As I have said before, there are some obvious places that people look to find joy, but what Paul shows us in Philippians is that joy is found in some unlikely places and under some unlikely circumstances. The passage for today is no exception. What we are going find from today’s passage is that though obedience is a necessary mark of a believer, what results from obedience is not a life of misery, but one of joy.EXPERIENCING JOY THROUGH OBEDIENCE
I. “DON’T JUST STAND THERE” AND “DON’T JUST DO SOMETHING” (vv. 12-13).
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Verse 12 causes problems for some because by changing a single word in the verse ones “grace-based” theology, which teaches that “salvation is by grace alone through faith in Christ alone,” is turned on its head. Notice, however, that Paul does not say “'Work up' 'at' or 'for your salvation,'” but says, “work out your salvation.”
Paul is speaking to believers and is simply urging them to prove that God has saved them in the past by acting and living and obeying like it in the present. He wants the Christians at Philippi to know that Christian maturity is not something that happens automatically, but is to be pursued.
Paul then goes on to say in v. 13, “For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” What we have here is a paradox because in verse 12 Paul calls for believers to “put in the work” and in the next verse informs them that God is working in them.
Paradoxs are found throughout the Bible. For example, Scripture clearly states that God is one and three, Jesus is fully God and Fully Man, and that God is Sovereign and Man is responsible. What many have a tendency to do when they cross these teachings in Scripture is to pick and choose or emphasize one at the sake of another. The proper way to interpret paradoxs in Scripture is to affirm both in measure.
The point Paul is making in these verses is that for us to be what God has called us to be we are going to have to put forth the effort, but are also going to have to see our need of God’s grace and be completely dependent upon Him to work in us so that we can work outwardly.
SO “DON’T JUST STAND THERE” AND “DON’T JUST DO SOMETHING,” BUT INSTEAD GO FORWARD BY THE GRACE OF GOD.
II. HAVE THE RIGHT ATTITUDE BECAUSE THE WORLD IS WATCHING (vv. 14-16).
Paul says, Do all things without grumbling or questioning,
A popular saying we are all familiar with is “Actions speak louder than words.” Here Paul takes that point a step further by showing that “attitudes speak louder than actions.”
The problem with the Philippian Christians wasn’t that they were doing the wrong things; Paul is clear that they were faithful and had been since he first started the church. The issue was that they were doing the right things with the wrong attitude.
He goes on to say,
15 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 reason why it is imperative that the church have the right attitude as well as the right actions is because we are representatives of God in a world that is hostile to Him. Paul is clear that the Christians at Philippi need to clean up their act in order to be an effective witness in the world. His advice for the church is summed up in the phrase “Be blameless and innocent children of God without blemish.”
Now know that Paul is not telling them to be perfect, but is just calling for the church to be “above reproach” or “without accusation” so they will be able to minister effectively in the world. Paul goes on to say, “…among whom you shine as lights in the world.” His point here is that when the church is blameless and pure, they bring the truth of the Christian message to light in this dark world. Jesus told His followers, “You are the light of the world…. Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven” (Mt. 5:14-16).
III. KNOW THAT OBEDIENCE THOUGH IT INVOLVE SACRIFICE BRINGS JOY (vv. 17-18).
But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all. You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.
Paul’s language he is using is the language of the Old Testament sacrificial system. A drink offering was a type of offering that involved pouring out wine onto an altar along with an animal or grain sacrifice. In this verse, Paul shows that this type of offering vividly illustrates how he has been poured out for God’s service.
Like I said a few weeks ago, people do not like to hear words like suffering, opposition and sacrifice. They want Christianity without these things. The problem is that a life lived for God—in obedience to Him—is not void of these things. Nevertheless, there is joy to be had in a life lived for Him even in the midst of difficulty.
CONCLUSION
When God first created the world, all living creatures—man especially—lived under God’s rule and reign and in perfect obedience to Him and it was as God said “Very Good.” Believe me when I say this is still the case today even though the world tells us otherwise. We were made for God and will not be complete and experience lasting joy until we live for Him.
