The Exalted Christ: Philippians 2:8-13
Work out your Salvation
A teenager had just got his driving licence. He asked his father, if they could discuss the use of the car. His father took him to his study and said to him, "I'll make a deal with you. You bring your grades up, study your Scriptures a little and get your hair cut and we'll talk about it." After about a month the boy came back and again asked his father if they could discuss use of the car. They again went to the father's study where his father said, "Son, I've been real proud of you. You have brought your grades up, you've studied your Scriptures diligently, but you didn't get your hair cut!" The young man waited and minute and replied, "You know Dad, I've been thinking about that. Samson had long hair; Moses had long hair, why even Jesus had long hair...." To which his father replied...."Yes, and they walked every where they went!"
I think we would agree that God wants us all to grow. It’s a no-brainer. But have you noticed how different the word “grow” sounds when someone adds that little word “up”? “Grow up” It has negative connotations. It implies a degree of immaturity. It suggests we are not there yet. And that is the point. We are not there yet. We have not arrived. There is work to do, growing up. The Apostle Paul writes in Philippians 2:1 and 5, “Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ… In your relationships with one another, have the same attitude of mind Christ Jesus had.” (Philippians 2:1, 5)
Because we have some way to go, in our reading today, Paul introduces another “Therefore”. Verse 12, “Therefore… continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” (Philippians 2:12-13)
Our heavenly Father's goal is that we mature and become like Jesus Christ. But spiritual growth is not automatic. It takes time and energy. We must want to grow up and we must persevere in growing. Discipleship is another word to describe growing up or working out our salvation.
Salvation is actually three dimensional. It involves my past, my present and my future. Let me illustrate this. Brooke Foss Westcott was one of the greatest Greek NT scholars in the 19th Century - In his life he served as Regius professor of Divinity at Cambridge University as well as Bishop of Durham. He wrote numerous commentaries and his Greek New Testament written with Frederick Hort remains a classic of scholarship. One day he had to make a train journey, and in those days trains had carriages without corridors. Each compartment had seats for six or eight. So Westcott found an empty compartment and settled down for a quiet read. Just as the train was about to leave the station, the carriage door opened, and a young girl in Salvation Army uniform jumped in. After she had settled herself in her corner she realized that the only other person with her was a real live bishop. She hadn't long been converted, and was keen to win others for Christ. Therefore, when she saw Westcott, she assumed that because he was a bishop, he couldn't be a real believer. Eventually she plucked up courage and learnt across to the bishop, who was reading, and said rather quietly, "Excuse me, are you saved?" This short, but unexpected question caught Dr. Wescott by surprise, and he said in his kindly way, "Pardon me, but what did you say?" She immediately thought, "There, he doesn't even know what I'm talking about!" and so explained, "I simply asked if you were saved." The bishop's face disappeared behind his book and his eyes twinkled for a moment; then, leaning toward her he asked her, "Excuse me, my dear, but do you mean sotheis or sezosmenos or sozomenos?" The girl's face went blank, then puzzled, then startled. Finally she blurted out, "I don't know what you are talking about. I simply asked you -- are you saved." "Yes, my dear," replied Dr. Westcott, "I realize that, and I asked you which 'saved' you mean. Did you mean 'I was saved' or 'I will be saved' or 'I am being saved'?" And the story goes on that for the rest of the journey Westcott explained to the young believer the wonder and immensity of God's salvation -- past, future and present. Salvation is three dimensional.
1. Past: We have been saved from the penalty of sin (through the death of Jesus). What God has done for us.
2. Present: We are being saved from the power of sin (by the power of the Holy Spirit). What God is doing in us.
3. Future: We will be saved from the presence of sin (when the Father takes us home). What God will do with us.
Our journey of faith begins when we hear the call of Jesus. “Follow me” (Matthew 9:9) says Jesus and we respond. This is what Paul describes in verse 1, to be “united with Christ”. When we begin to follow Jesus, we don’t necessarily understand all the implications. Responding to the call of Jesus is just the beginning of salvation. Many make the mistake of thinking that becoming a Christian is simply about making a decision for Jesus. They don’t realize there are three dimensions to being a Christian, not just one. So they remain uncertain about the future and try and live in their own strength in the present. That is why the Apostle Paul in Philippians 2 urges us to grasp all 3 dimensions of salvation to grow up like Jesus.
1. Past Salvation: We have been saved from the penalty of sin by Christ crucified (Philippians 2: 6-8)
“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 2:6-8)
Jesus - the perfect one died on the cross to take away our sin. He died in our place. He died so we would not have to. We don’t deserve it and cannot earn our salvation. In Paul’s similar letter to the Ephesians he spells this out. “For it is by grace you 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).
Notice this is a past event. If we have trusted in Christ we have been saved from the penalty of sin by Christ crucified. Notice Paul goes on to describe how Jesus rose and ascended to heaven and its consequences.
2. Future Salvation: We will be saved from the presence of sin by Christ glorified (Philippians 2:9-11)
“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11)
This is the present position of the exalted Christ. The name given to Jesus is not specified here but many believe it is the name Yahweh – God’s personal name. In the Greek translation of the Old Testament it is translated “Lord”. Paul means us to understand that the eternal Son of God received a status and authority (Matthew 28:18; Acts 2:33) that had not been his before he became incarnate as both God and man. While Christ bears the divine name, he is still worshipped with his human name Jesus.
Paul is citing Isaiah 45:23-24 where the Lord God says one day every knee will bow in submission to his authority.
