Concern yourself not with the consequences, just remember that if you fail to stand for what is right, there will be worse consequences suffered by not only yourself, but many others. A man cannot go to his grave with anything so significant on his conscience. You will one day stand before God.”
–B.N. Rundell (The Covenant)
“Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall.”
–2 Peter 1:10 (NIV)
———————————–
“…so you must work out your own salvation with fear and trembling–(that is, keep on carrying out to the ultimate point of completion your salvation with reverence and awe, by finishing the race you’ve begun so that you will not dishonor God or disgrace the Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord).”
–Philippians 2:12(Harbuck)
Work out, don’t stop halfway! “No Christian should be satisfied with anything less than the total benefits of the gospel.” (Barclay) We know that God is at work in each of us and therefore it is up to us to cooperate with Him. William Barclay writes, “The Christian must give continual evidence in his daily life that he is indeed working out his own salvation; day by day it must be more fully accomplished.” Today we should not be the same as yesterday. But remember, as in life growth sometimes comes in spurts and at other times it seems so very slow. In either case, “This Christian life must be a continual progress, for it is a journey towards God.” (Barclay)
Last week we saw that one way to work out our salvation was to pick up our cross daily and follow Jesus. We saw that sometimes that cross is heavy, sometimes it is hard to pick up, but pick it up we must. This morning I want to draw our attention to another way that we work out our salvation.
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
–2 Timothy 2:15 (NKJV)
I like the way the Living Bible expresses this verse, “Work hard so God can say to you, ‘Well done’…” As an educator of nearly forty years I know the value of testing. There is quite a bit of controversy today regarding that issue, but no matter what a student must be tested in one manner or another. Grades are given and approval is given after the testing. Then, and only then, if we qualified we received the grade, the prize. A teacher is expected to do their utmost to help the student (i.e., the Holy Spirit) however, the student must take the test. The student then is expected to qualify by taking and coming through the test. All do not do the same–Peter was not John, Mark was not Paul–and unfortunately some fail (Judas, Demas).
A student is expected “to put out every effort as one who has stood the test.” (Barclay) To falter and fall is not an option, however, some do turn back; they turn in their test only partially completed. Paul tells us in Ephesians that after we have done all to stand, and after done all to continue to stand. Stand the test, give it all diligence, be tested and approved and as you stand firm in the tests of life you will then be fit for service, you will be working out your own salvation. Barclay says this, “Be tested that you might be a fit weapon for the work of Christ, and therefore a workman who had no need to be ashamed.” I had never really thought of the idea that we, in our everyday lives, are a weapon against the forces of evil. As the Marines train a “few good men” so the Holy Spirit trains the disciples of Christ to face the enemy and show forth the light and truth of God.
One more thought, the KJV renders the word the NKJV uses for “diligent” as “study.” This has often caused some confusion. Taken literally that means we need to actually study to be approved. That is an old term, and diligent fits much better, however, I will say we do need to “study.” Study God’s Word, study life, study the situation we find ourselves in, then…work through them. The term in the Greek is “spoudasou” which means “to give diligence,” “to try hard,” “to endeavor,” “to be eager.” Vine says it means “to hasten to do; to exert oneself.” Think of that. How much do we exert ourselves in the development of who we are in Christ? I am not speaking of salvation, but after we are saved we should be working and striving and zealous in our being to be more and more like Christ, so that we can pass the test–any test–that may come our way. Bernard Rossier puts it this way, “we should be doing one’s best, taking the responsibility seriously.” A Christian life is picking up the cross, not tip-toeing through the tulips, and now we see that it is serious business to prepare ourselves for this life and for eternity.
“Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall.”
–2 Peter 1:10 (NIV)
———————————–
“…so you must work out your own salvation with fear and trembling–(that is, keep on carrying out to the ultimate point of completion your salvation with reverence and awe, by finishing the race you’ve begun so that you will not dishonor God or disgrace the Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord).”
–Philippians 2:12(Harbuck)
Work out, don’t stop halfway! “No Christian should be satisfied with anything less than the total benefits of the gospel.” (Barclay) We know that God is at work in each of us and therefore it is up to us to cooperate with Him. William Barclay writes, “The Christian must give continual evidence in his daily life that he is indeed working out his own salvation; day by day it must be more fully accomplished.” Today we should not be the same as yesterday. But remember, as in life growth sometimes comes in spurts and at other times it seems so very slow. In either case, “This Christian life must be a continual progress, for it is a journey towards God.” (Barclay)
Last week we saw that one way to work out our salvation was to pick up our cross daily and follow Jesus. We saw that sometimes that cross is heavy, sometimes it is hard to pick up, but pick it up we must. This morning I want to draw our attention to another way that we work out our salvation.
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
–2 Timothy 2:15 (NKJV)
I like the way the Living Bible expresses this verse, “Work hard so God can say to you, ‘Well done’…” As an educator of nearly forty years I know the value of testing. There is quite a bit of controversy today regarding that issue, but no matter what a student must be tested in one manner or another. Grades are given and approval is given after the testing. Then, and only then, if we qualified we received the grade, the prize. A teacher is expected to do their utmost to help the student (i.e., the Holy Spirit) however, the student must take the test. The student then is expected to qualify by taking and coming through the test. All do not do the same–Peter was not John, Mark was not Paul–and unfortunately some fail (Judas, Demas).
A student is expected “to put out every effort as one who has stood the test.” (Barclay) To falter and fall is not an option, however, some do turn back; they turn in their test only partially completed. Paul tells us in Ephesians that after we have done all to stand, and after done all to continue to stand. Stand the test, give it all diligence, be tested and approved and as you stand firm in the tests of life you will then be fit for service, you will be working out your own salvation. Barclay says this, “Be tested that you might be a fit weapon for the work of Christ, and therefore a workman who had no need to be ashamed.” I had never really thought of the idea that we, in our everyday lives, are a weapon against the forces of evil. As the Marines train a “few good men” so the Holy Spirit trains the disciples of Christ to face the enemy and show forth the light and truth of God.
One more thought, the KJV renders the word the NKJV uses for “diligent” as “study.” This has often caused some confusion. Taken literally that means we need to actually study to be approved. That is an old term, and diligent fits much better, however, I will say we do need to “study.” Study God’s Word, study life, study the situation we find ourselves in, then…work through them. The term in the Greek is “spoudasou” which means “to give diligence,” “to try hard,” “to endeavor,” “to be eager.” Vine says it means “to hasten to do; to exert oneself.” Think of that. How much do we exert ourselves in the development of who we are in Christ? I am not speaking of salvation, but after we are saved we should be working and striving and zealous in our being to be more and more like Christ, so that we can pass the test–any test–that may come our way. Bernard Rossier puts it this way, “we should be doing one’s best, taking the responsibility seriously.” A Christian life is picking up the cross, not tip-toeing through the tulips, and now we see that it is serious business to prepare ourselves for this life and for eternity.