Living as Children of God

Introduction

While a father was washing his car one Saturday morning, he looked over and saw his four-year-old son picking up rocks and rubbing them on his trousers. He asked, “What are you doing?” Innocently, his son replied, “I want to be dusty like you, dad.” You see, this young father worked at a feed processing plant. Every day when he came home, his son would comment about how dusty he was. Years later when he recounted the story, that father said, “I realized that if a son would look up to his father for being dusty, he would look up to dad for anything.” In Philippians 2:12-16 we see what it means to live as children of God who try to be like their heavenly Father in everything. Explore this passage to understand more about what it means to live out your salvation as a child of God.

Observation

Pray

Before studying today's passage, pray and ask its Author, God, to help you understand the truth He presents in it and how He wants that to change your life today.

Read Focus Verses

Read Philippians 2:12-16 noticing what it says about God's people.

Names

What names and titles does this passage use for God's people?

Keyword - Children

Marking these names and titles given to God's people, like 'sons of God,' will help them stand out.

Beloved

Mark the names and titles used for God's people in Philippians 2:12-16.

Context

Reading Philippians 2:1-11 will put today's passage in context and help you understand the basis for the commands we'll look at today.

Basis

On what basis are the commands in today's passage built?

Have Done

What does verse 12 say these believers have done well?

Go Further

What are they to add to their obedience according to verse 12?

Whose Work

Whose work is their obedience and salvation ultimately?

Everything

How does verse 14 say Christians are to do everything?

Result

According to verse 15, what is the result of doing everything without murmurings and disputings?

Contrast

How does verse 15 contrast believers with the world around them?

Mission Accomplished

What does Paul say, in verse 16, that if they will do his labor will have been worth it?

Interpretation

Dearly Beloved

Notice that Paul calls these believers beloved in Philippians 4:1 also.

Loved Ones

What is the significance of the opening name, beloved, that Paul uses for these believers?

In My Absence

If these believers were only trying to please Paul, they would have been tempted to obey more perfectly when he was with them than when he was gone. What does it say about who they were trying to please that they continued to obey in Paul's absence?

Work Out

In verse 12, the believers are instructed to work out their salvation. Take a moment to look at the word translated work out.

Purpose

Titus 2:13-14 gives us further insight into what it looks like to live out one's salvation.

Good Works

Notice how Ephesians 2:8-10 also connects the ideas of salvation and life change.

Living in the Gospel

Philippians has already touched on this theme of living in light of the gospel in 1:27-30. (Explore that passage in the study plan titled, "The Fearlessness of Heaven's Citizens.")

Living out Salvation

If someone asked you, 'What does it mean to live out your salvation?' how would you use these passages to answer them?

Lifetime Pilgrims

1 Peter 1:17-21 explains more of what today's passage means by fear.

Our God

Hebrews 12:28-29 explains further.

At His Word

In Isaiah 66:1-2 we see the importance of this fear of God.

Whole Duty

The last verses of Ecclesiastes, 12:13-14, put it all in perspective when they explain that fearing God is the foundation of meaningful living.

Tricked Out of Reward

Colossians 2:18-19 shows us what Christians have to be wary of.

Unbelief Unveiled

Others who looked like they were Christians will show they were not because they do not persevere according to Hebrews 3:12-4:1

Trembling

Take a look at the word translated trembling.

In Your Words

In your own words, what does it mean to work out one's salvation with fear and trembling?

The Holy Spirit

Romans 8:11 gives us insight into what it means that God works in His people.

Christ in Me

Galatians 2:20 takes that thought even further.

Certain

In Numbers 23:19 we see the certainty of God accomplishing what He sets out to do.

He Will Finish

Philippians opens with this certainty in 1:3-6.

Your Father's Good Pleasure

Jesus tells us in Luke 12:32 what God's pleasure is regarding His children.

God's Good Pleasure

In Ephesians 1:3-12 we see how it pleases God to accomplish that purpose.

