God the Father and Open Theism

March 25, 2007 9:02 am admin Phillipians, Sermon-Texts

An exegetical treatment Philippians 2:12-13 addressing the theme of how God the Father saves us in contrast to us saving ourselves (related topics: open theism, compatibalism). This sermon was originally preached March 25th of 2007 at The Resolved Church in San Diego, CA.

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“God the Father & Open Theism”
Philippians 2:12-13

I. this is a text about the salvation God the Father provided for in Jesus
II. this is a text about about the effects of Jesus’ salvation in us
III. this text is about the glory of the Father and our joy

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.

introduction

good morning church. i got back in town here this morning off the plane about an hour ago from seattle. i was at mars hill church to assess some other a29 church planters and to be a part of the resurgence conference on open theism, a fairly new heresy (we do believe in heresy here, we’re not trying to bring back burning people at stakes for it…but it’s true that some stuff just isn’t true). heresy is views that are not christian because they either have a different God than the God of the Bible or a different way of salvation than what is in the Bible.

here at the resolved church we have been talking the last couple weeks about the Bible’s teaching that God is our Father, that he loves us, accepts us no matter what, and knows what’s best for us.

two weeks ago, my friend philip preached about the prodigal son, who left his father’s house, blew all his money on girls who weren’t worth it and when the money ran out he started having sex with pigs. that’s not good and he gets sick of that after awhile and comes running home and his father welcomes him with open arms. Jesus tells this story and says that it is a picture of all of us, who have been corrupted and ruined by sin and need to come running to him by believing in his gospel and start living in the Father’s kingdom.

last week we looked at the ten commandments one by one as (ten)der commandments from God, our good heavenly father who loves us cares for us enough to put them in our hearts so that we will know him and know how far we fall short of his goodness so that we will turn to his son Jesus who fulfills the commandments perfect and receive his perfect work in exchange for our pathetic works. the result is a seared heart that no longers sees the commandments as rules but as (ten)der care of a father who gives them to us in Jesus which results in a happy life.

that’s what we’re about here at the resolved church…making happy people. a lot of us are rock and roll kids but we’re not sad bastard emo kids here who like to stare at candles in the dark until we cry. we’re not into that. we’re on a mission for joy, to build lives that count and last for something in the midst of this difficult world.

here’e the plan for the next few weeks. i want to pick up the topic of God’s fatherhood again this week and talk about how he is after his pleasure by working in us and how that works with our choices and decisions and desire to be happy as humans…that was the subject of the conference i was at, whether God knows or determines our choices and decisions before we make them and if so why. then next week we’ll talk about the cross of Jesus because the friday of that week is “good friday,” the day when christians remember the day in human history when Jesus died on the cross for our sins. then the sunday after that is easter and i’m going to preach a sermon from Acts on the resurrected Jesus and his sending of the Holy Spirit to empower us for mission.

so we’re basically doing a trinitarian series the next three week: today a sermon on the glory of God the father, then a sermon on Jesus, and then a sermon on the Holy Spirit. we are a church that believes in the trinity, that God is one God in three distinct persons and that there is an inparralleled beauty, wonder, and glory in the complexity and the bible’s teaching about the trinity.

ok. so enough set-up. let’s get into philippians 2:12-13. “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, for it is God who works in you both to will and to do his good pleasure.” we are all in the absence part since paul (the author) is dead. so welcome to the absence.

I. this is a text about the salvation God the Father provided for in Jesus

that is my first point because of the very first word of our text, therefore. that word, therefore, connects our passage immediately to what just came before it. so what came just before it? back up a little with me and let’s read verses 6-11 of philippians 2, “(Christ Jesus) though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has exalted him and bestowed on him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus, every kneed should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.”

that’s the gospel. the gospel of God the father sending his son, into the world he made, in order to save us. us, who he also made, and to save us from sin and death by having Jesus, the eternal son of God, die on the cross, paying the eternal penalty we owe for our sin and then rise again, because he’s God and now brings his own into his kingdom to worship and adore and follow Jesus, proclaiming Jesus as the hope and joy and glory of our lives.

