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Key Verse:
Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence,
but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear
and trembling, 13for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his
good purpose.
Philippians 2:12-13
With another complex sentence Paul comes back to the concern of Philippians
1:27—2:4. The complexity is created by his trying to cover a great deal of ground in a
single sentence. His concern is that they "obey" now (v. 8), just as they have always
done. But before giving definition to obedience, he interrupts himself by placing the
appeal within the "presence/absence" friendship motif (Philippians 1:27). The
content of the appeal is then expressed with a deliberate echo of "your salvation
which is from God" (Philippians 1:28). These echoes not only make the sentence
complex, they also create some difficulty for English readers. The verb Paul uses
means "to accomplish" or "to carry out," which is not easy to translate here without
creating the impression that salvation is of our own doing. And to top it off, it is easy
for us to read the imperative individualistically, rather than, as with verse 4, as a call
to individually work out our common salvation in our life together.
The momentary "presence/absence" digression deliberately reminds them of the
earlier appeal in Philippians 1:27. Along with the affectionate vocative (literally, "my
beloved ones") and the reminder of their excellent history in this regard (as . . .
always), this motif places the appeal to obedience within the context of their longterm friendship and common affection. But obedience to whom, Paul or God, since
elsewhere Paul goes either way? In context it most likely means obedience to his
earlier appeal in Philippians 1:27—2:4. But that automatically means obedience to
Christ, the only kind of obedience to his own words that Paul could care anything
about. In his view faith in Christ is ultimately expressed as obedience to Christ, not
in the sense of following the rules but of being devoted completely to him. This
appeal, after all, closely follows the twofold reminder of Christ's own obedience that
led to the cross and of his present status as Lord of all.
Obedience in this case takes the form of work out your own salvation, meaning "in
your relationships with one another live out the salvation Christ has brought you."
This is therefore not a text dealing with individual salvation but an ethical text
dealing with the outworking of salvation in the believing community for the sake of
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the world. That they must comply with this injunction at the individual level is
assumed, and that their final salvation will be realized personally and individually is a
truth that does not need stating, because that is not at issue here. The present
concern is with their being God's people in Philippi, as Philippians 2:15 makes
certain.
The phrase with fear and trembling indicates how important this matter is for Paul.
One does not live out the gospel casually or lightly, especially in light of verses 6-11,
but as those who know what it means to stand in awe of the living God. Nothing of
cringing or lack of confidence is implied. Rather, the gospel is God's thing, and the
God who has saved his people is an awesome God. Thus working out the salvation
that God has given them should be done with a sense of "holy awe and wonder"
before the God with whom they—and we—have to do.
By putting his appeal this way—urging the Philippians to work out your salvation with
fear and trembling—Paul recognizes that he may have painted himself into something
of a corner regarding his essential theology. So he immediately puts it in the context
of God's action. For, he explains, God is the one who empowers you in this regard.
They are indeed to "work at" it (katergazesthe); they are able to do so because God
himself is "at work" (energon) in and among them. This does not mean that God is
"doing it for them," but that God supplies the working power. Happily for us, God is
on the side of his people. Not only does he have our concern at heart, but he
actively works in our behalf for the sake of his own good pleasure. The rest of the
sentence gives us the "where, what and why" of that empowering.
The "where" is in/among you. As in Philippians 1:6 and Philippians 2:5, when using
this phrase in a corporate context Paul primarily means "among you." For that to
happen it must begin in you, that is, in the resolve of each of them to see to it that
God's purposes are accomplished in their community.
The "what" is loaded with theology. God empowers both our "doing" (energeo, the
verb just used to describe God's "working") and the "willing" that lies behind the
doing. Christian ethics has nothing to do with rules that regulate conduct. Rather, it
begins with a mind that is transformed by the Spirit, so as not to be conformed to
this age but to the character of God, knowing God's will, what is good and pleasing
and perfect to him (Rom 12:1-2). We are not those who have been begrudgingly
caught by God, so that we obey basically out of fear and trembling over what might
happen if we were to do otherwise. Rather, being Christ's means to be converted in
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the true sense of that word, to have our lives invaded by God's Holy Spirit, who
creates in us a new desire toward God that prompts godly behavior in the first place.
