WORK OUT YOUR SALVATION IN FEAR AND TREMBLING.
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12¶But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; ( This verse is key. )
13So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;
14And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
This is the example of Paul demonstrating the principle of ' working out of his salvation .
17But the other of LOVE , knowing that I am set for the defence of THE GOSPEL
18What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ IS PREACHED ; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.
19¶For I know that THIS shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ
NOT for his deliverance from prison. The Gospel as a result of him being in prison is not hindering but ' working out ' for the furthering of the Gospel.
Rather he is saying everything can be traced back to his salvation ( there is fruit for his labour . Thier salvation)
13So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;
14And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
This is the example of Paul demonstrating the principle of ' working out of his salvation .
17But the other of LOVE , knowing that I am set for the defence of THE GOSPEL
18What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ IS PREACHED ; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.
19¶For I know that THIS shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ
NOT for his deliverance from prison. The Gospel as a result of him being in prison is not hindering but ' working out ' for the furthering of the Gospel.
Rather he is saying everything can be traced back to his salvation ( there is fruit for his labour . Thier salvation)
2Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be LIKEMINDED , having the SAME LOVE , being of one accord, of one mind.
3Let NOTHING be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4Look NOT every man on his OWN THINGS , but every man also on the things of OTHERS .
I do not see how :
1) Working for your salvation.
2) working to maintain or keep your salvation.
3) working in any capacity for yourself for rewards or deliverance ect .
... any of these things can possibly fit in the context above ? Sermon after sermon is preached on this and very rarely do we hear the furtherance of the gospel as the focus . Rather its usually preached on ' sanctification ' or how we keep ourselves holy . There are other verses in different places about these matters. Philippians arguably is not plagued with doctrinal problems primarily , unlike Thessalonians for example . Paul wants these at the chief area of Macedonia to be as fervent for the furtherance of the gospel as those at thes .
3Let NOTHING be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4Look NOT every man on his OWN THINGS , but every man also on the things of OTHERS .
I do not see how :
1) Working for your salvation.
2) working to maintain or keep your salvation.
3) working in any capacity for yourself for rewards or deliverance ect .
... any of these things can possibly fit in the context above ? Sermon after sermon is preached on this and very rarely do we hear the furtherance of the gospel as the focus . Rather its usually preached on ' sanctification ' or how we keep ourselves holy . There are other verses in different places about these matters. Philippians arguably is not plagued with doctrinal problems primarily , unlike Thessalonians for example . Paul wants these at the chief area of Macedonia to be as fervent for the furtherance of the gospel as those at thes .
5¶Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12¶Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
' Wherefore' ( verse 12 ) is not only verses 5-11 ,but its everything leading up to theses verses in chapter 1 ect .
Both Paul's example and Jesus,s example are to say : 12¶But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;
And: 4Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
6Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12¶Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
' Wherefore' ( verse 12 ) is not only verses 5-11 ,but its everything leading up to theses verses in chapter 1 ect .
Both Paul's example and Jesus,s example are to say : 12¶But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;
And: 4Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Paul says what he says. And it makes perfect sense. There is no need to try to give it another meaning.
Paul was an Apostle to the Gentiles. What business had he in Jerusalem? Added to this, Paul went to Jerusalem to complete a vow. But he writes that IN Christ, the New Man is fully new and old things have passed - gone as if they never were there. Paul went to Jerusalem to complete a vow in the Temple. But our Lord had left that Temple DESOLATE. It had been VACATED. It was ripe for destruction. Paul is told by the brothers "in the Spirit" not to go up to Jerusalem. Paul is told by an accredited prophet, Agabus, in the company of four prophetesses, not to go to Jerusalem unless he wanted to be bound. And finally, Paul went "bound in his spirit" when he writes, "where the Spirit of the Lord is, is liberty". Paul went up to Jerusalem against all that he stood for and wrote about.
At Jerusalem he achieves NOTHING except that his ministry of making and building Churches is ENDED. His "tent-making" days end, and he lands in front of Caesar - a prisoner having declared another King - Jesus. Not only must Paul have deeply regretted all the above points, but he now faced the king of the known world - Caesar - after having taught another King. Paul must have known deep regret. But Paul knew something else. (i) All things work for good to those who love the Lord, and (ii) God is Master of circumstance. Paul, though a prisoner, can now witness to the household of Caesar, to the Praetorian Guard, and to Caesar himself. But his day of trial before a king who he has taught will be replaced by Another is imminent. His life hangs on a thread as he writes this Epistle.
