About This Video
Paul instructs believers to actively participate in their own salvation journey with reverence and mindfulness, emphasizing personal responsibility in faith without relying on the "works of the Law," while recognizing that it is ultimately God's influence that enables them to act according to His purpose. This teaching harmonizes the seemingly conflicting ideas of working out one's salvation and being justified by faith alone, illustrating how believers should navigate their spiritual growth.
Shawn teaches that salvation is not achieved through adherence to the laws or works, but as a gift from God, and believers participate in this salvation by allowing God to act within them, leading to the completion of their salvation. This spiritual journey requires faith and a humble reliance on God, as believers work out their salvation with "fear and trembling," acknowledging that God actively works within them to guide their actions according to His will.
A teaching by Shawn emphasizes the importance of living a life of righteousness, mindfulness, and transformation according to biblical principles, by avoiding unproductive conversations, being fervent in spirit, maintaining peace, and exemplifying Christian virtues such as thankfulness, humility, and patience. Furthermore, it stresses caution against false teachings, encourages prayer and belief in the gospel, and highlights actions like blessing adversaries and honoring others to lead a life that aligns with faith and good works.
Respect authorities and live blamelessly while cultivating humility and good works, as well as considering the provisions of God exemplified by nature. Continue practicing love, prayer, and truth; seek the best spiritual gifts, maintain confidence in God, endure hardships, fear God but not man or adversity, and provide for others, especially in need, fleeing from immorality and harmful desires.
Shawn teaches that individuals should live with integrity by following many guidelines such as refraining from actions like unworthy conversations, deception, wrath, and temptation, while also pursuing actions that include brotherly love, humility, and sincerity. Additionally, Christians are encouraged to practice self-examination, focus on uplifting others, pray for wisdom, and let spiritual gifts be moderated according to God's commandments, always embracing love and peace.
This teaching emphasizes the importance of striving for spiritual growth and holiness through actions such as cleansing oneself, walking in the Spirit, practicing love and good deeds, and avoiding activities like envy and strife, while relying on God's grace to fulfill these commands. It encourages believers to live peacefully, cultivate contentment, love others including enemies, and work out their salvation with trust in God's continued work within them, as reflected in New Testament teachings.
Understanding Philippians 2:12-13
Welcome
Prayer
Song
Silence
Philippians 2.12-13
March 1st 2020
Milk
We are going to have an unusual teaching today. It is purposeful and aimed at achieving a desired end. I am going to let you decide what that end might be.
So, we left off, after talking all about Jesus and his role in the reconciliation of the world to the father with Paul saying in verse 11:
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
And that brings us to verse 12 – 13. The last line of verse 12 has significance to me. When I was the High Priest teacher in Mormonism in our ward and was on my way out because of my roadside experience with the Lord, I was teaching more and more about the Grace of God through Christ. And a member of the Stake Presidency got wind of this and wrote a memo to the HP Groupleader, which he read before I got up to teach for one of the last times. It was all about doing doing doing and he ended the letter by citing the last line of verse 12:
Reflecting on Personal Salvation
“Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” There was a subtle roar among the brethren in the room, as if the matter had been settled on this grace stuff that I was preaching. And the passage stuck in my head because of it.
So, verse 12. After saying that every tongue would confess that Jesus is Lord, Paul now adds:
12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
From the beginning the Philippians had shown a remarkable respect to the apostle which included listening to his teachings and here in verse 12 he commends this willingness and urges them on to what I see as securing their salvation. He does this by reminding them that they, as his beloved, have always obeyed him – not only in his presence but also, even moreso, in his absence.
Seeking Understanding
So Paul says, Wherefore my beloved, as you have always obeyed (etc. etc) “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” All by itself, that line says a mouthful. And in conjunction with what he says in verse 13 we are still left with some sobering instructions from the Apostle Paul.
So, let’s consider this line extracted from the context of verse 13 – that people or believers are to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling. It this true? Are we, as believers to “work out our own salvation with fear and trembling?” We are. No question about it. The QUESTION about it, however, is how? How we do work out our own salvation with fear and trembling?
