GUIDING LIGHTS. Philippians 2:12-18 There are positive results when the Lord's people have the mind of Christ and demonstrate it through practical actions. Christianity is a philosophy and doctrine related to Christ and the church, as well as a lifestyle that reflects our Lord Jesus Christ in this world. To accomplish this, God establishes local assemblies of believers as visible signs of His presence and interest in people. In an assembly, we practically and visibly obey what the mind of Christ teaches believers spiritually. Each assembly is responsible for addressing local issues or problems in a way that meets the specific needs and circumstances. In Philippi, the need was clear in two women who had worked in the Gospel and, for some reason, did not like each other or at least couldn't get along. Such situations must be addressed and resolved because they can potentially cause division among the Lord's people.
Because of the example set by the Lord Jesus Christ in providing the great blessing of salvation through what He did for us and His attitude toward God and His people, the church at Philippi was instructed to “work out” (unwrap) their own salvation concerning a local issue. Work it through to completion until it is finished. This was not about earning personal salvation but about understanding what salvation is and expressing it through spiritual growth and actions that accompany salvation. This salvation is a process where humility, service, perseverance, and spiritual maturity lead to the resolution of disunity. It must be worked on until the job is completely done.