Sunday Sermons
Your Own Salvation
The first thing we should note is that spiritual growth is not an option for Christians (2 Peter 1:5-11). Secondly, spiritual growth is not automatic; it does take an intentional commitment. One must actually want to grow, decide to grow, and make a concerted effort towards such a goal, 2 Peter 1:5 “Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence”: ‘”Earnestness, interest one’s self most earnestly” (Thayer p. 585); “do your level best” (Wms); “try your hardest” (NEB). So much for the idea of bare minimum service. Consider the following statement: “We frequently come across a false understanding of Christian freedom which says that if we are justified by God’s irrevocable grace, we enjoy a new kind of relationship with God where ideas of law and obedience are inappropriate. Anxious Christians think they lack the key to Christian growth and certainty, and move from guru to guru seeking the touch of God to change them. Some even claim to have had an experience that makes it impossible for them to sin. People say that, provided they believe as the early Christians believed, they need not behave as the early Christians behaved. One of the major concerns of Peter’s letters is that Christian faith that is firmly rooted must make a radical difference to the way we behave. We will want to please Jesus more, rather than presume upon His love” (Lucas/Green pp. 55-56).
Peter also uses another word that we need to investigate. He says, “in your faith supply”: The background for the word rendered “supply” is very interesting. Originally it was a term from the theater, and was used for the person who put up all the money to finance a production. It was also used to described someone who gave much back to his own community, such as a generous city benefactor. “It never means to equip in any cheese-paring and miserly way; it means lavishly and willingly to pour out everything that is necessary for a noble performance, always at the back of it there is this idea of a willing and lavish generosity in the equipment” (Barclay p. 353). Unfortunately, there have always been Christians who tried to grow using only the bare minimum of effort and time. God’s great promises deserve our best effort! Do not make the mistake of trying to live the Christian life on a shoestring, rather give your soul all the teaching, time, encouragement, help, and assistance that it needs!
The importance of this topic
From the above verse, and others, we learn that what God cares most about in our lives is the development of our character. He is far more interested in this than in what we do for a living. Even Christians can become preoccupied with questions such as, “What career should I choose?” The truth is, there are many careers that you can choose. What God cares about most is that whatever you do, you do in a Christlike manner. Where you live, what you do for a living, and so on, are not things that you take into eternity, but your character does determine where you will spend eternity! (2 Peter 1:10-11). Some misinterpret Jesus’ promise of abundant life (John 10:10) as being perfect health, a comfortable life, constant happiness, fulfillment of all our dreams, and quick relief from problems. Yet such is a selfish way of looking at Christianity. God is not our servant who waits on us hand and foot. This life is not about us; rather we exist for God’s purposes (Ephesians 2:10). God is going to allow bad things to happen in our lives so that our character can be transformed (James 1:2-4; Romans 5:3-5).
Before and after
Unfortunately some people in the denominational world are being taught that while effort has nothing to do with your salvation, it has much to do with your spiritual growth. Well, the truth of the matter is that the same faith that is needed for spiritual growth is the same type of faith that is needed for salvation. The faith that saves us must be a strong faith that moves us to come to God(Hebrews 11:6), patiently listen to His word, even if it goes against our preconceived ideas, and even if it rebukes us (Acts 2:37), renounce even our favorite sins (Acts 2:38), confess Christ (Romans 10:9-10; Matthew 10:32-33), and submit to baptism(Mark 16:16). It takes effort to grow; it also takes effort to become a Christian in the first place (Luke 14:26-33). When we look at passages such as 2 Peter 1:5-11 it is clear that we must cooperate with God in the building of our character. The problem is that some people in the religious world are being taught that there are not conditions for salvation and that God does everything for us. Let us look at a couple of passages that are presented to defend this false idea:
Philippians 1:6
“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus”
The reason that Paul has confidence in the Philippians is because of their past track record. They had supported the preaching of the gospel from their initial conversion that is recorded in Acts 16 (Philippians 1:5). After they had been converted and Paul had left, they had sent him funds (Philippians 4:15-16). Now why would Paul commend them for such initiative and generosity if they really had nothing to do with it? In addition, why would God move them to do such things, but not other churches? (4:15) God had begun a good work in them, but it was not against their will. They had to make a choice to hear the gospel, believe it, repent, and respond to baptism (Acts 16:30-34). Even Lydia had to make the effort to listen to the preaching in order for the word of God to penetrate her heart (Acts 16:14; Romans 1:16). And the reason why Paul is confident that these Christians will grow and mature, is not because God will do all the work for them, but rather because their track record proves that they are genuine believers. “Paul envisioned that the good work which God started, and which was now being carried on by the Philippians (the furtherance of the gospel), would reach its completion at the Day of Christ Jesus. That is to say, Paul was certain that the Philippians would never waiver in their generosity, would never cease sharing their good gifts to help spread the gospel...Knowing the Philippians, he was confident that when their ‘work’ was examined it would be pronounced ‘good’” (Hawthorne pp. 21-22).