But Christian ethics lies not just in the "willing." In Romans 7:18, in his description of
life before and outside of Christ looked at from the perspective of life in the Spirit,
Paul described pre-Christian life with these same verbs. "To will," he said, was
present with him; but without the Spirit, "carrying out [katergazesthai] the good" does
not happen. As a believer, however, Paul will have none of that (i.e., of our not being
able to carry out the good that we will). Hence he urges the Philippians to "work it
out" precisely because God (by his Spirit) is present with us both to will and to act on
the good God has prompted us to will.
The "why" (according to his good purpose, NIV) is ambiguous. The word eudokia
(good purpose) occurred in Philippians 1:15 as the motivation for those who preach
Christ out of love and "goodwill" toward Paul. In light of what is about to be urged
(verse 14), that meaning could prevail here as well; that is, God is at work in them
both to will and to do what promotes goodwill in the community. More likely,
however, given the emphasis of the present sentence, Paul intends God's own
eudokia—in which case this word probably leans toward "good pleasure," in the sense
that God does this for his people because it pleases him so to do. In any case, the
preposition hyper should bear its regular sense, "for the sake of." This does not mean
that God, despite verse 6, is a self-gratifying being after all. Rather, all that God does
he does for his pleasure; but since God is wholly good, what pleases him is not
capricious but what is wholly good for those he loves. God's pleasure is pure love; it
delights God to delight his people.
Thus with verse 13 Paul puts the imperative into theological perspective. What
follows is to be understood as flowing directly out of this word; what pleases God in
this instance, of course, is that the Philippians cease the in-fighting that is currently
going on among some of them. 1
Questions:
 What does the phrase “work out your salvation” mean to you before reading
this article?
1
https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/ivp-nt/General-Application-Obedience-Gods-Sake
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 How does doing life together as a community help us to “work out your
salvation”?
 What are some practical ways that you can “be conformed to the character of
God”?
 Did this study on Believe help you to “work out your salvation”?
Putting it All Together
We have been on a spiritual journey these past few months. As we have studied
Believe, we have learned to
 Think – this section described the key beliefs of the Christian life which Jesus
not only taught but modeled as well;
 Act – this section described the key spiritual practices of the Christian life.
There were attributes that Jesus modeled for us;
 Be – this section described the fruit that should exist in our lives if we Think
and Act like Jesus. The fruit that our lives in Christ product should be ripe
and delicious. The more we Be like Jesus, the better it gets.
There is not really a key idea but if I had to make one up it would be “I choose to
become more like Christ.” When we think and act like Jesus, empowered by his
presence within us, little by little, we become like Jesus. Over the past few weeks as
we’ve discussed the key beliefs and we described the key spiritual practices, we
ultimately become like Jesus.
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From a Wesleyan perspective this implies Christian perfection or becoming more
2
Christ-like. Christian perfection is defined in The Wesley Study Bible as:
Entire sanctification, or Christian perfection, can be described both
negatively and positively. Negatively speaking, it entails freedom from
evil thoughts and dispositions of the heart such as ill will, lust, envy, and
pride. The believer now “feels” no inward impurity; the heart has been
cleansed or circumcised of the carnal nature by the entirely sanctifying
presence of the Holy Spirit. Positively speaking, it includes the freedom
to obey the two great commandments of Jesus: to love God with all our
heart, mind, soul, and strength; and to love our neighbor as ourselves
(see Matthew 22:37-39). As such, Christian perfection marks a genuine
healing of the soul, and it is the most beautiful expression of holy love.
Simply put, it is holy, such that believers are free from the impurities and
the drag of sin. It is loving, such that believers now love God as the goal
and completion of their being and love their neighbor as they should.
But how can we do this. It’s a journey, it takes practice, and it takes time! For most,
if not all of us, we need to make a daily decision to become more Christ-like.
Ultimately, it will become ingrained, but for those of us for have been at this a few
years; keep the faith.
Questions:
 Is it harder to Think, Act, or Be? Why?
 What are some practical ways that you can move on towards Christian
perfection?