Work, Law, and Grace
We note two important items in this directive, don’t we:
Work out and Salvation
And the biblical relationship between these words must be understood. And we begin to understand them by looking at passages that tend to says the exact opposite of verse 12 – and most of them come from Paul – like where he says in Galatians 2:16:
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Or
Galatians 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
From these passages we can clearly see that the works that do NOT save us or contribute to the salvation of a person that Paul refers to are the “works of the Law.” This is the context of passages like Ephesians 2:8-9 which say:
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift
Salvation and Works
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
This passage and the ones before it are speaking to a people who believed that it was through the works of the Law – the rites, rituals, and obedience through their flesh to such that would save them, that would justify them before God. Paul makes it clear that it is not through the works of the law, it is not of ourselves but it is the gift of God, that human beings experience salvation. These “WORKS” mentioned do not in any way eliminate the works mentioned by Paul here in Philippians 2.
Let’s turn to the Greek to make this even clearer: There are three DIFFERENT words “at work” here in these various passages (no pun intended). All of them have been translated to the English word work, which makes comprehension difficult. In the Philippians passage translated “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” the word is katergazomai. In the passage that follows, which says “For it is God which worketh in you” the Greek term is “energeo,” and in the passage in Ephesians 2:9 where Paul says it is not of “works” (lest any man should boast) the term is ERGON.
Different Greek Words for "Work"
The work out your own salvation with fear and trembling word – Kater-gad-zomahee – means to finish, complete, accomplish – “your own salvation with fear and trembling.” In the next verse, where Paul adds:
13 “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure,” the word translated “work” is ENERGAYO which means God is “active, sufficient, and mighty” in us to accomplish His good will.
And then in Ephesians 2:9 where Paul writes is not of “works” (lest any man should boast) the term “energhayo” means to toil, sweat, labor – as in with the hands, physically laboring to earn your keep or put your employer in your debt.
So we do NOT toil in the elements of the law to earn our salvation – it is a gift of God, who “is working in us by his sufficiency, and might and active power,” which we receive as a means to allow him to finish or complete the salvation he gifted us with in the first place. In OTHER words, we certainly are participants in the completion of our salvation – no question – and we participate in the process by allowing, letting God to accomplish His good will in our lives.
The Role of Faith and Allowance
The kind of WORK this requires is NOT by the works of the Law but is in the letting go and by faith letting God. So, we must admit that on the two lane highway of God and His children, God is the giver of all things, and his children are the receivers – if they are willing. This is the work that we are engaging in with Him as he helps us complete and finish in us what He started.
Admitting that it is God who enters in this relational covenant with us through Christ, believers – over and over and over again, in scripture, are commanded to allow God to help us to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. There is no word play in the language here – fobos and tromos – FEAR and TREMBLING. And the description gives allegiance to freewill in souls who understand the living God and what is at stake in our choosing to pursue Him.
