TEXT:  Phil. 2:14-16

INTRODUCTION:

A.      vs. 5-11.  IMITATE JESUS IN HUMILITY AND SUBMISSION.

B.      vs. 12-13.  WE MUST DO OUR PART IN SALVATION.

C.      vs. 14-16.  WE MUST CONTRAST WITH THE WORLD.

I.      LIVE THIS WAY:

A.      WE ARE TO DO ALL THINGS WITHOUT MURMURINGS.

          1.       Murmuring: gongudzo, “mutter, murmur, grumble, say anything in a low tone –

                   of displeasure or complaining (more private than public).”

          2.       Why were so many destroyed in the wilderness( 1 Cor. 10: 10-12 ).

          3.       Disrupted the Jerusalem church( Acts 6:1;  1 Pet. 4:7-9 ).

          4.       We are not to murmur!

B.      DO ALL THINGS WITHOUT QUESTIONINGS AND DISPUTINGS.

          1.       Disputings,  dialogismos, “doubts, disputes, arguments.” 

                   English word – “dialogue.”

          2.       We are not to entertain doubts( 2 Tim. 2:11-13;  James 1:5-8;  Heb. 11:6 ).

          3.       We are to disdain falsehoods which cause doubts( 2 Tim. 2:23 ).

II.     BECOME THIS:  “THAT YE MAY BECOME …”

A.      BLAMELESS, amemtos                                                      Jesus ( 1 Pet. 1:19 ).

                                                          ALMOST SYNONYMS.        Church( Eph. 5:27 ).

B.      WITHOUT BLEMISH, amometos                                                Us!

          1.       Not because we are innocent ( 1 John 1:8, 10 ).

          2.       Through the blood of Jesus ( 1:6-7 ).

                   a.       Conditioned upon our walking in the light( Rom. 6:1-2 ).

                   b.       Walking thus, we reflect HIS goodness( 1 Pet. 2:9, 11-12 ).

C.      HARMLESS, akeraios, “Lit. unmixed, pure, metaphorically, guileless, sincere,

          harmless.” – Vine.  “Innocent as far as evil is concerned.” – Arndt & Gingrich.

III.    YET LIVE IN THIS SETTING.

A.      CROOKED ( Acts 2:40 ).  Not as it should be, difficult.

B.      PERVERSE – Stronger – distort and twist – a vessel misshapen on a potter’s wheel

          ( Acts 13:8-10;  20:30;  Gal. 1:7 ).

C.      OUR WORLD IS MISHAPEN, TWISTED, MISLED AND PERVERTED

          ( Isa. 5:18-23).

IV.   MAKING THIS CONTRAST.

A.      LIGHTS IN A DARK WORLD – A LUMINARY, asv footnote.

          1.       Matt. 5:14-16.

          2.       1 Pet. 2:9.  A reflected light.

          3.       To God be the glory( Matt. 5:16 ).

B.      OUR LIGHT CONTRASTED WITH DARKNESS( Eph. 5:7-14 ).

C.      “HOLDING FORTH THE WORD OF LIFE.”

          1.       epecho, “hold upon, then direct towards, give heed, take heed … hold one’s

                    mind

                   toward, to observe.” – Vine.  “Hold fast, fix attention upon.” – A&G.

          2.       The statue of Liberty.

          3.       Cause great joy and fellowship with their teachers( vs. 17-18 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      WHAT WOULD GIVE US ALL GREAT JOY TODAY?

B.      HAVE YOU OBEYED THE GOSPEL?