Work Out Your Own SalvationPhilippians 2:12-16

Phil 2:12-16So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. 14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing; 15 so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.

• In spite of what many may say, works do play a role in our salvation.– Not in the sense of merit.– But in the sense of obedience.

• We must be obedient if we want Heaven – Matthew 7:21-23

• Our salvation is two-fold.– Without Christ we could not be saved (Hebrews 9:22).– Without our own determination, we could not be saved

(Acts 2:40).

• This lesson examines what we need to do in order to work out our own salvation

Matt 7:21-23 Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 " Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' 23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS

Heb 9:22And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness

Acts 2:40And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, " Be saved from this perverse generation!" `

• Put Your Faith In God, Not Man– Philippians 2:12– Our obedience and lifestyle needs to be real

and genuine, not something we put on to impress or gain the favor of another.

– People you highly respect will come and go and inevitably disappoint you — if your faith is in them, what then?

– Your faith needs to be your own (Joshua 24:15).

Phil 2:12So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;

Josh 24:15"If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

• Put Your Faith In God, Not Man

• Take Responsibility For Your Own Life– Shifting blame is cowardly and ineffective

(Genesis 3:12-13).– When we sin, it is our fault.– When we choose a path away from God it is

because of our desires (James 1:14).– You always have a choice to do right (1st

Corinthians 10:13).– Blame builds a wall that keeps us from humility

and repentance.

Gen 3:12-13The man said, "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate." 13 Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" And the woman said, " The serpent deceived me, and I ate.

James 1:14But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.

1 Cor 10:13No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it

• Put Your Faith In God, Not Man

• Take Responsibility For Your Own Life

• Know Your Bible– Are you going to work out your own salvation, or

are you going to risk letting someone else work it out for you?

– 2nd Peter 1:10– It’s sad to think how many people have been

willingly led to their own destruction • Matthew 15:14• 2nd Peter 2:1-2

2 Peter 1:10Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;

Matt 15:14Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit."

2 Peter 2:1-2

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. 2 Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned;

• Put Your Faith In God, Not Man

• Take Responsibility For Your Own Life

• Know Your Bible

• Live As Lights To The World– Philippians 2:15– Jeremiah 17:10– Matthew 18:7Phil 2:15so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,

Jer 17:10I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds

Matt 18:7

"Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!

• The Lord teaches us that we can take measure to secure our own salvation.

• Have you worked out your own salvation