14/10/08

Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling

Philippians 2:12 - Wherefore, my beloved, 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.

Just some few minutes back I was discussing on the net with a group on this topic and after praying I was given the very same topic to write on for today.

We all need to understand the Paul addressed this letter to those who were already baptized believers and where in Spirit, yet he asks them to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling. By believing in Jesus Christ and accepting His sacrifice on the cross, we receive His Spirit. Only when we build our house on this Rock we are truly saved.

It is not the size of the house or the quality of the house that counts to enter Heaven (thou it counts after we enter Heaven). What counts is on what foundation have we built our house? Is it the Rock or something else?

The working out in fear and trembling is in discerning the true Rock and in holding fast to the Rock.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord Jesus, You gave us your Spirit as a gift to us by your sacrifice on the cross. Your Spirit is the Rock of my salvation. Holy Spirit, help me to anchor myself to You so that I receive my salvation which Jesus Christ has made available to me by His sacrifice. I make this prayer in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]
Luke 6:46
46 "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say?
47 "Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like:
48 "He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.
49 "But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great."

Luke 7:21-27
21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
22 "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'
23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
24 "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:
25 "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
26 "But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand:
27 "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."

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