The Pulpit Commentary — Philippians — Section 79

oombnt. "S0 run that yo mRy obtain" (1 Cor, ix, 24); "So fight 11 not ns one thnt beakth th,· nir" (l Cor. ix. 26); "Striving according to his workina which wurhth i~ rue m_igh~il.l'. "(Col. i.,,29); "-~- press t?,wR~ the m~r.k for the pri?.eof the hi~h calling {11 G'.'<1 m ChIJst Jesus . (eh. 11 1. 14) ;_ ~1ve all d1hgence to make your cRlling 11nd 0 c>lecl10n ~ure (2 Pet. 1. 10). 2. It implies that Gotl h<18 al.ready worked in wl1at '°" are t-0 work out. If we work out anything else, it will be of nature or tho devil. If, t hcrefore, we hRve fait.h, hope, or fove, let 11s work it out. If we have been begotten again with the incorruptible seed of the Word, work out its imperishable principles In all the lovely con~istencies of a holy life. 3. It implies a constant and faithful tJSP, of all the moons appointed by God fur this end. (Matt. vi. 33; Acts xiii. 43 • Rom. xii. 12.) ' III. 'l'HE REASON OR ENCOURAGEMENT FOR ENERGY IN THIS WORK. II For it is God that ,l"orketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." 1. Oonsider how the encou.ragement operntes. The believer strives because he is assured of Divine co-operation in the work. '!'here is a spirit of dependence in human life which tends t0 prod nee weakness and sterility; but dependence on God is the true spring of all effort, strength, and heroism. Divine grace has no tendency to supersede human effort, but rather to stimulate it to greater resnlts. The fact that an army is led by a matchless general dc>es cot make soldiers less, but more, resolute in carrying out his commands. Wellington regarded the presence of Napoleon Bonaparte at the head of his army as equal to a hundred thousand additional bayonets. Let the Christian, then, work out his salvatioo ; for he has God working in him every result involved in it. 2. Consider the sphere ef God's worlnng. "It is God that worketh in you both t-0 will and to do of his ~ood pleasure." 'l'be Divine operation touches the first impulse of the will as well ns the final achievement that flows from it. Augustine says, "Therefore we will, bnt God 'l\·orks in us also to will; therefore we work, but God works in us also to work." How natural, then, that believers should attribute everything good in them to Divine grace! 3. Consider the end and direction qf this 'IJJorking. "Of his good pleasure." God <leligbts in this work, even in the perfection of his saints. It is his good pleasure that they should he holy, pure, loving. 4. Consider the mystery of the double working here implied. The apostle does not attempt to explain the blending of the two activities in one glorious work, so as to indicate where the one ends and the other begins. In other words, he does not attempt to reconcile the doctrine of man's freedom with the doctrine or God's sovereignty. This is a deep mystery, which kith can accept, but the philosophies of earth have tried in vain to U!lJ'avel. - IV. 'fHE sPmIT Di WHICH BELIEVEBII ABE TO WOBX OUT THEIB SALVATION. "With fcnr nnd trembling." With an inward distrust of our own power and an anxious solicitude fur the constant action or Divine power. There is a fear and a trembling that have a true place in the Christian life, in consideration of our sins and our weaknesses, yet that lead us to cling all the closer to the Ark of our strength. Fear has its place even by the side of faith, pointing its finger to -possible dangers. ". Thou standest by faith: therefore be thou not high-minded, but fear." But the fear 1s not that which is hostile to full 3!15n.ranee, but to carnality and recklessness; while the trcmblina is not that of the slave, but of the child of God, tremblingly alive to all his responsibilities and to the fear of vexing God's Holy Spirit. V. CoN:lIDEE.ATIONS WHY WE SHOULD BE CAllEFUL TO DO TIDS WORK. 1. God :ommaruls it. (Acts xvii. 30.) 2. He shows U/11ww to do it. (Micah vi. 8.) 3. He wc,r/u; wuh u, a11d in us to do it. 4. It is the most pleasant W()Tk, (Prov. iii. 17.) 5. It is most l,ono1trable. (Prov. xii. 26.) 6. It is most profitable. (1 Tim. iv. 8.) 7. It is work 11ot to be begun only, but finished. (John xvii. 4.) 8. .All other works are sin till this is begun. (Isa. lxvi. 3.) 9. Unlus it be done, we are undone/or ever. (Luke riii. 3.r-T. C. Vers. 14-16.-The importance of a content,ed, and peaceful, halJit of soul. "Do all things without murmurings and disputings.n L THE CHARACTER AND mFLUENCE or AN Uli'lllURMUBING AND PEACEFUL BPIBIT. 1. Murrr.iuing is hue meant agaimt God. It may arise (1) from our experience of a disagreeable lot or from dark providences; or (2) from ao untbankful spirit. "Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" (Job ii. 10.) We OIi, H. 1-30.] 'l'IIE EPIS'l'LE TO 'rfrn PIIIL[PPfANfl. 75