HOW TO SHINE THE LIGHT IN A DARK WORLD
Posted by Pastor Greg Allen on February 5, 2025 under AM Bible Study |
AM Bible Study Group: February 5, 2025 from Philippians 2:14-16
Theme: We shine the light of the gospel in a dark world when we exhibit an attitude of thankful trust in the Lord during the trials of life.
(All Scripture is taken from The New King James Version, unless otherwise indicated).
When the apostle Paul wrote this letter, he was in a Roman prison for preaching the gospel. But he wasn’t bitter about it. Quite the opposite, he was praising God. He wrote;
But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear (Philippians 1:12-14).
He had complete confidence in the sovereignty of God over his trials, and so believed that God was using those trials that he rejoiced that God was advancing the gospel through him—even as he sat in a prison cell. And so, he urged his brothers and sisters in Christ to think carefully about how God was using them in their trials! He said;
Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God. For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me (1:27-30).
Dear brothers and sisters; we need to remember that the unbelieving people of this world are constantly watching us. We proclaim the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ to them; but they’re watching to see if we truly believe it, and if we are truly trusting the wonderful Savior we proclaim to them. They want desperately to see whether or not faith in Jesus really makes a difference in the realities of life. And so; in this morning’s passage, Paul urges his readers to live carefully so that this difference can be plainly seen. In Philippians 2:14-16, he wrote;
Do all things without complaining and disputing, 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, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain (2:14-16).
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Note carefully the context in which Paul wrote these words. He had just urged his believing friends in Philippi to be willing to humble themselves in preference for one another; looking out not only for their own concerns but also for the concerns of others. In this, they were to follow the pattern that the Lord Jesus Himself set for them; who humbled Himself to the point of death on the cross in order to save them and to share with them the exaltation He received from the Father. And then, Paul urged them;
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; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure (2:12-13).
That’s important to remember—especially in relation to the ‘joy in Christ’ that’s the great theme of this letter. The trials and difficulties we experience in life are the opportunities God allows us to have in order to work our salvation out in actual, day-to-day experience—and always with the help of the indwelling, empowering Holy Spirit. To “do all things without complaining and disputing” is part of what it means to ‘work out’ that which God ‘works in’ us—and all so that the world can see its outworking in us as we hold the gospel out in plain view. As these words from Paul show us, we shine the light of the gospel in a dark world when we exhibit an attitude of thankful trust in the Lord during the trials of life.
Paul unfolds this wonderful exhortation to his readers in four main points: (1) what we’re to do (in verse 14), (2) why we’re to do it (in verse 15), (3) what’s to happen as we do it (in the first half of verse 16), and finally (4) what will be the result (in the later half of verse 16.)
So; let’s look first at verse 14 and at …
1. WHAT WE’RE TO DO (v. 14).
Paul wrote, “Do all things without complaining and disputing …” And it may surprise us that, when he tells us what to do to display the gospel to the world, he emphasizes our inward attitude. But it’s this inward attitude that outwardly reveals to the watching world what we truly believe. It’s that inward attitude that demonstrates itself in measurable outward action that the world can see.
In these words, Paul spoke first in terms of ‘action’. In the original language, he said, “All things do …”—putting “all things” in the emphatic position in order to emphasize how this exhortation is to be put into practice without exception; and stating that action in the form of a verb that described an ongoing, habitual practice. In other words, Paul gave a command that’s to be a constant, habitual action in all situations; saying, “All things make it your continual practice to do without complaining or disputing …”
The word translated as “complaining” is one that basically means “to murmur”—which, in the original language, is a word that sounds like what it means (goggusmos). It describes something that people do when they don’t want to do something. They often walk away grumbling and murmuring under their breath about it. It’s an inward expression of grouching. And the other word—”disputing”—describes an outward expression of that inward attitude. It speaks here of the act of arguing or contending. And we’re to do all things that our sovereign heavenly Father gives us to do without either grumbling or complaining about it.
Now; it may seem surprising to some that Paul would emphasize this—that we’re to do all that we do without grumbling or complaining. But it’s really very strategic. The unbelieving world is looking at us to see if what we proclaim is true. And they can only see it through our attitudes and actions. But if they look at a group of people who proclaim a God who is good to those who trust Him, and yet see those same people griping and complaining in their trials, we can hardly blame them if they don’t believe in the sovereign goodness of God we proclaim to them. It would be clear by our attitudes and actions that we ourselves don’t really trust Him.
And that leads us to the next point …
2. WHY WE’RE TO DO THIS (v. 15).
First, Paul spoke of a moral reason for this command. He said that it’s “that you may become blameless and harmless …” The first word, “blameless,” means to be “without defect”. And the second word, “harmless,” might be better translated as “unmixed”. Together, these two words describe the believer as going through the trials of life in a way that would be consistent with their profession of faith; that is, in a way in which no fault could be found with their profession, or toward which no accusation could be made concerning their behavior.
The Bible teaches us that “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). We all say that we believe this. And yet, when we enter into times of trial with an attitude of complaint and disputing, we basically tell the people of this world that we don’t really believe that God works all things out for our good. We, in a very evidential way, deny what we profess; and end up communicating to unbelieving folks that we don’t have anything more going for us in Christ than they do outside of Him. So; we need to put away grumbling and complaining so that we can truly be blameless.
Another reason Paul gives us for keeping this command is a theological one. It has to do with behaving in a way that is consistent with what God’s word says that we truly are. Paul goes on to say that we must do all things without complaining or disputing that we may become “children of God without fault . . .”
