6 August, 2023

WORK OUT YOUR SALVATION

(Growing in Faith, in Truth & in Spirit: GFTS 6)

Salvation is the Gift of God because of His Grace towards sinners. The Bible says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast” (Eph.2:8-9). But we must not and never take our salvation for granted because we need to live as “saved people” and not live like being “unsaved” – when we had not yet come to Christ. The reason is given in God’s Word: “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things are passed away and all things have become new” (2 Cor.5:17). To live this new life as proof of our conversion, it needs dedication and effort. It is like your health: you have to work at it to remain healthy and strong – through exercise, eating the right food and doing all the necessary things.

Hence the Bible commands us: “Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12-NIV). This means that we cannot remain idle and expect to be “automatically” saved without living the new life God demands of us. Just like you cannot remain idle and do nothing about your health to live to a ripe old age. (I am 83 and still healthy because I take great pains to eat healthy food, exercise and take care of my health). Similarly, to stay healthy spiritually and remain in the state of salvation (ensure that we are saved for eternity) then we need discipline and effort to stay “saved”.

Our Lord told His disciples (those who believed and followed Him): “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matt.7:13-14 -NKJV). Please note that these words are spoke to His disciples and not unbelievers. They are also a warning us believers who are Christians. The “narrow gate and difficult way” is the way of holiness and righteousness. The Bible tells us that “Without holiness, no one shall see the Lord” (Heb.12:14). It also exhorts us thus: “As obedient children (of God), do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance (without knowing Christ), but just as He Who called you is Holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am Holy’” (1 Pet.1:14-16).

We are to work out “our salvation with fear and trembling”. This the fear of God, which means we respect God for Who He is and thus want to obey His command. We want to be obedient children. To do this we must commit and consecrate our lives to Christ and to live for Him. We are to “present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God…and not to conform to this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds” (Rom.12:1-2), so that we can live in the will of God and be found acceptable to Him. Let us hold on to our faith in Christ and grow in His Grace and knowledge so that we can become like Him. As the Word of God says, “Those who live in Him must walk like Jesus walked” (1 John 2:6). 

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