The fear and trembling, to me, speaks to the idea of humble reliance upon Him to guide, and how tenuous this relationship can seem to be at times. And so, we approach our walk with him reverentially, openly waiting for Him to extend His wisdom to us so we can receive our marching orders. Ernestly and anxiously concerned that we are in His will. This is the fear and trembling that Paul speaks to and of course brings all this beautiful relationship into context when he says in verse 13:
For . . . it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
And what are some of the things that Jesus and the apostles commanded of believers to do, and be – what are some of the things that every individual is working our with fear and trembling with their God toward their ultimate complete salvation. I want to wrap today up by giving you all a taste of the directives found in what we call the New Testament as believers are to
Turn from Idols (ACTS 15:20) From Fornication
Biblical Exhortations
(ACTS 15:20,29; 1 Fleshly lusts (1 PETER 2:11)
To Avoid: Troublemakers (ROMANS 16:17) Profane and vain babblings (1 TIMOTHY 6:20) False science (1 TIMOTHY 6:20) Unlearned questions (2 TIMOTHY 2:23) Foolish questions (TITUS 3:9) Genealogies (TITUS 3:9) Arguments about the law (TITUS 3:9)
To ask So as to receive (MATTHEW 7:7) for the welfare of backsliders (1 JOHN 5:16)
Actions and Attitudes
To Awake to: righteousness (1 CORINTHIANS 15:34) and to life (EPHESIANS 5:14)
To be: exceeding glad (MATTHEW 5:12) reconciled to a brother (MATTHEW 5:24) perfect (MATTHEW 5:48; 2 CORINTHIANS 13:11) wise as serpents (MATTHEW 10:16) harmless as doves (MATTHEW 10:16) content with your wages (LUKE 3:14) merciful as God (LUKE 6:36) like faithful servants (LUKE 12:36) thankful (COLOSSIANS 3:15) at peace among selves (1 THESSALONIANS 5:13) patient toward all people (1 THESSALONIANS 5:14; 2 TIMOTHY 2:24) not a partaker of sinMissing the mark of faith and love—no punishment, just lost growth or peace. (1 TIMOTHY 5:22) sober and having hope (1 PETER 1:13) grave, temperate, sound in faith, and having charity, and patience (aged men, TITUS 2:2) possessing behaviors becoming of saints (TITUS 2:3) to be ready to give an answer of the hope that is in you (1 PETER 3:15) to be of good cheer (JOHN 16:33) to be baptized (ACTS 2:38) converted (ACTS 3:19) transformed (ROMANS 12:2)
Encouragements
To Be fervent in spirit (ROMANS 12:11) patient in tribulationA real historical event fulfilled in 70 A.D.—not a future apocalyptic crisis. More (ROMANS 12:12) given to hospitality (ROMANS 12:13) afraid of lawless (ROMANS 13:4) followers of Paul as he followed Christ (1 CORINTHIANS 11:1; PHILIPPIANS 3:17) followers of God (EPHESIANS 5:1) followers of the faithful and patient (HEBREWS 6:12) children in malice (1 CORINTHIANS 14:20) men in understanding (1 CORINTHIANS 14:20) steadfast (1 CORINTHIANS 15:58) unmovable (1 CORINTHIANS 15:58) always abounding in God's work (1 CORINTHIANS 15:58) strong in the Lord (1 CORINTHIANS 16:13; EPHESIANS 6:10; 2 TIMOTHY 2:1) of good comfort (2 CORINTHIANS 13:11) of one mind (ROMANS 12:16; 2 CORINTHIANS 13:11; PHILIPPIANS 2:2; 1 PETER 3:8) separate from the unclean (2 CORINTHIANS 6:17) renewed in spirit (EPHESIANS 4:23) angry and not sinning (EPHESIANS 4:26) tender-hearted one to another (EPHESIANS 4:32) filled with the Spirit (EPHESIANS 5:18) likeminded (PHILIPPIANS 2:2) one of accord (PHILIPPIANS 2:2) anxious for