Teaching | Understanding Philippians: Working and Willing (Philippians 2:12-18)

The Christian life requires effort. While some may be accustomed to the phrase, “Let go and let God,” suggesting that passivity in obedience magnifies God’s grace, nothing could be further from the truth. As J.I. Packer aptly stated, “The Christian’s motto should not be ‘Let go and let God’ but ‘Trust God and get going.’” Grace is opposed to works, not action. Just as an adopted child dishonors their status by rejecting their family’s ways, so too does a Christian who neglects obedience. It is precisely because God has saved us and adopted us into his family that we obey him—not to earn his love, but out of gratitude and trust.

Philippians 2:12-18 challenges the notion that salvation is merely a one-time decision for Christ. Instead, salvation is an ongoing transformation, a process empowered and fueled by God himself. This divine work does not negate human effort but demands it, as we live out what God has worked within us. True faith does not lead to passivity but to Spirit-empowered action, shaping us into the image of Christ. This is Understanding Philippians.

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