Unto all Pleasing

Colossians 1:9-13 tells us how God's work fits with His people's work in these two verses (12-13) in today's passage.

With Joy

Jude 1:24-25 also speaks of God's pleasure in accomplishing this work of transforming His people's lives through the gospel.

God's Work

What does it mean that God is working in His people?

God's Purpose

What is God working in His people's lives according to Scripture?

God's Pleasure

Why is it so amazing that God takes pleasure in this? Why does this work please Him?

Pride

Philippians chapter 2 opens with a challenge to live humbly. Proverbs 13:10 shows us how doing everything without murmuring and disputing is tied into this.

Strife or Humility

Just a few verses before today's passage, Philippians 2:3 speaks to this theme.

Content

Hebrews 13:5-6 shows us that doubting God's promises is at the root of complaining.

Wisdom

James 3:13-18 painfully exposes the foolishness of strife and contention.

Root

What is at the root of complaining and arguing?

Different

Why will obeying verse 14 make Christians stand out as verse 15 says?

Blameless

Take a moment to consider, why does God want His people to be blameless and above reproach?

Harmless

What does it mean that God's people are harmless?

Sons of God

We can learn a lot by considering the titles God uses for Himself and others in various places in His Word. Consider the use of the title 'sons of God' in verse 15. Notice how the title is used very similarly in Matthew 5:9.

Like Your Father

A little later in Matthew 5:43-48 this is further explored.

Children of God

1 John 3:1-3 helps us understand more of what it means to be children of God.

Children

Why does verse 15 of today's passage use the title it does to describe God's people?

Worse and Worse

In 2 Timothy 3:13 we see that the world around God's people is getting worse.

Darkened

Ephesians 4:17-24 explains why the world is so bad.

Blinded

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 reveals that Satan is at the heart of this world's darkness.

Light of the World

In Matthew 5:14-16, the Lord Jesus explains that His people are to be the light of this world.

Once…Now

Ephesians 5:8 clarifies that everyone who is now God's child and a light in this world was once part of its darkness.

Light and Darkness

Why does God use the analogy of light and darkness to describe how His people should be in the world around them?

Words of Life

Jesus tells us in John 6:63 whose are the Words of life.

The Word

In 1 John 1:1-3 we see that it isn't just the Words God speaks to us through His Word, but Jesus Christ Himself who is the Word of life.

Everlasting Life

John 3:16 summarizes the message of life God's people can offer.

Not Ashamed

Romans 1:16-17 reminds us why Christians can boldly hold forth the Word of life without being ashamed.

Holding Forth

What will holding forth the Word of life look like in a Christian's life?

At His Coming

Consider how 1 Thessalonians 2:19 ties into today's passage.

Paul's Focus

If we read Philippians 1:12-20 we see why Paul's ultimate goal for these Christians, his ultimate dream, was for them to boldly share the gospel.

Understand

How does understanding what Paul was willing to suffer for the sake of sharing the gospel help us understand why it was so important to him that these Christians share it too?

Concern

In many of the Epistles we see Paul's concern that his efforts and suffering to share the gospel with a church would be wasted if they turned away from the gospel. See what he says to the church at Thessalonica in 1 Thessalonians 3:5-8.

Running

Notice how Paul expands on running a race as an analogy for his work in 1 Corinthians 9:23-27.

Why?

Why would Paul consider his labor and suffering worthwhile if these Christians would share the Word of life with others?

Summary

How would you summarize Philippians 2:12-16 in your own words?

Application

Living Out Your Salvation

How is God challenging you through this passage to live out your salvation today?

Without Murmuring and Disputing

What in your life needs to change so that you live without murmurings and disputings so that you can be a light to the world around you?

Child

How does your position as a child of God impact how you should think and live today?

The Word of Life

How are you going to hold forth the Word of life today?

Wrapup

Closing

We hope this study has helped you understand better what it looks like to live as a child of God and has challenged you to live out your salvation today.

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