Work out your salvation with fear and trembling. (Philippians 2:12)
We all know about the importance of taking good care of the temple of the Holy Spirit with a “workout” plan that includes consistent exercise, sound nutrition, and adequate rest, especially after a Christmas day of feasting on tasty treats, if you are anything like me. Today, I want to encourage you with another kind of “workout,” one that builds your temple from the inside out.
First, let me make something perfectly clear. The apostle Paul is not suggesting that we need to “workout” a salvation that we can lose if we do not have the right kind of workout and produce the right kind of results, living in a continual condition of fear. That beloved, would violate not only the good news of the gospel, but all of sacred Scripture. The fear Paul is speaking about is best translated as “reverence” or “respect” for our Redeemer.
So, what does it look like for the Christian to work out their salvation? It starts with a desire to live obediently before the face of God. The primary witness of our “work out” is to be found in our practice of obedience to the Lord. Notice I did not say the perfection of obedience, because that will not happen until we cross the Jordan and are received into glory. Along the way, we will live lives marked by obedience and disobedience because the old sinful nature is in a constant struggle with the new sinless nature.
The secondary witness of our “work out” is found in the environment in which we are “working out” in. An attitude of reverence and respect for the Almighty is to be the environment in which we “work out” in, remembering that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. In other words, we are to take seriously the call of Christ to live as obedient disciples. Even though we know we will “work out” our salvation imperfectly on this side of the grave, nonetheless, we desire to be obedient in all things. True disciples desire to live lives that are pleasing and acceptable to God. True disciples seek to use all of their time, talent, and treasure for the advancement of the kingdom of God. True disciples look to glorify God is all things.
So, what has the witness of your “work out” been saying to those around you? In what areas are you working well? In what areas do you need to put in a little extra effort. Remember, the same grace that saved you is the same grace that is sanctifying you . . . and it is all of grace. Yet, God has called each one of us to “work out our salvation with fear and trembling.” May this be the confession of our lives.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 