BIBLE STUDY MANUALS: PHILIPPEANS 2:5-8

OBSERVATION STAGE

The purpose of the observation stage is to maintain focus on the text at hand within the normative rules of language, context and logic which limits the observer to the content offered by the book of Philippians. This will serve to avoid going on unnecessary tangents elsewhere; and more importantly, it will provide the framework for a proper and objective comparison with passages located elsewhere in Scripture.

Remember that something elsewhere may be true, but in the text at hand it may not be in view.

I) [Phil 2:1-2]:

(Phil 2:1 NKJV) "Therefore if [there] is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,

(Phil 2:2 NKJV) fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, [being] of one accord, of one mind."

II) [Phil 2:3]:

(Phil 2:3 NKJV) "[Let] nothing [be done] through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself."

III) [Phil 2:4]:

(Phil 2:4 NKJV) "Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others."

IV) [Phil 2:5-8]:

(Phil 2:5 NKJV) "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,

(Phil 2:6 NKJV) Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,

(Phil 2:6 NAS) Who, although He subsisted in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,

(Phil 2:6 KJV) Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

(Phil 2:7 NKJV) but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, [and] coming in the likeness of men.

(Phil 2:7 NAS) but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bondservant, and being made in the likeness of men.

(Phil 2:8 NKJV) And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to [the point of] death, even the death of the cross."

A) SUMMARY IN CAPS THE DIETY OF JESUS CHRIST AND HOW HE HUMBLED HIMSELF TO BECOME A MAN

The main purpose of this passage is to exhort the believer to emulate the humility and servitude of our Lord as exemplified by His humbling Himself by setting aside the exercising of His essence as God in order to function as a Perfect Man so that He could then pay the penalty for the sins of the whole world:

Objectors to Phil 2:5-8 being a proof text of the diety of Christ maintain that all this passage says is that Christians should not be motivated by self will but to be meek and obedient like Christ; Who although existing in the form of a god like Almighty God was not ambitious to become equal to his Father. Scripture clearly refutes this statement. Let's examine this passage in the light of Who it says Jesus Christ really is.

B) SUMMARY IN CAPS

(Phil 2:6 Greek) "os ....en .........morphu ....Theou .huparchon"

............................"Who in [the] form ..........of God subsisting

ouch arpagmon egesato ...to

not ...robbery ...esteemed it

elnai .isa ...TheO

to be equal with God

["Who" = refers to Jesus Christ, (v.5)]

["being" or "subsisting" = "huparchon" = subsisting, existing.

Vines, (op. cit., p. 60), states:

["huparchon" from the verb] "HUPARCHO"......denotes to be, to be in existence, involving an existence or condition both previous to the circumstances mentioned and continuing after it."

This word "huparchon" = subsisting, existing was selected instead of the Greek word "eimi" which means to be, or a status of being. The word "huparchon" is in the present tense participle form which refers to the ongoing continual status of Jesus Christ in the present. And it is in the active voice meaning that our Lord chose to retain this state of subsistence. The participle form is used here as a statement of truth. It implies much more than just being, it indicates a continuous existence - one which in the context is a continuous existence of Deity, therefore it is an eternal existence. Note that since God is immutable, then having and losing an existence as God is out of the question. Finally, "huparchon" indicates that our Lord existed as God when He became a Man and continued to exist as God while He now also exists as a Man. So here is what this verse is saying: 'Jesus Christ had a continuous state of existence in the form of Almighty God in eternity past before He took on the form of a human body. And He continues to exist as God while He exists as a human being.'

C) SUMMARY IN CAPS

["form" = "morphu" = while this word does mean form it is more than that. The word form in English is limited to some physical shape - some outside structure in a physical sense. But the Greek word which is translated into the English word "form" = "morphu" is a philosophical word which refers to the essential being of someone - an internal quality as well as an external one - the essential quality that characterizes that person and which is reflected by the external. The English word metaMORPHOsis which contains a transliteration of the Greek word "morphu" refers to, for example, the complete change of form - both external AND internal of a caterpillar to a butterfly.

[The New Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, Joseph Henry Thayer, editor, Hendrickson Pub., Peabody, Ma, 1981, pp. 445, 610)]:

This word "morphu" was chosen by author John as inspired by God over other words such as schema which means "that which strikes the senses, the figure, the bearing, discourse, actions, manner of life, etc., i.e., the external"

or = omoiomati = "external form, shape, figure, likeness, representation."

