Daily Thoughts from Philippians (11): When It’s Okay to Be Afraid – Philippians 2:12-13

In Martin Luther’s Lectures on Galatians he wrote: I remember that Staupitz used to say: “More than a thousand times, I have vowed to God that I would improve, but I have never performed what I have vowed. Hereafter, I shall not make such vows, because I know perfectly well that I shall not live up to them. Unless God is gracious to and merciful to me for the sake of Christ and grants me a blessed final hour when the time comes for me to depart this miserable life, I shall not be able to stand before Him with all my vows and good works.”  Luther had learned that works could not purchase salvation, but that the saved person would learn to do good works that evidenced his or her salvation.

Paul is trying to motivate his readers to humility of mind and thus to unity as a congregation, so he applies this principle to them.

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12-13, ESV)

Given what Jesus has done to show us the way of humility, which, if practiced, will lead believers to walk in unity, Paul again charges the Philippians (and by extension, us) to work out or put into practice this salvation Christ brought to us.  When we mimic the life of Jesus, considering others more important than ourselves and show regard to their needs, not just our own, the gospel is re-enacted and our salvation is made evident.  It is worked out.

Paul has a high expectation that the Philippians will deliver in their obedience.  He is confident, as he said in his prayer report (1:3-6) that God has begun a good work in them and will complete it because he has seen the evidence of God’s salvation in their lives through their partnership with him.  They have their “own” salvation.  Would he have had this same expectation for us?

We should have fear and trembling in this process, as Paul urged upon the Philippians.  This is because it is a serious work demonstrating that God actually is at work in us.  In a genuine believer God is producing both the willingness to obey and the obedience itself.  If He has indeed begun this good work in us that He completes, there should be evidence of it in our obedience.  If we find that lacking then something is amiss.

This does not mean a genuine believer will never struggle with being obedient and especially with living out the humility of spirit that maintains the unity of the Spirit.  We will struggle.  But because God is at work in us in the way Paul describes, producing willingness and ability to obey, we will come round.  We cannot remain in disobedience if we are believers.  Believers will persevere in the faith.

Discussion Questions for Small Groups

1. If you could give your family anything for Christmas, what would it be?
2. What present did Paul want for Christmas from the Philippians?
3. Do you think it is appropriate for believers to feel fear and trembling about how well they are obeying the gospel?
4. Why do you think it is important for us to acknowledge that God not only makes us willing to obey but also able to obey?
5. If God is the one making us willing and able to obey Him, why doesn’t He do so perfectly?
6. How does obedience to the gospel-that-teaches-humility-that-leads-to-unity need to be worked out in your life?