2
The Wesley Study Bible (NRSV), Abingdon Press, Nashville (page 479). Wesleyan Core Term:
Christian Perfection
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Yes, there are some things you can do on an individual basis, but there is so much
more that you can do as part of the greater community of the church. Wesley
coined the term “Means of Grace” as those practices that the Holy Spirit uses to
either draw us to God (prevenient grace) or enable us to know our sins are forgiven
(justification) and grow in love for God and our neighbor (sanctification). Let’s take
a look at an article from the United Methodist website that talks about Means of
Grace.
The Wesleyan Means of Grace3
Courageous and forward-leaning mission congregations practice spiritual disciplines.
Our vital work is a spiritual adventure based in John Wesley’s means of grace. John
Wesley taught that God’s grace is unearned and that we were not to be idle waiting
to experience grace but we are to engage in the means of grace. The means of grace
are ways God works invisibly in disciples, hastening, strengthening and confirming
faith so that God's grace pervades in and through disciples. As we look at the means
of grace today, they can be divided into works of piety and the works of mercy.
Works of Piety
Individual Practices – reading, meditating and studying the scriptures, prayer, fasting,
regularly attending worship, healthy living, and sharing our faith with others
Communal Practices – regularly share in the sacraments, Christian conferencing
(accountability to one another), and Bible study
Works of Mercy
Individual Practices - doing good works, visiting the sick, visiting those in prison,
feeding the hungry, and giving generously to the needs of others
Communal Practices – seeking justice, ending oppression and discrimination (for
instance Wesley challenged Methodists to end slavery), and addressing the needs of
the poor
3
http://www.umc.org/how-we-serve/the-wesleyan-means-of-grace
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Making disciples, growing vital congregations and transforming the world is part of a
spiritual adventure that is empowered and guided by the Holy Spirit as churches
engage in the means of grace. Spiritual goals are accomplished by connecting the
means of grace with proven vital church practices such as planning, strategic
direction, prioritization, clear focus and alignment.
Questions:
 Have you focused more on the individual practices or the communal
practices?
o Why? Do you need to focus more on the other?
 Which are easier for you? Works of piety or works of mercy? Why?
St. Stephen’s recently developed “A Plan for Action” which includes our vision
statement (where we are going / who we want to be). Our Vision states:
St. Stephen’s is a growing, serving, vital church that is known for
Developing Disciples through its intentional process of
 Loving God
 Loving Others
 Serving Others
Questions:
 How well does our vision statement fit in with Wesley’s means of grace?
 Which focus area (Loving God, Loving Others, Serving Others) best
describes our church community?
o Which focus area best describes you as an individual?
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Let’s take a look at the three focus areas and see what each will entail from the St.
Stephen’s community perspective.
Goal for Love God – We will create worship experiences and opportunities that
encourage all participants to focus on God, which will contribute to excitement and
deepening personal faith, resulting in a culture of invitation and increasing
participation.
Questions:
 How can we best achieve this goal as a community?
 What can you do on an individual basis to increase your love for God?
Goal for Love Others – We will create and sustain faith building groups of varying
types and sizes as well as Discipleship-building opportunities that lead to intentional
faith development, growing participants in their understanding of the Bible and what
it means to be a valued and loved part of God’s family at St. Stephen’s
Questions:
 How can we best achieve this goal as a community?
 What can you do on an individual basis to increase your love for others?
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Goal for Serve Others – We will create focused Mission and Outreach opportunities
for disciples of all stages that challenge and grow participants in their faith as they
serve their church home, their community, and their world.
Questions:
 How can we best achieve this goal as a community?
 What can you do on an individual basis to Serve Others?
As we move forward, as individuals and as a congregation, towards our vision
statement (where we are going / who we want to be), think about how you can help
the church community reach that vision.
NOTE:
Task groups are being formed to develop specific plans for carrying out
the Action Steps to accomplish the goals for the future. If you are
interested in serving in one or more of the task groups, contact Shelly
Boeglin at sboeglin@ssumc.com or by calling her at (505) 293-9673,
extension 106.
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Attachment A is a summary of the 30 chapters in Believe along with the Key Idea
and Key Verse. As a group or as an individual, review these chapters, key ideas, and
key verses.