[C. I. Scoffield states in reference to Phil 2:6, (Oxford NIV Scoffield Study Bible, C. I. Scoffield, Editor, New York, Oxford University Press, 1984, p.1243]:

"This [Phil 2:6] is one of the strongest assertions in the N.T. of the Deity of Jesus Christ. The Greek word....["morphu"]... here translated "very nature," literally means form, and refers to the external appearance by which a person or thing strikes the vision; yet it is an external form truly indicative of the inner nature from which it springs. Nothing in this passage teaches that the eternal Word (Jn. 1:1) emptied Himself of either His divine nature or His attributes, but only of the outward and visible manifestation of the Godhead. God may change form, but He cannot cease to be God. At all times His divine attributes could be exercised according to His will."

[http://www.blueletterbible.org/tmp_dir/choice/1009845676.html

Vine's Expository Dictionary Of New Testament Words]:

"Strong's Number: 3444 Greek: morphe

"denotes "the special or characteristic form or feature" of a person or thing; it is used with particular significance in the NT, only of Christ, in Phl 2:6,7, in the phrases "being in the form of God," and "taking the form of a servant." An excellent definition of the word is that of Gifford: "morphe is therefore properly the nature or essence, not in the abstract, but as actually subsisting in the individual, and retained as long as the individual itself exists. ... Thus in the passage before us morphe Theou is the Divine nature actually and inseparably subsisting in the Person of Christ. ... For the interpretation of 'the form of God' it is sufficient to say that (1) it includes the whole nature and essence of Deity, and is inseparable from them, since they could have no actual existence without it; and (2) that it does not include in itself anything 'accidental' or separable, such as particular modes of manifestation, or conditions of glory and majesty, which may at one time be attached to the 'form,' at another separated from it. ... The true meaning of morphe in the expression 'form of God' is confirmed by its recurrence in the corresponding phrase, 'form of a servant.' It is universally admitted that the two phrases are directly antithetical, and that 'form' must therefore have the same sense in both." * [* From Gillford, "The Incarnation," pp. 16,19,39.]"

D) SUMMARY IN CAPS

"robbery" = "harpagmon" = refers here to a treasure which is to be held on to. It is in a noun form which can have one of two basic meanings:

An active meaning = robbery in the sense of a person taking something that doesn't belong to him,

and

a passive meaning = robbery in the sense of a prize or a treasure which one rightfully possesses but which is robbed from him.

The passive meaning must apply here because of the first part of verse 6 which states that Jesus Christ already continually was Almighty God from eternity past:

[Phil 2:6a] "...Who [Christ] although He [continually] subsisted in the [internal and external] form of God..."

Phil 2:6a indicates that in eternity past our Lord always subsisted - existed - as God. So He would not be in an active position of robbing something He already had - that of being God. Rather, the passive meaning of "harpagmon" applies: that of having the expression of His diety..........

(and not the essence since God is immutable and cannot lose His essence in any way. Compare Malachi 3:6),

............having the expression of His diety taken away. So Jesus is spoken of as NOT thinking it robbery to be in the position of not expressing the glory of God that is His essence and instead becoming a Man to die for the sins of the whole world:

E) SUMMARY IN CAPS

(v. 7) "but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bondservant, and being made in the likeness of men.

"being made in the likeness of men" =

"being made" ="genomenos" = [Lit.] "having become"

"in [the] likeness of men" = "en omoiomati anthropon

(v. 8) And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."

"And being found in appearance as a man. =

"kai .schemati euretheis ..............os ..anthropos.."

"and in figure having been found as ...[of a] man "

"schemati" = dative, singular, neuter, nominative of "schema" meaning fashion, form, external show.

Phil 2:8 states that Jesus Christ took on the outward form (= "schemati") of man - the external appearance. It says the same thing in Phil 2:7 with the word "omoiomati" = external form, shape, figure. (Our Lord, being without a sin nature, did not have the internal contaminated form of man. Cp 2 Cor 5:21)

[Robert P. Lightner stated, B.K.C., p.654:

"The word translated [in the N.I.V.]"nature" ("morph ") in verses 6 and 7 is a crucial term in this passage. This word ([translated] "form" in the KJV and NASB) stresses the inner essence or reality of that with which it is associated....."

The particular kind of form that "morphu" represents in this passage is "morphu Theou" = "form of God" = the essential nature of God.

Dr John Danish states, (Audio tape #74PH-36s-1, Berean Memorial Church, Irving, Tx):

"There is no 'the' here in the Greek ["form of God"]. It does not have any definite article and therefore it is stressing the essence of God, the quality of Deity. So the nature of the Lord Jesus Christ in His inner most being was that of Deity. This was His nature from all eternity. He was and He continues to be a member of the Godhead. He is coequal with Father and Holy Spirit."

