A man has so much to put up with in his life…it won’t do sitting about crying because I got scratched.”
–Louis L’Amour (The Man From Skibereen)
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials.”
–James 1:2 (NKJV)
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Philippians, known as the book of rejoicing. Rejoice, rejoice, Paul says it several times in his letter to the church at Philippi, but there is a portion of Scripture that should jump out to us. However, many things do not jump out for those of today’s society have been taught the skill of ignoring knowledge, pretending it is not there. Take a moment to read this verse, it is the last part of 2:12.
“work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” (NKJV)
“work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ).” (AMPC)
Wait a minute, isn’t that legalism? Isn’t this the concept of doing penance, of adding works to grace? No, it’s the idea of growing in grace that Peter speaks of in 2 Peter.
The Amplified version does a very good job of explaining this verse fully. The words “work out” have the idea of bringing to completion. We are to continue to develop our Christ-likeness. We continue pursuing the goal in Christ Jesus. And when will salvation be complete? When we reach our heavenly home. I used to teach my students the following:
“In the past we were saved from the penalty of sin.
In the presence we are being saved from the power of sin.
In the future we will be saved from the presence of sin.”
Does this depend upon you? To an extent. Think of Jesus on the cross, a thief on either side. They both mocked, but then one utter words to Jesus. I can see him stretch forth his fingers toward Jesus. He reached out; he had to receive. “There can be no salvation without God, but what God offers man must take. It is never God who withholds salvation; it is always man who deprives himself of it.” (William Barclay)
Notice the rest of the verse, “with fear and trembling.” This is how we “work out” our salvation. You have received Christ, but that is just the beginning–now the journey begins. Salvation must become operational. Call it sanctification if you will, but the life now has obligations. There must be evidence in the daily life that you are saved; “day by day it must be more fully accomplished.” (Barclay) “Regeneration initiates the believer into a life with obligations. Acknowledging Jesus Christ as Lord obligates the believer to obey him.” (Homer A. Kent)
We do it with “fear and trembling.” We understand how frail and weak we are. We understand that we serve a holy God. We can only be victorious by seeking Him daily, and doing it through His power.