2 Tim 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
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WORK OUT YOUR OWN SALVATION!
THURSDAY, MAY 11
Philippians 2:12-18
James 2:17-26
“…work out your own salvation
with fear and trembling.”
WORK OUT YOUR OWN SALVATION!
The phrase “work out your own salvation” (Phil 2:12) is sometimes used as a call for Christians to check their salvation to see if they are truly saved or not. It is also sometimes misunderstood to mean that there is some sort of works that we must do to earn or ensure our salvation. Neither of these interpretations fits the context of this passage.
What Paul is calling us to do is to “work out” (i.e. to do, to carry out, to perform) our salvation. This does not mean that we accomplish our salvation by our works, but it means that we must show our salvation through the things that we do and the way that we live. In so doing, we demonstrate the fact that our lives have been changed by the Gospel, and we are now obeying the Lord out of a sincere heart of submission.
The attitude must always be one of fear and trembling, not pride and complacency. Our fear is not that we can ever lose our salvation, or that we tremble because we think that God is angry with us. It is a fear that refers to our great reverence for the Lord. We respect Him with holy fear and serve Him with deep humility, always remembering our sinful nature and our many weaknesses. We tremble before Him, as a humble servant would before a great benevolent king. We fear Him, as an obedient child before a strict but loving father. We serve Him to the best of our abilities, not because we are terrified that He will punish us at any time, but because He is our great master, worthy of our highest devotion!
And so, we are all called to work out our salvation by showing through our lives of obedience that we have indeed believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, have repented of our sins, and now live wholly for Him. This is something we must do consistently, no matter who is watching us. When we do so, we will “shine as lights in the world”, as glowing testimonies for our Lord Jesus Christ!
THOUGHT: When I sin, am I more fearful of the wrath of God against me, or the fact that I have disappointed Him?
PRAYER: Father, may I always have a humble regard for Thee, coming into Thy presence with fear and trembling.