WORK OUT YOUR SALVATION – FEAR AND TREMBLING / PHILIPPIANS 2:12

(KJV) Philippians 2:12

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,

Though we are spiritually saved by God’s grace – His unearned favor and love and enablement – we must continue to work out our salvation to the end (Matthew 24:13; Hebrews 6:11). We must finish our race (1 Corinthians 9:24-27) and faithfully complete our journey on earth. If we fail to do this, we will lose the salvation given us. 

1. This does not imply an attempt to gain salvation or favor with God by works. Rather, it is an expression of our salvation through ongoing spiritual growth and development. Salvation is not simply a gift received once and for all; it is lived out and fulfilled through a continual process of surrender to Christ and following His purposes. This often takes great determination if we are to remain steadfast and continue to mature spiritually (1 Corinthians 9:24-27; 2 Peter 1:5-8).
2. Just as we are not saved by good works (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5), we do not work out our salvation by mere human effort. Rather, we must continue to rely on the same things which brought us salvation in the first place: God’s grace (unearned favor, love and help) and the Spirit’s power given to us.
3. In order to work out our salvation, we must resist temptation and sin (our own God-defying ways) and follow the desires of the Holy Spirit within us. This involves a sustained effort to use every God-given means available for defeating evil and experiencing Christ’s life. This is part of the process of sanctification – the process of being spiritually purified, refined and set apart for God’s possession and purposes through ongoing spiritual growth and development (Galatians 5:17).
4. We work out our salvation by continually growing closer to Christ (Hebrews 7:25). In doing so, we take on His character and desires as well as the power to fulfill God’s purposes for our lives (Philippians 2:13).
5. Working out our salvation is so necessary and important and, at times, so emotionally involved that it must be done “with fear and trembling.”

In the process of living out our spiritual salvation through faith in Christ, there must be an element of “fear and trembling.” This does not refer to an attitude of fright, doubt or anxiety, but a serious reverence and vigorous pursuit of God’s purposes. Yet, the fear (Greek phobos) of the Lord is more than merely “reverent awe and truth,” as it is often defined; it includes a deep awe and sober awareness of God’s power, holiness and judgment against sin (Exodus 3:6; Psalms 119:120; Luke 12:4-5). All of God’s people must possess a holy fear that grows out of our true awareness of God’s supreme power and authority and our deepest sense of accountability to Him. The Lord describes someone with this attitude as “the one I esteem … who is humble and contrite in spirit, and temples at my word: (Isaiah 66:2). The fear of the Lord is not a destructive fear, but a redeeming (rescuing, liberating, saving) fear that brings people closer to God by causing them to turn away from all evil (Proverbs 3:7; 8:13). Godly fear leads to blessing, moral purity, life and salvation (Psalms 5:7; 85:9; Proverbs 14:27; 16:6).

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1. MADE HIMSELF NOTHING – NATURE OF A SERVANT HUMAN LIKENESS / PHILIPPIANS 2:7
2. BEING IN VERY NATURE GOD / PHILIPPIANS 2:6
3. YOUR ATTITUDE SHOULD BE THE SAME / PHILIPPIANS 2:5
4. IN HUMILITY / PHILIPPIANS 2:3
5. THEY WILL BE DESTROYED … YOU WILL BE SAVED / PHILIPPIANS 1:28
6. STAND FIRM IN ONE SPIRIT / PHILIPPIANS 1:27
7. TO DIE IS GAIN / PHILIPPIANS 1:21
8. THE DEFENSE OF THE GOSPEL / PHILIPPIANS 1:16
9. PURE AND BLAMESS / PHILIPPIANS 1:10
10. BEING CONFIDENT OF THIS / PHILIPPIANS 1:6
11. LOVE MAY ABOUND … IN KNOWLEDGE / PHILIPPIANS 1:9
12. JOY / PHILIPPIANS 1:4
13. GUIDED BY GRACE HOME

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Summary

Article Name

WORK OUT YOUR SALVATION - FEAR AND TREMBLING / PHILIPPIANS 2:12

Description

Though we are spiritually saved by God’s grace - His unearned favor and love and enablement - we must continue to work out our salvation to the end (Matthew 24:13; Hebrews 6:11).

Author

Margarita Crews

Publisher Name

Guided By Grace

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