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Working Out With God By Pastor Mark Taylor
“Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:12-13).
This sermon is not about physical exercise even though some of us might need it. It is about the relationship between you and God.
Paul tells us to “work out our salvation.” Notice that he doesn’t tell us to “work for our salvation.” In other words, he is telling us that we need to allow the salvation that is ours to be lived out in our daily lives. The Lord desires His people to live out what God has already worked within that life when that person trusted Christ. To put it another way: God loves us the way we are. He loves us too much to leave us the way we are. He wants us to be Just Like Jesus.
Paul tells us to “work out our salvation.” Notice that he doesn’t tell us to “work for our salvation.” In other words, he is telling us that we need to allow the salvation that is ours to be lived out in our daily lives. The Lord desires His people to live out what God has already worked within that life when that person trusted Christ. To put it another way: God loves us the way we are. He loves us too much to leave us the way we are. He wants us to be Just Like Jesus.
We are called to work out what God has already worked in. Salvation, you see, is a process. Sometimes we forget that because of the way we use the word. When we ask someone whether they are saved, what we are really asking is whether they have made a commitment to Christ. Salvation, on the other hand, refers to the fullness of God’s redemption. Salvation begins with regeneration–– we call it being born again. It continues with sanctification–– the process of spiritual maturity whereby we are progressively conformed to the image of Christ. It culminates in glorification–– when we receive our spiritual bodies and are brought into the actual presence of God. If you are Christian, you are now in this second stage of salvation–– sanctification. God desires that, over time, every area of our lives becomes transformed.
God carries out this work through the indwelling Holy Spirit, and His main tool is the Word of God. This verse assures us that God will help us. At other times we cannot even seem to want to do right. Here we learn that God can also provide the desire to do His will when we do not have it. This verse gives us confidence that God desires both to motivate and to enable us.
You and I should come to God “with fear and trembling” that He would entrust the desire and ability in us to do something for Him. That is, we should come to Him with the utmost respect and seriousness in the work we have been called to do. The work that God “works in you” implies that God is working both in you and outside of you to bring about holiness. He does this by breathing into us every good desire to bring about good results for Him. All the energy and desires that we have to serve God comes from power from on high. This is the power from the Holy Spirit.
Salvation begins with the saving grace that comes from God. The work of salvation is totally a gift from God. “For by Grace are you saved, through faith, it is a gift of God, not of works that anyone of us can brag about.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 - Paraphrased).It is not something we work for to get. It is something we develop after God has given it to us
When we receive that grace, along with it comes a desire to work. It is unlikely you have received true salvation, if you have no desire to please God with good works. “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the devils believe--and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? … For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” (James 2:19,20, 26).
The reason God is interested in guiding what you are doing is that He is interested in what you are becoming. When God speaks, He speaks with a purpose. Part of that purpose relates to what He wants to accomplish through you, and part of it relates to what He wants to accomplish in you!
I am not talking about a bunch of rules, rituals, and regulations, I am talking about a relationship with Jesus who loves you very much. ”We love Him, because He first loved us. (I John 4:19)
Our Lord is saying to us “Work with Me” and “Be my partner on Earth”. “Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Hebrews 13:20-21 ).
Your salvation is something you have to “work out”, or the work will be left undone. You cannot “piggy back” on someone else’s experience or faith. “For it is written: "As I live, says the LORD, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:11-12).
What are the two most important works you can do? “Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments is: 'Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. 'And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment. "And the second, like it, is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:29-31).
The list of other works you can do depends on the generous gifts the Father has given you to do His work. Don’t waste your life on sinful and useless things. Invest your time and energy into the Kingdom of God.
If you have been serving the Lord for many years, don’t get discouraged because other people are not doing what they should do. “For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:8-10).
The Lord Jesus appreciates your works of love for Him and His Church.
If you have been serving the Lord for many years, don’t get discouraged because other people are not doing what they should do. “For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:8-10).
The Lord Jesus appreciates your works of love for Him and His Church.
