Sharing the Same Joy

August 5, 2019

Text: Philippians 2:12-18

Title: Shinning Like Stars

God is working in man to will and to work for His good pleasure (v13)

Principle: Working out one's salvation is both responsibility of man and sovereignty of God (vv12-13)

Command: I need to work out my own salvation with fear and trembling

Reflection

• Many times I asked how can I work out my own salvation with fear and trembling.

• Obedience is working out my salvation (v12)

• Doing all things without grumbling is another way to work out salvation (v14)

• Holding fast to the word of life (v16)

• Therefore, serving the Lord is working out the salvation that God has given

Observations:

• When a man is obeying God or holding fast to the word of God, God is working in man. (This is when the Lord Jesus Christ said that He is working and His Father is also working - John 5:17)
• There is the same joy that Christians should share with one another.

The passage is the response to the previous passage where Jesus who lived as a slave died on the cross and exalted on high to whom every knee will bow. Paul commanded them to work out their salvation. Working out the salvation is obedience to God through service. The manner by which the command to be carried out is with fear and trembling. To work out or to obey God without fear and trembling is consider that God is holy and He must be served with holiness. The tragedy of the sons of Aaron and Eli who served the Lord without fear is an example of service without holiness. This is the cry out in the book of Leviticus "Be holy because, am your God is holy." In the same manner, Saul obeyed God without holiness that leads to dethronement. Therefore every Christian must obey the Lord with holiness.

Another important principle is that when a Christian obeys God with holiness it is God who works to will and to act. This is what Jesus has said in John 5:17. What the Son is doing is what the Father does as well, and the work of God is always with holiness because He is holy. If a person is serving/obeying God without fear and trembling, it is not the work of the Father, therefore, it is sin. This also implies that the responsibility of man and sovereignty of God are both present when there is obedience to Him. God is working in the life of a servant through obedience with holiness. Let God work in us by being obedient to Him with holiness knowing that it is for His own good pleasure

In addition Paul encouraged the brethren to avoid grumbling and disputing in doing all things. This includes serving the Lord. Grumbling and disputing are signs of divided attitude. He wanted them to be above reproach proving that they are children of God and by this they were lights of this world. This reflects Jesus' teaching that they are the lights of the world. In order to do all things free from grumbling and disputing, one must hold fast with the word of life. Paul presented how important the word of God was in doing all things. It is a guide as we live and do things for the Lord. This brings joy to Paul knowing that his labor was not in vain. He added that even he will be a sacrifice serving them for their faith that would be a joy that he wanted to share with them. The joy of a Christian is when he suffers for the faith of God's people knowing that God is working in him doing for His pleasure. By this, as Paul encouraged them to do have and share the same joy, God is also encouraging us to have and share the same joy that Paul had.