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Working it Out (Philippians 2:12-13)
Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did (1 Jn.2:6)
Holiness is a word that frightens many people. We know it is required
of us, we want it, but we are not entirely sure what it is and are even
less certain that we could ever attain it. Yet if we claim to live in
him we will walk as he walked.
Paul is reminding us here of three things:
As Christians we have an aim, which is to continue working out
our salvation. Note that Paul does not suggest that we work for our salvation,
which is a gift to all who believe (Gal. 2:20-21; Eph.2:4), rather he
calls us to work out in our lives the salvation we have been given. Uniquely
among world religions, Christianity doesn't simply look back to an historical
event, although we do look to the cross. When we look back we also see
an empty tomb, eloquent testimony that our faith is a living faith, a
faith in a living Saviour, a faith for today.
Nor do Christians simply sit tight looking forward to some future event,
though we do look to his Second Coming. Rather Paul reminds us that, "it
is God who works in you" today.
As Christians we have an attitude of fear and trembling toward
the God who saved us and who works in us. Solomon tells us that, "The
fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom" (Prov.1:7)
and in Psalms we read, "Serve the LORD
with fear and rejoice with trembling" (Ps.2:11).
We live our every day lives before the God of our salvation and we serve
him both with trembling because he is God Almighty and rejoicing because
he is our God.
As Christians we have a God who assists us as we serve him. We
are not alone as we work out our salvation. God has promised to be with
us and to continue working in our lives (Philip.1:6). Christians have
always sought holiness but it is sad to see some rushing from conference
to conference, seeking a blessing from the latest platform speaker, buying
the latest book promising to unlock the secret of the Christian life.
In John 15 we have the parable of the vine and the branches:
I am the vine; you are the branches. If
a man remain in me and me in him, he will bear much fruit. (Jn.15:5)
He is the secret, he is the blessing and the Way and we are being called:
To "press on toward the goal" (Philip. 3:14) that is our aim
To pursue holiness and to hunger after God with fear and rejoicing
To recognise that we can trust in his promise to work in us and achieve
his objective which is to conform us to the likeness of his Son (Ro.8:29)
If our salvation is summed up in John 3:16 then our purpose as Christians
is summed up in these verses from Philippians that call us to:
Continue to work out your salvation with
fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act
according to his good purpose.
Perhaps this week we can remind ourselves that this is our aim, this is
the Christian life, and that in living it and pursuing these goals more
than anything else our witness is brightest and best.