WORKING OUT YOUR SALVATION IN FEAR AND TREMBLING (Repost)
Philippians 2:12 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.
How does one get saved? Is it by saying the prayer of sinners? Is it
by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ as stated in Acts 16:31? Could it
be by calling on the name of the Lord as stated in Romans 10:13? The
first step to salvation is repentance. Without repentance there is no
salvation. The bible says in Matthew 4:17, from that time Jesus began to
preach and to say “repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” After
Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost, the people asked him, what
shall we do to be saved? He told them repent and let everyone of you be
baptized in the name of Jesus Christ – Acts2:38. After the healing of
the lame man at the beautiful gate, people converged to the see the lame
man and Peter used the opportunity to witness about Jesus. In his
sermon, he said in Acts 3:18, “repent therefore and be converted, that
your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from
the presence of the Lord. Brethren without repentance there is no
salvation. 2 Peter 3:9 says The Lord is not slack concerning his
promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward,
not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to
repentance.
Philippians 2:12 says work out your own salvation with fear and
trembling. Does is it mean after I am saved I still have work to do in
keeping my salvation? Yes. There are many who believes that once we are
saved heaven is guaranteed. It is the biggest lie from the devil. Jesus
Christ said in Matthew 10:22 that whoever endures to the will be saved.
It is true that we saved by grace according to Ephesians 2:5 but Matthew
24:13 says it is only those who endure to the end that will be saved.
Why do we have to work out our salvation with fear and trembling? The
reason why we need to work out our salvation with fear and trembling is
because salvation can be lost. The grace that brings salvation could be
abused. Romans 6:1 say what shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin
that grace may abound? Romans 6:15 says what then? Shall we sin because
we are not under the law but under grace? Certainly not! The grace that
brings salvation can also be frustrated. Paul says in Galatians 2:21 I
do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law,
then Christ is dead in vain. Abusing the grace of God or frustrating
the grace can lead to withdrawal of grace which eventually means fall
from grace of God. According to Galatians 5:4, it is possible to fall
from the grace of God. It is also possible to miss the grace of God,
Hebrew 12:15.
Many have argued that once we receive salvation we are sealed with
the Holy Spirit according to Ephesians 1:13. It is very true but
remember that Ephesians 4:30 says and do not grieve the Holy Spirit of
God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. If we grieve the
Holy Spirit, He will leave.
ACTION POINT. Do everything possible not to grieve the Holy Spirit.
Study Ephesians 4:25-32 and it tells us what to do to avoid grieving the
Holy Spirit.
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