Now, we need to understand this accurately. Paul isn’t saying that if we can just learn to do all things without complaining or disputing, we will eventually become children of God. We can never make ourselves “children of God”. Rather, the Bible teaches us that we already are children of the heavenly Father by grace through our faith in His Son Jesus. As the Bible says, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). But the thing that we aren’t yet is “children of God without fault“. We still need to grow daily to become, in practice, what we already are in position.
And that’s why we must be in the habit of doing all things without complaining and disputing. When we complain and argue against the difficult things that God allows to come into our lives to help us grow, we are acting contrary to our high position in Christ. We are acting like we’re not really God’s children and that He’s not our loving, all-powerful Father.
A third reason Paul gives for keeping this command is an evangelistic one. We are to do all things without complaining and disputing so that we 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 …”
The word that’s translated as “lights” doesn’t mean that we’re the source of the light. In fact, it might better be translated as “luminaries”. He came into this world as “the light of men” (John 1:4); but now that He has left this world and has returned to the Father, He has given us the privilege of being the bearers of His “light”. And yet, when we grumble and murmur against God’s will for us, and contend and argue with Him over the trials that come our way for our good and His glory–we forget our privileged purpose as His “lights” in this world. We’re still “lights” of course. But when we grumble and complain, we allow that light in us to become obscured to the sight of those who most need to see it. But much good is accomplished when we obey this command from Paul, and practice the habit of doing all things without complaining or disputing!
But it’s not enough that we simply bear up under our trials. That shows the evidence of our trust in the faith. But the world around us also needs to hear about that faith. And so, Paul went on to explain not only what to do and why to do it, but also …
3. WHAT WE’RE TO DO AS WE DO IT (v. 16a).
In verse 15, Paul told his fellow Christians to be “holding fast the word of life …” And what a wonderful name that is for the gospel of Jesus Christ: “the word of life”! It’s a fitting name for so many reasons! It’s “the word of life” because it is, itself, ‘living’. As it says in Hebrews 4:12;
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).
It’s also “the word of life” because it points to Jesus Christ, who Himself is “life”. The apostle John wrote about Jesus and said;
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—(1 John 1:1).
It’s also “the word of life” because it shows us the way to eternal life. The apostle Peter once said to the Lord;
“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68).
And it’s “the word of life” because it teaches us how to live the kind of life that pleases God. As it says in 2 Timothy 3:16-17;
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
And Paul told his believing friends that, as they seek to do all things without complaining or disputing, they’re also to be sure that they’re faithfully “holding fast” this wonderful, wonder-working, life-transforming “word of life”. If the correct way of translating this is “holding fast”, then Paul would be saying that as we do all things without complaining and disputing, we’re also to be holding on tightly to the word of life and not letting it go. The more we cling tightly to God’s faithful word, the more we will be able to affirm His perspective during tough times; and the less we will be inclined to grumble and fight against His good will for us. But many Bible scholars have argued that the correct way to translate it is as it’s found in the King James Version; that is, “holding forth” the world of life. And if that’s the case, Paul would then be urging his readers to do all things without complaining and disputing as they—at the same time—proclaim that word to people. We would then be doing what Peter said in 1 Peter 3:15-16:
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed (1 Peter 3:15-16).
Now; in either case, whether it was a matter of “holding fast” to the word of life ourselves, or “holding forth” the word of life for others, Paul had a vested interest in the matter. He had given himself diligently to see Christ established in the lives of his dear Philippian friends. As he said in verse 17, “Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith”—in other words, if it must be that he needed to lay down his life in order to advance the cause of Christ in them—”I am glad and rejoice with you all.”
And this leads us, finally, to one more thing he tells them about this command …
4. WHAT WILL RESULT FROM DOING IT (v. 16b).
He urged them to do all this, “so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.” If Paul’s beloved brothers and sisters would faithfully grow into the habit of doing all things without complaining or disputing—if they thus prove themselves to be blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom they shine as lights in the world—if they were careful, at the same time, to “hold fast” the word of faith—then Paul’s work in the gospel would not be in vain.
His work in the gospel would thus expand beyond himself through them—just as it was expanding through him while he was in prison. Others would not only hear his gospel being proclaimed by the Philippians, but they would also see it being lived out by them. His fellow believer’s lives wouldn’t hinder the gospel, but would instead advance it and adorn it! They would stand out in this dark world as those who have been genuinely transformed by Jesus Christ.
And when Paul stood before God on the day of Christ, he would have a cause for great rejoicing. He would see not only the Philippians themselves receiving honor from the Lord and hearing Him say to them, “Well done!”; but he’d also see others who had been influenced to trust in Christ by the godly lives of those Philippian believers!
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Now; what would be the best way to counteract our sinful tendency to grumble and dispute in the midst of trials? It’s by replacing it with another habit. Instead of grumbling and complaining, we should cultivate the habit of a sincere “thankfulness” toward God in all things. The Bible says, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). When difficult circumstances and hard times come our way, and we respond by giving thanks to Him in those circumstances, we will find that we cannot—at the same time—grumble and dispute with Him about them! It’s impossible to do! One act dispels the other.
May we cultivate such a trust in our heavenly Father that—when trials come—we thank Him and pray that He may use us in them. That way, we’ll truly “do all things without complaining and disputing” and will thus “shine as lights in the world” for the sake of the gospel.
AE
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