[Here in Phil 2:6 the Greek word "morphu" Dr Danish continues to say...]"...refers to the mode of being which expresses the quality of Diety. It is the quality in Jesus Christ of Diety which He had out here [in eternity past] before He took on a human body.......Now the Lord Jesus Christ, when He took on the human body, did not go off His form. What He was before out in ......eternity past - as Deity, He was also [that same Deity] when He was walking the streets of Palestine."

F) SUMMARY IN CAPS

["but emptied Himself" = Our Lord emptied Himself such that He took on 'the form of a bondservant...being made in the likeness of men'. Since God Who is Christ is immutable, our Lord could not have emptied Himself of His divine attributes. The context gives us the answer to the question of what He emptied Himself of:

"He humbled Himself by becoming obedient.." = Our Lord being God set aside the expression of His glory so that He could humble Himself and take on the form of a bondservant, a slave, an obedient Man "to the point of death, even [the ignominious] death on a cross"

Dr Danish states, (op cit):

"In other words, this verse is telling us that Jesus Christ simply decided He would set aside the expression of the glory of His Diety and the independent use of His attributes.' [From now on our Lord would act in His Humanity and permit Himself to be guided and supernaturally attended to by God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. This even to the extent that His miracles were done by the Holy Spirit through our Lord's Humanity - just the way the Apostles would do miracles later on]

.....[So our Lord]...would continue as God, but you wouldn't look at Him and see that He was God. The reference here is holding on to His Deity in terms of its outward expression - His visible glory - the use of His Attributes. He was willing to veil the glory of His attributes and set aside their independent use. This was an exemplary act of condescension on the part of Jesus Christ. It is the principle which was expressed here in Phillipeans 2:4, "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others."

Walter Martin states, ("Kingdom of the Cults', Bethany House publishers, Minneapolis, 1985, p. 68): "Paul declares [in Phil 2:1-11] that Jesus did NOT consider equality with God something "to be grasped after, or robbed".......... since He previously existed as the eternal Word of God (John 1:1) prior to His incarnation (John 1:14), and as such shared the Father's prerogatives and attributes. Hence He had no desire to strive for what was His by Nature and inheritance. Paul elsewhere calls Christ "all the fullness of the Deity in the flesh" (Colossians 2:9), "The great God and our Savior" (Titus 2:13), and "God" (Hebrews 1:3,8). These are just a few of the references; there are at least twenty-five more which could be cited from his writings and over seventy-five more which could be cited from from the balance of the New Testament."

So our Lord's humanity is often on display in Scripture, and not His diety, although both exist at the same time within Him. Many of the passages which refer to the humanity of Jesus Christ are used by objectors to refute the doctrine of the Trinity. These objectors maintain that since these particular passages prove out our Lord's humanity then His diety is disproved. This is not the case at all. For example, consider that visible light is a composite made up of 7 basic colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. If only one of the colors was visible from a particular point, (as our Lord's Humanity was at times), this would not indicate that the other colors did not exist nor that they did not operate as a unity, (as God the Father and God the holy Spirit operate as a unity with God the Son and are uniquely evident on other occasions). As a matter of fact, scientists say that the other 6 colors are absorbed by the 'red' object, the red being reflected. Thus, visible light does operate as a unity of composite colors, one color being visible at times but this not negating the existence of the other colors. So the Triune God operates as a unity, one Personality being evident at times but this not negating the existence of the other Personalities. Scripture clearly maintains that Jesus Christ is BOTH fully God and fully Man at the same time. An example of our Lord being referred to in His humanity is when He was baptized by John the Baptist (Mt 3:16; Mk 1:9; Lk 3:21; Jn 1:32). These passages refer to when God the Holy Spirit indwelt His humanity not His diety. Most of our Lord's ministry on earth was in the role of His humanity, even when performing miracles. The Personalities of God function as a unity and at the same time separately. An example of separate functioning was when God came to earth as a Man to die for the sins of the whole world. At that time it was clear that God consisted of more than one Personality because of the separate roles that each of the Personalities of the Godhead distinctly played in God's redemption of mankind. This is clearly brought forth in Ephesians 1:3-14. God, being omnipresent, (Ps 139:1-24), means that not only is He present everywhere in the universe, (Job 9:1-35; Ps 29:1-11), but at every point in the universe are all of His attributes present at infinitely full capacity. God's powers and attributes, in other words, being absolutely infinite cannot be diluted because they are spread out in omnipresence over every single point in the universe. Therefore it is not beyond the capacity of God to become a man and have His full capacity in all of His attributes and powers within that single man. It remains for an individual to prove out if God's Word says whether or not God did this by becoming the God-Man Christ Jesus. Recall that God's purpose in adding humanity to Himself was to live the life of a Perfect Man and thereby be justified in paying the penalty for the sins of the whole world, (2 Cor 5:21; 1 Jn 2:2) - thus reconciling humanity to God by faith alone in Christ alone as Savior, (Ro 5:1-11).