nothing (PHILIPPIANS 4:6) an example to believers in word, conversation, charity, spirit, faith, and purity (1 TIMOTHY 4:12) To be a partaker of Christian sufferings (2 TIMOTHY 1:8; cp. 1 PETER 4:1) gentle to all people (2 TIMOTHY 2:24) apt to teach (2 TIMOTHY 2:24) instant in season and out of season (2 TIMOTHY 4:2) careful to maintain good works (TITUS 3:8,14; cp. MATTHEW 5:16) content with what you have (HEBREWS 13:5) doers of the Word (JAMES 1:22) afflicted (JAMES 4:9) holy in behavior (1 PETER 1:15-16) pitiful (1 PETER 3:8) courteous (1 PETER 3:8) subject one to another (1 PETER 5:5) clothed with humility (1 PETER 5:5) vigilant (1 PETER 5:8) mindful of prophecies and commandments (2 PETER 3:2) diligent toward peace (2 PETER 3:14) without spot, and blameless (2 PETER 3:14) faithful to deathSeparation from God—now overcome. Physical death remains, but it no longer separates us from life with God. (REVELATION 2:10) watchful (REVELATION 3:2) zealous and repentant (REVELATION 3:19)
To not be hypocrites in prayer (MATTHEW 6:5) to not be like the heathen in prayer (MATTHEW 6:8) to not be as hypocrites in fasting (MATTHEW 6:16) to not be called "Rabbi" (MATTHEW 23:8) not called "Master" (MATTHEW 23:9) not afraid of man (LUKE 12:4) not of doubtful mind (LUKE 12:29) not having many teachers (JAMES 3:1) not afraid of terror (1 PETER 3:14) not troubled (1 PETER 3:14) not ignorant (2 PETER 3:8; cp. ISAIAH 57:15) not deceived: not conformed to world (ROMANS 12:2) not slothful in business (ROMANS 12:11) not conceited (ROMANS 12:16) not overcome of evil (ROMANS 12:21) not mere servants of men (1 CORINTHIANS 7:23) not children in understanding (1 CORINTHIANS 14:20) not deceived by evil companions (1 CORINTHIANS 15:33) not unequally yoked together with unbelievers (2 CORINTHIANS 6:14-15) not entangled again with keeping the law (GALATIANS 5:1.) not deceived: (GALATIANS 6:7-8) not unwise about God's will (EPHESIANS 5:17) not drunk with wine (EPHESIANS 5:18) not weary in well doing (2 THESSALONIANS 3:13) not ashamed of God (2 TIMOTHY 1:8) not forgetful of strangers (HEBREWS 13:2) not carried about with different strange doctrines (HEBREWS 13:9)
Principles to Observe
To beware: of false prophets (MATTHEW 7:15) of people (MATTHEW 10:17) of the leaven (doctrine) of Pharisees (MATTHEW 16:6-12) of hypocrisy (LUKE 12:1) of covetousness (LUKE 12:15) of scribes (MARK 12:38; LUKE 20:46) of dogs (false teachers, PHILIPPIANS 3:2; ISAIAH 56:10) of evil workers (PHILIPPIANS 3:2) of the concision (Jews, PHILIPPIANS 3:2) of being spoiled through philosophy (COLOSSIANS 2:8) of being spoiled through vain deceit (COLOSSIANS 2:8) of backsliding (2 PETER 3:17)
To believe: The gospel (MARK 1:15) In God's existence (HEBREWS 11:6) On Jesus Christ (1 JOHN 3:23) And that God rewards those diligent seeking (HEBREWS 11:6)
To Not Believe: not every spirit (1 JOHN 4:1)
To Bless: Those who curse you (MATTHEW 5:44; LUKE 6:28) And our Persecutors (ROMANS 12:14)
To Cast Out or Away: The beam out of our own eyes (MATTHEW 7:5; LUKE 6:42) Devils (MATTHEW 10:8) And all our cares upon the Lord (1 PETER 5:7)
To Comfort: One another (1 THESSALONIANS 4:18; 1 THESSALONIANS 5:11) And the feeble-minded (1 THESSALONIANS 5:14)
To Honor: Fathers (MATTHEW 19:19; MARK 10:19; LUKE 18:20; EPHESIANS 6:2) Mothers (MATTHEW 19:19; MARK 10:19; LUKE 18:20; EPHESIANS 6:2) Others (ROMANS 12:10) True Widows indeed (1 TIMOTHY 5:3) All people (1 PETER 2:17) Kings
