Warnings of Paul in Philippians. Chapters 1-4

Please brothers and sisters, we must judge ourselves. When we read the warnings we should not read them thinking they do not apply to us and that we cannot fall away. These warnings were given by Jesus to his disciples! It is a war to judge yourself. Jesus warned his disciples that if they did not abide in him they would be burned. Read Ezekiel 18. where Jesus gives the gospel.

Warnings of Paul in Philippians. NASB

Philippians 1 
8For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, 10so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; 11having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

27Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 28in no way alarmed by your opponents—which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God. 29For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, 30experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

We are not saved yet! We are being saved! We see this in verse 28 - "which is a sign".........of salvation for you". wm

Philippians 2
12So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

14Do all things without grumbling or disputing; 15so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, 16holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain. 17But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all.

• Why would Paul be so adamant about us "working out our salvation with fear and trembling"? Please think about this. Paul makes it clear that believers can fall away. Paul is fearful for the believers. I am sure Paul heard the story of Jesus warning his disciples that as "branches", if they did not bear fruit His Father would place them in a pile of branches to be burned.  
• It is quite clear in verse 16 above, Paul was concerned about believers not "holding fast" and the result being Paul's work with them having been "in vain". Why does Paul talk about "holding fast the word of life" if it is not possible to let go?? Are we obeying God? This is the issue. The past does not determine our future standing in the Lord. "today is the day of salvation".
• Jesus tells us "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life,and there are few who find it. Matthew 7:14 NASB. 
• Jesus also tells us 'He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments;and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. Revelation 3:5 NASB The false teachers of today will not warn you! wm

Philippians 3

2Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision; 3for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh, 4although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more: 5circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; 6as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.

7But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, 9and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, 10that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; 11in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

12Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; 16however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.

17Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. 18For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, 19whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. 20For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself

• No matter how you slice it, Paul was extremely concerned about his spiritual condition. As hard as it is to believe, he said "in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead". Paul knew he could not work his way to heaven, yet he was concerned that he would become a castaway. He warned us of falling away from the faith. We are so responsible to the Lord. This generation of teachers have abandoned the truth and do not warn. They explain everything away. Ask your 12 year old to read this and explain it. You will be better off than listening to the teachers of today.

Philippians 4

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. 6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.9The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.