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Philippians 2:12-13
In Philippians 2:12-13 beginning with the word “Therefore,” (NKJV), as the Apostle Paul has taught in Philippians 2:5 to “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,” Paul commends the followers of Christ Jesus at Phillipi for their obedience to God as he has witnessed while he was with them, but also for the word he has received regarding their obedience to God while he was not present with them. Paul encourages the Christians at Philippi to, “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12d), and is not implying that one’s salvation is gained by “working” for it, but it takes work to be obedient to God’s calling on one’s life. Jesus declared in Luke 9:23-24, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.”
This is a command to “work” toward following Jesus; not to earn salvation but to follow in the footsteps of Jesus “in” salvation.
To lose one’s life for Jesus’ sake is to give up one’s life in the ways of this world and from following the earthly sinful nature to begin working toward following God’s will for one’s life in the ways of Christ Jesus. This takes work and is tough in many ways, but the blessings for doing so, as received from God through His Holy Spirit working and blessing the faithful obedient servant of Christ Jesus, is an inner heartfelt blessing that none other can surpass as it is from God to the heart of those who put Him first in their lives. Salvation is a gift from God (John 3:16); following in it takes much faith, obedience to Christ Jesus, and working it out in the plan of God for our lives.
Dear LORD,
Thank You for clarifying to us that we do not work to gain salvation in and through Your gift to us from Christ Jesus, but that it takes working it out through our faith and obedience to You from the desire in our hearts to follow in the footsteps of Christ Jesus. Please help us to always remember that salvation is a gift from You, but in this sinful world, from which You have saved us through Christ Jesus, is much work to be done – In Christ. In Jesus name I pray, amen.