Philippians 2:12-18 – God’s pleasing walk

With the connectives “so then” in verse 12, Paul was seeking to evoke a response from the Philippians on the basis of what he had said earlier. He had shown that God desires that believers live in unity and has also provided the supreme example in Christ. Therefore the Philippians ought to have that in mind and choose a worthy response. He then went to call on them to work out their salvation.

Here Paul placed a motive before them. He told them, as well as us, to emulate Christ and live a life pleasing to God. A believer’s maturity, he said, would be evaluated not based on what one would do when he was with them, but what they would do in his absence. In the same way, a believer’s maturity is not seen in what he does, but what he does when no one else is looking. Paul called on them to work out their salvation with fear and trembling.

Since their motive was to emulate Christ’s example, they must work out their salvation with fear and trembling. We all know that one could not work for his own salvation, for no one can do anything to merit salvation. Paul was calling on the believers to translate what they know of their salvation into action. In Christian living, most believers show a disparity between knowledge and action. The problem most encountered is not so much with knowledge, as it is with translating that knowledge into conduct and behavior. Believers must work out a lifestyle that is congruent with their salvation.

The attitude believers must adopt to work out their salvation is with fear and trembling. To do so is to be thoughtfully and consciously aware of the priceless worth of one’s salvation in Christ, and thereby cautiously conducting one’s life, reflecting behaviors that befit that divine benefit. One must do so with complete trust in God and not in self. The believer’s ability to accomplish this would be the work of God within his life. It is God Who worked to bring about His own purpose in the life of the believer (v.13).

In verses 14-16, Paul provided specific instructions on how believers should work out their salvation. They must do everything without grumbling, gripping or murmuring. To grumble, gripe and complain would be to outwardly express an inward rebellion. Such expressions would truly be out of synchronization with God. When believers do things without such negative attitude, they would bear good testimony for the Lord. They would portray unblemished and harmless conduct. Furthermore, those unbelieving outsiders would find nothing to find fault with them.

Here Paul also painted the unbelieving world as a perverse generation. He then called on the Philippians to let their lives shine as bright lights in that perverse generation. In contrast to the perverse generation, believers shine as light in the world, holding the Word of life to provide the direction as light in darkness. So concerned was Paul for the honor of God that he challenged the Philippians to live life in a way that would give him reason to be proud at the coming of the Lord. Sensing the immanency of his death as a martyr for the Lord, Paul talked about his joy in the midst of his suffering. He viewed his life as a drink offering poured out for the faith of the Philippians. Paul wanted the beloved Philippians to rejoice and share his joy, and be glad.