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June 2, 2008 Salvation in Philippians, What Is It?
Topic Started: Jun 5 2008, 07:35 PM (150 Views)
lightninboy

June 2, 2008
Salvation in Philippians, What Is It?

This past Saturday night I spoke on the meaning of the words save and salvation in the NT. A friend who is an expert in the book of Philippians, Bob Swift, made some terrific comments when we discussed salvation in Philippians.

He suggested, rightly I believe, that the salvation of Phil 1:19, where Paul says, “I know that this [his imprisonment and various people preaching Christ for good and bad motives] will turn out for my salvation through your prayers and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ…” is explained in the very next verse. Clearly Paul was already born again. He didn’t need the Philippians to pray so that he might have eternal life! He needed them to pray, and the Spirit to empower him, so that he might glorify Christ in his afflictions. Bob Swift suggested that in the very next verse Paul defines the salvation of which he is speaking as follows: “That in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death” (Phil 1:20).

Salvation in Phil 1:19 is enduring persecution for Christ with the result that Christ is glorified and that he will have boldness and not shame at the Bema.

The same basic idea is seen the notorious problem text, Phil 2:12, “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Bob Swift suggested that Paul defines that salvation a few verses later when he write, “That you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world…” (Phil 2:15). Notice that how we will be found by Jesus at His Judgment Seat is in view both in 1:20 and 2:15.

Salvation in Philippians is the successful handling of persecution in such a way that Christ is magnified in our lives with the result that at the Bema we will have boldness and not be ashamed before Christ.

The world salvation in the NT rarely refers to the new birth or to deliverance from eternal condemnation (e.g., John 3:17; Eph 2:5, 8; Titus 3:5). Over 70% of the time in the NT salvation refers to deliverance from death, disease, God’s temporal wrath, or as in Philippians and Hebrews, a figurative use that looks at handling persecution well with the result that one will have boldness at the return of Christ.

Increasing in Him,
Bob_Wilkin
No I will not, No I will not
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lightninboy

Responses to “Salvation in Philippians, What Is It?”

1. Turbo Says:
June 3rd, 2008 at 8:05 am
Isn’t Philippians 2:12 tied to Philippians 1:28 ? I do need a better understanding of what Paul is saying in these two verses. Terror, fear and trembling in believers during conflict suffered for Christ can turn out to be a good thing it seems? For our adversaries it is proof we are bound for destruction but for us proof of our salvation from God. In chapter 2 verse 16 Paul wants these fellow believers to endure without complaining ,to be blameless children of God in the present crooked world, holding fast the word of life so that I (Paul) may rejoice in the day of Christ that his(Paul’s) efforts in these Philippians remain . Although these chapters in Philippians can point towards rewards at Christ’ bema, I really see them more as a present day encouragement for believers to hold onto their faith. As Christ served and suffered and is now in Heaven, we also will be with Him one day. I do believe in rewards for believers but see future individual rewards in these passages as less emphasized. Also in chapter 1 Paul expects to be delivered from his chains in order to return to these Philippians but if he dies it is gain or if he lives on it will mean fruit from his labor in the flesh. It is hard to take a verse or two out of Philippians because the letter flows so well together . I don’t know of Paul’s rewards at the bema but I do know he is no longer in chains. Chains kinda scare me !

2. jreitman Says:
June 3rd, 2008 at 9:42 am
Paul’s qualification “work out…with fear and trembling,” seems to imply some uncertainty in the future “completion” of the intended sense of soteria (”salvation” “deliverance”) in both 1:19 and 2:12—there is clearly something personal at stake here that is contingent on “work” or “perseverance”.

This has caused no small amount of controversy and is used to bolster a number of divergent theologies, depending on one’s take on the implications of “working out…with fear and trembling.” Assuming that Paul is addressing fellow believers (a safe assumption in the context of Philippians), this contingency of “your salvation” on works has been taken to imply one of three possibilities (see below).

One’s theological stance on perseverance (Calvinistic, Arminian, or free grace) will determine (for better or worse) which of these options best articulates this sense of contingency of our “salvation” in light of the overall redemptive plan and character of God. They cannot all be true, so this forces a choice that can have profound consequences in how one approaches one’s salvation in this life.

