Grace Evangelical-Lutheran: Philippians 2,12-13. Septuagesima

Monday, February 1, 2021

Philippians 2,12-13. Septuagesima

Philippians 2,12-13 1221

Septuagesima 020

Vigilius, Bishop of Trent, Italy. Martyr 410

31. Januar 2021

1. O Lord God, Heavenly Father, who through Your Holy Word has called us into Your vineyard: Send, we beseech You, Your Holy Spirit into our hearts, so that we may labor faithfully in Your vineyard, shun sin and all offense, obediently keep Your Word and do Your will and put our whole and only trust in Your grace, which You have bestowed upon us so plenteously through Your Son Jesus Christ, so that we may obtain eternal salvation through Him. Amen. (Veit Dietrich)

2. »Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.«

3. There is a neat parallel with our Gospel and Epistle readings today. In His parable, Jesus describes that the reign of heaven is like a wealthy man who hires laborers to work in his vineyard. In his epistle, Paul exhorts us to work out our salvation. The parallel is the verb work.

4. Those verses are in the larger context of Paul’s epistle, so let’s summarize that context. »And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. ... And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. ... Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel. ... For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in Him but also suffer for His sake. ... Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.« (Philippians 1,6.9-12.27-29; 3,8).

5. Paul says that it is God who has begun this good work in us, and Paul is talking about faith: God has created our faith in Him. God has made us righteous and this righteousness produces fruit. Paul tells us to stand firm in our faith and righteousness, for this is God’s work in us. Paul then exhorts us to build upon our faith and righteousness, and that is centered upon us suffering for Christ sake. Philippians is one of Paul’s prison epistles; he is imprisoned under Roman imperial custody one account of proclaiming the gospel. He suffers because he is preaching about Jesus. Paul says the Philippians are likewise suffering for the sake of Christ. So when Paul says to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, he is saying that suffering on account of Christ is this working out of our salvation.

6. Paul is not saying we earn or merit our salvation through works or suffering. He is quite forthright in his preaching that our righteousness comes through faith in Christ alone. He reminds us that suffering, persecution and martyrdom our part and parcel with faith in Christ. To suffer on account of Christ is the working out of our salvation, and that such suffering strengthens our faith. Paul speaks of this also in his Epistle to the Romans: »Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. ...

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us« (Romans 5,1.3-5). Such are the works that the Holy Spirit performs in us.

7. »Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. ... We know how to be brought low, and we know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, we have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. We can do all things through Him who strengthens us. ... And our God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit« (Philippians 4,4-9.12-13.19-23). Amen.

10. Let us pray. O Lord Jesus Christ, our Righteous Lord; hear our prayers and answer our please, so that Your great mercy abounds upon us. Amen.

To God alone be the Glory

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

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All Scriptural quotations are translations done by The Rev. Peter A. Bauernfeind using the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, 4. Edition © 1990 by the Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart, and the Novum Testamentum Graece, Nestle-Aland 28. Revised Edition © 2012 by Deutsch Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart.

Grace Evangelical-Lutheran

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church

Monday, February 1, 2021

Philippians 2,12-13. Septuagesima

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