Biblical Instructions and Teachings
Encouragements and Considerations
To charge: Men to be blameless (1 TIMOTHY 5:7) The rich to be humble, to do good works, to trust God and not money, and to lay hold of eternal life (1 TIMOTHY 6:17)
To consider: The ravens (LUKE 12:24) The lilies (LUKE 12:27-28) Truth (2 TIMOTHY 2:7) That we are capable of falling (GALATIANS 6:1) And to consider Christ (HEBREWS 3:1; HEBREWS 12:3)
To continue in: Love (JOHN 15:9) Prayer (ROMANS 12:12; COLOSSIANS 4:2) And Truth (2 TIMOTHY 3:14)
Desirable and Avoidable Pursuits
To covet: The best spiritual gifts (1 CORINTHIANS 12:31) To prophesy or teach (1 CORINTHIANS 14:39); cp. things not to covet (EXODUS 20:17; DEUTERONOMY 5:21)
To never cast away: Our confidence in God (HEBREWS 10:35)
To endure: Hardness (2 TIMOTHY 2:3) Sufferings (2 TIMOTHY 4:5)
To fear: God (MATTHEW 10:28; LUKE 12:5; 1 PETER 2:17; REVELATION 14:7)
To not fear: Man (MATTHEW 10:28; LUKE 12:5) Persecutors (MATTHEW 10:26) A lack of provisions (MATTHEW 10:31; MARK 6:8-9; LUKE 12:7)
Acts of Feeding and Giving
To feed: Enemies (ROMANS 12:20) Lambs (JOHN 21:15) Sheep (JOHN 21:16,17) Flock of God (1 PETER 5:2) The church (ACTS 20:28) The poor and hungry
To flee from: Fornication (1 CORINTHIANS 6:18) Idolatry (1 CORINTHIANS 10:14) Hurtful lusts (1 TIMOTHY 6:9-11) Youthful lusts (2 TIMOTHY 2:22)
To do: Good to them that hate you (MATTHEW 5:44; LUKE 6:27) To do to others what you expect of them (MATTHEW 7:12; LUKE 6:31) To do violence to no man (LUKE 3:14) To do good (LUKE 6:35; ROMANS 13:3) To put God first (LUKE 10:28) To do all things to God's glory (1 CORINTHIANS 10:31; COLOSSIANS 3:17,23) To do all things without murmuring and disputing (PHILIPPIANS 2:14) To do your own business (1 THESSALONIANS 4:11) The work of an evangelist (2 TIMOTHY 4:5)
To not do: Alms before people (MATTHEW 6:1) Sound a trumpet before you when giving alms (MATTHEW 6:2) “Do not do works of Pharisees” (MATTHEW 23:3-33) Do not love in word only (1 JOHN 3:18) Do not give heed to fables (1 TIMOTHY 1:4) Do not give heed to genealogies (1 TIMOTHY 1:4) Do not err (JAMES 1:16) Do not commit adultery (JAMES 2:11) Do not kill (JAMES 2:11) Do not fashion yourself according to former lusts (1 PETER 1:14)
Actions and Attitudes to Embrace
To follow: Christ (MATTHEW 4:19; MATTHEW 8:22; MATTHEW 16:24; MARK 8:34; MARK 10:21; LUKE 9:23; JOHN 21:19) To love (1 CORINTHIANS 14:1; 1 TIMOTHY 6:11; 2 TIMOTHY 2:22) Good (1 THESSALONIANS 5:15; 3 JOHN 11) Righteousness (1 TIMOTHY 6:11; 2 TIMOTHY 2:22) Godliness (1 TIMOTHY 6:11) Faith (1 TIMOTHY 6:11; 2 TIMOTHY 2:22) Patience (1 TIMOTHY 6:11) Meekness (1 TIMOTHY 6:11) Peace (2 TIMOTHY 2:22; HEBREWS 12:14) Holiness (HEBREWS 12:14)
To give: To those who ask (MATTHEW 5:42; LUKE 6:30) To the needy saints (ROMANS 12:13) To God (COLOSSIANS 3:17; REVELATION 14:7) Holy things (MATTHEW 7:6; MATTHEW 10:8) Thanks (EPHESIANS 5:20; PHILIPPIANS 4:6; COLOSSIANS 3:17; 1 THESSALONIANS 5:18) Time to reading, exhortation, doctrine (1 TIMOTHY 4:13) Oneself completely (1 TIMOTHY 4:15) Glory to God (REVELATION 14:7)
To not give: Holy things to rebels (MATTHEW 7:6) A place to Satan (EPHESIANS 4:27) Offence (1 CORINTHIANS 10:32) Heed of fables and commandments of human beings (TITUS 1:14)
Additional Instructions
How to give: Freely (MATTHEW 10:8; 2 CORINTHIANS 9:6) Of good measure (LUKE 6:38) As God has prospered you (1 CORINTHIANS 16:2) Willingly (2 CORINTHIANS 8:12) With purpose (2 CORINTHIANS 9:7) Cheerfully (2 CORINTHIANS 9:7)
