Young People's Group

Work Out Your Own Salvation

by Mitchell Tan
January 06, 2022

BEING THANKFUL FOR OUR SALVATION IN CHRIST

As we begin the year, we want to consider how we can exercise our faith practically. At last year’s Youth Worship Special, the last lesson that Pastor taught was on “Working out our salvation”. We thank God for His grace in giving us our salvation in Christ. It is because of His abundant mercies that we have been forgiven of all our sins. There should be a deep sense of appreciation for the redemption that we have in the Lord Jesus. A good expression of our gratitude to God for being saved is for us to work out our own salvation.

Paul was writing to the Philippians about how they can be like-minded as a Church and how to have humility like the Lord Jesus. The challenge was for them to work out their own salvation.

WORKING OUT OUR OWN SALVATION

1. THE INDIVIDUAL’S PART

“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 …”
Philippians 2:12

A. THE OBEDIENCE OF THE PHILIPPIANS

Paul mentioned how the Philippians had always demonstrated their obedience to the Lord when he was with them. The challenge now was for them to continue to obey His word in his absence.

B. THE CHALLENGE TO WORK OUT OUR OWN SALVATION

This is not a matter of working for our salvation. When we have genuine faith in the Lord, our salvation is secured. It is by His grace that we are saved. There is nothing we can do to earn or merit salvation. When we have true salvation in the Lord, it is meant to express itself in definite ways. Our deep appreciation of our salvation would have a genuine and deep effect on us. We would seek to obey and to do that which the Lord wants us to do; to live our lives in newness of life, to set aside sinful ways like complaining, and to shine forth as lights by doing good works.

C. THE MANNER OF WORKING OUT – WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING

“Fear and trembling” is an idiomatic phrase. There is a genuine sense of awe and humility before the Lord. Our consciousness of a great and awesome God should cause us to fear Him and to live humbly before the Lord and men.

2. THE LORD’S PART

“… For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”
Philippians 2:13

A. GOD’S FULL COVERAGE OF WORK IN OUR LIVES

The Lord God had begun a good work within the Philippians and He was going to complete that work at the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6).

B. GOD’S CONTINUING WORK IN OUR LIVES

It is God who energizes our will to do His good pleasure. There is an internal work that He is doing within us. He will inspire and motivate us to do that which is according to His will. There comes a desire to want to live for the Lord and to serve Him. He helps us to be driven to do the right thing.

Let’s learn to pray for His help. He will walk beside us and continue this work of enabling us. Let’s seek to please Him in all that we do.

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