Philippians 2:12-18
Q.1. What special assistance has God given to help us live a life that is pleasing to the Lord? – (Phil.2:12-13)
Paul charged believers to – work out your salvation with fear and trembling (Phil.2:12). However, with our Adamic nature that is prone to sin, this is very difficult. For that reason, Paul reminded us about the assistance of the indwelling Holy Spirit – who is at work in you both to will and to work for His good pleasure (Phil.2:13). It is a great relief to know that God has addressed our two major problems in this way. (i) Often, we still struggle to want to do God’s pleasure. However, He is at work in us to create the desire and will. (ii) Even when we want to do what is right, we struggle to do it. What a comfort to know that the Holy Spirit also works in us to help us to do what He wants.
Q.2. In what way are we to be different from the world? Why is it crucial to hold fast to the Word of Life? – (Eph.2:14-18)
Jesus instructed us that – man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Mt.4:4). This was how He lived and prevailed. To be different from a – crooked and perverse generation … requires us to– hold fast to the word of life i.e. the Word of God (Phil.2:15-16). The degree to which I know and am committed to obey God’s Word, is the degree by which I will be able to shun the deeds of darkness and live unselfishly for Christ. It is a life-long battle that Paul willingly waged, even at the cost of his own personal safety. He saw the road of suffering as the way of joy (Phil.2:17-18).