Introduction: Did you know that our Lord is not going to completely live the Christian life for you as if you were a robot? Instead, He has given us the tools {His Spirit} to accomplish the task. But how does that happen, one may ask? The passage of Scripture before us explains how our Lord does it. Check it out:
By the way, what may seem like a contradiction to the average reader concerning this process turns out to be a fairly basic principle. Let’s take a look at the book.

 

1. What does “work out” mean in regards to one’s salvation? (Phil 2:11–13) – “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.”

Please be sure to read this not only in its context but also comparing Scripture with Scripture. For example, from a prison incarceration, Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, gives specific instructions to the Church of Philippi as well as us today in regards to living the Christian life. More specifically, he describes this supernatural life, revealing it to be characterized by humiliation, self-renunciation, and for the purpose of edification for other believers. Using the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, he mirrors the life that pleases our Heavenly Father. With that being said, he admonished the believers to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” But what does he mean? How can that be done?

 

Technically speaking, the Christian learns to come under in order to be over; he or she learns to go down in order to get up; plus, he or she learns to get out in order to get in. The verb “work out” is κατεργάζομαι, which means to literally work out, or to accomplish. It can have to do with producing, or even to bring about. Next, the word “salvation” is σωτηρία. This needs some clarification. Remember the tense of salvation can mean one of three events—regeneration, sanctification, and finally glorification.

Obviously, God is not contradicting His Word by telling us to “WORK” for your salvation, because it is clearly not obtained by WORKS (Eph 2:8,9; Titus 3:5,6). Howbeit, He is pointing to the process once we’ve been forgiven—saved—to WORK OUT the process of sanctification.

Bottom line: The Holy Spirit of God WORKS in the “Truth of God” thru the WORD of God, which in turn transforms the believer’s mind, will, and emotions. The end result is a change of lifestyle as the Christian yields to the power of the Holy Spirit. Are you letting the Word of God change your thought process?

 

Conclusion: Once we discover this hidden treasure of truth, then as followers of Jesus Christ, others notice the way that we handle things differently than the world and are drawn to embrace the same Christ that now lives in us. He is WORKING IN as we WORK it OUT!

 

Love y’all,

Dr. Randy Reese