: Noah, the Preacher of Righteousness

Let me bring balance. 2 Peter 2:5 calls Noah a preacher of righteousness. He preached. He warned. Only eight people were saved.

Does that mean his ministry wasn't successful? No — his ministry accomplished all God called him to accomplish. It's not about numbers.

Don't think the fruit is what validates you before God. There's a principle here — fruit brought Paul joy. But whether people continue in the faith isn't ultimately your doing. Yes, share. Yes, give opportunity. Yes, put things in place so they can grow. But once you've led a horse to water, they have to drink.

I can't make you read your Bibles at home. I can't make you grow in your faith. I can put things in place to help. But it is your personal relationship. That's why you must work out your own faith.

Poured Out as a Drink Offering (vv.17–18)

"Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all."

The phrasing implies Paul feels he is being poured out in that very moment — his death potentially imminent.

He's referring back to Numbers. Jews would pour out a drink offering beside a sacrifice. Pagans, on the other hand, poured perfume or wine on top of the sacrifice. Paul uses that terminology because the people knew what he meant.

He's saying: If I am about to be sacrificed, I am glad and rejoice with you. Whether I die or live, I rejoice. For the same reason, you also be glad and rejoice with me. He asks the church to rejoice, not to sorrow.

Sorrow Turned to Joy

"Therefore you now have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you." — John 16:22

Jesus had just been likening it to a woman in childbearing — there's a time of sorrow and pain, but when the child comes, the pain is forgotten. All they can see is their child.

In the same way, church, we may go through seasons that feel like childbearing — with pain and sorrow. But there is a time coming when no one will be able to take your joy. It will be pure joy.

That day awaits every one of us who has chosen to follow Jesus.

"Your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you."

Let me pray.