1) the potential loss of one’s “justified” status in the eyes of God, once initially received; i.e., one could “lose” eternal life, or our salvation is only “provisional,” depending on how it is “worked out”;

2) the potential loss of life/health in present circumstances (cf., e.g., 1 Cor 11:29-32; 1 John 5:16; Jas 5:20). (This loss of life/health might or might not also be associated with loss of one’s justified status; i.e., we might or might not also lose eternal life); or

3) the unconditional preservation of one’s justified status in the eyes of God (eternal life) but with the potential loss of “future reward” (cf. 1 Cor 3:14-15) or “vindication” or “approval” (cf. 1 John 2:28 ) on the “day of Christ” in the judgment of believers for their works (cf. 2 Cor 5:10-11). (This loss of future reward might or might not also be associated with the loss of present physical health/life, as per the cross references in #2)

Although Bob didn’t mention it in discussing Bob Swift’s take on 2:12, I find the most compelling contextual evidence in 2:16—you gotta decide what Paul means by “day of Christ.” A comparative study of the contexts in which Paul uses “day of Christ” or “at his appearing” or “day of the Lord” is virtually conclusive that he is alluding to the Second Coming of Christ and, specifically, the role of the Bema as it relates to believers at his coming (see the cross-references in option “3″ above).

It seems that Paul is certainly willing to have his present life/health cut short prematurely (cf. 1:20 (”whether by life or death”) and 2:17 (”[even] if I am poured out as a drink offering”). So, being delivered from present/premature death or prolonged incarceration is not Paul’s main concern.
The contexts of 1:19 and 2:12 thus suggest option 3 is the only viable option, with Paul’s ultimate deliverance/vindication/approval on the occasion of “future reward” (the Bema) as far more important to him than physical deliverance.

Hence, in the context of Philippians (in almost all of Paul’s letters), Paul uses the example of his own life and circumstances as a model for how the Philippians should face oppostion to the spread of the gospel—Paul’s ultimate purpose for reassuring the Philippians that they can have joy in all circumstances: The whole message of “deliverance/salvation” to the Philippians is predicated on whether they will continue to be bold for the gospel or not—that’s the real contingency Paul is discussing. In other words, Turbo, our present “chains” can’t compare with the “weight of glory” that waits for us at the Bema (cf. 2 Cor 4:16-5:10), if we “hold fast [against opposition] to the word of life” (Phil 2:16).

3. Turbo Says:
June 3rd, 2008 at 10:49 am
Perhaps I wasn’t clear as I do believe in the bema for believers and rewards or loss of rewards. I have read Corinthians and other places where Paul taught this judgement of a believer’s works. I doubt that the Philippians read the Corinthians letters although Paul and Timothy taught these believers many things. I feel the focus here is not on individual rewards but encouragement to get through our struggles, even our fears, for the day when we will be with our Lord in Heaven. I do not know for what I may recieve a reward or even if I will in that day but I can see in my present situation my fears,afflictions and trials that I am to hold onto my faith in Christ until I am with Him. Not doubting my faith in Him helps me not be so afraid in bad situations. Thanks for your comments and I do see what you are saying.

4. Bob_Wilkin Says:
June 3rd, 2008 at 11:09 am
I don’t recall if I mentioned that Paul said “your own salvation” or “your salvation” in 2:12, which is clearly in juxtaposition to Paul speaking of “my salvation” in 1:19. He was looking for a future soteria (at the Bema, I’d say) and so too should they be.

You are right, of course, Turbo, that is hard if not impossible to take a few verses out of a book like Philippians and interpret them void of context. However, one key is to see the repeated references or allusions to the Bema. See, for example, 1:6, “until the day of Jesus Christ,” 1:10, “till the day of Christ,” 2:16, “that I may rejoice in the day of Christ,” 3:13-14, “forgetting those things which are behind and reaching to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus,” 3:20-21, “we eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body…,” 4:5, “The Lord is at hand,” 4:17, “I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.”