To lay aside: Wickedness (JAMES 1:21) All malice (1 PETER 2:1) All guile (1 PETER 2:1) All hypocrisies (1 PETER 2:1) All envies (1 PETER 2:1) All evil speakings (1 PETER 2:1)
To keep: Commandments (MATTHEW 19:17; JOHN 14:15) Oneself pure (1 TIMOTHY 5:22) The good entrusted to you (2 TIMOTHY 1:14)
To go: Extra miles (MATTHEW 5:41) And teach (MATTHEW 28:19-20) And preach (MARK 16:15) And to not go from house to house (LUKE 10:7)
To have: Faith (MARK 11:22; ROMANS 14:22-23) No fellowship with darkness (EPHESIANS 5:11) No respect of persons (1 TIMOTHY 5:21; JAMES 2:1-10) Honest conversation (1 PETER 2:12) Compassion (1 PETER 3:8; JUDE 22) A good conscience (1 PETER 3:16) Fervent love (1 PETER 4:8)
To hold: Forth Word of life (PHILIPPIANS 2:16) Fast to the good (1 THESSALONIANS 5:21) A good conscience (1 TIMOTHY 1:19) Sound doctrine (2 TIMOTHY 1:13) What you have (REVELATION 3:11) Your crown (REVELATION 3:11) Eternal life (1 TIMOTHY 6:12,19) Hope (HEBREWS 6:18) Confidence (HEBREWS 3:6,14) What is heard and received (REVELATION 3:3)
To let our: Light shine (MATTHEW 5:16; LUKE 12:35) Conversation be yea, nay (MATTHEW 5:37; JAMES 5:12) Our enemy have your cloak (MATTHEW 5:40; LUKE 6:29) The blind leaders alone (MATTHEW 15:14) Everyone deny themselves (MATTHEW 16:24; MARK 8:34; LUKE 9:23) Ourselves hear (MARK 4:23; LUKE 14:35) Ourselves hear with the needy (LUKE 3:11) Our loins be girded (LUKE 12:35) Our love be genuine (ROMANS 12:9) Everyone obey the civil laws (ROMANS 13:1) Let everyone take heed how he builds upon Christ (1 CORINTHIANS 3:10) Let no man deceive himself (1 CORINTHIANS 3:18) Let every man have his own wife (1 CORINTHIANS 7:2) Let every woman her own husband (1 CORINTHIANS 7:2) Let spouses satisfy each other in sexual relations (1 CORINTHIANS 7:4-5) Let them who cannot refrain from sex marry (1 CORINTHIANS 7:9) Let husbands and wives remain unmarried if they separate or be reconciled (1 CORINTHIANS 7:11) Let every man abide in his calling
Rulers (1 PETER 2:17)
Biblical Instructions and Principles
(1 CORINTHIANS 7:17-24)
Let no one be circumcised (as a religious rite, 1 CORINTHIANS 7:18) Let a father give his daughter in marriage if she desires it (1 CORINTHIANS 7:36-38) Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall (1 CORINTHIANS 10:12) Let no man seek wealth selfishly (1 CORINTHIANS 10:24) Let the woman cut her hair if her head is uncovered (1 CORINTHIANS 11:6) Let the woman wear a covering if cutting and shaving the hair be a shame (1 CORINTHIANS 11:6) Let everyone examine self when taking the Lord's Supper (1 CORINTHIANS 11:28) Let the hungry eat at home, not at the Lord's Supper (1 CORINTHIANS 11:34) Let the speaker in tongues pray for the interpretation (1 CORINTHIANS 14:13) Let all things be done to edifying (1 CORINTHIANS 14:26) Let no more than 3 messages in tongues be given in one service (1 CORINTHIANS 14:27) Let one interpret (1 CORINTHIANS 14:27) Let the mind of Christ be in you (PHILIPPIANS 2:5) Let your moderation be known (PHILIPPIANS 4:5) Let your requests be known to God (PHILIPPIANS 4:6) Let no one judge you with regard to meats, drinks, holy days, new moons, and sabbath days (COLOSSIANS 2:14-17; ROMANS 14:5-7) Let no one rob you of your reward by some vain religion (COLOSSIANS 2:18) Let peace rule the heart (COLOSSIANS 3:15) Let the Word dwell in you (COLOSSIANS 3:16) Let