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Work Out your Own Salvation
mharrell08:
--- Quote from: EKnight on April 20, 2009, 06:14:48 AM ---Since it is God who works in us to both will and do of His good pleasure, then couldn't this verse about fear and trembling be referring to the chastisement/trial and tribulations that inevitably lead believers to salvation and bring us closer to becoming more like Christ? After all, Paul is speaking to believers. And secondly, if the process includes being "crucified" with Christ, and we have seen all that Christ had to go through to learn obedience, then it would make sense that this fear and trembling is in regard to the journey toward salvation because it is beyond our control.
Eileen
--- End quote ---
Correct, right on Eileen...exactly how Ray explains in the email above:
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
The reason we, as believers, work out in fear and trembling is because it's all up to God...not because of disobedience.
Marques
EKnight:
Okay, that makes sense.
I thought that when George said:
--- Quote ---This is not as hard as we have been taught, but as long as we see the Words (Spirit) and think with our understanding (carnal) we will keep working for something we can never achieve of ourselves; and get more fearful as we see how futile our best efforts are.
--- End quote ---
He was saying that if we try to save ourselves (or at least we think we are doing it ourselves) that that causes us our fear.
Now I think I've got it. Now just pray I remember it.
Eileen
Kat:
Hi Eileen,
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;
I think this verse in 2 Corinthians is saying the same thing, a second witness.
2Co 7:1 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, and make holiness perfect in the fear of God.
We are taught over and over in Scripture to "fear God."
1Peter 2:17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear5399 God. Honor the king.
G5399 Fear - phobeō
to frighten, that is, (passively) to be alarmed; by analogy to be in awe of, that is, revere: - be (+ sore) afraid, fear (exceedingly), reverence.
We read in the OT that to "fear God" is the whole duty of man.
Ecc 12:13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear3372 God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.
H3372 fear - yârê'
A primitive root; to fear; morally to revere; causatively to frighten: - affright, be (make) afraid, dread (-ful), (put in) fear (-ful, -fully, -ing). (be had in) reverence (-end), X see, terrible (act, -ness, thing).
And here is why we should fear God.
Psa 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
A good understanding have all those who do His commandments.
His praise endures forever.
Pro 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Pro 9:10 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Pro 15:33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom,
And before honor is humility.
Pro 2:1 My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you,
v. 2 making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding;
v. 3 yes, if you cry out for insight and raise your voice for understanding,
v. 4 if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures;
v. 5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.
And back to the original Scripture to sum it up.
Php 2:13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
I hope this is helpful.
mercy, peace and love
Kat
Marky Mark:
Kat,
Thank you, that is a wonderful piece of work on the Fear of God. You are a word smith indeed,very very helpful. ;) :) 8).
Peace...Mark
Marlene:
Kat, That, is perfect scriptures. I fear what God can do to me. I rather obey now and avoid his wrath. Not obeying God is what led Israel to loose out. But, they for sure and the rest of the world will be brought to obey. The only way we can obey now is all him. Without, him doing the works in us we cannot obey. We have to obey till the end. Thanks for those scriptures.
In His Love,
Marlene
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