24 FRIDAY, 2 DECEMBER 2016
Working Out Your Salvation in Christ SCRIPTURE Philippians 2:12-13
OBSERVATION What does Paul say about our salvation in Christ in verses 12 to 13?
DEEPER REFLECTION Having been saved in Christ and having the righteousness of God (cf. Php 3:9), we are to “work out” that “salvation” (v.12). We work out: It is an individual responsibility – as “your” salvation indicates. The care and spiritual growth of the individual soul is a personal responsibility. You have to walk your discipleship journey alone by yourself, but not without the needed external support and encouragement of fellow Christians (cf. Heb 3:12-13). God works in: While we must walk our faith journey alone, we are not alone, “for God is at work in you” (v.13) – “you”, the individual. It is because “God is at work” in us that we “work out” our salvation – and never the reverse. God is always at work, whether we feel it or not. “We forget; He does not; we backslide, but we cannot halt, defer or deflect His work.”3 God is “tirelessly active”4, and never lets His children go. And God works in us “for His good pleasure” (v.13). God does not work in us only when we show promising response or evidence of progress, or when we really desire Him to do so. God works in us because He wants to. It is God’s free divine choice. “Nothing, then, can stop the ongoing divine work.”5
DJ Dec 2016 FINAL.indd 24
16/11/16 11:32 am