speech be with grace (COLOSSIANS 4:6) Let no man despise youth (1 TIMOTHY 4:12) Let the speaker in tongues keep silent in church if no interpreter present (1 CORINTHIANS 14:28) Let the prophets speak two or three messages and let others judge (1 CORINTHIANS 14:29) Let everyone acknowledge regulation of spiritual gifts to be commandments of God (1 CORINTHIANS 14:37) Let all things be done in love (1 CORINTHIANS 16:14) Let everyone prove their own work (GALATIANS 6:4) Let those taught support the teacher (GALATIANS 6:6) Let the thief steal no more (EPHESIANS 4:28) Let the thief labour instead of stealing to have to give to others (EPHESIANS 4:28) Let no corrupt conversation come from your mouth (EPHESIANS 4:29) Let bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, evil speaking, and malice be put away (EPHESIANS 4:31) Let no man deceive you with vain words (EPHESIANS 5:6) Let your behaviour be becoming of the gospel (PHILIPPIANS 1:27) Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory (PHILIPPIANS 2:3) Let each esteem other better than himself (PHILIPPIANS 2:3) Let worthy elders be doubly honored (paid) (1 TIMOTHY 5:17) Let servants honor masters (1 TIMOTHY 6:1) Let masters respect servants (1 TIMOTHY 6:2) Let every Christian depart from iniquity (2 TIMOTHY 2:19) Let brotherly love continue (HEBREWS 13:1) Let conversation be without covetousness (HEBREWS 13:5) Let patience work perfectly (JAMES 1:4) Let one who lacks, ask for wisdom (JAMES 1:5) And Let him ask in faith (JAMES 1:6) Let the exalted rejoice (JAMES 1:9) Let the humble rejoice (JAMES 1:10) Let no man lay temptation to God (JAMES 1:13) Let everyone be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath (JAMES 1:19) Let the wise demonstrate wisdom and knowledge (JAMES 3:13) Let the light-hearted sinners become remorseful (JAMES 4:9) Let the afflicted pray (JAMES 5:13) Let the merry sing psalms (JAMES 5:13) Let elders pray for sick, anointing with oil (JAMES 5:14-15; cp. MARK 6:13) Let adorning be more inward than outward (1 PETER 3:3-4; 1 TIMOTHY 2:9-10) Let everyone refrain tongue from evil, and lips from guile (1 PETER 3:10) Let everyone shun evil, do good, seek peace and pursue it (1 PETER 3:11) Let ministers speak for God (1 PETER 4:11) Let no one be ashamed to suffer as a Christian, but be thankful (1 PETER 4:16) Let Christian sufferers commit their souls to God (1 PETER 4:19) Let eternal life abide in you (1 JOHN 2:24-25) Let no man deceive you about being righteous (1 JOHN 3:7) Let him that hath an ear, hear (REVELATION 2:7,11,17,29; REVELATION 3:6,13,22)
To Let Not…
your left hand to know what the right hand does (MATTHEW 6:3) good be evil spoken of (ROMANS 14:16) sin reign in the body (ROMANS 6:12) him that eateth despise him that does not (ROMANS 14:3) him that eateth not judge him that does (ROMANS 14:3) the wife depart from her husband (1 CORINTHIANS 7:10) the husband put away his wife (1 CORINTHIANS 7:11) Let not the Christian put away the unsaved companion who wishes to remain (1 CORINTHIANS 7:12,13) Let not the sun go down on wrath (EPHESIANS 4:26) Let not fornication, uncleanness, covetousness, filthiness, foolish talking, and jesting be mentioned among you as becometh saints (EPHESIANS 5:3-4) Let not unworthy widows be supported by the church (1 TIMOTHY 5:9-16)
To –
