Sermon Central
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Work Out Part 1
Contributed by Riaan De Villiers on Apr 12, 2006 (message contributor)
Summary: Paul says that we must work out our own salvation. What does that mean? I believe for many years we haven’t understand the joy and power of this verse. So lets work out.
Work Out Part 1
Philippians 2:12 – 18
If you wanted to learn to play a sport, or to take up a hobby, or even to venture into a new career, what would you do? Well, one thing you would not do is to simply start calling yourself what you wanted to become without doing anything else. Let’s say you wanted to take up fishing. You would not just simply start telling people that you were a fisherman. You would begin to study what it means to be a fisherman. You might read some books on fishing and fish. Then you would go and purchase some fishing equipment. You would get a fishing license. You might even buy a boat. You could join a fishing club where you could talk to other fisherman about fishing. But ultimately, you would have to go fishing and make an attempt to catch some fish. And you have to do it more than once. In fact, you would have to make it a part of your lifestyle in order to call yourself a fisherman.
Why do we think that all we must do to be Christians is to accept Christ?
It is not what we eat
but what we digest
that makes us strong;
not what we gain
but what we save
that make us rich;
not what we read
but what we remember
that makes us learned;
and not what we profess
but what we practice
that makes us Christians.
Die eerste vraag wat beantwoord moet word is: Wat bedoel Paulus met heil?
In Engels = “salvation”.
ASV So then, my beloved, even as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
BBE So then, my loved ones, as you have at all times done what I say, not only when I am present, but now much more when I am not with you, give yourselves to working out your salvation with fear in your hearts;
GW My dear friends, you have always obeyed, not only when I was with you but even more now that I’m absent. In the same way continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.
MKJV Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, cultivate your own salvation with fear and trembling.
LO Wherefore, my beloved, since you have always obeyed, not in my presence only, but now much more in my absence; effectually work out your own salvation, with fear and trembling;
NB = Paul does not say, "Work for your salvation." It is not "work towards acquiring your salvation", nor is it "work at your salvation", nor is it "work up your salvation."
Many people interpret the word salvation in this verse to refer to eternal salvation from hell. Some have interpreted Phil 2:12 to mean that Christians must bring about their own eternal salvation by obeying God. Such an understanding is entirely foreign to the Bible!
If Paul is using "salvation" here as justification or eternal life, then works are a condition. This would be teaching "salvation" by works.
The Scripture teaches that eternal life is a gift of grace.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV) For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Romans 3:27-28 (NKJV) Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.
Romans 4:5 (NKJV) But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,
Romans 6:23 (NKJV) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Justification/eternal life is a gift received by faith alone!
NB = In our verse Paul calls the readers "my beloved," an expression he reserves for believers. See also 1:1 where Paul indicates that he is writing, "to the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi." Believers are already eternally saved and cannot lose that salvation.
Every true Christian has been saved through believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. They are all in the state of salvation at this moment. Salvation is God’s gift to them, accomplished by Jesus Christ on Golgotha when he saved them there from enduring what he himself freely and lovingly chose to endure in their place - the wrath of a sin-hating God.
So what does Paul means by “salvation” in this verse.
Salvation = ‘soteria’.
The word salvation (Gk. soteria) occurs only three times in Philippians.
