Working Out Your Own Salvation
Jesus died and paid the price for us to have total salvation; yet we have to use faith
to attain it.
The apostle Paul gives this advice to us believers in Philippians 2:2-5, 12-16 which
says “fulfill you my joy, that you be like minded, having the same love, being of one
accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory, but in lowliness
of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his
own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you,
which was also in Christ Jesus. Wherefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed,
not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence; work out your own
salvation with fear (respect) and trembling. For it is God which works in you both to
will and to do of His good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputing.
That you may be blameless, the sons of God without rebuke, in the midst of a
crooked and perverse nation, among whom you shine as lights in the world. Holding
forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain,
neither labored in vain”.
The apostle Paul says in Ephesians 2:8-10 “for by grace are you saved through
faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. Not of works, less any man
should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works,
which God has before ordained that we should walk in them”. We can’t earn our
salvation by works, but we are supposed to do good works.
As the apostle Paul was converted on the road to Damascus, he was told the works
that he was sent to do (Acts 9:6). Later when
the apostle Paul was stating his case, you says in Acts 26:19-20 “whereupon, O king
Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. But showed first to them of
Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to
the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet (fit) for
repentance”.
Christian life is a battle ground, the devil is working hard to trick and entrap believers
as to destroy their testimony. The devil knows that we must forgive others, and walk
in love, so he will bring his people (and sometimes they are your own love ones) in
your life to get you offended, and get angry with people, but we do not fight against
flesh and blood. We are to stay in our love walk and that takes work.
We are told to study, as the apostle Paul teaches Timothy in II Timothy 2:15,19-22, 3:
14-17 which says “study to show yourself approved to God, a workman that needs
not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Nevertheless the foundation of
God stands sure; having this seal. The Lord knows them that are His, and, let every
one that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there
are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to
honor, and some to dishonor. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall
be a vessel of honor, sanctified, and meet (fit) for the master’s use, and prepared to
every good work. But continue you in the things which you have learned and have
been assured of, knowing of whom you have learned them. And that from a child you
have known the holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise to salvation through
faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished to all good works”.
Jesus as our example says in John 9:4-5 “I must work the work of Him that sent Me,
while it is day; the night comes when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I
am the light of the world”. In the sermon on the mount Jesus tells us who we are in
Matthew 5:13-16 “you are the salt of the earth; but if the salt have lost its savor,
wherewith shall it be salted? It is therefore good for nothing, but to be cast out, and
be trodden under foot of men. You are the light of the world, a city that is set on a
hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a
candlestick; and it gives light to all that are in the house. Let your light so shine
before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in
heaven”.
Remember that Jesus Himself says in John 14:12 “verily, verily, I say to you, he that
believes on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these
shall he do, because I go to My Father”.
Good news is that God works through us (Philippians 1:6) “being confident of this
very thing, that He which has begun a good work in you, will perform it until the day of
Jesus Christ”. And in Colossians 1:10-12 we are told “that you might walk worthy of
the Lord to all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the
knowledge of God. Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, to
all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness. Giving thanks to the Father, which has
made us meet (fit) to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light”.
We are to examine our own works (Galatians 6:4) “but let every man prove his own
work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another”. The
Bible tells us in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 “let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter;
fear (reverence) God and keep His commandments; for this is the whole duty of
man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether
it be good, or whether it be evil”.
Jesus said that we have been given the keys to the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 16:
19) “and I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatsoever you
shall bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever you shall loose on
earth shall be loosed in heaven”. So if we are not binding or loosing things into our
lives, it is our own fault.
Job 22:28 says “you shall also decree a thing, and it shall be established to you, and
the light shall shine upon your ways”. Proverbs 18:20-21 says “a man’s belly shall be
satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and they that love it shall eat the fruit
thereof”.
We are to be establishing God’s word here on earth (Psalms 68:11) says “the Lord
gave the word, great was the company of those that published it”. Remember that
we are to return His words to Him as said in Isaiah 55:11 God says “so shall My word
be that goes forth out of My mouth; it shall not return to Me void; but it shall
accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it”.
We are to be workers together with God as it says in I Corinthians 3:9-15 “for we are
laborers together with God, you are God’s husbandry, you are God’s building.
