BySalvation is for every person on Earth because Jesus came to die for all. However, to my surprise, most people think salvation is a mere escape from hell and a fast route to heaven. That doctrine is not wrong. Nevertheless, it downplays the other areas God seeks to bring salvation to in an individual’s life.
Salvation is in two folds: the inworking and outworking. These are written in Philippians 2:12-13 (NKJV). Let’s read that.
[12] “Therefore, 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 and trembling; [13] for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”
Philippians 2:12-13 (NKJV)
How God seeks to bring salvation in every area of our lives
In Luke 19:10, Jesus said he came to seek and to save that which was lost. In many cases, that verse has been used for evangelism, neglecting its application to our lives.
Jesus did not say, “… He came to save those who were lost.” He said, “… that which was lost.” The word “that” doesn’t refer to human beings but entities, humans included. So speaking in another way, Jesus was saying that a part of His mission on earth is to search (seek) and bring (save) everything in this world that doesn’t operate under the patterns of God back to God. And surprisingly, the first on His list to start with is humans. But why?
God knows that He has given this earth to the children of men (Psalm 115:16). So man’s authority and work are needed for Him to affect everything in this world with His godliness. That is why Jesus, although knowing that the whole creation needs salvation, preached the gospel more to men than other creatures. Because when one person is saved and undergoes a spiritual transformation, he will become a heavenly asset to influence more people and affect systems for God’s kingdom.
It is work to work out your salvation.
Let’s look at the inworking and outworking aspects of salvation in Christ separately.
The Inworking of Salvation
After Jesus giving people eternal life through salvation, He continues to work in them for two purposes:
- To help them develop a consistent divine will to submit to
- To give them the divine strength to do the pleasures of God.
These two things form the inworking of God concerning salvation. Hence, salvation in Christ doesn’t only become an instantaneous work of grace but also a continuing process of spiritual transformation.
However, we must note that this aspect of salvation is God’s work, not ours. Philippians 2:13 (NKJV) says,
“for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”
Your duty is not to get into God’s work in you. That is why you must firmly decide to submit to God’s Word and make it the final authority of your life.
The Outworking of Salvation
The second aspect, probably the more labour-intensive one, is working out your own salvation. That one is not God’s work but yours. Paul says in Philippians 2:12 (NKJV),
“Therefore, 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 and trembling;”
In the above Bible verse, Paul tells the Philippian church believers not to think of salvation without labour. In other words, he was saying, “It is work to work out your salvation.” But what does this mean to us Christians?
To work out your salvation means to ensure you apply everything God teaches you so well that all parts of your life, private and public, will glorify God. That’s no joke because you must work to achieve that. So your life requires your work to manifest your inward godliness. How can you do that? By consciously deciding to do and choose only the things that reflect your faith.
For example, suppose you encounter a sexual immorality temptation, and you battle with a dilemma to give in or not. At that moment, giving in will lead you to sin, but confessing victory over the devil and running away (1 Corinthians 6:18) will glorify God. The Holy Spirit will be there to tell you what is right to do, but submitting to His will becomes your choice. If you do it, you’re working out your salvation by reverencing God in your decisions.
Friend, we live in a wicked world. Several persecutions are levelled against the children of God for their faith. So be on guard. Allow God’s grace to form His Word in you. But consciously decide to live reverentially to God in all your ways. You’re a blessing.
