{"id":3255,"date":"2016-01-10T09:00:59","date_gmt":"2016-01-10T15:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.barbdahlgren.com\/?p=3255"},"modified":"2015-09-01T17:26:44","modified_gmt":"2015-09-01T22:26:44","slug":"choose-to-work-out-your-own-salvation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/barbdahlgren.com\/?p=3255","title":{"rendered":"Choose to Work Out Your Own Salvation"},"content":{"rendered":"

Another Year of Choices<\/em><\/p>\n

By Barbara Dahlgren<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Philippians<\/a>Hopefully we all know that God has forgiven us for our sins \u2013 past, present, and future.\u00a0 Nothing we can do will ever earn us salvation because it is a gift from God. (Ephesians 2:8)\u00a0 Nothing we can do will make God love us anymore than He does.\u00a0 Christians who perform lists of do\u2019s and don\u2019ts trying to get God to love them do not understand God\u2019s grace.\u00a0 God\u2019s love is freely given to us!<\/p>\n

Since our salvation is not earned through our \u201cworks\u201d and is guaranteed \u2013 a done deal \u2013 some would have Christians think they have no responsibility to make changes that reflect their life in Christ.\u00a0 I think they miss the mark.\u00a0\u00a0 Paul clearly states we are to \u201cwork out our own salvation.\u201d (Philippians 2:12)\u00a0 It is interesting to note that this verse does not say to work \u201cfor\u201d our salvation, but rather it says to \u201cwork out our salvation.\u201d\u00a0 But what exactly does that mean?<\/p>\n

Consider this\u2026 While it\u2019s true that good works do not produce salvation, shouldn\u2019t salvation produce good works?<\/p>\n

We are specifically told that we are saved by grace, not by works. (Ephesians 2:8-9)\u00a0 However in the very next verse we are told we were created to do good works. (Ephesians 2:10)\u00a0 So\u2026 although we are not saved by our works, we should be doing good works.<\/p>\n

\"James<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Maybe that\u2019s why the Bible tells us to be doers of the word, not hearers only. (James 1:22)\u00a0 As we read the next few scriptures in James we see that if we don\u2019t live as Christ would have us live, we soon forget who we are. (James 1:23-24)\u00a0 Also when we walk with God and try to live a Christian life, we are blessed. (James 1:25)<\/p>\n

God wants us to do what He tells us to do for our own happiness.\u00a0 \u201cIf you know these things, happy are you if you do them.\u201d (John 13:17)\u00a0 Not only will we be happy, we will gain wisdom.\u00a0 (Matthew 7:24)<\/p>\n

When we look at the whole scripture about working out our salvation we see Paul telling the Philippians that he\u2019s not there to guide and set an example for them. (Philippians 2:12-13)\u00a0 They are on their own so they need to practice what they have learned from him.\u00a0 They need to work out their salvation without Paul standing over them and saying, \u201cBetter rethink what you are doing. \u00a0That may not be a good idea.\u201d\u00a0 In other words, think it through.\u00a0 Make wise choices.\u00a0 And then he adds, \u201c\u2026with fear and trembling.<\/em>\u201d\u00a0 \u201c\u2026work out your salvation with fear and trembling.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 That\u2019s just a fancy way of saying, \u201cHey, don\u2019t take this lightly \u2013 it\u2019s serious stuff!\u201d<\/p>\n

Then he continues, \u201cFor it is God that works in you to will and do his good pleasure.\u201d (Philippians 2:13)\u00a0 Which is a way of saying, \u201cYou may do some of the work, but God gets all the credit because you cannot do it without Him.\u201d<\/p>\n

We cannot save ourselves.\u00a0 God does that.\u00a0 We cannot do what God does and God will not do for us what we can do for ourselves.\u00a0 He will not give us good habits or moral character.\u00a0 He will not force us to walk with Him.\u00a0 He will help us, but He won\u2019t do it for us.\u00a0 We must \u201cwork out our own salvation.\u201d\u00a0 In other words \u2013 God gives us salvation and we work out what we will do with it.<\/p>\n

Christians are expected to grow spiritually.\u00a0 Technically we need to grow up spiritually and stop being whiney babies. (Ephesians 4:15-16)\u00a0 \u201cWah, wah, wah\u2026 I wanna say I\u2019m a Christian but I don\u2019t wanna do Christian stuff!\u201d (Ephesians 4:15-16; Hebrews 5:12)\u00a0 Well, words are cheap, baby!\u00a0 Our actions are evidence of our identity in Christ.\u00a0 With God\u2019s help we need to walk the walk, not just talk the talk.<\/p>\n

So\u2026 we\u2019ve been given salvation, now what are we going to do with it? \u00a0Perhaps we should try to live a life worthy of our calling. (Ephesians 4:1)<\/p>\n

\"Ephesians-4.1...<\/a><\/p>\n

Suggestions for practicing this choice\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n