Work out your salvation with holy fear

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SUMMARY: In Philippians 2:12-13, the Apostle Paul encourages the church in Philippi to work out their salvation with fear and trembling. He desires for them to be a healthy, vibrant church that can do the work of God. The same applies to us as individuals and as a church. A healthy church requires a group of people who take their Christian life seriously and are committed to God's purposes. We cannot depend on others for our own personal faith, but we need to depend directly on Jesus Christ. We must work hard, with focus, and with a sense of purpose to execute our salvation. Working out our salvation requires energy, effort, and may involve moments of agony and tears. There are two types of sanctification - instantaneous and gradual. When we accept Jesus, there is a moment of grace where we are instantly forgiven, and then we must work towards gradual sanctification through our commitment to God.

God has demands and requirements for His people. Christianity involves privileges and responsibilities, and may involve times of testing and refining of one's faith. Christians must work out their salvation with fear and trembling, taking their faith seriously and being aware of the hostile world and enemy seeking to undermine their faith. Christians should strive for a triumphant, morally and ethically strong life, taking ownership of their spiritual life and making their calling and election sure. Fear of God can produce a holy life, and Christians should strive to be full of the Holy Spirit and willing to share the gospel and bring others to faith.

We are going to read Philippians chapter 2 verse 12 & 13, and this part is very important as we are going to explore this further: "Therefore my dear friends, as you have always obeyed not only in my presence but also in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." And the seed, the central part of this preaching is going to be work out your salvation with fear and trembling. The Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the Philippians to this community among whom he had planted a church years earlier. Apostle Paul now in jail writes this letter to his brothers in Philippy to share the council from his heart about how they can grow as christians.


And I believe that we can confidently apply these words of council to the people in Philippy to our own lives as church and also as individuals. Paul's desire was that the Philippian church would be a vital church, full of energy and vigor, that it could be a healthy church that could do the Word that God entrusted to them. And among all the different council that Paul gives to this church is this jewel of a verse, this jewel of council that says occupy yourselves of working out your salvation with fear and trembling. God's desire is for Lion of Juda to be a church that is healthy, that is full of the Holy Spirit. The world and this city needs churches that are healthy, that are alive and full of the power of the Holy Spirit, and I believe we can be one of those churches that blesses and promotes the Kingdom of God in the city of Boston, that we can be a church that inspires other churches and other pastors to continue pressing in the seek of the fullness of the Holy Spirit and to serve God.