Philippians 2:13

‘For it is God who works within you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure.'

And they are not to think that they are on their own in this. This verse is crucial to the whole injunction (the separation of the verses must not be allowed to disguise that fact). Had Paul stopped short with Philippians 2:12 we might well have been left in fear and trembling, but he now assures them that the enabling and power for what he has required from them will come from God. It is God Who is working powerfully within them both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Nothing therefore can in the end prevent it. Once again we are reminded that while God is sovereign in His activity we are called on to put every effort into ensuring that it is successful.

‘It is God.' There is no mention here of the Holy Spirit (although see Philippians 1:27; Philippians 2:1). But that does not mean that we are to exclude His working. Indeed in all the Spirit's activity the Father and Son are ever present. It is the Father and the Son Who indwell us when we become Christians (John 14:23) and that in the context of the coming of the Holy Spirit (John 14:26). Note the ‘we' which make the multiple presence quite clear. And when Jesus promised the coming of the Paraklete (Comforter, Strengthener, Helper - John 14:16), He also promised ‘I will come to you' (John 14:18). When we are strengthened with power by His Spirit in the inner man, it is Christ Who dwells in our hearts by faith (Ephesians 3:16). Thus we are indwelt by the Triune God. And it is as we have within us the mind of Christ, that the experience of Christ in His death and resurrection becomes ours (Philippians 2:5).

‘Who works within you.' The word used here is regularly used by Paul to signify the effective power and working of God. It is God Who ‘works all things according to the counsel of His own will' (Ephesians 1:11), Who is at work within them. It was the effective working of His power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead (Ephesians 1:20), that also raised ‘us' up when we were dead in trespasses and sins (Ephesians (Philippians 2:1), and it is the same power which is still available to us through prayer (Ephesians 1:19; Ephesians 3:20). Thus it is a working that is both effective and irresistible, and yet to some extent very much requires our response.

‘For His good pleasure.' Some see this as meaning ‘in fulfilment of His benevolent purpose'. Others see it as indicating bringing about in them what pleases him. Both are, of course, true. For He works all things according to the counsel of His own will (Ephesians 1:11), and it is His will that we should do what pleases Him.

Note the twofold ‘to will and to work'. The inner motivation and the actual outworking will result from this powerful activity of God. He will be the mainspring of their willing and working, and that is why they are to take the greatest care to ensure that they do not hinder the process in any way, either as individuals or as a church. He then goes on the demonstrate how this is to be ‘worked out'.

This contrast of ‘working out' what God has ‘worked in' is common in Paul. He knew very well the distinction between Christians being ‘sanctified' (1 Corinthians 1:2) and yet being lacking in holiness (as the Corinthians clearly were), and those who were both sanctified and holy. Thus he regularly urged Christians to ‘become what you are' (see for example Romans 6:2; Romans 8:1; Ephesians 4:20; Colossians 2:20; Colossians 3:1; Colossians 3:9), and it is significant that having told Christians that they had died with Christ (Romans 6:2; Galatians 2:20; Galatians 5:34), he then called on them to start putting themselves to death (Romans 8:13; Colossians 3:5). But he was nevertheless confident that God would by His inward working finally ensure that His true people did become holy. For in the end, ‘if you live according to your sinful nature you will die, but if you through the Spirit do put to death the misdeeds of the body you will live' (Romans 8:12). Thus he could say to the weak and failing Corinthians, ‘Who will confirm you to the end that you may be unreproveable in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ'. And he based this on the fact of the faithfulness of the God Who had called them, ‘He is faithful Who promised' (1 Corinthians 1:8. For he was confident that ‘He who had begun a good work in them would bring it to completion until the Day of Jesus Christ' (Philippians 1:6). In the same way the writer to the Hebrews confirms that ‘whom the Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives. -- If you be without chastening, of which all are partakers, then are you illegitimate children and not sons.' (Hebrews 12:6; Hebrews 12:8). Indeed Jesus Himself made clear that in the end ‘by their fruits you will know them', which is the constant message of the New Testament (Matthew 12:33; Luke 6:43; 1 Corinthians 6:9; Galatians 5:20; Hebrews 10:39). The wise man who built his house on the rock heard His words and DID them (Matthew 7:24). Salvation is invalid that does not result in obedience.