Truth Today Newsletter: Philippians 2:12

It's a lifelong journey to work out our salvation, to express what Christ has accomplished in our lives fully. We do it with awe and reverence because that is the right attitude. And that "working out" is seen in a life of obedience. Paul wanted that obedience to not just be eye-service; that is why it is with awe and reverence to God, not just to please Paul.

It may amaze you the number of people who live their lives as people pleasers, who do everything to not be in the bad graces of people but not of God.

They are chameleons, gossips, busybodies in other people's matters, who traffic in negative information about other people to make themselves look good.

These people are not working out their salvation with fear and trembling; they walk with mockers and sit with the scornful (Psalm 1:1). They have forgotten that God is not man; they rejoice in their sinfulness, in their sexual exposure, while disdaining the virgin. They are not working out their salvation with fear and trembling; they are not saying like Paul, I want to fulfill the reason for which Christ has laid hold of me (Philippians 3:12).

There is a quality about the Philippian believers here. They always obeyed. Wow! Always! That is why the call is to be driven by the fear of God rather than the fear of man.

The fear of God does not mean not wanting to relate with Him, rather it is wanting to relate with him. It is not the fear that causes a shrinking back, but rather a drawing near that shows we are in need of His grace.

"With awe and reverence" means we prioritize God more than anything else, because we should. Jesus laid out the eternal contrasts with these words:

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I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more they can do. But I will warn you whom you should fear: Fear the one who, after the killing, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! (Luke 12:4-5)

Even though Jesus talks about being thrown into hell, we should not lose the view that we have actually come from death to life (1 John 3:14) and there is no wrath in our horizon because of the sacrifice of Jesus who bore the pain of death on the cross (the pain of separation from God as the lamb of God who takes away our sin (John 1:29)) and we have run to Him for refuge, as our high priest (Hebrews 6:18-20).

We have the promise that no one will pluck us out of his hand (John 10:28-29). We don't just have a new name (Ephesians 3:14-15), we are new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17); we have not just come to God (Hebrews 12:22-24), God has His abode in us (John 14:23). So this "fear and trembling" for believers is not the fear of hell.

Above all, we are motivated by love. Love of God versus self-love or love of comfort, or love of money, or love of human accolades (1 John 2:15-17). It's love of obedience because we are in a relationship with God, because we know and see Him as our Father, and the Holy Spirit we have been given makes us feel at home with Him (Romans 5:5), and the blood of Jesus, which cleanses us from all sin (Hebrews 9:14), makes God at home in us by His Spirit.

Remember how the dove released by Noah from the ark could not find somewhere to lay her feet because the flood still filled the earth (Genesis 8:8-11)? Similarly, when sin still filled the heart, God could not dwell within man because God is holy.

But now, with the work that Christ did, taking away sin on the cross, we have become new creatures.

So all Paul is saying is: live by your new nature. Now you have the option to either yield to the flesh or not; you have the option to repent and confess so that the blood of Jesus can cleanse you (1 John 1:9). All of these in the context of you being in a relationship with God through Jesus.

The ultimate obedience is you believing the gospel (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9) through which you are saved, you are born again (John 3:16), you are transformed, and now are led by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:14).

You have a new identity, a new name, and you have the righteousness of Christ as a gift (2 Corinthians 5:21). You are now saved and in God's camp forever as a result of the eternal work of Jesus, His irreversible work on the cross.

So working out your salvation with fear and trembling should be seen in the context of the new relationship you have with God, a relationship of obedience that means more to you than anything in the world because the Spirit of Christ is in you and He makes you like Christ, to whom nothing means more than pleasing the Father. It is in that context that you work out your salvation with fear and trembling.

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ANNOUNCEMENT 1 (of 3): I am happy to announce the publication of the paperback edition of the ministry’s book of the year: The Sufficiency of Scripture. The ebook version would be available later this month. Cheers!

https://www.westbowpress.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/865091-the-sufficiency-of-scripture

ANNOUNCEMENT 2 (of 3): Please check out the new segment below: From Addiction to Freedom by Favour Oyinloye.

ANNOUNCEMENT 3 (of 3): Going forward, beginning from Sept 1, I will add a segment to my thrice weekly newsletter. I call it weekly chant. The weekly chants are words and melodies I am hearing in my spirit.