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Continue to Work out Your Salvation

Philippians 2:12-30

Key Verse: 2:12 “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.”

For two weeks of the last month, we invited pastor David Won from Chicago and studied Philippian 1 &2. In chapter 1:27-2:4 Paul taught us to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. As his people who were bought by the blood of Christ, we must live a life worthy of Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross. In chapter 2:5-11 Paul also taught us to have the same mindset as Christ Jesus. He meant that we need Jesus’ humility, who did not consider himself as God, but came to this world as a man and obeyed the cross for our sins. In today’s passage 2:12-30 Paul encourages us to continue to work out our salvation. Let us study what Paul meant that we must continue to work out our salvation.

First, continue to work out your salvation. (12-13) Look at verses 12-13. “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, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” In these verses we learn that the Philippian Christians had obeyed Paul while he was with them. In fact, they obeyed God rather than Paul because they had the fear of God who sent Paul as their spiritual leader. We also obey spiritual leaders in the church because we obey God and fear him who established spiritual order between God and us. Paul praised their spiritual maturity. In the Old Testament David feared God and obeyed the spiritual order between King Saul and him. Even though King Saul tried to kill David out of jealousy, David did not harm Saul even though he had many chances to get rid of him. Once King Saul was sleeping in the cave without his soldiers. David had a good chance to remove Saul who had chased to kill him. But David entered the cave and cut only a piece of Saul’s robe because David feared God who had anointed Saul as the king of Israel. David obeyed the spiritual order because he feared God.

Look at verse 12 again. Paul encouraged them to continue to work out their salvation. He did not say ‘work out for salvation’, but ‘work out your salvation’. He meant the consistency of spiritual progress required not for the condition of salvation, but for the promotion of salvation. When we confess our sins and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we become justified through our faith. But justification is not enough. We need spiritual growth through the process of sanctification. When we are converted, we are like a newborn baby. We need to grow as mature men and women who have the same mindset of Christ as a baby grows to a man. If we stop growing, we become a spiritually abnormal man before God. This is why Peter said in 1 Peter 2:2-3, “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” Here pure spiritual milk indicates the word of God. The word of God can grow us spiritually as milk grows a newborn baby physically. The word of God is our spiritual food. Jesus said that man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. (Mt 4:4) Jesus also said, “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.” (Jn 6:63) This is the reason why we must read the Bible every day and study it regularly at home and in church.

Paul urged us to continue to work out our salvation. The work of salvation is not a one time thing, but for all times. If we stop struggling, we become easily corrupt and lukewarm. The main goal for ISBC is to see God’s glory through a spiritual revival. We pray and want to see the spiritual revival as we saw in Asbury last February. The spiritual revival is not only for the goal of UBF or ISBC, but also of all churches and of all ministries around the world. The main goal of the 50th anniversary of Billy Graham’s Crusade in Korea was also to bring spiritual revival to Korea once again. What is spiritual revival? Spiritual revival is our heart-desire to continue to love Jesus and to work for his kingdom. Those who stop working or growing don’t seek spiritual revival. Spiritual revival is the spiritual battle to restore our first love for Jesus and to continue to work out our salvation. Through spiritual revival we want to carry the fire of the Holy Spirit to every corner of the world until this world is filled with the glory of the Lord. Amen!

It is a matter of decision whether we continue to work out our salvation or not. If we stay compromised and remain in our comfort zone, it seems to be okay. We may have a godly form even though we are not filled with fire like before. But, if we do not continue to work out our salvation, we are not happy. This is because as Christians our true happiness comes when we are united with Christ in his suffering and in his glory. We are not people without the Spirit. We are people with the Spirit. So, we are happy when we live spiritual life. In order to keep and live spiritual life we must continue to live with the Holy Spirit and continue to repent and follow Jesus. Personally, I took a month-long vacation last month. I really enjoyed a break without writing a sermon and without teaching the Bible. Do you think I was really happy when I took a spiritual break? No, I was not, because I am a spiritual man, a man with the Holy Spirit. I am happy when I continue to do the work of God, the spiritual work even though it accompanies suffering. This is not only my testimony, but yours, too.

