Fear and Trembling - Philippians 2:12-18
Fear and Trembling - Philippians 2:12-18
By Pastor Lee Hemen
May 3, 2009 AM
My brother Ed and I had been getting on our mother’s nerves for most of the day and so we knew that when our father got home, we would hear about it. That is, unless we did something about it right away. You know, like a few well placed acts of “kindness” towards our dear old mother who was, after all, the “apple” of our eyes. Why, yes, that would work because after all how could anyone want to punish someone after they had done so much good? Right? Sadly, I am here to relate that it did not go as well as we expected. Ed and I still faced the consequences of our actions.
Christians can also get caught up into thinking they have to “do something” in order to get God to love them. However, Paul’s words remind us that “it is by grace we have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9) What then does Paul mean when he writes the Philippians to “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling”? If our salvation is already purchased through the blood of Jesus, what then does it mean for the Christian to “work out your salvation” here in these verses? (I am glad you asked!) The key here is not the word “work” but rather the idea of “fear and trembling” that follows because it is here that Paul was trying to teach the Philippians how they were to live for the Lord. Let’s discover what fear and trembling should mean in the life of a believer.
READ: Philippians 2:12-18
The idea of fear and trembling is not a popular one for us because we want to think of God as only loving and kind. Well, let me set your mind at ease -- God is loving and kind -- but we are to approach our lives in Him with fear and trembling in that we know who He is and we know who we are. He is God and we are not. We are His people bought at a great price by the death of His Son. Paul relates that it begins by…
I. Doing everything without complaining or arguing! (Vv. 14-15)
1. A disrespectful child complains and argues! This was why “doing everything without complaining or arguing” was so important to Paul for the Philippians! He wanted them to “become blameless and pure, children of God.” Paul knew that compared to the richness and grace of knowing Jesus, the rest of the world was “crooked and depraved.” The corrupt world does not understand holiness. They think that it is a way of acting instead of a way of life. One can “act” holy and not be. Holiness comes from an inner quality of a life that has been changed by the power of God. The Philippians were not to be like the rest of the world, instead they were to “shine like stars in the universe” as compared to the sin-darkened generation they lived in. The idea of being “blameless and pure” is one whereby their lives were lived so differently from the society they were a part of, that they would be a stark contrast to the rest of the world! Paul knew that there is nothing worse than someone who complained or argued all the time. “It’s not my fault!” “It wasn’t me!” “Why does God treat me this way!?” “When will I get a break!?” I am sure you heard these kinds of things as well. But in the life of a Christian, complaining should be rare if not non-existent. Why? Because Christians are to be “blameless and pure.” Meaning without faults and harmless. Simple and unmixed with the stains of the sinful world around them. Christians are to be different because they have the Spirit of God within them. Christians are to approach their lives in Christ with fear and trembling remembering they are to be different from the rest of the world, without complaining or arguing.
EXAMPLE: After we had spent the day fuming, fussing, and fighting, my father would tell Ed and I, “I expect more out of you as my boys. I expect you to act like young men and treat your mother with respect while I am not here. I am ashamed of your actions.” We knew that our Dad loved us but we also knew he expected more from us because of our relationship – we were his sons and we were to act like it. When we had not acted like the “blameless and pure” children he desired we approached our relationship with “fear and trembling.” Not because we expected to be punished but because we knew what our father expected of us and it was a manly responsibility. He wanted us to be gentlemen whether he was there or not. He wanted us to be different from the rest of the neighborhood boys. The believer’s life in Christ is to be different from the rest of the world. While the world can be nice, friendly, and giving – they do it for ulterior reasons. Christians are “to do everything without complaining or arguing, so that [they] may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which [they] shine like stars in the universe!”