(1)
Though he FAILED badly, did not the failure "TURN OUT FOR THE FURTHERANCE OF THE GOSPEL? Now all of ROME - Capital of the world, and seat of the king of the known world - Caesar, must hear firsthand the inspired Apostle to the Gentiles? Is this not a great "furtherance of the gospel" ENGINEERED BY GOD HIMSELF IN THE FACE OF HUMAN FAILURE?
(2)
Don't you think brother, that the prayers of the saints for Paul, the man who has been saved since the road to Damascus, WOULD BE THAT HE WAS "SAVED" FROM THE DEATH PENALTY? What else must Paul be SAVED from? JUST ONE THING! He must be saved from the human character that failed so badly.
(3)
He recognizes that he has a way to go in OBEDIENCE. So he preaches "OBEY me" but don't count that I still need training in this area! I'm on the way, but not yet there. I have a ways to go in the "salvation" of my soul from my falleness. Paul needed to SAVED by the prayers of the saints from the death penalty, and Paul needed to complete the race he was running to gain the crown. A crown is for a king, and a king is for a KINGDOM. And the ENTRY INTO THE KINGDOM WAS BY THE SALVATION OF THE SOUL - the END OF YOUR FAITH (1st Pet.1:9) AT THE APPEARING OF CHRIST (verse 7).
Paul said what he said and meant what he said. The circumstances surrounding Paul in Rome make it just plain and clear.
Paul was an Apostle to the Gentiles. What business had he in Jerusalem? Added to this, Paul went to Jerusalem to complete a vow. But he writes that IN Christ, the New Man is fully new and old things have passed - gone as if they never were there. Paul went to Jerusalem to complete a vow in the Temple. But our Lord had left that Temple DESOLATE. It had been VACATED. It was ripe for destruction. Paul is told by the brothers "in the Spirit" not to go up to Jerusalem. Paul is told by an accredited prophet, Agabus, in the company of four prophetesses, not to go to Jerusalem unless he wanted to be bound. And finally, Paul went "bound in his spirit" when he writes, "where the Spirit of the Lord is, is liberty". Paul went up to Jerusalem against all that he stood for and wrote about.
At Jerusalem he achieves NOTHING except that his ministry of making and building Churches is ENDED. His "tent-making" days end, and he lands in front of Caesar - a prisoner having declared another King - Jesus. Not only must Paul have deeply regretted all the above points, but he now faced the king of the known world - Caesar - after having taught another King. Paul must have known deep regret. But Paul knew something else. (i) All things work for good to those who love the Lord, and (ii) God is Master of circumstance. Paul, though a prisoner, can now witness to the household of Caesar, to the Praetorian Guard, and to Caesar himself. But his day of trial before a king who he has taught will be replaced by Another is imminent. His life hangs on a thread as he writes this Epistle.
(1)
Though he FAILED badly, did not the failure "TURN OUT FOR THE FURTHERANCE OF THE GOSPEL? Now all of ROME - Capital of the world, and seat of the king of the known world - Caesar, must hear firsthand the inspired Apostle to the Gentiles? Is this not a great "furtherance of the gospel" ENGINEERED BY GOD HIMSELF IN THE FACE OF HUMAN FAILURE?
(2)
Don't you think brother, that the prayers of the saints for Paul, the man who has been saved since the road to Damascus, WOULD BE THAT HE WAS "SAVED" FROM THE DEATH PENALTY? What else must Paul be SAVED from? JUST ONE THING! He must be saved from the human character that failed so badly.
(3)
He recognizes that he has a way to go in OBEDIENCE. So he preaches "OBEY me" but don't count that I still need training in this area! I'm on the way, but not yet there. I have a ways to go in the "salvation" of my soul from my falleness. Paul needed to SAVED by the prayers of the saints from the death penalty, and Paul needed to complete the race he was running to gain the crown. A crown is for a king, and a king is for a KINGDOM. And the ENTRY INTO THE KINGDOM WAS BY THE SALVATION OF THE SOUL - the END OF YOUR FAITH (1st Pet.1:9) AT THE APPEARING OF CHRIST (verse 7).
