Introduction

In Philippians 2:5-11, Paul gives the beautiful "hymn" about Christ, in which he describes the humiliation of the divine Person who became a dying man, to become at last the exalted Lord at the Father's right hand. Looking to this example of total humility and rewarded obedience, he urges the Philippians to be motivated by the same "mind" which is properly theirs in Christ Jesus and which was, in fact, in Christ Himself.

Moving from this, he immediately admonishes his readers to "work out" their own salvation - a salvation inherent in their relationship to Christ - personally, and with fear and trembling. Such respectful reverence is called for because it is God who "works in" (energizes) them, both for willing and performing what is His good purpose. Thus they become agents of God's salvation-work, "working out" what He Himself "works in" them to desire and perform.

Verses 14-16 speak more directly to everyday problems and urge practical duties. Paul has no difficulty shifting from sublime theological statements straight to the nitty-gritty of daily life in a wicked world. It is the wickedness of the world, in fact, which calls for the gospel-based and enlightened life of the Christian who finds himself a citizen in that world.

Body

I. LIVE THIS WAY.

   A. There are to be no murmurings.

        1. This word translates goggusmon, the verb (pronounced gong-GU-dzo) having the sound of someone grumbling or complaining, which is what it means. (Hear the sound repeated: "Gong-GU-dzo, gong-GU-dzo, grumble, grumble!")

        2. This grumbling or murmuring may be directed toward God or man.

            a. I Corinthians 10:10 Israel grumbled at God.

            b. Luke 5:30 - The Pharisees grumbled at Jesus.

            c. John 6:41-43 - Other Jews grumbled at Jesus.

            d. Matthew 20:11 - Vineyard workers grumbled at the owner in the parable.

            e. Acts 6:1 - Grecian Christians grumbled because their widows were allegedly neglected.

            f. I Peter 4:9 - Christians are to show hospitality without grumbling.

            g. Jude 16 - This conduct characterizes false teachers of a certain sort.

        3. Christians ought to conduct themselves now without grumbling or murmuring.

   B. There should be no disputings.

        1. This word is in the family of words which gives our "dialogue." It has reference to conversation, then disputes and arguments, then opinions held or doubts entertained regarding an opinion.

        2. Paul says there ought not to be disputes over opinions which will only cause doubts in the minds of brethren.

        3. Other passages show how the word is used.

            a. Matthew 15:19 (Mark 7:21) "Evil thoughts" come from the heart.

            b. Luke 24:38 - The disciples had "doubts" after the resurrection.

            c. Romans 14:1 - Christians are to receive a brother weak in convictions without disputing over his "opinions."

            d. I Timothy 2:8 - Christian men are to conduct worship with an innocent conscience (holy hands) and without wrath or "doubtings" which mar their relationship with one another.

        4. Great care should be given that passing issues are worthy of the attention given them, and that the Christian does not become involved in futile or quarrelsome disputes. Some matters require study and conviction; others properly belong to private conscience and ought not to be used to disturb the peace of mind of others. Men should seek to learn to distinguish between things pertaining to "the faith" and matters which involve personal "faith" or conscience.

II. AND BECOME THIS.

   A. This is literally "That ye may become..."

   B. Blameless.

        1. This means without fault, and indicates the outward or external trait.

        2. Other passages show the word's usage.

            a. Philippians 3:6 - Paul was blameless according to the Pharisee's interpretation of the Law.

            b. I Thessalonians 2:10 - Paul was without fault while among the Thessalonians.

            c. I Thessalonians 3:13; 5:23 - God will preserve the Christian so that he will be without fault or blame when Christ returns.

            d. Hebrews 8:7 - The Old Covenant was not without fault (its human participants did not live up to it).

        3. The Christian is to become blameless so that others who see his life can not charge him with evil.

   C. Harmless.

        1. This means innocent, simple, pure (literally, unmixed), and indicates the inward or internal trait.

        2. Other passages show the word's sense (it occurs only three times in the New Testament Scriptures).

            a. Matthew 10:16 - The apostles were to be harmless, simple, pure as doves.

            b. Romans 16:19 - The Christian is to be simple, innocent, pure, concerning evil. Here the idea is that he does not need to know all about evil; it is enough to know what is good and be simple regarding evil. There seems to be an allusion to the Garden of Eden in this passage.

        3. Paul says the Philippians (and other Christians) are to become harmless and pure inwardly, simple with reference to evil and unmixed in good motives and thoughts.

