Bible Study What Does It Mean to "Work Out Your Salvation"?

[Chopper]

Here is a great Bible study on this topic that many don't really grasp. Its rather long, but worth reading. It's from, "Grace To You" a teaching by Dr. John MacArthur.
work out your salvation with fear and trembling; ( Philippians 2:12e)

The fifth motive for believers’ working out their sanctification is understanding the consequences of sin. Although God is loving, merciful, and forgiving, He nevertheless holds believers accountable for disobedience. Like John, Paul understood well that “if we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:8–9). Knowing that he serves a holy and just God, the faithful believer will always live with fear and trembling. Fear translates phobos, which describes fright or terror (cf. Matt. 14:26; Luke 21:26; 1 Cor. 2:3) as well as reverential awe (cf. Acts 2:43; 9:31; 2 Cor. 5:11; 7:1). Trembling is from tromos, which refers to shaking and is the word from which the English word tremor derives. Both of those are proper reactions to the awareness of one’s own spiritual weakness and the power of temptation. The Lord seeks such an attitude in His children, as His words in Isaiah 66:2 indicate: “To this one I will look, to him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.”


An important Old Testament truth is “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Ps. 111:10; cf. Prov. 1:7; 9:10). This is not a fear of being doomed to eternal torment, nor a hopeless dread of judgment that leads to despair. It is rather a reverential fear, a holy concern to give God the honor He deserves and avoid the chastening of His displeasure. Such fear protects against temptation and sin and gives motivation for obedient, righteous living.


Aware of his own personal weakness, Paul spoke of his “fear and … trembling” as he ministered to the church in Corinth (1 Cor. 2:3), and later of those believers who received Titus with the same kind of “fear and trembling” (2 Cor. 7:15). This kind of “fear and trembling” is closely related both to obedience to the Lord and to love and affection for Him and for fellow believers. It is for that reason that Solomon could declare: “How blessed [happy] is the man who fears always” (Prov. 28:14).


Such fear involves self-distrust, a sensitive conscience, and being on guard against temptation. It necessitates opposing pride, and being constantly aware of the deceitfulness of one’s heart, as well as of the subtlety and strength of one’s inner corruption. It is a dread that seeks to avoid anything that would offend and dishonor God.


Believers should have a serious dread of sin and yearning for what is right before God (cf. Rom. 7:14ff.). Aware of their weakness and the power of temptation, they should fear falling into sin and thereby grieving the Lord. Godly fear protects them from wrongfully influencing fellow believers, compromising their ministry and testimony to the unbelieving world, enduring the Lord’s chastening, and from sacrificing joy.


To have such godly fear and trembling involves more than merely acknowledging one’s sinfulness and spiritual weakness. It is the solemn, reverential fear that springs from deep adoration and love. It acknowledges that every sin is an offense against holy God and produces a sincere desire not to offend and grieve Him, but to obey, honor, please, and glorify Him in all things. Those who fear the Lord willingly accept the Lord’s chastening, knowing that God “disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness” (Heb. 12:10). This fear and trembling will cause believers to pray earnestly for God’s help in avoiding sin, as the Lord taught them: “Do not lead us into temptation, but deliver [rescue] us from evil” (Matt. 6:13). That prayer again reflects the spiritual tension that exists between believers’ duty and God’s power.


Work out translates a present middle imperative of katergazomai and indicates a command that has a continuing emphasis. The idea is, “Keep on working out to completion, to ultimate fulfillment.” Heauton, here rendered your, actually has the more emphatic meaning of “your own.” The command is for believers to make a continuing, sustained effort to work out to ultimate completion their salvation, which has been graciously granted to them by God through their faith in Jesus Christ.


The principle of working out salvation has two aspects. The first pertains to personal conduct, to faithful, obedient daily living. Such obedience obviously involves active commitment and personal effort, for which Scripture is replete with injunctions, both negative and positive. Sin in every form is to be renounced and put off and replaced by righteous thinking. Believers are to cleanse themselves “from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Cor. 7:1), setting their minds “on the things above, not on the things that are on earth,” because they have died to sin and their lives are now “hidden with Christ in God” (Col. 3:2–3). Just as they once “presented [their] members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness,” they should “now present [their] members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification” (Rom. 6:19), walking “in a manner worthy of the calling with which [they] have been called” (Eph. 4:1).


The apostle exhorted the Corinthians to strenuous effort in living the Christian life:

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified. (1 Cor. 9:24–27)

His words later in the present letter also demand aggressive Christian living:

Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained. (Phil. 3:12–16)

 

[Chopper]

Page 2 work out your salvation with fear and trembling; ( Philippians 2:12e)


He exhorted Timothy: “Flee from these [evil] things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses” (1 Tim. 6:11–12; cf. 4:15–16; Heb. 12:1–3). To the Colossians Paul wrote:

So, those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. (Col. 3:12–17; cf. vv. 5–11)

If living the Christian life were merely a matter of passive yielding and surrender, of “letting go and letting God,” then such admonitions not only would be superfluous but presumptuous. But those injunctions, and countless others like them throughout God’s Word, presuppose believers’ personal responsibility for obedience. They must choose to live righteously, to work out their salvation in daily living, while at the same time realizing that all the power for that obedience comes from God’s Spirit.