Paul said what he said and meant what he said. The circumstances surrounding Paul in Rome make it just plain and clear.
And yet it doesn't actually SAY that does it ? your inferring thats what it says . How can Paul say in one hand not to focus on ' self ' but others and at the same time think of doing things to further ' self ' ?
20For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.
21For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's.
Chapter 2 .
20For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.
21For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's.
Chapter 2 .
I take it then that your circle of fellow Christians don't pray for one another. It would "furthering the self".
Be that as it may, you avoid the most telling question, and this evading is ominous. When Paul wrote Philippians, he was just three years from martyrdom. He had served the Lord through thick and thin, to the loss of "all things". What did Paul need to be saved from by the prayers of the saints? And seeing as he admits that he has not yet attained, what is missing? The gospel? I think not. Paul has just said that it was going fine with the gospel and his captivity was furthering it. So what salvation does Paul emphatically tell the Philippians to WORK OUT?
Be that as it may, you avoid the most telling question, and this evading is ominous. When Paul wrote Philippians, he was just three years from martyrdom. He had served the Lord through thick and thin, to the loss of "all things". What did Paul need to be saved from by the prayers of the saints? And seeing as he admits that he has not yet attained, what is missing? The gospel? I think not. Paul has just said that it was going fine with the gospel and his captivity was furthering it. So what salvation does Paul emphatically tell the Philippians to WORK OUT?
You are skirting around my question.
1 Cor 1:21, The word "save" in this verse is to deliver new born babes in Christ by teaching them the knowledge of God's righteousness, the doctrine of Jesus Christ.
Matt 11:25, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and REVEALED THEM UNTO BABES.
Isaiah 28:9-10, Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little and there a little.
Matt 10:5-6, These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into the city of the Samaritans enter ye not, But go rather to the lost sheep (babes in Christ) of the house of Israel (surname Jacob).
Rom 9:6, For they are not all Israel (surname Jacob) which are of Israel (nation)
God's purpose for preachers are not to preach the gospel to the natural man, who cannot discern what spiritual things they are preaching, and thinks them to be foolishness, but go preach, and teach the new born babes in Christ about Jesus and him crucified (a knowledge of God's righteousness).
Rom 10:1-4, Paul prayed that the new born babes in Christ of Israel, (surname Jacob), that they might be delivered (saved) from there lack of knowledge of God's righteousness) by not going about to establish their own righteousness (by their works of the old law) but submitting themselves unto the righteousness of God.
Matt 7:13-14, The people that go into both of the gates are regenerated children of God. Those going into the wide gate are those who are still babes in Christ that are still believing in the works of the old law to save them, which is destructive. Those who go into the straight gate are those that have denied their own entelect and have had the doctrine revealed unto them by the revelation of the Holy Ghost.
Ezek 10:10, And as for their appearances, they four had one likness, as if a wheel had been in the midst of a wheel. The larger outer wheel represents the invisible church (all of God's elect), and the smaller wheel within the larger wheel representing the visible church (the remnant of God's elect, the 144000) Ezek 10 and Matt 7 harmonize.
1 Cor 1:21, The word "save" in this verse is to deliver new born babes in Christ by teaching them the knowledge of God's righteousness, the doctrine of Jesus Christ.
Matt 11:25, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and REVEALED THEM UNTO BABES.
Isaiah 28:9-10, Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little and there a little.
Matt 10:5-6, These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into the city of the Samaritans enter ye not, But go rather to the lost sheep (babes in Christ) of the house of Israel (surname Jacob).
Rom 9:6, For they are not all Israel (surname Jacob) which are of Israel (nation)
God's purpose for preachers are not to preach the gospel to the natural man, who cannot discern what spiritual things they are preaching, and thinks them to be foolishness, but go preach, and teach the new born babes in Christ about Jesus and him crucified (a knowledge of God's righteousness).
Rom 10:1-4, Paul prayed that the new born babes in Christ of Israel, (surname Jacob), that they might be delivered (saved) from there lack of knowledge of God's righteousness) by not going about to establish their own righteousness (by their works of the old law) but submitting themselves unto the righteousness of God.
Matt 7:13-14, The people that go into both of the gates are regenerated children of God. Those going into the wide gate are those who are still babes in Christ that are still believing in the works of the old law to save them, which is destructive. Those who go into the straight gate are those that have denied their own entelect and have had the doctrine revealed unto them by the revelation of the Holy Ghost.