According to the grace of God which is given to me, as a wise master builder; I have
laid the foundation and an other builds thereon, but let every man take heed how he
builds thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is
Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones,
wood, hay, stubble. Every man’s work shall be made manifest; for the day shall
declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work
of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he has built thereupon, he shall
receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned he shall suffer loss, but he
himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire”. Again in II Corinthians 6:1 says “we then,
as workers together with Him, beseech you also that you receive not the grace of
God in vain”.
Jesus tells us what work we are to do; as He tells of His own reason for coming in
(John 6:38-40) “for I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of
Him that sent Me. And this is the Father’s will which has sent Me that of all which He
has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last days. And
this is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which sees the Son, and believes
on Him, may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day”.
Jesus Himself tells those that believed on Him in John 8:31-32 “if you My disciples
indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free”.
Proverbs 25:2 says “it is the glory of God to conceal a thing; but the honor of kings is
to search out a matter”. God is not hiding it from us, He is hiding it for us
(Ecclesiastes 1:13) “and I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom
concerning all things that are done under heaven; this sore travail (heavy task) has
God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith”.
The apostle James tells us to submit ourselves to God, that means to come under His
authority, then we resist the devil, his ways of doing things and he has to flee from
us. As we draw near to God, He will draw near to us. And as we humble ourselves in
the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift us up (James 4:7,8,10).
After all Proverbs 3:5-6 says “trust in the Lord Yahweh with all your heart, and lean
not to your understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct
your paths”.
Jesus tells the seven churches in Revelation chapter 2 and 3 that He knows their
works, and warns them to repent and do their first works. And Revelation 22:12 says
“and, behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according
as his work shall be”. I don’t know about you, but I want to hear Jesus say to me “well
done, My good and faithful servant”.
Jesus warns that everyone that says that they are following Him, is truly following Him
(Matthew 7:21-27) “not every one that says to Me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the
kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of My Father which is in heaven. Many
will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name? And in
Your name have cast out devils? And in Your name have done many wonderful
works? And then will I profess to them, I never knew you; depart from Me, you that
work iniquity. Therefore, whosoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I
will liken him to a wise man, which built his house upon a rock. And the rain
descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and
it fell not; for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that hears these sayings of
Mine, and does them not, shall be likened to a foolish man, which his house upon the
sand. And the rain descended and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat
upon that house; and it fell, and great was the fall of it”. Remember that we are to
follow Jesus as a dear child.
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: January 27, 2012
Jesus died and paid the price for us to have total salvation; yet we have to use faith
to attain it.
The apostle Paul gives this advice to us believers in Philippians 2:2-5, 12-16 which
says “fulfill you my joy, that you be like minded, having the same love, being of one
accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory, but in lowliness
of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his
own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you,
which was also in Christ Jesus. Wherefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed,
not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence; work out your own
salvation with fear (respect) and trembling. For it is God which works in you both to
will and to do of His good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputing.
That you may be blameless, the sons of God without rebuke, in the midst of a
crooked and perverse nation, among whom you shine as lights in the world. Holding
forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain,
neither labored in vain”.
The apostle Paul says in Ephesians 2:8-10 “for by grace are you saved through
faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. Not of works, less any man
should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works,
which God has before ordained that we should walk in them”. We can’t earn our
salvation by works, but we are supposed to do good works.
As the apostle Paul was converted on the road to Damascus, he was told the works
that he was sent to do (Acts 9:6). Later when
the apostle Paul was stating his case, you says in Acts 26:19-20 “whereupon, O king
Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. But showed first to them of
Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to
the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet (fit) for
repentance”.
Christian life is a battle ground, the devil is working hard to trick and entrap believers
as to destroy their testimony. The devil knows that we must forgive others, and walk
in love, so he will bring his people (and sometimes they are your own love ones) in
your life to get you offended, and get angry with people, but we do not fight against
flesh and blood. We are to stay in our love walk and that takes work.
We are told to study, as the apostle Paul teaches Timothy in II Timothy 2:15,19-22, 3:
14-17 which says “study to show yourself approved to God, a workman that needs
not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Nevertheless the foundation of
God stands sure; having this seal. The Lord knows them that are His, and, let every
one that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there
are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to
honor, and some to dishonor. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall
be a vessel of honor, sanctified, and meet (fit) for the master’s use, and prepared to
every good work. But continue you in the things which you have learned and have
been assured of, knowing of whom you have learned them. And that from a child you
have known the holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise to salvation through
faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished to all good works”.
