Working Out Our Salvation
There are three parts to our salvation. When we trust Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are freed from the penalty of sin. Our sins are forgiven, but that is not the end of our salvation. The second part is working out our salvation.(Philippians 2:12,13) We live out our freedom from the power of sin. That is what happens as we grow in Christ, serving Him and becoming like Him. Then, when we leave this world, we go to heaven where we are free from even the presence of sin. I praise God for the day I was born again, March 20, 1970, and I look forward to the day I will see Jesus. Now, I am in the process of working out my salvation every day.
The Christian life is obedience to Christ, not because we have to obey, but because we want to obey. Just as believers in Philippi, we are to obey even when we are alone. We are to work out what God had worked into us. We have the Holy Spirit to guide us and empower us. We are forgiven of our sins, and we are not slaves to sin any longer. Therefore, in much fear and trembling we put holiness into action each day. This is possible for every believer because "it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." God gives us the will or the desire to do His will, and He gives us the power to do it. We have to cooperate with Him, so that we do His will in His power. It is an every day work, but it is worth it. One day, we will hear, "Well done" if we keep working out our salvation each day until we see Jesus.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Philippians 3-4 and Colossians 1.
The Christian life is obedience to Christ, not because we have to obey, but because we want to obey. Just as believers in Philippi, we are to obey even when we are alone. We are to work out what God had worked into us. We have the Holy Spirit to guide us and empower us. We are forgiven of our sins, and we are not slaves to sin any longer. Therefore, in much fear and trembling we put holiness into action each day. This is possible for every believer because "it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." God gives us the will or the desire to do His will, and He gives us the power to do it. We have to cooperate with Him, so that we do His will in His power. It is an every day work, but it is worth it. One day, we will hear, "Well done" if we keep working out our salvation each day until we see Jesus.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Philippians 3-4 and Colossians 1.