Ezek 10:10, And as for their appearances, they four had one likness, as if a wheel had been in the midst of a wheel. The larger outer wheel represents the invisible church (all of God's elect), and the smaller wheel within the larger wheel representing the visible church (the remnant of God's elect, the 144000) Ezek 10 and Matt 7 harmonize.
There are other places in scripture where we could talk about ' praying for one another for our health ect . But back to the letter in question.
Are you saying Paul want s them to pray for his freedom / safety / life in order he may complete his sanctification process or his reward goals and targets ? If your saying that Paul wants prayer for his ' ability ' to further the gosepl or to serve others ,ok i still see thats not the context, but at least its in line with the context somewhat.
I'm not seeing Paul needs saving from anything in the WHOLE context from chapter 1.1 onwards. I realise what some translations say . I see Paul saying what leads from our salvation if we do something with it . If we do something ( preaching the Gospel ect ) we too like Paul would trace back the fruit of our salvation. So Paul is saying to do what they were doing in his presence, now to do it in his absence . His experiences are their experiences of suffering thorough the work of the gospel .
27¶Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
28And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.
29For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
30Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.
Are you saying Paul want s them to pray for his freedom / safety / life in order he may complete his sanctification process or his reward goals and targets ? If your saying that Paul wants prayer for his ' ability ' to further the gosepl or to serve others ,ok i still see thats not the context, but at least its in line with the context somewhat.
I'm not seeing Paul needs saving from anything in the WHOLE context from chapter 1.1 onwards. I realise what some translations say . I see Paul saying what leads from our salvation if we do something with it . If we do something ( preaching the Gospel ect ) we too like Paul would trace back the fruit of our salvation. So Paul is saying to do what they were doing in his presence, now to do it in his absence . His experiences are their experiences of suffering thorough the work of the gospel .
27¶Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
28And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.
29For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
30Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.
So my point would look like this . Salvation should lead to selfless action leads to furtherance of the Gospel. I see Paul's whole intent of the letter is this . Paul demonstrates that his salvation led to selfless actions which led to furtherance of the gospel. Paul is wanting them to note his example. That their salvation ( Work out ) can lead to selfless actions ( work out your salvation) leads to furtherance of the gospel. = ' work out your SALVATION . Do something with IT . Paul wants them to recieve events in a way that leads to actions, for the furtherance of the Gospel . Put to WORK their salvation that does those things .
phil 1
12¶But I WOULD YE SHOULD UNDERSTAND, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;
13So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;
14And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
phil 1
12¶But I WOULD YE SHOULD UNDERSTAND, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;
13So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;
14And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
21For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that BELIEVE .
22For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
23But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
22For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
23But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
You ducked my question. It is your right to do so, but then the conversation is likely to end. And I know exactly why you will not answer. It is because the whole context of Philippians 1:12-26 is about Paul's physical life - whether he lives or dies. It starts with the assurance to the saints who were praying for him that he reckons that he'll escape death. But that in the event of death for preaching Christ, he has "gain". And he ends this section predicting that he will come to them again. That is, the prayers would be effectual.
Chapter 2:1-13 leads the Philippian Believer through what Christ DID - His works. Verse 12 starts with "wherefore", indicating that the CONCLUSION of what our Lord did is that the Believer must have the same CHARACTERISTICS. For God's purpose Christ laid aside His position and possession. Likewise must the Believer lay aside his old nature and desires and be transformed, changed, metamorphosed, for God testimony so, "That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world" .
This has nothing to do with the salvation from God's wrath, the Lake of Fire and eternal life. It is the "salvation" from an Adamic DISPOSITION to a Christlike DISPOSITION. This is God's plan with us AFTER we are saved (Rom.8:29).
Verse 16 then transmits the warning; "Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain." IMPLIED is that some Christians will NOT rejoice in the day they stand before Christ to give an account of themselves. IMPLIED is that some WILL run in vain. IMPLIED is that some Christians will have laboured in vain. In Matthew 7:21-23 we Christians who knew the Lord, who were empowered to cast out demons, who were empowered to do many wondrous works in Jesus' Name. But they labored in vain. Not that they go to the Lake of Fire, or lose their standing as Believers, but that they may not partake of the joys and fame of Christ's Millennial Kingdom.
