Work Out Your Own Salvation

TEXTPhil. 2:12-13

INTRODUCTION:

A.      DILEMMA OF FAITH ONLY PEOPLE.

          1.       Must be active in our salvation.

          2.       We don’t merit – Must meet conditions.

          3.       Labor is rewarded (1 Cor. 15:58).

B.      SOME SEE IT AS “REASONING OUT” (1 Cor. 1:21).

C.      WHAT DOES OUR TEXT TEACH?

I.      HOW DO WE WORK OUT OUR OWN SALVATION?

A.      THROUGH PERSONAL OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST.

          1.       Work out your own salvation.  No one can do it for us!

          2.       God’s grace is for all (Titus 2:11-12).

          3.       We must respond (Acts 2:40;  2 Cor. 6:1).

          4.       Some don’t and are lost, in spite of belief (James 2:24;  John 12:42).

          5.       Faith expressed in obedience (Rom. 6:17-18;  Heb. 5:8-9).

B.      BY OBEYING WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING.

          1.       Reverence is the companion to obedience (Ecc. 12:13).

          2.       Necessary (Acts 10:34-35).

          3.       Dangerous world (1 Pet. 5:8;  Eph. 5:15).

          4.       All-seeing Judge (Heb. 4:12-13).

          5.       Unprofitable servants (Luke 17:10).

C.      katergazomai;  “to perform, accomplish, achieve (Thayer).

          “Bring to fruition, cause to happen.”

II.     WHY SHOULD WE WORK OUT OUR OWN SALVATION?

A.      BECAUSE OF THE PERSONAL NATURE OF FAITH.

          1.       No one can believe for me.

          2.       Involves a commitment of self (Gal. 2:20;  1 Pet. 4:19).

          3.       Involves a conduct of life (Col. 3:9-10).

B.      BECAUSE OF THE PERSONAL NATURE OF JUDGMENT.

          1.       Our works are to be judged (Rom. 2:6).

          2.       And our thoughts (Heb. 4:12-13).

          3.       We will stand alone (Rom. 12:10-12;  2 Cor. 5:10).

C.      BECAUSE WE ARE GOD’S CHOSEN INSTRUMENTS.

          1.       In us God has chosen to work (vs. 13;  Rom. 6:12-13).

          2.       Redeemed to their purpose (Titus 2:13-14).

          3.       God never asks the impossible (Phil. 4:13).

          4.       What does He expect of us (vs. 14-16).

CONCLUSION:

A.      OUR SALVATION IS IN OUR CONTINUED OBEDIENCE.

B.      SO MIGHT THE WORLD’S – HOW?