July 18, 2023 WORK IT OUT
Philippians 2:12-13 ‘So 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; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”
It is God who draws men and women to Himself that they might be saved; we cannot take any credit for being joined to the family of God. Yet, at the same time, there are things we are called to do; we have a part to play in being conformed to the image of Christ. Salvation happens at a certain time, and it is also a process of being saved. Becoming a member of the kingdom of God is a beginning point; as members of His kingdom, we are to learn of the ways of His kingdom and then walk in them. This involves adjusting our lives in any way needed in order to live as kingdom of God people. Our salvation is not to be taken lightly; Jesus gave His life that we might be saved. Hebrews 2:3 makes this point when it says “how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?’ To me, working out our salvation means that we are expressing or putting into practice what the Holy Spirit is doing in us; it means we are expressing the nature of God in the way we live. Salvation brings about change; it means we are not who we use to be-expressing our ways-but about expressing and demonstrating the ways of God. We are called to be maturing in the faith. Central to working out our salvation is having a love for God and also knowing His love for us. Not to belabor the point, but the gospel of God, when received, brings about change; being followers of Christ, our life is to be reflections of the salvation we have in Christ. With our new identities in Christ, our lives should be marked with grace, love, gentleness, compassion and truth. Sometimes we have to confront wrong and deal with difficulties in life, but we do so in love-because God is love. Working out our salvation also includes repentance when we are wrong. A lot could be said, but let us be consciously embracing and putting into action the instructions and admonitions we find in the scriptures, not to gain God’s approval or love, but because He loves us. He loves us so much that He gives us His Holy Spirit to enable us to live as unto Him. Let us cooperate with God as He is working out His good pleasure in us.
John 14:15-17 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you, and will be in you.”
Blessings, Buddy
Philippians 2:12-13 ‘So 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; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”
It is God who draws men and women to Himself that they might be saved; we cannot take any credit for being joined to the family of God. Yet, at the same time, there are things we are called to do; we have a part to play in being conformed to the image of Christ. Salvation happens at a certain time, and it is also a process of being saved. Becoming a member of the kingdom of God is a beginning point; as members of His kingdom, we are to learn of the ways of His kingdom and then walk in them. This involves adjusting our lives in any way needed in order to live as kingdom of God people. Our salvation is not to be taken lightly; Jesus gave His life that we might be saved. Hebrews 2:3 makes this point when it says “how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?’ To me, working out our salvation means that we are expressing or putting into practice what the Holy Spirit is doing in us; it means we are expressing the nature of God in the way we live. Salvation brings about change; it means we are not who we use to be-expressing our ways-but about expressing and demonstrating the ways of God. We are called to be maturing in the faith. Central to working out our salvation is having a love for God and also knowing His love for us. Not to belabor the point, but the gospel of God, when received, brings about change; being followers of Christ, our life is to be reflections of the salvation we have in Christ. With our new identities in Christ, our lives should be marked with grace, love, gentleness, compassion and truth. Sometimes we have to confront wrong and deal with difficulties in life, but we do so in love-because God is love. Working out our salvation also includes repentance when we are wrong. A lot could be said, but let us be consciously embracing and putting into action the instructions and admonitions we find in the scriptures, not to gain God’s approval or love, but because He loves us. He loves us so much that He gives us His Holy Spirit to enable us to live as unto Him. Let us cooperate with God as He is working out His good pleasure in us.
John 14:15-17 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you, and will be in you.”
Blessings, Buddy
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