Questions:
 We have been on a spiritual pilgrimage while reading Believe. On a scale of 1
to 10 (1 didn’t understand to 10 totally understand) what you believed before
starting Believe?
 Have you seen growth? Rate yourself after finishing this study on Believe.
Did you move up the scale? Why or why not?
 Which chapter was the hardest for you to grasp the concept? Why?
 Which chapter spoke the most to you? Why?
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Attachment A
Summary of Believe
Think –
Chapter
1
Title
God
Key Idea
I believe the God of the Bible
is the only true God – Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit.
2
Personal God
I believe God is involved in
and cares about my daily life.
3
Salvation
I believe that a person comes
into a right relationship with
God by God’s grace through
faith in Jesus Christ.
4
The Bible
I believe the Bible is the
inspired Word of God that
guides my beliefs and actions.
What Do I
Believe?
Key Verse
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God, and the fellowship
of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
2 Corinthians 13:14
I lift up my eyes to the mountains –
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
The Maker of heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:1-2
For it is by grace you have been saved,
through faith—and this is not from
yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by
works, so that no one can boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9
All Scripture is God-breathed and is
useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting
and training in righteousness, 17so that
the servant of God may be thoroughly
equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
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Think –
What Do I
Believe?
(continued)
Chapter
5
Title
Identity in Christ
6
Church
7
Humanity
8
Compassion
9
Stewardship
Key Idea
I believe I am significant
because of my position as a
child of God.
Key Verse
Yet to all who did receive him, to those
who believed in his name, he gave the
right to become children of God.
John 1:12
I believe the church is God’s
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we
primary way to accomplish his will grow to become in every respect
purposes on earth.
the mature body of him who is the
head, that is, Christ.
Ephesians 4:15
I believe all people are loved For God so loved the world that he
by God and need Jesus Christ gave his one and only Son, that
as their Savior.
whoever believes in him shall not
perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
I believe God calls all
Defend the weak and the fatherless;
Christians to show
uphold the cause of the poor and the
compassion to people in
oppressed.
need.
Rescue the weak and the needy;
deliver them from the hand of the
wicked.
Psalm 82:3-4
I believe everything I am and The earth is the Lord’s and everything
everything I own belong to
in it, the world, and all who live in it;
God.
for he founded it on the seas and
established it on the waters.
Psalm 24:1-2
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Think –
Chapter
10
Title
Eternity
11
Worship
12
Prayer
What Do I
Believe?
(concluded)
Act –
What Should I
Do?
Key Idea
I believe there is a heaven and
a hell and that Jesus will
return to judge all people and
to establish his eternal
kingdom.
Key Verse
“Do not let your hearts be troubled.
You believe in God; believe also in me.
2
My Father’s house has many rooms; if
that were not so, would I have told you
that I am going there to prepare a place
for you?
John 14:1-2
I worship God for who he is
Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
and what he has done for me. let us shout aloud to the Rock of our
salvation.
2
Let us come before him with
thanksgiving and extol him with music
and song.
Psalm 95:1-2
I pray to God to know him, to If I had cherished sin in my heart, the
find direction for my life and Lord would not have listened;
to lay my requests before him. 19 but God has surely listened and has
heard my prayer.
20
Praise be to God, who has not
rejected my prayer or withheld his love
from me!
Psalm 66:18-20
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Epilogue & Summary
Act –
Chapter
13
Title
Bible Study
What Should I
Do?
(continued)
Key Idea
I study the Bible to know God
and his truth and to find
direction for my daily life.
14
Single-Mindedness I focus on God and his
priorities for my life.
15
Total Surrender
I dedicate my life to God’s
purposes.
Key Verse
For the word of God is alive and active.
Sharper than any double-edged sword,
it penetrates even to dividing soul and
spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the
thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12
But seek first his kingdom and his
righteousness, and all these things will
be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:33
I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view
of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as
a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to
God – this is your true and proper
worship.
Romans 12:1
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Epilogue & Summary
Act –
Chapter
16
What Should I
Do?
(continued)
Title
Biblical
Community
17
Spiritual Gifts
18
Offering My Time
Key Idea
I fellowship with other
Christians to accomplish
God’s purposes in my life, in
the lives of others and in the
world.