Statements about the humanity of our Lord can be found in the following excerpts from Scripture:

[Jn 6:57a]:

"As the living Father sent Me, and I live [in My humanity] because of the Father......

[Jn 5:26]:

"For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life [human life] in Himself."

V) [Phil 2:9-11]:

(Phil 2:9 NKJV) "Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and [has] given Him the name which is above every name,

(Phil 2:10 NKJV) that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,

(Phil 2:11 NKJV) and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

A) SUMMARY IN CAPS

(Phil 2:5 NKJV) "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, (Phil 2:6 NKJV) Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, (Phil 2:6 NAS) Who, although He subsisted in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, (Phil 2:6 KJV) Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: (Phil 2:7 NKJV) but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, [and] coming in the likeness of men. (Phil 2:7 NAS) but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bondservant, and being made in the likeness of men. (Phil 2:8 NKJV) And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to [the point of] death, even the death of the cross. (Phil 2:9 NKJV) Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and [has] given Him the name which is above every name, (Phil 2:10 NKJV) that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, (Phil 2:11 NKJV) and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is LORD, to the glory of God the Father." =

The word rendered "Jesus" in Phil 2:10 must be in the genitive case, (i.e., 'at the name of Jesus'), and not in the dative case, ('at the name Jesus') as some contend, because the previous context refers to God's exaltation of His Son, which includes giving God's Son Who already had the name Jesus, another "name which is above every name" to His Son after Jesus' death on the cross, (Phil 2:8-9), such "that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is LORD," (Phil 2:10-11). So the name which God gave His Son at His exhaltation was not the name "Jesus," nor "Christ" which is a title, but the name "LORD," or the name which means "LORD" in the sense of supreme authority over everything in the universe. So the phrase in Phil 2:10, "That at the name of Jesus" the expression should be understood as 'at the name that belongs to Jesus.'

[Expositor's Bible Commentary, Frank E. Gaebelein, Gen Ed, Zondervan Publishing, Grand Rapids, Mich., 1978, Vol. 11, pp. 124-5]:

"9. The final movement of thought in this sublime illustration describes Christ's subsequent exaltation. The nature of this exaltation was God's elevating Christ to the highest position and granting him the name above all names. 'Exalted... to the highest place' renders the Greek word hyperyosOsen, which might be translated 'superexalted.' The reference is to the resurrection , ascension, and glorification of Jesus following his humiliating death, whereby all that he had laid aside was restored to him and much more besides. Implicit in this exaltation is the coming consummation mentioned in the next verses, when his triumph over sin and His Lordship will be acknowledged by every being.

In view of the chronological pattern exhibited in this passage, the giving of 'the name' must have been subsequent to the Cross. This would appear to be sufficient to rule out the identity of the name in view as being 'Jesus.' A more likely identification of 'the name' is 'Lord,' the equivalent many times of the Old Testament "Jehovah,' and supported by the thought of v. 11. Christ's exaltation is expressly stated as manifesting His Lordship in Acts 2:33-36. Another explanation takes 'the name' in the sense of position, dignity, or office, similar to the OT use of the word sEm ('name')...

10. The purpose of Christ's exaltation is that all beings might bow in acknowledgment of the name that belongs to Jesus (v. 10), and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (v. 11). Because of what the name of Jesus represents, a time is coming when every knee shall bow before him in recognition of His sovereignty... This universal acknowledgment will include angels and departed saints in heaven, people still living on earth, and the satanic hosts and lost humanity in hell.

The form IEsou (Jesus) can be either genitive or dative, allowing the phrase to be rendered either as 'at the name of Jesus' or 'at the name Jesus.' The former appears to be the more probable, inasmuch as the exaltation is said to be at the time when God granted His Son the 'name,' and this occurred considerably after the name Jesus was given to Christ. Hence, the expression should be understood as 'at the name that belongs to Jesus.' "

VI) [Phil 2:12]:

"Therefore, my beloved, as you 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."

