Greg's Notes

We Can Work It Out

Philippians 2:12-16

Just as we need to work out to stay in shape physically, in effect we need to work out spiritually as well. In Philippians 2:12, Paul writes, “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.” Now this might cause some to worry a bit, but let’s not misunderstand. Paul did not say work for your own salvation. He said, “Work out your own salvation.” Salvation is a gift from God, and not something we earn. But we need to work out what God has worked in. We need to mine it.

Whether you are a new Christian or you have known the Lord for many years, Satan will come along and plant seeds of doubt about whether you truly are saved. Here are five tests from Scripture to help you know if you are really saved.

Practical Principles

  1. Do you confess Christ as Lord? (1 John 4:15) Is Jesus Lord? Because it is all about Jesus. Christianity is Jesus. And if you don’t have a relationship with Jesus Christ you may be a religious person, but you are not a real Christian.
  2. Do you obey Christ’s commands? (1 John 5:3) To love God is to obey His commands, and His commands are not burdensome.
  3. Are you unhappy or miserable when you are sinning? (1 John 3:9) Being a Christian does not mean that you will be sinless. But it does mean you will sin less. A true son or daughter of God will not remain in habitual sin. If you are not changing your behavior, one has to question if you have really come into a relationship with God.
  4. Do you keep yourself from the devil? (1 John 5:18) Whoever is born of God does not sin and he keeps himself from the wicked one. As a Christian, I should be taking practical steps to hang around the right people and go to the right places and do the right things.
  5. Do you love other Christians? (1 John 5:1–2) If you love the Lord, you will love His people and long to be with them.

Relevant Reminders

  • The Word of God is not for you to edit. You don’t conform the Bible to what you think or believe. You conform your life to what it teaches. Jesus said, “You are My friends if you do whatsoever I command you.” You might say, “Well, what if I find something in the Bible I disagree with?” Change your opinion; you are wrong.
  • The calling of God is the enabling of God. He will give you the strength to do what He has told you to do.
  • Complaining and bickering hinder us in following Jesus.

Applicable Actions

“Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” There is only one way we can do it. It is with God’s help. You see, there is my part and there is God’s part. It is like two sides of a coin. Sometimes we emphasize one at the expense of another, but that is a mistake. You do your part. God will do His part.