that the grand story. the gospel story. and we are on a mission to preach this gospel to our city…to show the glory of Christ to our friends so that we will be amazed at Jesus together and fall down in a life of worship and drawing others into that worship. God is a good heavenly father because he gives us Jesus. Jesus is what we need. we need to get a hold of the glory of Jesus. that Jesus is a worthy LORD and king, a compassionate king, a saving king, a life-changing king that compels us by his person and by works.

notice in verse 12 the word “salvation.” “work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” let me say a few things about this word salvation. we could spend a bunch of time here and get bogged down about what we are saved from and why and look at a ton of scripture references. but if you’ve been with us in Romans for anytime at all (and if you are new with us you can ask those who have been with us) but Romans is a book that unapologetically teaches that humans are sinful and deserve to burn in hell forever because of our sin.

i know it’s not very cool or hip to talk about hell but it’s true and the goodness of the gopsel is that Jesus saves us from that future, enables us to overcome our past and present sins through repentance and receiving Jesus, and it gives us a assurance that delivers us from our present hellishnesses and the physical hell to come. three aspects to salvation. past, present and future. the past aspect helps us know that the Father cares about us because he had compassion and started a work in us. the present aspect helps us know that the Father cares about us because he is ever present working in our lives to change us. and the future aspect gives up hope because the Father knows what is coming and great goodness of what is ahead for those who love his Son.

so that’s a umbrella covering of salvation, the past, present and future aspects to it. the majority of bible texts on it are actually future. because that’s the ultimate reality, where we are headed…so God brings the future to us as a downpayment by sending the holy spirit into our hearts and then he slowly works out our salvation in us. which is why our verse today says “work out your salvation.”

salvation has a beginning point in us. it happens during that initial step or turn to start following Jesus and then as your walking with him, stuff starts to come up that you didn’t realize or think about before, because when you start walking with Jesus it’s a way bigger change deep inside us than we could ever imagine. and when that stuff comes up you got to start working it out.

II. this is a text about about the effects of Jesus’ salvation in us

let’s look at this phrase a little closer. mid-verse 12, “work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” notice it says “work out” not “work for”. that’s because the Bible is clear that you cannot earn salvation, favor, a better status with God the Father. some of you had jacked up fathers. and maybe it seemed like you could never do enough for him. some of you had good fathers. here’s what a good father is, he’s like the heavenly father who loves you no matter what. you don’t earn your father’s love. the father loves you simply because he is the father.

this is the effect of any kind of love on us as humans. we love when love is shown to us. you know we’re like this. i’m like that. i don’t usually like anybody who doesn’t like me first. they kind of got to sauce me up and say a bunch of nice things about me…about how cool and smart and awesome i am and then i start to like them. J but if you act like you’re cooler than me then i’ll just think you’re an idiot for not recognizing how awesome i am. yeah, it’s sick and wrong but it’s just the way it is, right?

so here’s the deal. God loves us and gives us Jesus and when we realize that or see it or whatever it really does start to change us. and then there’s some stuff to work out. not work for. it’s not like you receive Christ and then start working for him to pay him back for all the good he’s done for you. you never start working for God. he doesn’t like that. like the stupid kid in class who’s always thinking that the teacher is going to like him if he asks enough questions. he doesn’t like you even though you think he is the greatest. you’re just annoying. J

but there’s stuff you got to work out. the past few weeks or month or so I’ve been coming down kind of hard on how we are living as christians, because I realized awhile ago that when I’ve preached that we don’t earn salvation, and that God loves us just the way we are, and that we are all missionaries and need to go befriend people and live life with them and not get hung up on legalistic baggage like beer and other things but instead drink with people, cross cultural barriers and talk to them about Jesus…that some started taking that to mean that The Resolved Church is all about puking for Jesus or something.

and that’s just upside-down. that’s not being missional but its taking the gospel and turning it into a license to get drunk and laid. and it’s just not going to work like that. pimps for Christ doesn’t work, no matter how good you are at it. we can’t build a church that way.