We discover that Paul’s whole goal in his life lived for the Philippians was to be “poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from” their faith. Even if he were to be “poured out like a drink offering,” that is to die for his faith, he would be “glad and rejoice with all of” the Philippians who joined him in living for Jesus. Why? Paul wanted them to work out their salvation with fear and trembling so that they would…
II. Hold out the word of life!
1. Selfish children do not share! What does the message of the cross mean to you? How important is it? Do you fully understand what it means for the world you live in? Are you willing to give up everything to share it with others? If not, you are not ready for the kingdom of God. How sad is it when Christians hold onto the gospel only for themselves like greedy children. Notice that Paul wanted to see the gospel message of Jesus Christ spread throughout the known world! Paul’s only goal in life was to see the kingdom of God established, and it was in this that he could “boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.” He knew he could then honestly and openly stand and proclaim, “For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when He comes? Is it not you?” (1 Thessalonians 2:19) What a thrilling thing for Paul or any Christian to strive for! To be able to stand at the throne of God and say, “Look at all those who came to know You because I was willing to hold out the world of life!” Just as the drink offering was poured out on the altar of the Lord in the Temple, Paul was willing to have his life poured out for the cause of Christ. He would not have the Philippians be sorrowful or sadden should they hear of his death for the sake of the Gospel! Rather, Paul wanted the Philippian Christians to join him in rejoicing and being glad that they too now were part of the offering as well! Christians hold out to a sin-fallen world the “word of life. It is something we should daily approach with “fear and trembling” because of the importance and implications of the message. It is a matter of life and death for those we come into contact with on a daily basis. But more than this, do you realize that we are the last generation of Christians to proclaim the gospel message unless those who come after us are willing to be “poured out” as well and “hold out the word of life.” If you do not fear and tremble over that, you should.
EXAMPLE: From the time we were little until we grew into teenagers, my father wanted my brother Ed and I to learn to share with one another. It wasn’t because we were poor and did not have much, it was because he wanted to instill in us the attitudes and actions of compassion, caring, and selflessness. No parent wants to raise children that only think of themselves first without any regard for the needs of others. Christians are to be the children of God, and like Him we are to be full of compassion, care, and selflessness. We are to be the servants of all. Why? “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:5-8) Christians are to hold out the word of life with fear and trembling as we share the gospel with others around us.
Conclusion:
How do you live your life for the Lord? Do you approach it with fear and trembling remembering whom you serve? Do you do everything without complaining or arguing? Do you hold out the word of life as if it were the greatest message ever? Oh, dear child of the Lord, I pray you do!
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This article is the copyrighted 2009 © property of Lee Hemen and may not be copied or reproduced in any way shape or form without using the full text of this entire article, and getting the permission of its author.
By Pastor Lee Hemen
May 3, 2009 AM
My brother Ed and I had been getting on our mother’s nerves for most of the day and so we knew that when our father got home, we would hear about it. That is, unless we did something about it right away. You know, like a few well placed acts of “kindness” towards our dear old mother who was, after all, the “apple” of our eyes. Why, yes, that would work because after all how could anyone want to punish someone after they had done so much good? Right? Sadly, I am here to relate that it did not go as well as we expected. Ed and I still faced the consequences of our actions.
Christians can also get caught up into thinking they have to “do something” in order to get God to love them. However, Paul’s words remind us that “it is by grace we have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9) What then does Paul mean when he writes the Philippians to “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling”? If our salvation is already purchased through the blood of Jesus, what then does it mean for the Christian to “work out your salvation” here in these verses? (I am glad you asked!) The key here is not the word “work” but rather the idea of “fear and trembling” that follows because it is here that Paul was trying to teach the Philippians how they were to live for the Lord. Let’s discover what fear and trembling should mean in the life of a believer.
READ: Philippians 2:12-18
The idea of fear and trembling is not a popular one for us because we want to think of God as only loving and kind. Well, let me set your mind at ease -- God is loving and kind -- but we are to approach our lives in Him with fear and trembling in that we know who He is and we know who we are. He is God and we are not. We are His people bought at a great price by the death of His Son. Paul relates that it begins by…
I. Doing everything without complaining or arguing! (Vv. 14-15)
1. A disrespectful child complains and argues! This was why “doing everything without complaining or arguing” was so important to Paul for the Philippians! He wanted them to “become blameless and pure, children of God.” Paul knew that compared to the richness and grace of knowing Jesus, the rest of the world was “crooked and depraved.” The corrupt world does not understand holiness. They think that it is a way of acting instead of a way of life. One can “act” holy and not be. Holiness comes from an inner quality of a life that has been changed by the power of God. The Philippians were not to be like the rest of the world, instead they were to “shine like stars in the universe” as compared to the sin-darkened generation they lived in. The idea of being “blameless and pure” is one whereby their lives were lived so differently from the society they were a part of, that they would be a stark contrast to the rest of the world! Paul knew that there is nothing worse than someone who complained or argued all the time. “It’s not my fault!” “It wasn’t me!” “Why does God treat me this way!?” “When will I get a break!?” I am sure you heard these kinds of things as well. But in the life of a Christian, complaining should be rare if not non-existent. Why? Because Christians are to be “blameless and pure.” Meaning without faults and harmless. Simple and unmixed with the stains of the sinful world around them. Christians are to be different because they have the Spirit of God within them. Christians are to approach their lives in Christ with fear and trembling remembering they are to be different from the rest of the world, without complaining or arguing.