The continual spiritual growth is not only for our own satisfaction, but for God’s glorification. In order words God wants us to grow spiritually so that we may fulfill God’s good purpose and his will for us. Look at verse 13. “For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” In chapter 1:6 Paul said, “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” This verse means that God saved each of us for his good purpose and that he will be with us until we finish his good work. In the past we were useless and hopeless even to the eyes of this world. But God valued us more than the whole world and bought us by the price of his Son’s blood. God saved us to do good work, the work of salvation for his kingdom. We became a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, who declare the praises of him who called us out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Pe 2:9) Even though our present situation is not as we expect, God will fulfill his good purpose. God does not look at our present condition, but looks at our future, the day we fulfill his good purpose. We must be prepared for the good work of God. Let us read verse 13 again. “For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” Amen!

Second, shine like stars in the sky. (14-16a) In his first letter to the believers in the Corinth Church Paul made a conclusive remark saying, “Do everything in love.” (1 Co 16:14) In his letter to the Philippians he said in verse 14, “Do everything without grumbling or arguing.” Why did Paul say this to the Philippians? Probably there were many women believers in the church who were involved in arguing. The church started with Lydia, a business woman, who met Paul. She must bring many women to the church and women’s power gradually increased in the church. There is a saying in Korea that when two and three women gather, bowls in the kitchen will be broken. There must be grumbling and arguing amongst women coworkers. Paul said that they would be blameless and holy people of God when they do everything without grumbling and arguing. (15) Above all, they would be like shining stars in the sky when they do so. Who are the shining stars? They are those who do everything without grumbling or arguing, but with love, gratitude, and respect. In a family God wants us to keep spiritual order between husband and wife and between parents and children. When we obey this order, we will shine like stars in the sky. When we do not obey, we become like dark clouds which bring storms to our family.

Paul said in verse 16 that we will shine like stars in the sky as we hold firmly to the word of life. (16) Amen! When we hold the word of God firmly and struggle to obey it, we’ll be changed. We will grow as humble, obedient, thankful, and faithful servants of God. When we read the Bible and repent of our sins before his word, we can continue to grow as useful men and women of God. Paul said in 2 Tim 3:15-16, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servants of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Our men missionaries have a weekly testimony and prayer meeting every Wednesday evening. We share what we learned from the Sunday passage and pray together. Still, I felt like I lacked something all the time. I felt that we need to study the word of God more and deeper through our testimony writings. We must hold the word of God firmly, not superficially. Then we can serve the Lord in this warped and crooked generation and we can overcome this dark world. Amen!

Third, poured out like a drink offering. (16b-18) Look at verses 16b-18. “And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. 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. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.” According to Acts16 Paul and Silas preached the gospel in Philippi. A slave girl who had predicted the future and made money for her master followed Paul and Silas. Paul drove evil spirits out of her and healed her. Her owner, who thought that he couldn’t make money any more out of her, accused Paul and Silas. People arrested Paul and Silas, flogged them, and put them in prison. But in prison they sang hymns and all the prisoners heard them. Suddenly an earthquake occurred and the door was opened. The jailor wanted to kill himself thinking that all prisoners ran away, but Paul preached to him, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” (Ac 16:31) Soon the jailer received baptism and became a good coworker in the Philippian church. When Paul thought about the Philippian Church, he held a great affection. They were Paul’s crown and joy. They were the fruit of Paul’s ministry. Indeed, Paul poured out his life like a drink offering. He was arrested and flogged severely and imprisoned in Philippi. Still, he served the Lord and loved the church. Paul wanted to share his suffering and his glory with them. So he said, “So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.” Amen!

In verses 19-30 Paul urged them to receive Timothy and Epaphroditus as they received Paul. According to Paul, Timothy was a faithful and sacrificial shepherd who was concerned about others’ interest more than his. (19-24) Epaphroditus was sent from the Philippian Church to take care of Paul’s needs. He was with Paul and served him wholeheartedly. He was very sick until he almost lost his life. But God’s grace healed him. Now, Paul wants to send him back to Philippi to encourage the brothers. Paul believed that his return would be a great joy and encouragement to all church people. (25-30) I pray that we all may become blameless and blessed when Jesus comes again. Even though we are a group of small numbers with a few families, we live lives worthy of the gospel of Christ. We will not give up, but continue to work out our salvation and the salvation of young people in this country. We will continue to advance the gospel, raise Jesus’ disciples and expand God’s kingdom. Amen!

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• Php02-12-30-message-final.docx

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