LIFE PRINCIPLES FROM THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS Review
LIFE PRINCIPLES FROM THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS
Review of our Life Principles
Life Principle 1 Seeing other Christians the way Christ sees them
Life Principle 2 Using Life’s Circumstances To Advance The Cause Of Christ
Life Principle 3 Living out God’s purpose for your life
Life Principle 4 Maintaining the Unity of the Faith
Let’s set the stage for today’s study with a little review • on man’s purpose… To seek, find, three-fold and know God intimately is why Know Grow Sow your were placed on this planet. Acts 17: 25 b 27, I Chron. 28: 9, John 17: 1 -3 • To grow into the image of Christ by becoming more like the Savior every day. Romans 8: 2829, Colossians 1: 28, James 1: -2 • To sow a life of significant deeds, actions, and good works which ultimately brings glory to God. I Corinthians 10: 31; Isaiah 43: 7, Matthew 5: 16, Ephesians 2: 10
In theological terms… of soteriology • Doctrine Know Grow Sow • Doctrine of sanctification • Doctrine of good works
Today’s study is all about… Grow • Doctrine of sanctification
Pat’s favorite verse on sanctification… For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; Romans 8. 29
Which one of the following is the most Biblical? �Let go and let God �Walk the talk
Let’s have a contest… WALK THE TALK LET GO AND LET GOD �II Peter 1. 5 -7 �Psalm 55. 22 �Ephesians 5. 33 �Philippians 4. 13 �Romans 12. 1 �Isaiah 40. 31
There has existed groups who have aligned themselves with one extreme or the other
Quietism Your forefathers, the Quakers emphasized the “Let go and let God” as fundamental to sanctification almost to the exclusion of human effort. The 18 th century is generally known as the quietist period in Quaker history. Quietism, which is not unique to Quakerism but which had widespread influence among both Catholics and Protestants at the time, emphasized the quieting of creaturely activities so that in the "silence of all flesh" God could be heard.
Quietism (cont. ) It is not opposed to activism, but is cautious about determining if action is truly led by God. Thus this period included fleshing out of the process of corporate discernment of leadings, critical to the maintaining of spiritual integrity and unity in a noncreedal, nonhierarchical faith. http: //www. quakerinfo. com/quak_18. shtml
Let go and Let God plus “Higher Life Movement” from mid 1800’s England, aka the “Keswick Theology” (because of conventions held in Keswick), and American Holiness movement, promotes the idea that true sanctification comes from a second blessing that is a postsalvation experience.
The other side of the coin. From the mild to the extreme… �Basic Youth Conflicts (Bill Gothard) �Christian Legalism (requiring Christians to do things which are not required by God) �Galatianism – Saved by grace but kept by good deeds �Saved by works theology
Life Principle 5 Working out your salvation as God works salvation in you
Exposition of 2. 12 -2: 18
In two short verses, Paul shows how “walk the talk” and “let go and let God” come together perfectly.
Work out - 12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 12
Vs. 12 �“So then” based on the aforementioned mandates to live the Christian life as a citizen of heaven (1. 27) and exhortation to live a servant’s humble life (2. 1 -11) �And since you Philippians have a grand track record of living an obedient life to Paul’s apostolic teaching whether or not he was present or absent �Work out your salvation as serious as a heart attack (in fear and trembling)
The believer’s role in sanctification �This verse has nothing to do with earning salvation by doing good deeds. It does not say work for salvation but rather work out. �To say otherwise would be in direct conflict with the entire book of Romans. �from katá (2596), an intens. , and ergázomai (2038), to work. To work out; trans. to bring about, accomplish, to carry out a task until it is finished. Zodhiates, S. (2000). The complete word study dictionary: New Testament (electronic ed. ). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.
Salvation is a three tense theological term. . �Your were saved (regeneration). “For by grace you have been saved…” Ephesians 2. 8 a �You are being saved (sanctification). For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. I Corinthians 1. 18 �You will be saved (glorification). Who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. I Peter 1. 5
So simply put, what does it mean to work out one’s own salvation? �With every part of your being, willfully, carefully, seriously, and reverently, become in your life experience what you have been declared to be in you high position in Christ when you became a Christian, namely righteous, holy, and perfect. �This is what it means to work out your own salvation
Work in - 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. 13
God’s role in sanctification God is at work in us providing us with divine enablement to accomplish our ultimate goal of being Christ-like. The Lord has a two fold methodology: �“To will” meaning He changes our emotionally desires, drawing us in the direction of pleasing Him and His sweet will. �“To work” God also gives us the ongoing power to accomplish sanctification
Putting it together… True sanctification is not an either or but the believer willfully doing everything in his or her ability to choose obedience to Christ while at the same time God is working supernatural to the same end.
In verses 14 -16 a, Paul now gives some examples of what working out your own salvation looks like
Shot gun approach… Vs. 14– Stop complaining and bickering Vs. 15 – Have a great Christian testimony by being a saint of personal integrity and high reputation and character. Vs. 16 a – Hold on to the gospel message and your Christian life with the intensity as though you were holding on to a tree limb waiting to be rescued.
Before Paul changes the topic he includes some personal remarks
Paul’s personal remarks… Vs. 16 b – Paul wanted his life to count and to matter for God. Spiritual results of changing eternity really mattered to Paul. Vs. 17 – In the midst of persecution and pain, Paul has been enabled with supernatural joy and wants the Philippians to share in it. Vs. 18 – As Paul shares what God is doing in his life which produces joy, Paul wants the Philippians to do the same with him.
- Slides: 32