Own your Faith: Living out the call of Christ
Philippians • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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1. Participate in Personal Growth
1. Participate in Personal Growth
Therefore, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, so now, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose.
I want to point out the first word to notice: obeyed. Obedience! To whom? Not to Paul, but to Christ! Obedience to God.
Brothers and Sisters I love to notice that the first thing God tells us in 2025 is to OBEY THE LORD!
Not only in my presence, but even more in my absence
The Bible tells us repeatedly to know who we are. Not to be one way in front of people, and another way when no one is around. Not to be one way, and then another. Hypocrites.
Not to look in the mirror and then turn and forget what you look like!
Work our your own salvation with fear and trembling.
You have to own your faith.
My faith is not your faith.
So you need to KNOW what you believe and WHY you believe it.
For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast.
Salvation has occured
Besides this, since you know the time, it is already the hour for you to wake up from sleep, because now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.
Salvation is coming!
Paul tells us that Salvation is both something that has occured, and something that will be fully fulfilled in the future.
What does this tell us?
It tells us that we have been saved, that we are in the process known as SANCTIFICATION, and that there is a future FULFILLMENT of a promise when Christ calls us home.
For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose.
The highlights the importance of actively engaging in your personal spiritual growth, acknowledging that God's power is at work within you.
This is a call to deeper intentionality in faith, as God equips and energizes believers to live out their purpose.
We have GOD working within us to change our WILL and our WORK according to His good purpose! This empowerment reflects Christ's obedient example!
Trust in God's ongoing work in your life!
You do have a responsibility in their faith journey.
2. Practice Peace and Unity
2. Practice Peace and Unity
Do everything without grumbling and arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world,
How often do you turn on the news, or antisocial media, and hear people complaining about something?
If we could sum up 2024 with 3 words: grumbling and arguing! AMEN!
living without grumbling or arguing sets believers apart in a world prone to discord and complaining.
This passage tells us that Christians are to be lights in darkness!
embodying Christ's peaceful and loving character.
By practicing gratitude and harmony, believers illuminate Christ's transformative power, offering a compelling witness to the world.
How can we take some practical steps to cultivate contentment and unity as part of owning one's faith?
3. Proclaim Purpose and Joy
3. Proclaim Purpose and Joy
by holding firm to the word of life. Then I can boast in the day of Christ that I didn’t run or labor for nothing. But even if I am poured out as a drink offering on the sacrificial service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. In the same way you should also be glad and rejoice with me.
You could highlight the significance of holding fast to the word of life as both a protection and proclamation of faith.
In doing so, believers uphold the truth of the gospel in their lives, offering hope and direction amid societies confusion.
Paul emphasizes the joy and purpose found in sacrificial service to God.
I want to encourage you to reflect on how you can find rejoicing despite challenges.
Big Idea: The big idea is that owning our faith involves intentional action and a commitment to live out the teachings of Christ in our daily lives, which in turn influences others and glorifies God.
Your faith impacts eternity.