That these verses are now applied to the Lord Jesus Christ points not only to his deity, not only to his present position but also his eternal reign. This is our future hope and destination. This is our present motivation. One day everyone will confess Jesus is Lord. One day there will be no more rebellion. One day there will be no more indifference or apathy. Every knee will bow in submission, willingly or reluctantly but the effect will be the same. The apostle John in his vision of heaven describes this:
“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with the people, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (Revelation 21:3-4)
This is describing our future salvation. We have beensaved from the penalty of sin – that’s our past salvation. We will be saved from the presence of sin – that’s our future salvation. “Therefore” says Paul, because of all that Jesus has and will do, “work out your salvation” in the present, “with fear and trembling”
3. Present Salvation: We are being saved from the power of sin through Christ, sanctified (Philippians 2:12-13)
“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 according to his good purpose.” (Philippians 2:12-13)
“Work out” means to carry to its ultimate conclusion. Notice he says, “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you…” So this is not about how to be saved, but how to grow. It does not say "work for" your salvation. We cannot add anything to what Jesus has already done. During a physical "work out," you exercise to develop your body, not to get a body. When you "work out" a puzzle, you already have all the pieces-your task is to put them together. Farmers "work" the land, not to get land, but to develop what they already have.
God has given you a new life; now you are responsible to develop it "with fear and trembling.” That means to take your spiritual growth seriously! This verse shows the two parts of spiritual growth: "work out" and "work in." We must ‘work out’ what God is ‘working in’ us. The "work out" is your responsibility, and the "work in" is God's responsibility. Spiritual growth is a collaborative effort between us and the Holy Spirit. As we have already seen, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). Christ-likeness is the result of making Christ-like choices. Christ-likeness results from depending on his Spirit to help us fulfill those choices, moment by moment, step by step, one day at a time.
Let me illustrate. Do you remember your first day at school? The fear and trembling? The fear and trembling of leaving your mother at the gates to enter a strange building and be taught by someone else? It soon wears off though doesn’t it. We forget what it felt like. Working out your salvation in fear and trembling involves developing a life-long passion for learning and growing - for that is what the word ‘disciple’ means.
For those who are married - do you remember your wedding day? The fear and trembling as you tried to sleep the night before, the fear and trembling as you got dressed and looked in the mirror, the fear and trembling as you arrived at the church, the fear and trembling as you walked down the aisle, the fear and trembling as you exchanged vows and exchanged rings, the fear and trembling of those first few days as you began to comprehend the promises and obligations you had made to love and to cherish, to protect and provide for this other very special person. The fear and the trembling as you misunderstood one another in the first row. The fear and the trembling as you worked hard to understand and cooperate. Has the fear and trembling worn off? Has it been replaced by the complacent and the familiar, the giving up and the taking for granted? However many years ago that was now, one way God wants you to work out your salvation is by working at the mystery of marriage with fear and trembling. Need to reschedule your priorities to spend time together? Please consider joining the Marriage Course which begins tomorrow night. It is not too late. Speak to Jon and Jan if you are interested. If you are married God wants you to work at your relationship, with fear and trembling.
Have you any children? Remember the fear and trembling of the journey to the hospital? Remember the fear and trembling through the labour pains? Remember the fear and trembling when you held that little baby in your arms for the first time? As you realized God had entrusted this human being to you? Remember the fear and trembling as you drove home ever so slowly - how suddenly everyone else seemed to be driving like a maniac? And what has happened as they have grown up? Have you lost that sense of wonder, the fear and the trembling? Forgotten that children are a precious gift? On temporary loan? Need to reschedule your priorities? One of the most helpful books I have ever read is Rob Parson’s “The Sixty Minute Father”. In it he quotes Sir John Harvey-Jones, former chairman of ICI.
“Few people who have led successful lives have also achieved the most important success of all, namely being a good father and taking part in the joys and extra dimensions what a close relationship with one’s family can give.” (Sir John Harvey-Jones)
Sir Tom Farmer, founder, former chairman and chief executive of Kwik-Fit is even more candid. Sir Tom says: “Too often those of us heavily involved in the business world are in danger of losing out on our most important asset - our family. Reading the Sixty Minute Father reminded me of the opportunities I missed, and whilst I have been blessed with a loving family and two children who gave me great joy, I know this book will help me be a better grandfather.” (Sir Tom Farmer)
Maybe the book has had some impact on his company, for, according to the Sunday Times in a recent survey, Kwik Fit was 15th in the best 100 UK companies to work for. In fact in 2004 they won the award “Best for work and family”. Though pay is not high - stress and exhaustion levels are among the lowest. Has your company won that kind of award? What would have to change? Willing to take a pay cut to make it happen? Worth aiming for? Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, as a student, in your marriage, as a parent, in your employment. How do we work out our salvation with fear and trembling? The same way we learnt to “live a life worthy of the gospel” two weeks ago. Remember three steps from the opening verses?
In our relationship with God – treasure unity (Phil. 2:1-2)
In our attitude to ourselves – learn humility (Phil. 2:3)
In our relationships with others – serve willingly (Phil. 2:4-5)
A servant heart and concern for others is the way to Christ-likeness and the best way to work out our salvation. This kind of thinking may be unnatural, it may be counter-cultural and it may indeed be rare but with God’s strength it becomes a reality. For we are called to work out our salvation with fear and trembling knowing that “it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” (Philippians 2:13). Lets pray.
This sermon is based on Chapter 23 of Rick Warren’s book The Purpose Driven Life (Zondervan), “How we Grow”, pp.179-183. I am also grateful to Alec Motyer for his very helpful commentary, The Message of Philippians (IVP).