Work Out Your Own Salvation

by Bowman, L. | Category: For Young Believers | Jun 1955

In Philippians 2.12 the apostle connects his subsequent exhortations to what has gone before: "So then my beloved." He commends the saints in Philippi for their past obedience, not only when he was present with them, but now he says "much more in my absence." He exhorts them to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling.

Salvation is shown under different aspects in the New Testament Scriptures as, for instance, in Ephesians 2.8, "For by grace have ye been saved through faith"; and 2 Timothy 1.9, "Who saved us." These scriptures describe a salvation accomplished in the past. Then we have a salvation which is future, "Now is salvation nearer to us than when we first believed" (Romans 13.11). But here in Philippians 2. it is a present salvation which we have to effect for ourselves.

Peter exhorted the enquiring multitudes in Jerusalem, whom he had called upon to repent, with the words, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation" (Acts 2.40). The believer in Christ is menaced by many dangers, without and within, and from such evils he is called upon to save himself. But it is impossible that he can do this in his own strength; so the apostle goes on to say, "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to work, for His good pleasure." First, God must work upon our wills to make us willing to be saved from encompassing evils. If the will of the believer is not bowed to God's will as to what is right to do, no salvation can be effected by and for him. He will pursue his disastrous course of wrong-doing with a defiled conscience, until, perchance, the conscience becomes seared and ineffectual in its corrective work within. But if the will of the believer is moved towards the objective of living to God's pleasure, then the power is available, for God will work in him, empowering him to do what pleases Him. Both things are attained in the work of the believer through the power of God, salvation for himself and pleasure to God.

Then the apostle goes on, "Do all things without murmurings and disputings; that ye may be blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye are seen as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life" (verses 14-16). Many children of God are as lights whose oil (of the Spirit) seems almost exhausted,. whilst others seem to need the crust removed from the wick. So many things have been allowed to collect upon the wick and the snuffers of correction and admonition have not been used in connexion with their light-giving for long months or even years, and the light seems almost smothered. Some are like a light in a lantern, the glass of which is so smoked or covered with dirt that the light can hardly shine through. Some are ever complaining; they see so many faults in others, and so few, if any, in themselves. This is a mental disease, which so sadly affected the lives of Israel in the wilderness, and the germs of it will fly about seeking a place to live. How happy is the community where there is no murmuring or disputing I But why should there be such amongst people who are happy to take the name of CHILDREN OF GOD?

All those carnal things mentioned by the apostle seriously hinder the light of the word of life shining as it ought.

Think of the apostle's self-surrender as indicated in the words, "Yea, and if I am offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all" (verse 17). He thought of himself being poured out as a drink-offering, being spent in self-sacrificing labours on their behalf. Such, too, was the spirit of Timothy, of whom Paul said, "I have no man like-minded, who will care truly for your state "(verse 20). Others sought their own things. Epaphroditus was a man of like kind to Paul, and of him he said, "For the work of Christ he came nigh unto death, hazarding his life to supply that which was lacking in your service toward me" (verse 30).

By the example of others we shall learn how we may save ourselves

by serving others.

Bowman, L. | Jun 1955
For Young Believers