Philippians 2:12-13

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

A Call to “Work Out Our Salvation”

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. Work out your salvation does not mean that salvation is obtained by working for it.

  2. Work out your salvation means that unity is obtained by working for it.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. You can work it out.

QUESTIONS

  1. Concerning this epistle, a. from where was it written? b. when was it written? c. who was the Emperor? d. why was it written?

  2. Does “work out your own salvation” mean that one can obtain salvation by good works? Explain.

  3. How could the word, “salvation,” be translated in Philippians 2:12?

ANSWERS

  1. a. Rome b. the early 60s A.D c. Nero d. because disunity was emerging in the Philippian church and Paul wanted to deal with it before it grew

  2. No. Refer to Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5 and Isaiah 64:6. By God’s standard of purity and perfection, even the best of our good works are as filthy rags, and they mean nothing concerning salvation. There is only one way to be saved, and that is to believe in Christ’s death for you. See Acts 16:30-31.

  3. Deliverance or solution, as in Philippians 1:19, when Paul was referring to his position as a prisoner.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Have you prayed about a specific deliverance in your life? How was your prayer answered? What did you have to do to bring it about?

  2. God wants to see problems removed that cause disunity in church fellowships. If your church has a problem, what is your responsibility? See Psalm 133:1.

CHALLENGE

  1. Consider God’s will and His good pleasure as He works in your life. Does this motivate you to live on a higher level?

KEY VERSES

  • “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12-13



New Testament, Philippians, TalksDeb HarmsPhilippians 2:12-13