but i don’t really mean to keep ragging on all that. i’m not trying to make us all nice and neat and squeky clean. that’s why following Jesus is a process…a working out of things where we are continually repenting and repenting and coming to Jesus as he changes us more and more. i just really want people to come to know Jesus and see what life with him is like because its good. and on top of it, there are those of you here and those type of sins are not really the things you struggle with at all. you don’t have a problem keeping those things straight because going to clubs and getting your freak on isn’t really your thing. i get that. that’s fine.

so i kind of want to talk go a different direction then talking about moral sins with “work out your salvation” and instead talk about work itself…your job. this “work out your salvation” has this wide, wide, range. it effects all of life. it’s about thinking about life and living life through the eyes of the gospel. and if you’re not in school anymore then you probably spend a good portion of your life at your job. that’s good. it’s good to have a job and work.

so here’s some “work out your salvation” at work. two things: what are you working for and who are you working for? the playing out or working out of salvation in your life has to do with both.

first thing, what are you working for? are you working to get rich? it’s not bad to have a good job and to make good money…but if your goal is to make a ton of cash so you can get the easy life then you are majorly missing the gospel. we’re supposed to work, particularly the men. you’re supposed to get a good job and make some money so that you can get a wife and provide for her and start building a family. that’s the deal. get to it. there’s some good looking women here. J

but the reason we work and is so that we can build a community of life around the gospel. in our family, friends, and beyond. we work not to get rich but we work to use our gifts and to sustain and spread the gospel of Jesus. we work so that we can trumpet the sound of God’s kingdom. yes, that means giving money regualrly at church so that you can support the pastors and the expenses to upkeep the regular ministry and progression of the church. but it also means that your goal is not primarily financial or business success but gospel in life success by how you work. if you live a life just going to work for a paycheck that life will suck unless you see that job as your gospel mission to bring glory to Christ.

that brings up the second thing, who are you working for? we work for Jesus. not to earn his salvation but to build a life centered on it. you will either work for yourself or you will work for Jesus and if you work for yourself you’re going to end up not happy. that is why so many people our age in our generation can’t keep a job, can’t stay in one place, are always moving from city to city, thinking that something or somewhere else will be better…and that’s because you’re working for yourself instead of finding the joy in your work by working not as unto men but unto the Lord.

it doesn’t matter what job you have, there is mission in it. it is so natural and easy to invite people from work to hang out. to go out for dinner or drinks and make friends with them and look for opportunities to tell them why you work at that job and who you’re really working for. Jesus. you see mission is exciting. to be a part of building a city within a city is amazing. and we’ve got to see our jobs as a prime places to use in the building of the gospel city in san diego.

we’ve got to get over our individualistic comfortable groups that we like to hang out in and begin to welcome anyone and everyone. and build a life and a family here. now don’t miss hear me. if you are one the people who has told me you’re thinking of moving at one time or another don’t worry, i’m not singling you out or something…i think everyone has told me that. i don’t like to hear it. it’s like telling me you’re thinking of getting a sex change or something. J i just don’t want to hear about it. i’m really not kidding. i don’t want to try and keep anyone here that doesn’t want to be here but i need you guys bad to build this church.

okay. that’s really just a bunch of application or illustration of a few ways to “work out salvation” which are the effects of the Father’s salvation of Jesus in us. but before we move on to the last point about the glory and joy of the Father, just notice with me the qualifier in this text. how it says to “work out our salvation.” do you see it? “with fear and trembling.”

what is that about? it sounds pretty serious right? fear and trembling? trembling is a picture of one’s hands quaking. and fear, is being scared, afraid for your life. so this text actually gets really intense. so does is the Bible teaching here that we need to be really solemn people and that our women need to wear dresses down to their ankles and our men should always walk with our head down because God could rightfully spite us at anytime he chooses? i don’t think so.