The more I study the NT, the more I am being convinced that Judgment Seat of Christ truth permeates almost every paragraph, whether explicitly or implicitly, especially in the epistles.

5. Turbo Says:
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Really my question was concerning the relation of the two verses, 1:28 and 2:12 and not how Paul is or is not covering the bema for the Philippians here. 1:28 seems to indicate that if they are terrified, their adversaries would see this terror as proof that they are destined for destruction? But, of course they are not . The second part of verse 28 is maybe saying a lack of terror is proof of your salvation/deliverance from God or does it relate back to verse 27 in standing fast in one spirit, one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel and that will keep them from terror and that to their salvation/deliverance from God? I see a relation between 1:28 and 2:12-13 that I can not nail down. Maybe there is no relation to terror in 1:28 and fear and trembling in 2:12? On another point, it seems that in 1:19 Paul is speaking of deliverance from chains in Rome so that he can return to these Philippians to help them as the context of 19-26 shows. I enjoy reading all the articles and things from the many free grace sites. No free grace churches here in my home state of Arkansas that I know of where a person could go to study and learn. We do have electricity here now though !

6. dwags4him Says:
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:34 pm
One thing that reinforces the idea of the Fg argument is is that even though it is our responsibility to ‘katergazomai’ (idea of completing or working alongside that which has been started) our own salvation, it is God who ‘energeo’s’ (empowers, works within us)in us not only to grant us the desire to pleae Him, but also to complete His work there (Phil. 1:6)!

What a marvelous grace He supplies!

7. Bob_Wilkin Says:
June 5th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
I’d say in 1:19 Paul is not speaking of deliverance from his chains because he envisions this salvation whether he lives or whether he dies. The salvation Paul expects is handling this trial in a God-honoring way (1:20).

There are different Greek words used for terror in 1:28 and fear and trembling in 2:12. The ideas are related, but in 1:28 they are not to be terrified by their persecutors whereas in 2:12 they are to tremble and fear as they work out their salvation. They are to fear the Lord Jesus and His judgment of them at the Bema. They are not to fear their tormentors because God will give them the victory over them if they allow HIm to work in them (2:13).
No I will not, No I will not
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8. Turbo Says:
June 5th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
Way to go on your 32 years of marriage. I don’t know if a person gets a reward at the bema for staying married. Maybe, depends on who you are married to ! My wife should get a reward I think, (this comment is under the wrong post I know).

Deliverance from chains means Paul can return to the Philippians and with joy help them to grow. Deliverance from chains through death to go be with the Lord is also good for Paul. Either way it is joy for him. Deliverance from the Judaizers(3:2-3)assaults or deliverance from the trial in Rome , Paul is confident through the Philippian prayers and Spirit of Christ he will be found blameless and that Christ will be exalted.
Already we see many of Paul’s guards are coming to know of Christ and others are gaining courage to speak the word of God because of Paul’s conflict.
In 1:28 Paul is saying do not be alarmed by your opponents . Your opponents see these trials as proof of your destruction but you see them as salvation from God( I don’t think the focus is on terror here but on trials/conflicts). Chapter 2:12 then work out, or through these trials from God that He has provided for you the opportunity to suffer for Christ(1:29). I do think the fear and trembling here in 2:12 is because of these trials. Who wouldn’t be afraid after being thrown into prison and maybe having your hair cut off about the neck level? This deliverance or salvation from these trials will result in Christ being exalted similar to the same conflict Paul is enduring and help believers grow in His image right now on earth or if death does come at the end of these trials as we see it did for our Savior in 2:1-11.(see James 1:2-7 and Rom.5:3 for present day examples of growth through trials). Rewards for these believers at the bema will most likely be a future benefit to come out of these trials. So deliverance now and continued growth here on earth and glory to God or deliverance through death exalting Christ and going to Him. The bema is later but I do not see it as the focus here in Philippians or future rewards as the motive for suffering for Christ here but it is to His glory in the present circumstances. Day by day we are to live by the same faith. A great follow up study to these passages in Philippians would be how Paul covered the bema and rewards in 1st Cor.3 . Thanks for your time in reading my comments. Shalom

9. jreitman Says:
June 5th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
Turbo, you said “I do not see it [the bema] as the focus here in Philippians or future rewards as the motive for suffering…” I do believe you argue pretty well your view on deliverance in the context of 1:19.

