"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT WORKING OUT OUR SALVATION"
Philippians 2:12 “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;”
Philippians 2:13 “for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”
(Taken from today's reading in The One Year Bible 9/30/14)
Some explanatory thoughts, application, questions and a prayer:
Paul is exhorting the believers about growing in their walk with the Lord. He uses a phrase "work out your own salvation" to reference growth. This is a beautiful exhortation and encouragement, and much to be learned from it. May it be a blessing to you and help you to grow also. In Jesus’ name.
1. May we have the same great love in our churches as Paul and this church did.
Philippians 2:12 “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;”
Please notice how Paul refers to the believers, “My beloved”. Or as the NLT reads, "Dearest Friends”.
What a joy to have this kind of love among ourselves.
This love stems from, and flows from, our God through the Holy Spirit into our lives.
It's God great commandment to us, that we love one another.
Love builds us up.
Love covers a multitude of sins.
Love testifies to the world that we follow Jesus.
Love is a blessing indeed.
2. May we also seek to walk or live out our lives in obedience to Jesus Christ.
Philippians 2:12 “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;”
Paul speaks of them as having been obedient to the Lord in the past.
They were that way when he was with them personally.
And he is now encouraging them to be obedient in his absence.
Obedience to Christ is accomplished by both His grace and power and our wills.
We not only can love our Lord, but we can obey Him as well.
Jesus not only loved us, but He obeyed His Father in coming to the earth and dying for our sins.
He wants us to emulate His example of love.
O the great love of God, how sweet it is to our souls.
3. We are encouraged to work out our salvation.
Philippians 2:12 “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;”
It's important to note what is not being said here.
We are not being told to work for our salvation.
Rather we are being told to "work out" our salvation.
The idea here is that we are to put into action the saving work of God in our lives.
We are to live our lives with a deep reverence for God.
God has saved us, and He wants us to grow in our salvation.
He is calling us here to do our part in the growing process.
Trust and obey, as the old hymn says, there is no other way.
Have faith in God and walk in His ways, and we will grow.
4. God not only saved us, but is actively working in our lives to bring us to maturity in Christ.
Philippians 2:13 “for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”
Paul reframes the focus of his earlier point.
Now he directs us to what God is doing.
God is working in us, and the goal He has in working in us is two fold.
It's to will and to do of His good pleasure.
In other words, as the NLT put it, "For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him”.
God is giving us the desire to obey, it comes from Him.
God is also giving us the power to do what pleases Him.
Some Questions:
1. Do you ever wonder, now that you are saved, what you ought to be doing?
2. These two verses help answer the question above.
3. Can you see from these verses that we have our part, and God has His part?
4. And, can you see that this not working for, but working out our salvation?
5. It's actually saying, bring your salvation to it’s logical, and God intended, end.
A Prayer:
Father, You started this work in us, and You have promised to finish it. You are the author and the finisher of our faith. All honor, and all glory and power belong to You. Thank You for the greatest gift possible to a human being. Eternal life. Praise Your Name, God most high.
How grateful we are for what You have done for us. Thank You that You are working in our lives to accomplish Your goals for us, and that You give us clear and plain instruction on what we are to do as Your children. One day Your work in us will be completed, and our work in Christ will also be completed. We will arrive safe and sound in heaven, and see You for the first time face to face, and hear Your voice in a new way. We will be in Your visible presence. What a glorious future we have. And, what a blessed life we can enjoy now here below. We bless Your name, Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia.
