Study From the Book of the Philippians, 3

                       Study From The Book of the Philippians, 3

Today is the third part of this series, “Study From the Book of the Philippians,” where we study chapter 2 and as usual we pick up a couple of verses and lessons that can be applied in biblical counselling.

In chapter two, the apostle Paul talks about different topics. He encourages the believers to live in unity and to have the mind of Christ, who humbled Himself in obedience of His Father and in love for His people.  Paul then encourages them to be light bearers in the dark world where its master is the prince of darkness, Satan.

He then made commands to Timothy and applauds  Ephaphroditus.  

The structure of this chapter is as follows:

1. From verse 1:4: unity through humility
2. From verse 5: 11:  the humbled and exalted Christ
3. From verse 12:18: light bearers
4. Verse 19: 24: Timothy commended
5. Verse 25:30: Epaphroditus praised

Principle 3, verse 2:12: “-therefore, my beloved, as you 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...”

Lesson 3: when Paul tells us to “work out” our salvation “with fear and trembling, he means that we are to give careful attention to our actions and behaviour, making sure that we well represent the One who saved us.

Principle 4, verse 2:15:” “.. that you may  become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world..”

Lesson 4: If our behaviour as God’s children does not differ from that of unbelievers, then we look just as “crooked and perverse” as anyone else, and instead of shinning “as lights,” we leave the world as dark as we find it.

30/6/2019