However, the context preceding 2:12 begins with the imperative “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ…” (2:5), then Paul explains why Christ’s humiliation is a desirable attitude: Because it will directly result (”therefore,” 2:9) in Christ’s exaltation, on an occasion when “every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord…” The contextual implication is that if Paul’s readers fully share in Christ’s humiliation they will also fully share in Christ’s exaltation (2:9-11).

The very next word hwste means “therefore, accordingly” as it introduces the main clause of 2:12, “…work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” Given the immediately preceding context, the prospect of having to bow the knee and confess Jesus as Lord when I see him—but with little to show for it—would certainly evoke my “fear and trembling” and motivate me to aquit myself as a worthy servant in this present life.

Then, in the immediately following context Paul discusses his own desire to glory in these same readers on the day of Christ, implying that his efforts on their behalf would not have been in vain when they stand before Christ, suitably exalted at the bema for “holding fast the Word of life.”

I must confess that from the flow of Paul’s argument here it is difficult for me not to see future reward at the bema when we are exalted together with Christ as a primary incentive for Paul’s exhortation to endure suffering for the sake of the gospel from 2:5 all the way through 16.

Paul’s discussion in 1 Cor 3, where the context is corporate divisiveness, has clear parallels with Phil 2:1-4, where selfish ambition seems to have been the problem leading to his exhortation in that context. I think the incentive Paul provides in both contexts is analogous.

10. ansbible Says:
June 20th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
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).

Finally, if the phrase were properly translated “work for” instead of “work out” then I would think that one might consider that human doing as something to do with the reception of eternal life. But it isn’t properly translated that way

11. jreitman Says:
June 20th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
Totally agree. So, ansbible, do you then see soteria in Phil 2:12 as (1) temporal, i.e., (a) sanctification, or (b) physical deliverance; (2) eschatological, i.e., Bema; or (3) both, i.e., sanctification related to reward, such that both are in view for Paul in this context?

Similar debate ranges over the referent of the verbal form in James 2:14-26, “Can [his] faith save him?” (2:14). I am increasingly inclined to see this latter instance as bisemy—an ironic dual allusion of “save,” questioning both physical survival (for the “brother or sister” in need; compare 5:20) and eschatological reward at the Bema (for the one claiming to have faith; compare 1:12; 2:5; 5:9).

12. ansbible Says:
July 14th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
ANSWER TO jreitman’s response below:
“Totally agree. So, ansbible, do you then see soteria in Phil 2:12 as (1) temporal, i.e., (a) sanctification, or (b) physical deliverance; (2) eschatological, i.e., Bema; or (3) both, i.e., sanctification related to reward, such that both are in view for Paul in this context?”

The key words in your question are “in this context” to which my answer is limited. Hence I am not suggesting that there are no temporal or eternal rewards for working out ones salvation. It’s just that one cannot claim that the passage at hand has them in view:
[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) WORKING OUT ONES SALVATION - THE SALVATION UNTO ETERNAL LIFE THAT ONE ALREADY POSSESSES FOREVER - RESULTS IN ACTING ACCORDING TO GOD’S GOOD PURPOSE, FOR IT IS GOD WHO WORKS IN ONE TO WILL AND ACT ACCORDING TO HIS GOOD PURPOSE
(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.” =
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) INDIVIDUALS ARE TO WORK OUT THEIR SALVATION - THE SALVATION UNTO ETERNAL LIFE THAT THEY ALREADY POSSESS FOREVER - SO THAT THEY MAY BECOME BLAMELESS AND PURE CHILDREN OF GOD WITHOUT FAULT IN A CROOKED AND DEPRAVED GENERATION IN WHICH THEY ARE TO SHINE LIKE STARS IN THE UNIVERSE…

Truncated to save space. Please keep your answers and comments short and concise. You may communicate further through email or phone conversations. Thank you.
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