A Godly Workout

Philippians 2:12–16 NKJV

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; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. 14 Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 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, 16 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.

Prayer

Psalm 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of all our heart and minds be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, our strength and our Redeemer.”

Introduction

Many believe in a works-based salvation.

Mormons

We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.

We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Jehovah’s Witnesses

 Salvation. Deliverance from sin and death is possible through the ransom sacrifice of Jesus. (Matthew 20:28; Acts 4:​12) To benefit from that sacrifice, people must not only exercise faith in Jesus but also change their course of life and get baptized. (Matthew 28:19, 20; John 3:​16; Acts 3:​19, 20) A person’s works prove that his faith is alive. (James 2:​24, 26) However, salvation cannot be earned​—it comes through “the undeserved kindness of God.”​—Galatians 2:​16, 21.

Roman Catholicism

“If anyone says that the sinner is justified by faith alone… let him be anathema.” (Session VI, Canon 9)

What Barna Studies Show

George Barna and the Cultural Research Center (CRC) have repeatedly found that large numbers of Americans believe good behavior contributes to OR earns salvation.

Key Findings

A major Barna/CRC study found:

52% of self-identified Christians believed a person can gain salvation by “being or doing good.”

Another survey found:

48% of American adults believed that:

if a person is generally good or does enough good things, they will earn a place in heaven.

More recent Barna-related reporting found:

53% of self-identified Christians agreed that “a person who is generally good, or does enough good things for others, will earn a place in Heaven.”

Among Catholics, the number was reported even higher:

70–73% about in some surveys.

Even among evangelicals:

significant minorities (often 35–45%) expressed some works-oriented beliefs.

I. GOD AND GOD ALONE JUSTIFIES AND SAVES!

Justification establishes the legal foundation of salvation. God renders a verdict of acquittal like a judge and brings it about that human beings who are guilty of sin receive the forgiveness they can in no way achieve for themselves.

Salvation encompasses the broader reality of deliverance that justification initiates. Salvation is the theological concept concerning deliverance from sin and its consequences, resulting in reconciliation with God and eternal life.

Romans 5:1 “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,”

Galatians 2:16 “… that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.”

Romans 5:9 “… having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.”

Ephesians 2:8–9 “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.”

Romans 10:9 “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Acts 4:12 “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.””

Titus 3:5 “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,”

II. GOD WORKS IN US FOR SANCTIFICATION!

Sanctification describes the progressive transformation that follows justification. Sanctification is a progressive work of God and man that makes us more and more free from sin and like Christ in our actual lives.

The Christian life requires hard work. Our sanctification is a process wherein we are coworkers with God. We have the promise of God’s assistance in our labor, but his divine help does not annul our responsibility to work. “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” (Philippians 2:12-13)

R. C. Sproul

God the Holy Spirit creates in us the will to improve!

God the Holy Spirit brings about these good works!

1 Thessalonians 5:23 “… may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 “… if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

God’s providential working in our lives is both a delight and a mystery. God is constantly working with us (Mark 16:20), in us (Phil. 2:12–13), and for us (Rom. 8:28) and accomplishing His gracious purposes.

Warren W. Wiersbe

YET, we are responsible to labor toward that salvation and participate in our sanctification.

We cannot save ourselves or sanctify ourselves; God only can do that; but God does not give us good habits, He does not give us character, He does not make us walk aright; we must do all that. We have to work out what God has worked in (Philippians 2:12-13)

Oswald Chambers (Lecturer and Missionary)

1 Thessalonians 4:3 “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality;”

Personal responsibility

2 Corinthians 7:1 “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

Philippians 2:12–16 NKJV

work out your own salvation with fear and trembling

Reverent fear!

III. OUR RESPONSE IS TO BE LIGHT IN DARKNESS!!!

Philippians 2:14–16 “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 live in a dark crooked and perverse generation.

FBI crime statistics

Aggravated Assault: Occurs roughly every 38 seconds (accounts for  of all violent crime).

Robbery: Occurs roughly every 2 minutes.

Rape: Occurs roughly every 3.5 to 4 minutes.

Murder / Non-negligent Manslaughter: Occurs roughly every 31 minutes

We are to be light!

John 9:5 “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.””

Matthew 5:14–16 ““You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Ephesians 5:8 “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light”

How Can We As Grumpy Christians?

Grumbling

Like Israelites in the desert

Disputing among ourselves!

Non-critical doctrines split churches.

WE MUST BE THE LIGHT!

Conclusion

Have you been saved by God though faith alone by grace alone?

Have you Been justified before a holy and righteous God?

Are you working out your own salvation by letting the Holy Spirit sanctify you?

Are you walking as children of the light?

Prayer and Invitation