Joy on the Journey Part 5 – Going to Work!

Joy on the Journey

Part 5 – Going to Work!

Philippians 2:12-18

12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me. Philippians 2:12-18

How God works in us to accomplish what He desires from us…

1) We , not , our salvation!

12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, Philippians 2:12

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— Ephesians 2:8

12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12

• To work out your salvation is the idea of becoming more !

10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10

Will you work out your salvation or are you content to rest in your salvation?

1)To work out your salvation also refers to .

What is sanctification?

To “sanctify” something is to for special use; to “sanctify” a person is to make him .

3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: 1 Thessalonians 4:3a.

3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4.

13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-15

How are we to “work out” our salvation?… With and !

Fear and trembling refer to the attitude that we have in our pursuit of holiness; it is a healthy fear of and a righteous awe and for Him.

2) We work with God’s to accomplish His plan and purpose.

13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. Philippians 12:13

This word “works” Paul uses in this verse is where we get our English word .

18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead. Ephesians 1:18-20a

3) We work at it without and .

14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, Philippians 2:14

Two reasons we work at following God’s plan and purpose without whining and arguing…

• To .

15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”

• To .

15 …Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. Philippians 2:15-16

And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with me. Philippians 2:16b-18