I have visited a famous tourist site - the Rhine Falls on the Swiss/German border. Nothing compared to Niagara or the Victoria falls, but impressive for the tourist visiting Central Europe. Above the Rhine falls is a turret that overlooks the falls and which has colored lead-glass windows. You can see the falls in yellow, red, blue and green, if my memory serves me. That is what you do with scripture. You have a predetermined color. Somebody put an idea into your head and you entertain it. We all have this phenomena when we start off studying so vast a Book as the Bible. But now is the time to set aside the colored view and read what is said, not what you think "Paul is trying to say".
Language is God given to transmit ideas. It has rules, and the first rule is; "Be true to the words written or said". Do not approach them with a preconceived idea. Wipe the slate of your memory. Read Philippians Chapters 1, 2 and 3 as they are. Add nothing and subtract nothing. You will be mightily helped to see that a SAVED man like Paul, who is talking to SAVED Believers of a Church, does not preach the message of SALVATION of Ephesian 2:8. He preaches the message of 2nd Peter 1:4-11 - sanctification! SALVATION from an intrinsic fallen nature and and the process of CONFORMITY with Christ's heavenly and godly nature (Rom.8:29, 12:2; 2nd Cor.3:18).
HE PREACHES WHAT A MAN MUST BE SAVED FROM AFTER HE BELIEVES. Jail, torture, famine, ill health, lies, slander and defamation, dishonesty, laziness, sexual immorality, drunkenness, slothfulness, covetousness, greed, love of money and losing your first love. THESE are some of the things we, who are already saved, need to be SAVED from.
Chapter 2:1-13 leads the Philippian Believer through what Christ DID - His works. Verse 12 starts with "wherefore", indicating that the CONCLUSION of what our Lord did is that the Believer must have the same CHARACTERISTICS. For God's purpose Christ laid aside His position and possession. Likewise must the Believer lay aside his old nature and desires and be transformed, changed, metamorphosed, for God testimony so, "That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world" .
This has nothing to do with the salvation from God's wrath, the Lake of Fire and eternal life. It is the "salvation" from an Adamic DISPOSITION to a Christlike DISPOSITION. This is God's plan with us AFTER we are saved (Rom.8:29).
Verse 16 then transmits the warning; "Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain." IMPLIED is that some Christians will NOT rejoice in the day they stand before Christ to give an account of themselves. IMPLIED is that some WILL run in vain. IMPLIED is that some Christians will have laboured in vain. In Matthew 7:21-23 we Christians who knew the Lord, who were empowered to cast out demons, who were empowered to do many wondrous works in Jesus' Name. But they labored in vain. Not that they go to the Lake of Fire, or lose their standing as Believers, but that they may not partake of the joys and fame of Christ's Millennial Kingdom.
I have visited a famous tourist site - the Rhine Falls on the Swiss/German border. Nothing compared to Niagara or the Victoria falls, but impressive for the tourist visiting Central Europe. Above the Rhine falls is a turret that overlooks the falls and which has colored lead-glass windows. You can see the falls in yellow, red, blue and green, if my memory serves me. That is what you do with scripture. You have a predetermined color. Somebody put an idea into your head and you entertain it. We all have this phenomena when we start off studying so vast a Book as the Bible. But now is the time to set aside the colored view and read what is said, not what you think "Paul is trying to say".
Language is God given to transmit ideas. It has rules, and the first rule is; "Be true to the words written or said". Do not approach them with a preconceived idea. Wipe the slate of your memory. Read Philippians Chapters 1, 2 and 3 as they are. Add nothing and subtract nothing. You will be mightily helped to see that a SAVED man like Paul, who is talking to SAVED Believers of a Church, does not preach the message of SALVATION of Ephesian 2:8. He preaches the message of 2nd Peter 1:4-11 - sanctification! SALVATION from an intrinsic fallen nature and and the process of CONFORMITY with Christ's heavenly and godly nature (Rom.8:29, 12:2; 2nd Cor.3:18).
HE PREACHES WHAT A MAN MUST BE SAVED FROM AFTER HE BELIEVES. Jail, torture, famine, ill health, lies, slander and defamation, dishonesty, laziness, sexual immorality, drunkenness, slothfulness, covetousness, greed, love of money and losing your first love. THESE are some of the things we, who are already saved, need to be SAVED from.
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