Philippians 2:5-11

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Luke 2:11

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Romans 10:9

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Philippians 2:12-13

12 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, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

TWO EXTREMES TO BE AVOIDED

QUIETISM ("Let Go and Let God.")

To state it in brief, I would just say that man’s part is to trust and God’s part is to work. . . . Plainly the believer can do nothing but trust; while the Lord, in whom he trusts, actually does the work intrusted to Him. . . . We do not do anything, but He does it.” (Hannah Whitall Smith, The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life)

Galatians 2:20

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Philippians 3:12-14

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

PIETISM (A life of effort, i.e. self-discipline, strict obedience, study, and service)

2 Corinthians 7:1

Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

James 2:17

So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

But to create our own list of things that are either spiritual or unspiritual, when Scripture simply does not address those things, is a form of legalism. Sadly, byproducts of Pietism are self-righteousness, pride, inconsistency, and even hypocrisy. All this results because spiritual living is divorced from spiritual power, self-effort replaces Spirit control, and personal preference trumps divine precept. -Dr. J. D. Watson

FINDING BALANCE BETWEEN THE TWO EXTREMES

A. OUR EFFORT

Philippians 2:12-13

12 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, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

"with fear and trembling"

“It is that affectionate reverence by which the child of God bends himself humbly and carefully to his Father’s law. His wrath is so bitter, and His love so sweet; that hence springs an earnest desire to please Him, and—because of the danger of coming short from his own weakness and temptations—a holy watchfulness and fear, ‘that he might not sin against Him.” (Charles Bridges)

B. GOD'S ENABLEMENT

Philippians 2:12-13

12 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, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

“In verse twelve, we have human responsibility, in verse thirteen, divine enablement, a perfect balance which must be kept if the Christian life is to be lived at its best. It is not a ‘let go and let God’ affair. It is a ‘take hold with God’ business.”

-Kenneth Wuest

"The life of the Christian is not a series of ups and downs, but ins and outs. God works in us and we work out what He has done within us."

-Rod Mattoon

Hebrews 12:1-2,

...let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith,

1 Corinthians 15:10

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

A. Obey the Lord with a Good Attitude

Philippians 2:14

14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing,

B. Walk With Integrity

Philippians 2:15

15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation...

C. Shine Light Into the Darkness

Philippians 2:15

...among whom you shine as lights in the world,

D. Walk in God's Strength

Philippians 2:16

16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.