The Sunday Sermon

Realizing God's Plan In Life (Part Two)

by Archibald T. Robertson Realizing God's Plan In Life (Part Two)

by Archibald T. Robertson

Edited by R.P. Woitowitz Sr.

12 Wherefore my beloved, as ye have always

obeyed me, not as in my presence only, but now

much more in mine absence, so make an end of

your own salvation with fear and trembling.

13 For it is God which worketh in you both the

will and the deed, even of his good pleasure.

14 Do all things without amurmuring and reasonings,

15 That ye may be blameless, and pure, and

the sons of God without rebuke in the midst of

a naughty and crooked nation, among whom ye

shine as blights in the world,

16 Holding forth the word of life, that I may

rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in

vain, neither have labored in vain.

17 Yea, and though I be offered up upon the

sacrifice, and service of your faith, I am glad, and

rejoice with you all.

18 For the same cause also be ye glad, and rejoice

with me.

The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Philippians

Chapter 2 Verses 12-18

Cheerfulness Under Orders (verse 14)

Having committed our lives to the control of God's will we are under orders. It is un-military and peevish to fret at God's commands. "Do all things without murmuring." The allusion may be to the conduct of Israel in the wilderness (Exodus 16:7; Numbers 16:5,10). The Israelites murmured bitterly against Moses and against God repeatedly and with dire results. " Neither murmur ye, as some of them murmured and perished by the destroyer" (l Corinthians 10:10). These inward murmurings against God's will would easily turn to grumblings towards each other. (James 5:9; Titus 3:2l; Psalm 52:1-4;)People do not usually stop with resentment against God, but wish to blame somebody. Disunion (1 Corinthians 11:18; 1 Corinthians 3:3; 1 Corinthians 1:10;) had already manifested itself in the church at Philippi. If God is supreme and does all things why did He allow this thing to happen? It is easier to ask than to answer that question.

The next step is to become sour towards one another. "Without disputing." (Acts 15:6-10;) This word is used for questionings, then doubting, then disputing. This is the usual course of our intellectual revolt against God. Probably the moral revolt (murmurings) comes first. The skeptical spirit follows resentment against some crossing of our will by God's will. The final result is "intellectual rebellion." Thoughts of hesitation or doubt turn to distrust. Distrust ripens into open disputes when a public stand is taken with others against God Doubt leads to dispute even over trifles. So then, as good soldiers, Christians are to carry out the orders of the Captain of their salvation. Explanations, if they come at all, come after obedience, not before.