How Is Your Salvation Working Out?

Introduction

Most of us have very busy lives. Everyday we have lists of things that need to be accomplished; and we set off to do them sometimes not thinking about the real priorities of life. I’m not saying we don’t have priorities, but if we are honest with ourselves and before the Lord here this morning we are not always in alignment with the Father.

The busyness of life pulls us in directions that are not always healthy for us. Before we know it, we are wondering how we became spiritually weakened instead of growing stronger in the Lord everyday as we should.

Philippians 2:12–16 NKJV

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; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.

We cannot spend our time looking at the salvation of others and proclaim within ourselves that we can never be like them.

Still others try to work for their salvation, but the Bible says that is not how things work.

Ephesians 2:8–10 NKJV

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Salvation Is the Work of God

Friends, we have been given the gift of eternal salvation if we have accepted the invitation of the Holy Spirit.

So many people have the misconception that salvation starts with us asking Jesus to come into our lives.

But the Apostle Paul tells the Church in his letter to Titus;

Titus 3:1–7 NKJV

Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Romans 4:5 NKJV

But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,

There are two parts to our salvation; one of them is complete when you become born again. As we just saw in Romans, justification is a work of God.

Think of the statement that is being made here; too often we gloss over things that really do merit a closer look!

God justifies the ungodly when they believe on Him!

How amazing is that?

The second aspect of our salvation is the working out part we are exploring today is what we call sanctification.

What is Sanctification?

A loose definition for sanctification would be the process of growth that enables the believer to die to their old life and come alive to the life given through the Holy Spirit.

To allow the Holy Spirit into this life that God has given is not only what we need, its what the world around us desperately needs!

The Church has to stop talking about how wicked the world has become and get out there and show them how good our God still is in spite of the darkness!

I want to tell you that you are going to stick out like a sore thumb in this world if we can just stop compromising long enough to get it done!

This is where the rubber meets the road for many believers, the working out of our salvation can grind on us and make us want to find a way to hold on to two worlds at the same time.

This will never do!

We have to let go of the old person we were and run towards Jesus!

Galatians 5:24 NKJV

And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

John 3:30 NKJV

He must increase, but I must decrease.

The Necessity of Fear and Trembling

BECAUSE HEAVEN & HELL ARE REAL

1. Because the stakes are high; because Christianity is no game. It’s not a nice bedtime story: it’s Life and Death! There’s a Heaven to gain and a Hell to avoid/shun.

2. Jesus talked a lot about Heaven, a real place with streets, buildings, homes with furniture, friends and neighbors; We’ll have real physical bodies, wear clothing; have duties to perform, books to read, activities to attend; we’ll enjoy running, jumping, dancing, relaxing, singing…

It’s described as paradise, so beautiful that our minds now can’t grasp its wonder! We’ll live there forever with God.

3. Jesus also talked about Hell as a real place -- a fire that burns but doesn’t consume; where the naked spirits of people, like worms in a fire, burn, but are not burned up.

Luke 12:4–5 NKJV

“And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!

BECAUSE OF THE DANGER OF SIN

1. The Amplified Version translates verse 12 as “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling – [that is] self-distrust, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God & discredit the name of Christ.”

2. We tremble lest we should sin, we tremble lest the favor we’ve received from God be diminished. We wish to avoid any displeasure of our heavenly Father.

3. Such fear assists us against temptation and sin. We’re on our guard against our spiritual weakness, our tendency toward pride and selfishness.

4. “Our God is a consuming fire.” May God give us more holy trembling, so that we may be permitted to abide in the Holy of Holies and to stand before the bush that burns but is not consumed!

BECAUSE OF THE SACRIFICE OF JESUS

1. Because of the tremendous sacrifice of Christ, the unspeakable depth and tenderness of his love in giving Himself for us.

John 15:12–14 NKJV

This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.

3. Jesus’ “greater love” was demonstrated by His willingness to die like a criminal (between 2 thieves) by the cruelest of means: whipped almost to death, then had cruel nails driven through His body.

4. He died forsaken by the Father, bearing all the sins of the world, and died by suffocation! Horror of horrors! Only greatest love would suffer that for you and I.

5. Shall we not respond with greatest fervency to such a great love? If such a great price must be paid to redeem us, what would be the consequences of rejecting so great a salvation? Of trampling on the sacred blood of God’s own Son and despising His love?

BECAUSE WE AREN’T HOME YET

1. Because, even if you’re saved, you haven’t entered Heaven yet; don’t take God/salvation for granted.

2. Not everyone who talks about Heaven is going there!

God Will Empower You To Work Out Your Salvation

Philippians 2:13 NKJV

for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

Not only has God done the work of salvation, but He will empower you to unpack and utilize that salvation effectively in this life!

You should be saying thank you God I don’t have to do this under my own steam.

Our boat would have sunk before it ever left the dock!

But we do not rely on our strength or intelligence to get the job done.

Philippians 4:13 NKJV

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

If God is working in us, then NOTHING shall be impossible for us!

Zechariah 4:6 NKJV

So he answered and said to me: “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts.

1 John 4:4 NKJV

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

I’m done letting the devil have his way in Warrenton! Aren’t you?

Listen Church, there is one final thing that I have to say before we end here today.

Jesus spoke to His disciples about what they would have to endure. He told them to count the cost.

I am here to tell you that the more godly you become, the more the world will come against you.

The bolder you get in the Holy Spirit, the more the spirit of this age will try to find a way to destroy you.

But Jesus said this to us;

Matthew 10:39 NKJV

He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.