This is part 2 in a series of messages where we examine from Philippians 2:12-13 what does it mean to work our your salvation.
REVIEW
Paul was speaking to Christians - Philippians 1:1-2
Not a contradiction to Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace you have been saved through faith
Salvation is NOT something that can be earned. Grace is not based on what someone does. There is nothing a person can do to make/convince God to save them. We cannot work our way into eternal life, heaven, or God’s favor.
Paul didn’t say, work for your salvation, but work out your salvation.
How God created us.
Created in three parts. Spirit – Soul – Body -1 Thessalonians 5:23
When we are born again - 2 Corinthians 5:17 - Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature. Old things have passed away. Look, all things have become new.
It's the inward man—our spirit—that becomes a new creature in Christ.
Colossians 3:5 - Therefore put to death the parts of your earthly nature: sexual immorality, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
Our body still has at times passions and lusts that try to rise up and take over. What we are supposed to do is crucify the flesh (kill it).
SOUL - Intellectual, brain, emotional realm
James 1:21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and remaining wickedness and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
2 Corinthians 10:5 - casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God
Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think on these things.
Because body or soul has not been renewed (transformed) there is this earthly nature to deal with. As long as you are in your body, you will have the desires of a earthly nature and the natural soul to contend with.
HOLINESS
Working out our salvation - the inward transformation has to be displayed with outward visible transformation.
But Paul said - Philippians 1:27 - Only let your conduct (conversation - behavior) be worthy of the gospel of Christ
If we are saved, it should show.
Saved Faith - The outward doesn’t matter - James said - You show me your faith without works (if you can), and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God; good for you (that is correct). The demons also believe and tremble. But don’t you know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
Confession with the mouth, without believing in the heart will not bring about salvation. Faith alone saves, but the faith that saves is not alone. It should lead to good works. It should lead to holy living. The person living inside should work His way out!
If we are renewed in our spirit, it will be evident outwardly.
MAIN TEXT - PART 2
Philippians 2:12 - work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
YOUR OWN
Collectively (as the body of Christ) - Philippians 2:1-5 - If there is any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any compassion and mercy, 2 then fulfill my joy and be like-minded, having the same love, being in unity with one mind. 3 Let nothing be done out of strife or conceit, but in humility let each esteem the other better than himself. 4 Let each of you look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Let this mind be in you all, which was also in Christ Jesus
Philippians 2:14-15 - Do all things without murmuring and disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and harmless, sons of God, without fault, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world.
There is a collective (as the body of Christ) working out our salvation together. Unity of mind, humbleness, building/strengthening one another, caring for each other, not fighting, not complaining, together being blameless, and being lights in the perverse world we live in.
INDIVIDUAL
With the whole comes individual responsibility. The whole (body) will not work if individuals won’t take upon themselves the individual side of these things.
Here is something else we need to recognize in this. Yes… we are to be united, like-minded, etc, but when working out our own salvation we should focus the working out on ourselves rather than on others.
The practical outworking of this activity (work out your salvation) can/probably will look somewhat different in each of our lives. The end desire, or end result is with the same goal in mind.
Philippains 1:6 - He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ.
We are desiring the perfect work of Christ to be completed in us, and there will be many similar aspects to that perfect work in Christian's lives (holiness, word of God, prayer, gathering together, obedience in faith to God), but the practical accomplishment in our lives can at times look different.
Reasons: Maturity (physical/spiritual), Life Journey (experiences), Background, Calling
Examples
1 - Just because God tells you to do (not do something) doesn’t mean that you should necessarily go around and try to convince everyone else to do the same.
2 - A newborn Christian comes along and we expect them to act/talk/behave like someone walking in the faith for 30 years. (Hippy movement)
WORKING OUT
It is Ongoing and Continual - It is not finished the day you got saved. There is not a day that while we are living in this temporal earthly life we don’t need work.
If we are the same person (before the Lord) today as we were a year ago there is a problem.
*** Challenge - go before the Lord and ask Him what needs to change.
WORK IT OUT WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING - Why?
I thought Christians weren’t supposed to be afraid. Do not fear man… Do not fear the devil… Do not fear the world… Bible says…
Proverbs 1:7 - The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
A starting point of our walk with God, salvation is fearing Him.
This is not just a respectful fear. Paul said, fear and trembling (quaking with fear).
Isaiah 33:6 - He shall be the stability of your times, a wealth of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is His treasure.
Tied to the fear of God (the Lord) are things like: stability, wisdom, knowledge, salvation
Fear and Trembling - Recognizing who God is For God is holy - His greatness - His goodness
The forgiveness of God - Psalm 130:3-4 - If you, O Lord, should keep track of iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? For there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared.
Judgments of God - Matthew 10:28 - Do not fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
We serve of God of love, but we serve a righteous judge and we will all stand before Him one day (believer and unbeliever).
Fear of God is necessary:
To Avoid Sin - Proverbs 3:7 - Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil.
Perfecting holiness - 2 Co 7:1 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Fear of God will continually push us to see His cleansing work, and holiness to be worked more and more in our lives.
Something to think about.
Galatians 6:7-9 - Be not deceived. God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows, that will he also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not give up.
James 1:14-15 - But each man is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust and enticed. 15 Then, when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin; and when sin is finished, it brings forth death.
Sometimes we emphasize grace to the place where we don’t talk about the consequences of sin or disobedience to God. There are consequences for not following the Lord and doing what He instructs us to. We miss out.
Example:
1 Corinthians 11:28 - Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks unworthily, eats and drinks damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this reason many are weak and unhealthy among you, and many die. 31 If we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord, so that we would not be condemned with the world.
Giving… Some don’t believe in giving to God. Some condemn tithing as legalism. My conviction on it when I was working it through in my life. If I am trying to find a reason not to tithe to the Lord, then there is a problem in my heart.
1 Peter 3:7 - Likewise, you husbands, live considerately with your wives, giving honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they too are also heirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.
Men… God looks at how we treat our wives. Our prayers will be hindered (not be effective) if we don’t honor our wife properly.
So… I work out my salvation in fear and trembling giving serious consideration to all of these things. First, the God I serve and who lives in me, and who I represent to the world. Secondly, cause I recognize the judgment that comes to one outside the faith. Thirdly, God has established principles of His Kingdom that I need to function in.
FINAL ENCOURAGEMENT
This requires our involvement. There is effort on our part. It requires our submission to the Lord, to the Holy Spirit, but it is not down in our strength and ability.
Philippians 1:6 - I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 2:13 - For God is the One working in you, both to will and to do His good pleasure.
The Lord does not leave us alone in this.
The reason this can all happen is because of who lives inside of us. God has placed His Holy Spirit (He Himself) inside of us to provide all that we need in order to work out His salvation in our lives.
John 15:26 - “But when the Counselor (helper) comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness of Me.
Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things because of Christ who strengthens me.
1 John 4:4 - You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
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Also available on audio podcast.
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