Faithfulness
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, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
Philippians 2:12-13
Something I hear pretty regularly from people is, “I have a faith in God.†The people who I’m speaking about often don’t attend Church or read their Bible. If they pray, it’s often primarily centred on their personal needs. They are often ‘good people’ but no more so than many unbelievers.
How does this sort of thing happen? Well. I’m sure for a number of reasons. But allow me to suggest one that stems from our passage today. Many believe that salvation is just a matter of believing in God or ‘having a faith.’
Now, we need to be clear. Salvation is only found in and through Jesus Christ and having faith/trusting in Him. But what does that mean? What does it mean to have faith in Christ?
Well, it begins with belief but it certainly doesn’t end there. To believe in Christ is not simply to believe that He is God or that He is the Saviour or even that He is the resurrected Lord. It’s to see the implications of these things for your own life.
What does it mean that you believe Jesus is Lord and yet don’t live as if He is? To believe that climate change is the greatest calamity facing humanity but do nothing about it points to the level of your conviction.
Having a faith in God is a great starting point. But as Paul reminds the Philippians, we must continue to work out our salvation in fear and trembling. By ‘work out’ I think Paul means live out, wrestle with, outwork.
What we have received is not a welfare cheque from a government, it’s not a crumb thrown to an already satisfied dog, it’s God the Son dying because of and for your sins. It’s a resurrection from the dead so that you could experience new life.
Keep wrestling with this Christian and live it out.
For Today:
Pray:
Praise the Father for His saving grace in Jesus Christ. Give thanks for Jesus who is our Saviour and Lord. Ask God for His Holy Spirit to help you and others work out salvation with fear and trembling.
Philippians 2:12-13
Something I hear pretty regularly from people is, “I have a faith in God.†The people who I’m speaking about often don’t attend Church or read their Bible. If they pray, it’s often primarily centred on their personal needs. They are often ‘good people’ but no more so than many unbelievers.
How does this sort of thing happen? Well. I’m sure for a number of reasons. But allow me to suggest one that stems from our passage today. Many believe that salvation is just a matter of believing in God or ‘having a faith.’
Now, we need to be clear. Salvation is only found in and through Jesus Christ and having faith/trusting in Him. But what does that mean? What does it mean to have faith in Christ?
Well, it begins with belief but it certainly doesn’t end there. To believe in Christ is not simply to believe that He is God or that He is the Saviour or even that He is the resurrected Lord. It’s to see the implications of these things for your own life.
What does it mean that you believe Jesus is Lord and yet don’t live as if He is? To believe that climate change is the greatest calamity facing humanity but do nothing about it points to the level of your conviction.
Having a faith in God is a great starting point. But as Paul reminds the Philippians, we must continue to work out our salvation in fear and trembling. By ‘work out’ I think Paul means live out, wrestle with, outwork.
What we have received is not a welfare cheque from a government, it’s not a crumb thrown to an already satisfied dog, it’s God the Son dying because of and for your sins. It’s a resurrection from the dead so that you could experience new life.
Keep wrestling with this Christian and live it out.
For Today:
- Do you continue to wrestle with what it means that Jesus saved you?
- How do you need to continue to live out your salvation this week?
- Do you know someone who says they believe and yet isn’t working that out?
Pray:
Praise the Father for His saving grace in Jesus Christ. Give thanks for Jesus who is our Saviour and Lord. Ask God for His Holy Spirit to help you and others work out salvation with fear and trembling.
Posted in Philippians
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