12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Philippians2:12-13
The English translation of the phrase "continue to work out your salvation" can be misunderstood. When we think of "work out" we think of "calculate" but this is not what this passage is about.
Mathematicians calculate, figure out, solve and work out complex problems. If we read the passage this way, it implies that we are still calculating, solving and figuring out our salvation. It makes it sound as if we are still getting there.
The Greek word Paul uses for "work out" is "katergazesthe" implies production from something that is already there. A steam train has water and coal inside and this can produce motion. A car has petrol in the tank and using that fuel the car can move. A battery has chemicals inside that can produce current and this provides light, sound or whatever other electronic service we require.
The core truth of this passage is the end part: (my translation)
"It is GOD (the Holy Spirit) who works inside you so that you have the power to make decisions and take action in line with His plans and purposes."
Flowing out of that are two important truths:
1. Our lives must be inside-out. We need to allow the power of the Holy Spirit to work in us. It's no good being fully charged or tank-full if we never switch on the circuit or the engine. It's no good having a full head of steam if we're not going to leave the station. We need to allow the Spirit to work in us!
2. We do this in fear and trembling. Not because our salvation has not been obtained BUT because it has! We are loved so much that, in spite of our failure and brokenness, God puts His Spirit in us. He helps us to will and act to His purpose. We tremble with awe and wonder at the magnitude of God's care: He not only saves us, but He gives us His Spirit to help us live out that salvation.
What a truth! What a comfort!
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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
