Work out your own salvation

"Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling". (Phil.2.12)

When some people read this verse the thinking is to interpret it to mean you must work for your salvation. If you must be saved then you must work hard, working out your salvation with fear and trembling.

But such thinking is so wrong on many levels. We know the Bible tells us that salvation is a gift of God. Rom.6.23  tells us that "the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." If it is a gift then you can't work for it.

It is also true that the Bible says that by grace we are saved through faith, not by works so no one can boast. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Eph.2.8- 9)

So when Paul says work out your salvation what he was saying was show proof of what has already been worked into you. It is s synonymous with what John the Baptist said to the Jews in the book of Matthew.

"Prove by the way you live that you have really turned from your sins and turned to God".(Matt.3.8 NLT)

He was saying obey in my absence just as much as you do when I am present with you. If anything, do more in my absence.

We must remember that the Apostle Paul was addressing believers and not unbelievers.
Where the King James version says fear and trembling, the Amplified translation says   "timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ". In a nutshell, our goal is to please God - work out your salvation with fear and trembling...

Good day,
And have a great day today,
EmmA (aka Mr. Lift)
@Liftemma

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