Jesus as our example says in John 9:4-5 “I must work the work of Him that sent Me,
while it is day; the night comes when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I
am the light of the world”. In the sermon on the mount Jesus tells us who we are in
Matthew 5:13-16 “you are the salt of the earth; but if the salt have lost its savor,
wherewith shall it be salted? It is therefore good for nothing, but to be cast out, and
be trodden under foot of men. You are the light of the world, a city that is set on a
hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a
candlestick; and it gives light to all that are in the house. Let your light so shine
before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in
heaven”.
Remember that Jesus Himself says in John 14:12 “verily, verily, I say to you, he that
believes on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these
shall he do, because I go to My Father”.
Good news is that God works through us (Philippians 1:6) “being confident of this
very thing, that He which has begun a good work in you, will perform it until the day of
Jesus Christ”. And in Colossians 1:10-12 we are told “that you might walk worthy of
the Lord to all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the
knowledge of God. Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, to
all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness. Giving thanks to the Father, which has
made us meet (fit) to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light”.
We are to examine our own works (Galatians 6:4) “but let every man prove his own
work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another”. The
Bible tells us in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 “let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter;
fear (reverence) God and keep His commandments; for this is the whole duty of
man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether
it be good, or whether it be evil”.
Jesus said that we have been given the keys to the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 16:
19) “and I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatsoever you
shall bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever you shall loose on
earth shall be loosed in heaven”. So if we are not binding or loosing things into our
lives, it is our own fault.
Job 22:28 says “you shall also decree a thing, and it shall be established to you, and
the light shall shine upon your ways”. Proverbs 18:20-21 says “a man’s belly shall be
satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and they that love it shall eat the fruit
thereof”.
We are to be establishing God’s word here on earth (Psalms 68:11) says “the Lord
gave the word, great was the company of those that published it”. Remember that
we are to return His words to Him as said in Isaiah 55:11 God says “so shall My word
be that goes forth out of My mouth; it shall not return to Me void; but it shall
accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it”.
We are to be workers together with God as it says in I Corinthians 3:9-15 “for we are
laborers together with God, you are God’s husbandry, you are God’s building.
According to the grace of God which is given to me, as a wise master builder; I have
laid the foundation and an other builds thereon, but let every man take heed how he
builds thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is
Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones,
wood, hay, stubble. Every man’s work shall be made manifest; for the day shall
declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work
of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he has built thereupon, he shall
receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned he shall suffer loss, but he
himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire”. Again in II Corinthians 6:1 says “we then,
as workers together with Him, beseech you also that you receive not the grace of
God in vain”.
Jesus tells us what work we are to do; as He tells of His own reason for coming in
(John 6:38-40) “for I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of
Him that sent Me. And this is the Father’s will which has sent Me that of all which He
has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last days. And
this is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which sees the Son, and believes
on Him, may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day”.
Jesus Himself tells those that believed on Him in John 8:31-32 “if you My disciples
indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free”.
Proverbs 25:2 says “it is the glory of God to conceal a thing; but the honor of kings is
to search out a matter”. God is not hiding it from us, He is hiding it for us
(Ecclesiastes 1:13) “and I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom
concerning all things that are done under heaven; this sore travail (heavy task) has
God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith”.
The apostle James tells us to submit ourselves to God, that means to come under His
authority, then we resist the devil, his ways of doing things and he has to flee from
us. As we draw near to God, He will draw near to us. And as we humble ourselves in
the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift us up (James 4:7,8,10).
After all Proverbs 3:5-6 says “trust in the Lord Yahweh with all your heart, and lean
not to your understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct
your paths”.
Jesus tells the seven churches in Revelation chapter 2 and 3 that He knows their
works, and warns them to repent and do their first works. And Revelation 22:12 says
“and, behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according
as his work shall be”. I don’t know about you, but I want to hear Jesus say to me “well
done, My good and faithful servant”.
Jesus warns that everyone that says that they are following Him, is truly following Him
(Matthew 7:21-27) “not every one that says to Me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the
kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of My Father which is in heaven. Many
will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name? And in
Your name have cast out devils? And in Your name have done many wonderful
works? And then will I profess to them, I never knew you; depart from Me, you that
work iniquity. Therefore, whosoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I
will liken him to a wise man, which built his house upon a rock. And the rain
descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house, and
it fell not; for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that hears these sayings of
Mine, and does them not, shall be likened to a foolish man, which his house upon the
sand. And the rain descended and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat
upon that house; and it fell, and great was the fall of it”. Remember that we are to
follow Jesus as a dear child.
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: January 27, 2012