A) IN THE SAME WAY THAT EPH 6:13 USES THE VERB RENDERED "WORK OUT" IN PHIL 2:12 TO ACCOMPLISH ALL THINGS WITH ONE'S ALREADY RECEIVED SPIRITUAL ARMOR, SO THE VERB IN PHIL 2:12 PORTRAYS EXERCISING THE RESULTS OF ONE'S ALREADY RECEIVED SALVATION

1) [Compare Eph 6:13]:

(v. 13) "Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand."

"dia .............touto analabete tEn panoplian tou theou hina

Because of this ...take up ....the full armor of ...God in order that

dunEthEte ..........antistEnai ...en tE ..hEmera tE ponEra

you may be able to withstand in .the day ..............evil

kai hapanta ...katergasamenoi ..........stEnai

and all things having accomplished...to stand"

Just as the verb "katergasamenoi", (aorist nom. part.) in Eph 6:13 is used to signify "having accomplished, i.e., worked out the purpose of one's spiritual armor which had already been received beforehand,

so the same verb "katergazomai", (present, imperative) in Phil 2:12 is used to command the already saved believer to "work out" the purpose of his salvation which he had already received beforehand.

"katergasamenoi" = "having accomplished" in the sense of having put to use the spiritual armor the believer had already received at salvation in order to stand [firm in the faith].

"katergazomai" = "work out" in the sense of exercising through faithful good works the already received condition of salvation - the purpose for which an individual is saved, (Eph 2:8-10).

B) BELIEVERS ARE IN VIEW - BELIEVERS WHO BY DEFINITION ARE ETERNALLY SECURE

[Bob Wilkin states, Grace in Focus by Passage http://155.229.51.114/Grace/news/y1993/93may3.html

"Working Out Your Salvation--Philippians 2:12"]:

"In our verse Paul calls the readers "my beloved," an expression he reserves for believers. See also 1:1 where Paul indicates that he is writing, "to the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi." Believers are already eternally saved and cannot lose that salvation.

1) [Compare Eph 1:13-14]:

(v. 13) "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,

(v. 14) Who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession - to the praise of his glory."

Detailed study on eternal security:

C) PAUL IS CALLING BELIEVERS TO ONGOING OBEDIENCE

Paul begins this verse with the words "as you have always obeyed." We expect him to go on to say something like, "keep on obeying." While he does not use exactly those words, that is implicit in what he does say. Working out one's salvation is another way of talking about ongoing obedience. The following context bears out this conclusion.

1) [Compare Phil 1:27-30]:

(v. 27) "Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel

(v. 28) without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved - and that by God.

(v. 29) For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for Him,

(v. 30) since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

D) FEAR AND TREMBLING?

While believers are not to fear hell-Jesus has guaranteed that no will go there (John 3:16-18; 5:24), we are to fear the Lord. This fear reflects both reverence for His awesome grandeur (e.g., Isa 6) and respect for His discipline (e.g., Heb 12:3-11). Believers are thus to exercise ongoing obedience with an attitude of reverential fear.

E) WHAT DOES "WORK OUT" MEAN?

1) Compare Working Out One's Humanity

Just as one does not have to work out one's humanity in order to eventually be human,

[Is someone who does not act right any less human in the sense of being part of Homosapien species than one who does?]

but rather one is simply stating that one is expressing in some way the condition that one is human - often with charitable deeds towards other humans; in the same way one who states that one is working out one's salvation , one is not working out one's salvation in order to eventually be saved

[Scripture teaches that one possesses salvation once and for all time at the moment of believing, (Jn 3:16; Eph 2:8-9)],

but rather one is in this case simply doing something which demonstrates the condition that they are saved.

2) Compare Working Out One's Talent

Consider that the normative rules of language permit one to say that one is working out one's talent to play music in the sense that one is not to receive such talent as a result of the work, rather one has already received such talent at birth and the work that one is doing is simply an effort of developing that talent, i.e., making it more productive, enhancing it, demonstrating it - not creating its existence.

In the same way, salvation unto eternal life is fully received at the point of faith alone in Christ alone at the moment of new birth, (Jn 3:1-16). So working out such salvation in the context of this particular passage which is addressed to believers who are already saved is simply making it more productive in one's life, enhancing it or developing it as so many passages in the bible command including this one in Philippians chapter 2.

a) [Compare Phil 1:27-30]:

(v. 28) without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved - and that by God.