Key Verse
All the believers were together and had
everything in common. 45They sold
property and possessions to give to
anyone who had need. 46Every day they
continued to meet together in the
temple courts. They broke bread in
their homes and ate together with glad
and sincere hearts, 47praising God and
enjoying the favor of all the people.
And the Lord added to their number
daily those who were being saved.
Acts 2:44-47
I know my spiritual gifts and
For just as each of us has one body with
use them to fulfill God’s
many members, and these members do
purposes.
not all have the same function, 5so in
Christ we, though many, form one
body, and each member belongs to all
the others. 6We have different gifts,
according to the grace given to each of
us.
Romans 12:4-6
I offer my time to fulfill God’s Whatever you do, whether in word or
purposes.
deed, do it all in the name of the Lord
Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father
through him.
Colossians 3:17
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Epilogue & Summary
Act –
Chapter
19
What Should I
Do?
(concluded)
Be –
Title
Giving My
Resources
20
Sharing My Faith
21
Love
22
Joy
Who Am I
Becoming?
Key Idea
I give my resources to fulfill
God’s purposes.
Key Verse
But since you excel in everything—in
faith, in speech, in knowledge, in
complete earnestness and in the love
we have kindled in you—see that you
also excel in this grace of giving.
2 Corinthians 8:7
I share my faith with others to Pray also for me, that whenever I
fulfill God’s purposes.
speak, words may be given me so that I
will fearlessly make known the mystery
of the gospel, 20 for which I am an
ambassador in chains. Pray that I may
declare it fearlessly, as I should.
Ephesians 6:19-20
I am committed to loving God This is love: not that we loved God, but
and loving others.
that he loved us and sent his Son as an
atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11Dear
friends, since God so loved us, we also
ought to love one another. 12No one has
ever seen God; but if we love one
another, God lives in us and his love is
made complete in us.
1 John 4:10-12
Despite my circumstances, I
I have told you this so that my joy may
fell inner contentment and
be in you and that your joy may be
understand my purpose in
complete.
life.
John 15:11
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Be –
Chapter
23
Title
Peace
Key Idea
I am free from anxiety
because I have found peace
with God, peace with others,
and peace with myself.
24
Self-Control
I have the power through
Christ to control myself.
25
Hope
I can cope with the hardships
of life because of the hope I
have in Jesus Christ.
Who Am I
Becoming?
(continued)
Key Verse
Do not be anxious about anything, but
in every situation, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, present your
requests to God. 7And the peace of
God, which transcends all
understanding, will guard your hearts
and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
For the grace of God has appeared that
offers salvation to all people. 12 It
teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness
and worldly passions, and to live selfcontrolled, upright and godly lives in
this present age, 13while we wait for the
blessed hope—the appearing of the
glory of our great God and Savior,
Jesus Christ.
Titus 2:11-13
We have this hope as an anchor for the
soul, firm and secure. It enters the
inner sanctuary behind the curtain,
where our forerunner, Jesus, has
entered on our behalf.
Hebrews 6:19-20
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Be –
Who Am I
Becoming?
(continued)
Chapter
26
Title
Patience
Key Idea
I am slow to anger and endure
patiently under the
unavoidable pressures of life.
27
Kindness /
Goodness
I choose to be kind and good
in my relationships with
others.
28
Faithfulness
I have established a good
name with God and others
based on my loyalty to those
relationships.
29
Gentleness
30
Humility
I am thoughtful, considerate,
and calm in my dealings with
others.
I choose to esteem others
above myself.
Key Verse
Whoever is patient has great
understanding, but one who is quicktempered displays folly.
Proverbs 14:29
Make sure that nobody pays back
wrong for wrong, but always strive to do
what is good for each other and for
everyone else.
1 Thessalonians 5:15
Let love and faithfulness never leave
you; bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
Then you will win favor and a good
name in the sight of God and man.
Proverbs 3:3-4
Let your gentleness be evident to all.
The Lord is near.
Philippians 4:5
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or
vain conceit. Rather, in humility value
others above yourselves, 4not looking to
your own interests but each of you to
the interests of the others.
Philippians 3:3-4
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