walk honestly (ROMANS 13:13) cast off works of darkness (ROMANS 13:12) put on armor of light (ROMANS 13:12) follow things of peace (ROMANS 14:19) follow things that edify (ROMANS 14:19) please neighbor for good (ROMANS 15:2-3) be sincere (1 CORINTHIANS 5:8) not tempt Christ (1 CORINTHIANS 10:9) not murmur (1 CORINTHIANS 10:10)
New Testament Commands
CORINTHIANS 10:10) cleanse ourselves from the filthiness of body and spirit (2 CORINTHIANS 7:1) “perfect” holiness (2 CORINTHIANS 7:1) walk in the Spirit (GALATIANS 5:25) not desire vain glory (GALATIANS 5:26) not provoke one another (GALATIANS 5:26) not envy one another (GALATIANS 5:26) not be weary in well doing (GALATIANS 6:9) do good to all people (GALATIANS 6:10) do good especially to fellow Christians (GALATIANS 6:10) to press forward toward the mark (PHILIPPIANS 3:14-15) to walk by the same rule (PHILIPPIANS 3:16) mind the same thing (PHILIPPIANS 3:16) not sleep spiritually (1 THESSALONIANS 5:6) watch and be sober (1 THESSALONIANS 5:6,8)
Instructions for Christian Living
Be content with food and raiment (1 TIMOTHY 6:8) fear losing our soul (HEBREWS 4:1-2) labor to be saved (HEBREWS 4:11) hold fast our profession (HEBREWS 10:23) come boldly to the throne of grace (HEBREWS 4:16; HEBREWS 10:19-23) go on to perfection (HEBREWS 6:1) draw near to God (HEBREWS 10:22) provoke to love and good works (HEBREWS 10:24) not forsake assembling together in worship (HEBREWS 10:25) exhort one another (HEBREWS 10:25) lay aside every weight (HEBREWS 12:1) lay aside besetting sin (HEBREWS 12:1) run the race with patience (HEBREWS 12:1) look to Jesus (HEBREWS 12:2) have grace to serve God (HEBREWS 12:28) bear Christ's reproach (HEBREWS 13:13) our sacrifice of praise to God continually (HEBREWS 13:15) love one another (1 JOHN 4:7,11)
"Let Us Not": walk in rioting (ROMANS 13:13) walk in drunkenness (ROMANS 13:13) walk in chambering (ROMANS 13:13) walk in wantonness (ROMANS 13:13) walk in strife (ROMANS 13:13) walk in envying (ROMANS 13:13) judge one another in doubtful things (ROMANS 14:13) cause others to stumble (ROMANS 14:13)
Walking in Love
To live: peacefully (ROMANS 12:18; 2 CORINTHIANS 13:11) free from anxiety and undue care (1 CORINTHIANS 7:28-35) no longer in lusts of sin (1 PETER 4:2)
And let us "Love": our enemies (MATTHEW 5:44; LUKE 6:27,35) our fellow Christians (JOHN 13:34; JOHN 15:12,17; GALATIANS 5:14; 1 PETER 2:17; 1 JOHN 3:23; 2 JOHN 1:5) the brotherhood (1 PETER 2:17) our brothers (1 JOHN 4:21)
And let us not love: The world (1 JOHN 2:15) And the things in the world (1 JOHN 2:15)
I am going to stop there – that is about Half of the New Testament commands directly given. If we take the Scripture seriously, and believe that the words therein describe what God wants from His children, we automatically get a sense of the fear and trembling Paul was talking about, and naturally become humbled and weighted down at the prospects of somehow meeting these requirements, and like Peter about to sink into the sea of doubt call out to Jesus to save us, to bring God into us, and enable us to work out the salvation placed in our laps by His grace.
When I think about routinely keeping just one or two of the aformention things, I shudder – it is not possible in the flesh. But when I remember that “it is God which worketh in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure,” His peace abides, and though trembling and uncertain, we trust that “what He has begun in us He will finish.”
We will pick up the Verses here in Philippians next week.
Comments/Questions Prayer
