lESSON 3862

 (Lesson 3862)(08-15-22) Philippians 2:12-18

    “ 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. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye 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 laboured in vain. Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.”

    In today’s quote, Paul told the Philippians to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling”. There are many who erronesously apply that quote as a basis to contend that spiritual rebirth and eternal salvation is to be earned by physical work while remaining sin free. Or, by how “good” one has been in life.

    We can know, by thorough study, that one CANNOT literally work and earn one’s own eternal salvation. There are many scriptures that refute that idea outright. I will list two written by the same Paul that wrote today’s quote:

 Romans 4:4-5, “And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”

Ephesians 2:8-9, “ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: NOT OF WORKS, LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BOAST.”~