The Christian Working Out: Our Effort in Sanctification (Phil. 2:12)
This sermon delves into the profound question of how spiritual growth unfolds in a believer's life. It explores the delicate balance between divine power and personal responsibility in the journey of sanctification.
This sermon explores the Christian's role in spiritual progress, focusing on our diligent effort to 'work out' salvation (Philippians 2:12). It details five essential understandings to faithfully live out our redeemed nature.
Overview
The sermon opens by addressing a paradox regarding spiritual progress: whether it's entirely God's work (Quietism) or entirely the believer's effort (Pietism). The preacher explains that while Philippians 2:12-13 presents both "all of us and all of God," this sermon focuses on the human responsibility to "work out your own salvation" as found in verse 12.
The phrase "work out your own salvation" is not about working *for* salvation, but making visible on the outside what God has planted on the inside. This is a continuous, mandated effort requiring maximum commitment to manifest a redeemed nature and pursue the full, final form of salvation.
To achieve this diligent spiritual progress, believers must understand their example: Jesus Christ, who modeled humble obedience. They must also understand that they are loved by God, providing grace and space for failure, forgiveness, and restoration when they inevitably stumble.
Further, believers need to grasp the foundational role of obedience, as salvation itself is an act of submitting to God's command to believe and repent. Finally, they must recognize their personal resources and responsibility for their spiritual well-being, avoiding dependency on others, and cultivate a healthy "fear and trembling" (godly awe) to avoid sin's consequences and dishonoring God.
Key points
- Spiritual progress involves a divine paradox: it is both entirely God's work and entirely the believer's effort.
- Philippians 2:12 commands believers to "work out their own salvation," meaning to make visible externally what God has worked internally.
- This is a continuous, mandated effort requiring maximum commitment to manifest one's redeemed nature.
- Believers must understand Jesus Christ as their example of humble obedience to follow.
- Recognizing God's love provides space for failure, forgiveness, and restoration in the process of spiritual growth.
- The Christian life is fundamentally a pattern of obedience, beginning with the command to believe in Christ.
- Believers are personally responsible for their spiritual development, possessing the internal resources (the Holy Spirit) to do so, independent of others.
- Working out salvation requires "fear and trembling," a godly awe that motivates avoidance of sin due to its consequences and the desire not to offend God.
In John MacArthur's words
“The answer is: it’s all of us and it’s all of God.”
“Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”
“I felt something was wrong in my relation to the Lord, and so I am reading through the entire New Testament to check all the commands to me in case I have unwittingly violated any of them.”
Outline
- I. The Paradox of Sanctification (Philippians 2:12-13)
- A. Two historical views: Quietists (all God) vs. Pietists (all human effort)
- B. Paul's resolution: "It's all of us and it's all of God."
- C. Scriptural examples of this divine paradox:
- 1. Incarnation: Jesus as fully God and fully man.
- 2. Inspiration: Human authors writing God-inspired Word.
- 3. Salvation: Human repentance/faith and divine sovereign grace.
- 4. Perseverance: God's security and human faithfulness.
- II. The Christian Working Out (Philippians 2:12)
- A. The command: "Work out your own salvation."
- 1. Meaning: produce on the outside what is planted on the inside.
- 2. Not working *at*, *up*, or *for* salvation, but *from* it.
- 3. "Your own salvation": emphasizes individuality and responsibility.
- 4. Dimensional reality: working out present salvation towards future glorification.
- 5. Calls for maximum, intense effort and commitment.
- B. Five Elements to Assist Diligent Effort:
- 1. Understand Your Example: Jesus Christ (Philippians 2:5-11)
- a. Model of humility, obedience, submission.
- b. Pursue Christ's likeness.
- 2. Understand You Are Loved: "My beloved."
- a. Space for failure, forgiveness, mercy, grace, restoration.
- b. Reflects God's patient and loving heart.
- 3. Understand the Place of Obedience: "Just as you have always obeyed."
- a. Obedience is a fundamental pattern of Christian life.
- b. Salvation itself is an act of obedience to the gospel command.
- c. Continuous obedience, even when sporadic failures occur.
- 4. Understand Your Personal Resources and Responsibility: "Not as in my presence only but now much more in my absence."
- a. Believers have the duty and resources for independent spiritual growth.
- b. Spiritual progress is not dependent on specific teachers or environments.
- 5. Understand the Consequence of Sin: "With fear and trembling."
- a. "Fear" (phobos): godly awe, respect for God.
- b. "Trembling" (tromos): healthy anxiety, shaking at the thought of offending God.
- c. Motivates vigilance against temptation and dishonoring God.
- d. Leads to humility and contriteness of spirit (Isaiah 66:2).
Scripture references
- Philippians 2:12-13
- Philippians 2:5-11
- 1 Corinthians 15:10
- Galatians 2:20
- Colossians 1:28-29
- Exodus 14
- Exodus 14:13
- 1 Corinthians 9:27
- Romans 12
- Philippians 1:8
- Philippians 4:1
- Ephesians 2:10
- Acts 16
- Romans 1:5
- 2 Thessalonians 1:8
- 2 Thessalonians 3:14
- 1 Peter 1:2
- Psalm 111
- Proverbs
- Isaiah 66:1-5
12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pi–hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baal–zephon: before it shall ye encamp by the sea.
13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.
27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
8 For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.
1 Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
1 Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:
2 Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.
5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:
8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
1 Praise ye the Lord. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.
2 The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.
1 Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?
2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
3 He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog’s neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine’s blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations.
4 I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.
Insights
Spiritual progress requires both God’s work in us and our diligent effort.
Working out salvation involves visibly manifesting Christ’s life within.
Jesus Christ provides the perfect example of humble obedience for our lives.
Questions & answers
What is the main paradox discussed in the sermon?
The sermon addresses the paradox that spiritual progress (sanctification) is both entirely God's work and entirely the believer's effort. It asserts that Paul resolves this by showing it requires both 'all of us and all of God.'
What does it mean to 'work out your own salvation' according to the sermon?
To 'work out your own salvation' means to outwardly produce and make visible the salvation that God has already planted on the inside. It's not working *for* salvation, but diligently living *from* one's redeemed nature.
Why does the sermon say believers must understand they are loved?
Understanding God's love is crucial because believers will inevitably fail in their efforts. God's love provides the framework for forgiveness, mercy, grace, and restoration, reflecting His patience and compassion.
How does the sermon define 'fear and trembling' in relation to working out salvation?
'Fear and trembling' refers to a healthy, godly awe and respect for God, coupled with a shaking or anxiety at the thought of offending Him. It is a proper reaction to human weakness and the power of temptation, motivating vigilance against sin.
What is the role of obedience in the Christian life, as taught here?
Obedience is presented as the fundamental pattern of the Christian life, starting with salvation itself as an act of obedience to the gospel's command to believe and repent. It is a continuous submission to God's will.
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