based on the LGG Study, Abiding in Jesus/w1d3
Read and SOAP: Philippians 2:12-13
So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, continue working out your salvation with awe and reverence, 13 for the one bringing forth in you both the desire and the effort—for the sake of his good pleasure—is God.
Philiipians 2:12-13
I remember the first time I really read this verse, and trust me when I say that to fully understand it, you need to know what came before the “so then.” Without a clear understanding, I fell prey to questioning the statement and meaning of “working out your salvation.” I am a firm believer that salvation is not by works but is a free gift from God to all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. So I quickly read it again and checked various translations and eventually sought the help from my Pastor at the time to understand what Paul meant by “working out your salvation.” Thus was born my understanding that phrases like “so then” serve as a cue for the reader or listener to look back for the broader context and a better understanding of what is to follow.
In this case, what came before was a beautifully written character description of Christ, preceded by clear instructions of “how not to behave.”
Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. 5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though He was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, He gave up his divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When He appeared in human form, 8He humbled Himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
You see, friends, Paul wasn’t teaching us to work for our salvation but to live out our salvation, or as the NLT translates it: “To show the results of our salvation.” In other words to exercise the salvation we have received through Christ. This means to practice loving others as Christ loves us. It means doing good works that God has given us to do, sharing the Gospel, being kind and patient, humble, and not selfish but selfless, It means loving God and others more than we love ourselves. It means not looking out just for “our own interests but for the interests of others, too.” Ultimately, it means laying down everything for the will of the Father. Why? Because when we do – we reflect Jesus to the world around us and God receives the glory!
While we are called to work out (live out) our salvation, it doesn’t mean it will come easy. As today’s LGG journal entry points out: “the Bible makes it clear that the only reason we are able to do so is because God makes it possible. ~ God is both the source and sustainer of our faith. As we remain in Him, He works through us, producing fruit that will last, bringing glory to Him and blessings to others.”
Staying connected to Jesus, the Vine, and allowing God to transform you is what it means to abide.
Abiding in Jesus/p49
The More We Know
For more insight see the LGG Blog Post
Me From the Inside Out 