Philippians 2:12-18

In Philippians 2, verses 12, Paul calls the church to "work out your salvation with fear and trembling." 

In what senses do we see salvation mentioned in scripture? 

• Past, present, and future salvation?  If we're already "saved" (ie: past), then what does this passage mean when it says to "work out" our salvation?
• As for future salvation, I think the previous post on Crown Him is applicable.  For Creation groaning (what?!?), also see Romans 8:18-25.

What is it that we are saved from?

• Outside of Church settings (where Christian-ese is spoken), salvation is not spoken of unless there is something clear to be saved from.  R.C. Sproul argues that it's ultimately God's wrath that we are saved from.

If we take verse 12 by itself without looking at verse 13 then it's somewhat discouraging to simply be exhorted to essentially "do it right."  However, verse 13 adds the critical point that it is God who is at work in us, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.  Therefore, while we are called to be sactified, in so doing we are to simply (or not so simply in practice) allow God to work in and through us.

Verse 14 then calls us to do all things without grumbling or disputing.  How often is it that I justify my grumbling and disputing when tasked with a given job?  Even when I think my way or my idea is better, this verse calls me to obedience.  That means that...

• When I'm at work and my boss asks me to do some monotonous task.
• When I'm at home and I need to pick up toys and clean up dried food pieces from the kitchen floor.
• When I'm at church and something is required of me that intrudes on my planned Sunday afternoon bike ride.
• When someone needs their car jumped in the parking lot, a hand carrying their groceries at the store or a hand carrying something heavy.
• When I disagree with someone and am tempted to gossip.

... even in those times, I'm called to "Have that attitude which was in Christ Jesus" in myself as stated in verse 5.

A clear instruction given in verse 16 is to "hold fast the word of life" so that Paul's spiritual labor for the church in Philippi is not in vain.  So, it's not specifically Paul's words that the church is to hold onto, but the word of life.  Paul does elsewhere say things like "listen to me... follow my example... etc", but here we find a call to hold to something greater than the teaching or example of an individual.  How much of our faith is tied to the specific people that taught things to us?  What if that person turned out to be a complete hypocrite?  How much do we hold onto our beliefs out of fear that we'd disappoint such-and-such person or organization?  Our call is to embrace truth.

Paul uses the image in verse 17 of being poured out as a drink offering.  The drink offering language is tied to the Old Testament sacrificial system as detailed in Exodus 29:38-41.  How often do I think I'm pouring my all into something when in reality I'm doing it halfway, if that.  How often do I put up a front that illustrates that I'm being poured out just so I appear that way?  What would my life look like if I actually lived that sacrificially?

"The world has yet to see what God can do with and for and through and in and by the man who is fully and wholly consecrated to Him" - quote by [not me]

Well, it seems that Paul packs a lot into his punches.  A lot of challenges Paul presents to the Church in this small chunk of scripture, but we should always bear in mind that it is Christ who is at work in us!