What troubled me about this verse is what Paul said in Romans 4:5, But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners. And 1:17, It is through faith that a righteous person has life, and 3:22, We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ.  We read many verses that say it is not by our works, but by faith in Jesus that we are saved.

 

That was the verse our Sunday Sermon was built around.  But it was not preached to contradict the Gospel that Paul had been teaching, Grace by Faith in Jesus.  There is a sense in which our salvation is complete, in the sense that Jesus has done a complete work for us. Still there is also a sense in which our salvation is incomplete, in that it is not yet a complete work in us.  It is an ongoing process with the help of the Holy Spirit.  We must work out what God in His grace has worked in

 

Paul’s comment, with fear and trembling is not that we should live in constant fear of hell and damnation but instead live our lives with an awe-filled reverence for a God who saves us.  For the very next verse states, For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.  God has done and is doing a work in every Christian, the Christian therefore has a greater responsibility to work diligently with fear and trembling regarding their own salvation and walk with the Lord. God's work in us increases our responsibility; it doesn't lessen it in any way.

 

Another reason we need to work out our own salvation is because of another of Paul’s teachings to the Romans.  Paul is considered to be the most revered Apostle; he spread the Good News of Jesus more than any other.  But in the Book of Romans he explains what we all have to deal with, our struggle with sin.  He writes how even when he wants to do what is right, he inevitably does what is wrong, and when he wants to do good, he doesn’t, and when he doesn’t want to do what is wrong he does it anyway!  Yes, all Christians still have the old Adam living within them.  We were all born with a mind for doing wrong constantly.  As Christians we have the Holy Spirit within us though, and how does that verse go, Greater is He that is in me than he who is in the world. 

 

Even though we still have a sin nature living within us, it is no match for the Holy Spirit.  All-sufficient Grace dwells in all believers, giving us motivation for greater service to Him.  The regular study of God’s Word will help to keep that old Adam under control. 

 

The things that God has prepared for those who love him are

beyond human comprehension and imagination. 1st Cor. (2:9).