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Your Own Salvation
Dave in Tenn:
Is this close to what you were thinking?
Php 2:10-13 And so, in honor of the name of Jesus all beings in heaven, on earth, and in the world below will fall on their knees, and all will openly proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. So then, dear friends, as you always obeyed me when I was with you, it is even more important that you obey me now while I am away from you. Keep on working with fear and trembling to complete your salvation, because God is always at work in you to make you willing and able to obey his own purpose.
Ninny:
Philippians 2:12 boys. "...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." maybe this is what he's talking about...
Thank you Dave!
Kathy :)
9440geoff:
Hi Ryan,
This is an email that Marques posted back in April for a similar question:
Email reply from Ray (http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,373.0.html):
Dear John and Blanca:
I get many questions such as yours. I presently have over 400 unanswered emails waiting on me. Unfortunately, I cannot even begin to explain the whole plan of God to you in an email, and then explain the process of conversion, overcoming, living a godly life, etc., etc., etc., in an email. It would take me days.
Understand this: It is GOD Who is directing your life, and He caused you to come to our site. There is a lot of information on our site. Unfortunately only a handful of people have ever read all the material on our site. If you will read all the material on our site, most of your questions will be answered.
No one showed me how to repent. No one showed me how to overcome. No one showed me how to conquer sin. God did it in me, for me. There was a time when I too felt helpless and didn't know what to do. I knew there was a God, but I didn't know how to really contact Him, and so basically I learned that it was He who contacted me--in HIS TIME.
I have people asking me to "Please explain the Bible to me, Ray." Or: "Show me how to do God's perfect will so that I will be happy and have purpose in my life."
I can't really do these things. Here is what Paul instructs us: "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence [Paul was now in prison in Rome, and would never see these Philippians again] , WORK OUT YOUR OWN SALVATION WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING." Why?
"For [because] it is GOD which works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasre" (Phil. 2:12-12).
This sounds like a contradiction to most people. The reason that we "work out our own slavation with fear and trembling" is because it is ALL OF GOD.
We cannot look to our own devices or works--only God can and will save us. You MUST rely on God IN FAITH for all of these things in your life. God will CAUSE you to work all these things out in your life. I will help as much as lies within me, but I cannot give you all the answers in an email, and I have too many email to write long essay type answers. Hope you understand.
God be with you,
Ray
Kat:
Php 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, as you 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;
v. 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
Here is another email on this Scripture.
http://bible-truths.com/emails.html -----
I get asked this question quite often. Actually the fact that God is in control of EVERYTHING is a very good reason itself to pray. We are totally reliant upon God for EVERYTHING! Think about it. If there were a human being that you had to rely upon for EVERYTHING, would you not stay VERY CLOSE to that person and ALWAYS be in CONSTANT contact with them? Of course you would.
I KNOW that I have had prayers ANSWERED, ONLY BECAUSE I ASKED! But you might say, "How can that be if God predetermined to do it ANYWAY?" But you see, Kathy, He did not predetermine to do it "ANYWAY." That is OUR ASSUMPTION that is not true. Listen: God predetermined to do something for us only AFTER we asked for it!! And yes, it is true, that God predetermined that we WOULD ASK FOR IT, as well. We just can't out-think, or out-guess, or out-smart God no matter how hard we try.
Let me give you another piece of wisdom. We are told that we are to "Work out our OWN salvation" in the Scriptures. How can we work out our own salvation if God has already determined that we will be saved and He is going to SAVE ALL? Same answer as your question to prayer: "Wherefore, my beloved, as you 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 [WHY? Next verse]...For [or because] it is GOD which works in you BOTH TO WILL AND TO DO of His good pleasure" (Phil. 2:12-13).
It is inspired of God that we pray and that we work. Just because it is God doing it, does not negate the fact that it will be done in us and through us. In time of real and desperate need, we will be brought to our knees before God whether it seems logical in the face of God's total sovereignty or not!
Hope this helps your understanding a little better.
Sincerely,
Ray
Ninny:
Thanks, Kat! Great as usual!! :D
I want to remind you guys that Ryan is young and in our immaturity sometimes we ask questions that may seem a no brainer to older people and people who have had a lot of education in the Bible. To younger folks like our young Ryan who does not have an extensive background in religious or spiritual training some of these questions may really be legitimate, so I would ask you to please be gentle and remember from whence we all came..WE all need to remember that God is a tender and compassionate Father who takes us all under His wings and protects us and loves us with an extreme love... Let your love shine out!!! :D
Kathy ;) :-*
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