(v. 29) For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for Him,

(v. 30) since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have."

[Compare Jas 2:all ]

Note this passage in Phil 1:27-30 closely precedes 2:12. Paul is herein exhorting believers to "conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ", "stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel", i.e., Paul is commanding them to work out their salvation so that it will be a sign to others. And this sign is to be a demonstration to unbelievers that they will be destroyed, but that you [believers] will be saved. So when a believer is conducting himself worthy of the gospel of Christ, he is demonstrating the salvation he already permanently has as a sign to unbelievers that they will be destroyed and the believers saved. The sign is an outward demonstration of the inward, spiritual reality that the believer is irrevocably saved unto eternal life.

F) The Believer Is Commanded To Do Good Works As A Purpose Of His Already Received Salvation

1) [Eph 2:8-10]:

(v. 8) "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God

(v. 9) not by works, so that no one can boast.

(v. 10) For we [believers] are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

G) Believers - Once Saved - Are God's Workmanship Created In Christ Jesus To Do God's Works Thereafter

1) [Compare 1 Cor 3:5]:

"What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe - as the Lord has assigned to each [believer] His task."

[Kenneth S. Wuest states, (Wuest's Word Studies, From the Greek New Testament, Vol. 1, EPHESIANS AND COLOSSIANS, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1973), p. 70]:

'''Commenting on the words, "For we are His workmanship," Vincent says: 'A reason why no man should glory. If we are God's workmanship, our salvation cannot be of ourselves.' Expositors comments: 'We ourselves are at work, the handiwork of God, made anew by Him, and our salvation, therefore, is due to Him, not to ourselves.'''...

...We are God's spiritual handiwork in the sense that we were created by Him, made a new spiritual creature by Him when His grace made us Christians. [2 Cor 5:17] This new creation was in Christ so that except by union between Him and us it could not have taken place (Eph. 2:15, 4:24, 2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 6:15; Col. 3:10). Also it was with a view to good works... We ourselves then having been created anew by God, and good works being the object to which that new creation looked, not the cause that led to it [underlining mine] all must be of grace - not of deeds, and there can be no room for boasting.' '''

2) [Compare Titus 3:5 and 2:14]:

We were saved solely by the mercy of God and not by any good works such as water baptism, church going, repentance, from an unfaithful lifestyle, etc:

3) [Titus 3:5]:

"He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit" And God saved us so that we could THEN be enabled by His grace to perform His preordained good works:

4) [Compare Titus 2:14]:

"Who [Jesus Christ] gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed...

[i.e., first comes salvation and then come the good works]:

...and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds."

So what an individual is to do once he does get saved is to move on into a life of study, acceptance and obedience to God's Word - a life which is controlled more and more by God the Holy Spirit unto good works resulting in rewards in heaven.

II) [Phil 2:13-18]:

(v. 2:13 NIV) "for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.

(v. 2:14 NIV) Do everything without complaining or arguing,

(v. 2:15 NIV) so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe

(v. 2:16 NIV) as you hold out the word of life - in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.

(v. 2:17 NIV) But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.

(v. 2:18 NIV) So you too should be glad and rejoice with me."

A) SUMMARY IN CAPS

The word "for" which means "because" referring to verse 2:12 with a view to the expected results of working out ones salvation, i.e., that it results in acting according to God's good purpose. Notice that as the believer works out his salvation, it is God Who works in him to will and act according to His good purpose: to work out his salvation.

B) SUMMARY IN CAPS

A temporal result with no benefit directly stipulated of believers who work out their salvation is in view: believers are to work out their salvation so that they may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which they shine like stars in the universe. Hence temporal sanctification is in view wherein faithful believers who work out their salvation are described as sanctified, i.e., set apart as "blameless and pure, children ofGod without fault" from a crooked and depraved generation that they are living amongst. On the other hand, there is so far indicated up through verse 2:14 no particular benefit to believers for working out their salvation stipulated with this result except that a benefit to God is implied = that God is glorified which in turn suggests benefits of some kind to the believers in so doing. But nothing specific so far.

C) SUMMARY IN CAPS

(v. 2:12) "Therefore, my beloved, as you 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. (v. 2:13 NIV) for it is God Who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose. (v. 2:14 NIV) Do everything without complaining or arguing, (v. 2:15 NIV) so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe. (v. 2:16 NIV) as you hold out the word of life - in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. (v. 2:17 NIV) But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. (v. 2:18 NIV) So you too should be glad and rejoice with me." =