III. this text is about the glory of the Father and our joy

here’s why. look at verse 13, “for it is God who works in you to will and to do his good pleasure.” look at those last few words, “his good pleasure.” do you see that? this is the amazing truth and doctrine of the Bible that God is a the biggest hedonist of all…that he seek his own pleasure and that his goal in all things is to bring us into his pleasure. here is a definition of hedonism: “a way of life that holds pleasure or happiness as the highest good or the source of moral values.”

God is a heondist…a glutton for joy. God delights in himself above all things because in him exists and emanates all perfect qualities, he is utterly glorious. God the Father is a happy God. Isaiah 46:9-10 says, “I am God and there is no other; I am God and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet undone, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my pleasure.”

And the amazing thing about the passage of Scripture we are studying today is that it says God is working the glory of his pleasure in us. “it is God who works in you to will and to do his good pleasure.”

Jonathan Edwards says this, ““God glorifies himself toward the creatures in two ways: by appearing to their understanding and in communicating himself to their hearts, and in their rejoicing and delighting in, and enjoying, the manifestations which he makes of himself. God is glorified not only by his glory’s being seen, but by its being rejoiced in.”

So verse twelve ends by saying that we are to work out our salvation with fear and trembling and verse thirteen ends by saying that the Father’s salvation for us in Jesus is about God working His infinite pleasure into our souls. that is amazing! the working out of our salvation, the trials, the work, is about us coming to greater and greater depths and experiences of joy in the God-centered, Christ exalting, glory of God.

so i think that working out our salvation with fear and trembling means that we are to take our happiness in God seriously. God’s goal in our lives is to make us happy creatures.

okay. so the title of my sermon is “The Father God and Open Theism” and if there is anyone out there that is like me, your probably pissed because I have directly said anything about open theism yet. Open theism is the idea that the future is open to God, he does not really know everything, especially what will happen in the future because the future is dependent upon the decisions of people’s choices.

now, before you freak and think that i’m about to launch into some big long debate here in what you were hoping was the end of the sermon, don’t worry. it will only take like another hour. J just kidding. we are not going to do that at all. if you want more in depth teaching on it, take my theology class next fall.

instead, what i want to show you is how, though i have said nothing directly about it all through this sermon we have been learning that everything begins and continues and happens only according to the great knowledge and power of the heavenly father. there has been a secret thread of God’s glory woven into our dealing with this passage.

we began by saying that our salvation was something God did. he provided for it in sending Jesus. the Father has compassion on us and loves us first enabling us to see majesty of Christ. we start following him and our lives begin to change as the gospel takes root in our heart, which is God working pleasure into us and then all kinds of stuff starts getting worked out of our system and we start working for the kingdom of God. and here in this last verse the two workings directly collide and show us with precise clarity that our working is really God’s working in us. there are not decisions we make which God does not know because he is the one working in us to enable us to make those decisions. do you see that?

it’s what’s called compatibilism. that our will is real, that we make real decisions which are compatible with God’s supreme decision to work in us so that we will most assuredly come to ever increasing pleasure. nothing is open and we would never want it to be because we long for a good father who can guarantee everything is going to be alright and that our lives will count for something and that there is a treasure chest of holy joy awaiting us in the city of David where we shout Jesus Christ is Lord.

conclusion

Let’s conclude. The Resolved Church, here me today…the gospel is salvation. salvation from ourselves, salvation from hell, salvation from sadness, salvation from sickness…it is Jesus Christ sent by God the father for us. from eternity past God determined to pursue his pleasure in saving us. so let’s work it out. let’s find joy in becoming free from addictions and dependencies. let’s find joy in our worship and praise to Jesus name for all that he has accomplished for us. let’s find joy in building a gospel life in this city and at our work places. with fear and trembling, let’s humble ourselves before an inexaustibly happy, powerful, and knowing God…and be drawn in.

I’m going to pray and we’ll take communion. The table is open to anyone who is a beliver and if you want to begin following Jesus today feel free to take communion with us whenever you like. For those who are part of The Resolved Church, this is the time when we also give our money as our discipline of praise and thanks to Jesus for the gospel.

Let’s pray.