The Mind of Christ Workout

Philippians 2:12-13 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Introduction

In this rather obtuse title (Mind of Christ 'Work-Out') I am referring to the interesting use of the word "work" by St. Paul. He says YOU work OUT your salvation— and at the same time GOD is AT WORK IN you!

This is more than a play on words.

It is a matter worthy of our full attention: OUR working and GOD'S working in the matter of our sanctification; how they relate, how they interact.

I don't have a final word on it— but "as I work on it" I believe "God will work in our minds and hearts" to help us grasp how "we are co-laborers with God!" (I Corinthians 3:9)

Return with me to this passage:

I. THE LOFTY MESSAGE OF THE PREVIOUS PASSAGE

  1. The description of the mind of Christ is the focus, the "meat" of this passage: IT IS A LESSON IN AND OF ITSELF.

    We have come to look to this passage simply in order to see the love of God manifested in the outpouring of Christ's very life for us. And it is right that we do. It tells us how Jesus left heaven's throne and came to die because He loves us.

  2. But this passage starts "Let THIS mind be IN YOU!" And here in our text the words (v 12) "So then" REFER BACK TO THIS IMPERATIVE: "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus."

    And so the bottom line— THE 'MESSAGE' OF THIS PASSAGE IS: LET THIS MIND BE IN YOU!

II. THIS MESSAGE GETS LOST IN EXCUSE AND HUMAN REASONING

  1. WE NEED TO TAKE THIS IMPERATIVE SERIOUSLY:

    "Of course we can't have the mind that was in Christ!"

    "No one can be like Jesus!"

    And we give up the battle without a shot being fired. What does this imperative mean, "Let this mind be in you!"??

  2. JUST WHAT IS IT THAT WE ARE TO TAKE SERIOUSLY? The essence of the mind of Christ that we can understand was that Jesus did not insist on HIS rights; that he did not GRASP at His own benefit— but that he gave Himself.

    Is it possible for Christians to love like that today?

  3. YES! THE LIFE OF FAITH BY DEFINITION MEANS DOING WHAT OTHERWISE WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE!

    This is not something new. Way back in Moses' time the people thought it was impossible to stay "in tune" with God.

    In Deuteronomy 30 are some words that speak to this challenge. Moses is speaking to the Israelites before he goes up on Pisgah to die. (vv 5,6) "(the Lord will prosper you, and multiply you more than your fathers.) Moreover the Lord will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord with all your heart and with all your soul, in order that you may live."

    (vv 11-14) "For this commandment which I command you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it out of reach. It is not in heaven, that you should say, 'Who will go up to heaven for us to get it for us and make us heart it, that we may observe it?' Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, 'Who will cross the sea for us and make us hear it, that we may observe it?' But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it."

    (vv 19-20) "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them."

Way back in the Old Testament, God wanted it understood that His commandments are also His promises!

THIS WHOLE MATTER OF SANCTIFICATION FROM BEGINNING TO END, AND CERTAINLY INCLUDING WHAT WE CALL "ENTIRE SANCTIFICATION" IS SIMPLY THIS:

III. DELIBERATELY LETTING CHRIST'S MIND BE IN US!

  1. IN LIGHT OF THE MORNING'S MESSAGE IT IS HOLDING THE SEED OF THE 'GOOD NEWS' FAITHFULLY, LETTING GOD WORK HIS LIFE OUT "WORKING OUT" WHAT GOD HAS "WORKED IN" (That is too glib!)

    The human way to seek "success" is to focus on HUMAN MODELS. We want to "stick an adult plant into the ground." We look for results, and we look to methods, and to models.

    God's way is to let the LIVING WORD sink down into our hearts and do a miracle that is both unique and powerful.

    In our PERSONAL lives: Assurance, soul-winning, growth in grace spring from humility, and open-ness before God, from confession and weakness before the Lord.

    In our corporate life, CHURCH-WIDE: We look to see how/what others are doing. (And seminars have their rightful place!) But healthy, growing, powerful churches are UNIQUE! They spring from healthy seed (the Gospel) in well-prepared ground!]

  2. But what about these two "works" in our text? What does this mean 'YOU work!" and "GOD works!"??

    IT DOES NOT SIMPLY OUR PART AND THEN HIS PART — ALTHOUGH THERE IS THAT WAY OF LOOKING AT IT:

    OUR confession of NEED — HIS Promise to MEET that need OUR obedience — HIS ENABLING OUR consecration — HIS SANCTIFYING (cleansing/empowering)

  3. WHAT THIS TEXT SAYS IS WE DO AS GOD DOES ! We pray that somehow we may be "labourers together WITH God! (I Corinthians 3:9)
    1. The desire to have the mind of Christ comes from God. As we pray we get the hunger after more of God. His will for our holiness comes clear. As we make it our own desire, God answers our prayer.
    2. Then, God not only works in us to WILL of His good pleasure, but TO DO IT AS WELL! The realization of the mind of Christ comes from God: God works in us to will and to do of HIS good pleasure.

      This is what Wesley called: the circumcision of the heart. The dedication for life of the entire person to God.

    3. The LIFE OF FAITH involves OBEDIENCE! It means that we must seek to work out, to express, what God has worked IN! [WHO does the work? Unless it is God it isn't genuine ... and yet, unless it is US it never will be done! God helps us to get in "over our heads" and then he does through us what we alone can never do!]
  4. (Illus: Abraham is called the father of faith. He is one of the giants of faith in all of history. How did Abraham get that way? Who did it? God? or Abraham?
    • God CALLED (12:1) ... and Abraham started out.
    • God TAUGHT (15:6) ... and Abraham "believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness."
    • God COVENANTED (17:1) IN A CHALLENGE TO PERFECT TRUST ...and Abraham COVENANTED WITH GOD!
    • God CALLED FOR ABRAHAM'S DEAREST GIFT BACK (22:1) ... Abraham's covenant was tested ... and Abraham withheld NOTHING from God!

    THAT is how he became the "father of faith!"

    HE WORKED OUT ... WHAT GOD WORKED IN! WHATEVER GOD ASKED/WILLED, ABRAHAM AGREED AND SET TO WORK TO OBEY!)

God calls us ALL to inherit great promises of faith! He wants to be our God, our Friend! Let's take the "long view!"

Text: Philippians 2:12-13 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

#243 I'll Live for Him