Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Philippians 2:12-13
Thinking about Christians and our personal salvation, that salvation which is presently and actively enforce in each of our lives. We all are aware of the salvation that Jesus provided for us through his sacrificial death and subsequent resurrection. But how many of us understand that salvation too is a future event for the believer. Not only that, but salvation must also be worked out of us if we have apprehended what Christ has done for and in us.
How we understand salvation is extremely important to how we live today. Salvation defined is deliverance; deliverance from our past guilt and sin, deliverance from the power of sin, deliverance from the wrath of God which abides upon the unsaved man every moment of his life.
When you determine to reject God out of your live once you have partaken of him, you make an informed choice to place yourself back under the curse of the law which is sin and death. Salvation is both a promise and it’s also an experience. Men attempt though, to make the experience of one be the same for another and I believe that this is where we get into trouble. As I said previously every one of us has some very different circumstances that make our salvation personal.
The work that will take place in my life may require more maintenance than the work that will take place in your life but what makes our experience in Christ the same is who he is to both of us. He is the same toward me as he is to you and vice versa but in terms of our experiences I may have to overcome more than you will have to. Salvation is a promise for all of us. That is to say that one day Christ will return. Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. And count the patience of our Lord as salvation…2 Peter 3:14, 15a So, here it is. Salvation is both corporate and individual. Salvation is eternal and it is internal. Salvation is provided and is experienced. In every case however, salvation is perfected by God. In our personal salvation, God provides opportunities for us to get fit and we must take advantage of those opportunities to do so. Philippians 2:12 says to “work out your own salvation”. For us to be healthy, we must work out and maintain a good diet. The same is true when it comes to our salvation. As Christian’s we are required to live a specific lifestyle and conduct ourselves in a specific manner which is outlined for us in the bible and oftentimes directed by the Holy Spirit. Independent of one another, we each are beneficiaries of the work of Christ on the cross. Each of us has an individual salvation plan (presently) that is unique. You have your own salvation to work out. The very life that you live today is a part of that salvific plan for your life.
Your daily experiences, those things that you suffer, those things that you must overcome are unique to you and the obstacles that are presented to you through your relationships, in your self-esteem, in your fears, in your life are designed to bring out of you the salvation that has been worked in you.
It is the Lord that begun you on this course for your life. I’m talking about the divine course, the Christian lifestyle. Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ…Philippians 1:6
Some people are chosen for this Christian life and others are invited to participate in it. Those who are invited oftentimes procrastinate by deciding over a period whether this is a lifestyle that they want for themselves. But them who are chosen for this lifestyle cannot resist it, will not resist it, won’t deviate from it; For many are called, but few are chosen. It is the Lord that will work out of you, which was worked in you, but you have to submit yourself to the workout.
“for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” v.13 Everything, every event, every trial, every tribulation, every test, every disagreement, every good thing that comes your way, every negative thing that comes your way is working together for good. It’s all part of the plan, it’s all part of God’s purpose for you. It is God who’s working in you, and you have a choice to accept it or reject it. To them who are the called, the working in you is irresistible!
Your workout plan is different from mine. If you want the type of body that I have, you have to work out according to my plan. Everybody doesn’t have the same body type, so my plan won’t benefit you. Yes, there are some routines that I do that may help you, they may be included in your plan, but my plan is for my salvation. Your plan is for your salvation!
Everything that God allows in your plan works together for your good! Romans 8:28 says “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Work out your own salvation by being obedient to the work that the Lord is doing in you!
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