EXAMPLE: After we had spent the day fuming, fussing, and fighting, my father would tell Ed and I, “I expect more out of you as my boys. I expect you to act like young men and treat your mother with respect while I am not here. I am ashamed of your actions.” We knew that our Dad loved us but we also knew he expected more from us because of our relationship – we were his sons and we were to act like it. When we had not acted like the “blameless and pure” children he desired we approached our relationship with “fear and trembling.” Not because we expected to be punished but because we knew what our father expected of us and it was a manly responsibility. He wanted us to be gentlemen whether he was there or not. He wanted us to be different from the rest of the neighborhood boys. The believer’s life in Christ is to be different from the rest of the world. While the world can be nice, friendly, and giving – they do it for ulterior reasons. Christians are “to do everything without complaining or arguing, so that [they] may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which [they] shine like stars in the universe!”
We discover that Paul’s whole goal in his life lived for the Philippians was to be “poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from” their faith. Even if he were to be “poured out like a drink offering,” that is to die for his faith, he would be “glad and rejoice with all of” the Philippians who joined him in living for Jesus. Why? Paul wanted them to work out their salvation with fear and trembling so that they would…
II. Hold out the word of life!
1. Selfish children do not share! What does the message of the cross mean to you? How important is it? Do you fully understand what it means for the world you live in? Are you willing to give up everything to share it with others? If not, you are not ready for the kingdom of God. How sad is it when Christians hold onto the gospel only for themselves like greedy children. Notice that Paul wanted to see the gospel message of Jesus Christ spread throughout the known world! Paul’s only goal in life was to see the kingdom of God established, and it was in this that he could “boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.” He knew he could then honestly and openly stand and proclaim, “For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when He comes? Is it not you?” (1 Thessalonians 2:19) What a thrilling thing for Paul or any Christian to strive for! To be able to stand at the throne of God and say, “Look at all those who came to know You because I was willing to hold out the world of life!” Just as the drink offering was poured out on the altar of the Lord in the Temple, Paul was willing to have his life poured out for the cause of Christ. He would not have the Philippians be sorrowful or sadden should they hear of his death for the sake of the Gospel! Rather, Paul wanted the Philippian Christians to join him in rejoicing and being glad that they too now were part of the offering as well! Christians hold out to a sin-fallen world the “word of life. It is something we should daily approach with “fear and trembling” because of the importance and implications of the message. It is a matter of life and death for those we come into contact with on a daily basis. But more than this, do you realize that we are the last generation of Christians to proclaim the gospel message unless those who come after us are willing to be “poured out” as well and “hold out the word of life.” If you do not fear and tremble over that, you should.
EXAMPLE: From the time we were little until we grew into teenagers, my father wanted my brother Ed and I to learn to share with one another. It wasn’t because we were poor and did not have much, it was because he wanted to instill in us the attitudes and actions of compassion, caring, and selflessness. No parent wants to raise children that only think of themselves first without any regard for the needs of others. Christians are to be the children of God, and like Him we are to be full of compassion, care, and selflessness. We are to be the servants of all. Why? “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:5-8) Christians are to hold out the word of life with fear and trembling as we share the gospel with others around us.
Conclusion:
How do you live your life for the Lord? Do you approach it with fear and trembling remembering whom you serve? Do you do everything without complaining or arguing? Do you hold out the word of life as if it were the greatest message ever? Oh, dear child of the Lord, I pray you do!
---
This article is the copyrighted 2009 © property of Lee Hemen and may not be copied or reproduced in any way shape or form without using the full text of this entire article, and getting the permission of its author.
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