Philippians 2:13
“For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure”.
Notice the word “for”. This word connects this verse with the previous verse that commands Christians to “work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (2:12). These verses are not teaching that God does all the work, rather they are emphasizing human and divine cooperation. If this verse is saying that God does everything for us, including miraculously giving us the motivation we need to even begin to serve Him, then verse 2:12 is meaningless and unnecessary. The reason we can work out our own salvation is because assistance is available from God and we are not on our own. “God who is at work”: The present tense is used, “because God works and has worked, therefore man must and can work” (Hawthorne p. 100). “Both to will and to work”: That is, God helps us with our attitude, motivation, and our deeds. He inspires our will and our action. Yes, God can change our attitude, but not against our will. All of us here have experienced this when we were confronted with God’s truth. His word convicted us of sin, exposed our selfishness, and demolished our preconceived ideas, but all of this with our cooperation, and it was painful and hard work! God "changes" the will of an individual through His revelation to mankind. It is the word of God that changes the direction of a man's heart and hence the direction of a man's life(Acts 2:37; Hebrews 4:12; Romans 1:16; 10:17). Jesus pointed out that God is working in the believer only as long as the believer is allowing the word of God to influence their lives (John 8:37; 15:7). “For His good pleasure”: “To execute His gracious will” (Wey); “to do what He wants” (Beck). The only way we know what He wants is for God to reveal it in His word. Compare this section with the first Scriptures that we introduced in this study, 2 Peter 1:5-11. Here are the attitudes that God expects the Christian to have, yet in order to gain such qualities the Christian must make every effort. God helps us with the “will” by telling us why such things are so important, and what will be the end result or reward. In addition, notice the context ofPhilippians 2:13. So many of the passages surrounding this passage are exhortations to Christians to have a certain attitude(2:2-5,14-15). If God does everything for us, including changing our hearts against our will, or without any effort on our own, then all these other passages are meaningless. Why would Paul command Christians to think a certain way, if God controls our thinking?
Work out your own salvation: Philippians 2:12
“Work on to the finish” (Robertson p. 446). “Carry out to the goal, complete” (Vincent p. 437). “ Continue to work out, continuous, sustained, strenuous effort” (Hendriksen p. 120). “Which always has the idea of bringing to completion. It is as if Paul says: ‘Don't stop halfway’ No Christian should be satisfied with anything less than the total benefits of the gospel” (Barclay p. 41).“Paul in effect commands the Philippians to keep working and never let up until their ‘salvation’ is achieved” (Hawthorne p. 98). That is, until heaven is attained. “Your own salvation”: Paul does not say "work for" but "work out". One cannot earn or merit eternal life (Luke 17:10), yet man has duties and responsibilities in reference to the salvation given him by God (Romans 6:1ff; Eph. 2:10; Titus 2:14-15). This verse reminds us that ultimately we have the final say-so over whether we will end up saved or lost. Human cooperation is needed. Barclay reminds us, “Without man’s co-operation, even God is helpless. A man may be ill and the doctor able to prescribe the drugs that will cure him; but the man will not be cured until he takes them and he may stubbornly refuse all persuasion. It is never God who withholds salvation (2 Peter 3:9); it is always man who deprives himself of it (Acts 13:46)” (p. 42). “In view of this admonition, how could one possibly assert that man is “wholly passive” with reference to his salvation?” (Jackson p. 49). “With fear and trembling”: “Reverence and awe” (Wms). “Used to describe the anxiety of one who distrusts his ability completely to meet all requirements, but religiously does his utmost to fulfill his duty” (Jackson p. 49). “An attitude of due reverence and awe in the presence of God, a sensitivity to His will”(Bruce p. 82). “The words do not denote slavish or cowardly terror, but submission and reverence toward God, and a humble distrust of self. There is something too jaunty and self-confident and flippant in the attitude of many Christians toward their ‘own salvation’. One must be conscious of his own weakness and continual moral peril.” (Erdman pp. 88-89). Wholesome, serious caution. “This fear is self-distrust; it is tenderness of conscience; it is vigilance against temptation. It is taking heed lest we fall; it is a constant apprehension of the deceitfulness of the heart. It is the caution and circumspection which timidly shrinks from whatever would offend and dishonor God and the Savior” (Vincent p. 437). Barclay gives the following observations: “It is not the fear and trembling which drives us to hide from God, but rather the fear and trembling which drives us to seek God, in the certainty that without His help we cannot effectively face life. It comes, second, from a horror of grieving God. The Christian’s great fear is of crucifying Christ again” (p. 43) (Hebrews 6:6; 10:29).