   D. Without rebuke.

        1. This word means morally blameless, and is the word used of a sacrificial offering.

            a. It is so used of Christ.

                (1) Hebrews 9:14 - Christ offered Himself without spot to God.

                (2) I Peter 1:19 - Christians are purchased with the blood of Christ, as a Lamb without blemish.

            b. It is used of the Christian in God's purpose.

                (1) Ephesians 1:4 - God chose us in Christ to be without blame.

                (2) Ephesians 5:27 - Christ will present the church to Himself blameless in the last day (see my Expository Outlines on Ephesians for a development of this thought).

                (3) Colossians 1:22 - Christ will present us unblameable.

                (4) II Peter 3:14 - Christians are to be diligent to be found of Christ without spot and blameless.

        2. Paul uses this "extreme" adjective for what God expects of His people. Christians are to become as a pure sacrificial lamb: Inwardly pure, outwardly blameless.

III. YET LIVE IN THIS SE'ITING.

   A. Crooked.

        1. Used of crooked places in a road (Luke 3:5).

        2. Used of a rough and twisted generation (Acts 2:40; see Deuteronomy 32:5).

        3. Used of a "froward" or unreasonable master (I Peter 2:18).

        4. Here used of the Christian's surroundings. This fits the world of every age.

   B. Perverse.

        1. This is a stronger word than the former. It was used of a vessel misshapen on the potter's wheel. Metaphorically it meant "misled." The idea here is "made crooked" or "twisted."

        2. Other passages show the sense.

            a. Matthew 17:17 (Luke 9:41) - Jesus faced a perverse generation.

            b. Acts 13:8, 10 - Elymas was "perverting" the Way of God; he twisted Paul's message out of shape.

            c. Acts 20:30 - Corrupt elders would rise and speak twisted or perverse things.

        3. The Christian's world is misshapen, twisted, misled and perverted. It is indeed "out of shape."

IV. AND MAKE THIS CONTRAST WITH THE WORLD AROUND.

   A. By living as already described, the Christian will shine in contrast to his world as his behavior and conduct becomes apparent.

        1. "Shine" here means to appear (in contrast); to become apparent.

        2. Other passages use this word.

            a. Matthew 2:7, 13, 19 - Used of angels appearing or a star appearing.

            b. Matthew 6:5 - Some men prayed to be seen (appear) of others.

            c. Matthew 13:26 - Tares become evident in contrast to good grain.

        3. The Christian is to shine in contrast to his surroundings.

   B. He will be as a light in a dark place.

        1. "Light" is literally a star, a light-giving body. This word is found only here and Revelation 21:11 in the New Testament Scriptures.

        2. Another word for "light" frequently describes the Christian's conduct and influence (Matthew 5:14, 16; John 8:12; 9:5; Ephesians 5:7-14).

   C. Someone may say, "Paul, you are impractical; we cannot live such a life, for our surroundings are so wicked and our world so twisted and evil." Paul says in response: "You are to live a blameless and simple life precisely because the world is evil - you are to shine in contrast to the wicked world as its source of light."

V. ALWAYS HOLDING FORTH (LITERALLY "HOLDING FAST") THE WORD OF LIFE.

   A. It is by "holding fast" the Word of Life that the Christian is able to "hold forth" the Light in a righteous life amidst a wicked world.

   B. Here is the key to such a life: God "works in" us to so live; the Spirit sanctifies, but we must hold fast to the Word of Life.

   C. The results are expressed.

        1. The preacher will have joy and reason for boasting in judgment (verse 16).

        2. Christians and preacher are able to rejoice together now (verse 17-18).

Conclusion

Because Christ is Lord in heaven and because God energizes the Christian to desire and perform His own good pleasure, the Christian is to "work out" his own inherent salvation with fear and trembling. Specifically, he is to live without murmuring or disputing. He is to become blameless in outward conduct and pure in inward motives - in short, as a pure sacrificial offering that is morally blameless.

Yet God is not unaware of the Christian's surroundings, which are, in fact, a very reason for his holy life. In a crooked and twisted world such a life becomes exceedingly apparent. In contrast to the moral darkness of this generation, the Christian's life is as a star shining in a dark night.

In all this the child of God must hold fast to the Word of Life. As it becomes a part of his life, that Word is held forth as already described. Those who are God's people may thus have joy together now and reason for happiness in judgment.

Back to Chapter 11 Forward to Chapter 13