The second aspect of working out one’s salvation is perseverance, of faithful obedience to the end. Salvation has three time dimensions: past, present, and future. The past dimension is that of justification, when believers placed their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and were redeemed. The present dimension is sanctification, the time between a believer’s justification and his death or the Rapture. The future aspect is glorification, when salvation is completed and believers receive their glorified bodies. Believers therefore have been saved, are being saved, and will be saved. They are to pursue sanctification in this life to the time of glorification. In that glorious moment believers will see the Lord “face to face” and come to know fully even as they are fully known (1 Cor. 13:12). They “will be like Him, because [they] will see Him just as He is” (1 John 3:2). It was for that glorious moment that Paul so deeply longed. Looking forward to that time he exclaimed:

More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 3:8–14)

Because the fulfillment of that hope was a divinely decreed certainty, Paul could say with complete confidence that “salvation is nearer to us than when we believed” (Rom. 13:11). Although it is not yet completed, the testimony of Scripture is that every believer’s salvation is utterly secure.

 

[Chopper]

Page 3 Work out your Salvation.

In the Olivet Discourse, Jesus declared, “The one who endures to the end, he will be saved” (Matt. 24:13). Paul and Barnabas urged new believers in Pisidian Antioch “to continue in the grace of God” (Acts 13:43) and encouraged “them to continue in the faith” (14:22). In his letter to the church at Rome, Paul declared that God will give eternal life “to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality” (Rom. 2:7; cf. 11:22). He promised the Colossians that Christ would present them before God the Father “blameless and beyond reproach—if indeed [they] continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that [they] have heard” (Col. 1:22–23). He admonished Timothy: “Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you” (1 Tim. 4:16). The writer of Hebrews notes, “We have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end” (Heb. 3:14; cf. 8:9; 10:38–39; cf. James 1:22–25). In each of His letters to the seven churches in Asia, the Lord described believers as overcomers (Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21).


Perseverance in the faith is the duty of every true believer, and yet not the power of their security. It is, however, the unmistakable and inevitable evidence of divine power operating in the soul (Col. 1:29).


Believers will persevere because God’s power keeps their salvation secure. Jesus repeatedly emphasized that truth. To the multitudes at Capernaum, He declared emphatically that “all that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day” (John 6:37, 39). Later, in Jerusalem, He declared, “I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand” (John 10:28–29; cf. 17:2, 12, 24; 18:9). Earlier in Philippians, Paul wrote that he was “confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (1:6). Peter gave believers a similar assurance, saying that they “are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:5).


From beginning to end, the entire divine work of salvation is under God’s control. In a well-loved passage Paul wrote,

We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. (Rom. 8:28–30)

To the Ephesians he wrote, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” (Eph. 2:8–10).


So the call for believers to work out their salvation is found all through the New Testament. That is only fitting and proper, since it is a call for the necessary commitment on the believer’s part that is a prerequisite for the joys, blessings, and usefulness of sanctification.

I hope you all got a blessing of renewed knowledge of this, the Word of God.

 

[Kidron]

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"Working out your salvation", means first of all that you have it. (born again)(saved)(redeemed)
This means you are now born again within it, as "In Christ" is your heavenly Sonship status, and "redeemed by the blood of the Lamb" is why you are in it.

"to him that worketh not but believeth on him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as Righteousness". Romans 4:5
"their sins i will remember no more" Hebrews 8:12
"Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not charge with sin." Romans 4:8


So, "working out your salvation" is the physical and spiritual process of learning how to fly on earth with new Heavenly Wings.
Its the discovery of who you have become "in Christ", and what this means and merits.
Its the lifelong process of becoming more like Christ as God completes in you the work He started when He saved you with His Blood.. Philippians 1:6
"Working out your salvation" does not mean to work to keep it, but rather to learn how to operate within it.
To be saved, is to discover you are now living on the earth while translated into the Kingdom of God at the same time.
You are now connected to the physical realm while found "seated in Heavenly places IN CHRIST".
You are in both places, at once..... You are born on the earth and have an earth suit, and spiritually born again into the Kingdom of God.
And within this Salvation process, of being 2 Births, you are "working out your salvation" by learning how to function within Both, at the same time.

 

[JLB]

And within this Salvation process, of being 2 Births, you are "working out your salvation" by learning how to function within Both, at the same time.

Those who chose to live from the first birth, by gratifying the desires of the natural man, and live for the things of this world, will not inherit the kingdom of God.

24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. Matthew 6:24-27

Those who choose to live from the new birth, and the Spirit within, have crucified the natural man; the life of the flesh nature, in which they live in dominion over the sin within their flesh, and have crucified the deeds thereof, and are led by the Spirit within by which they express the righteous lifestyle of the Spirit of Christ within them.

That's why we are to work out of own salvation with fear and trembling, because the consequences are either eternal life, or eternal death.

We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. 1 John 5:18


Jesus gave us the definition of eternal life:

And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. John 17:3

Knowing God is eternal life.

Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 1 John 2:3-4


Those who claim they know Him, and have eternal life, yet live a life of sin and practicing the works of the flesh, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.



JLB

 

[Chopper]

-

"Working out your salvation", means first of all that you have it. (born again)(saved)(redeemed)
This means you are now born again within it, as "In Christ" is your heavenly Sonship status, and "redeemed by the blood of the Lamb" is why you are in it.

"to him that worketh not but believeth on him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as Righteousness". Romans 4:5
"their sins i will remember no more" Hebrews 8:12
"Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not charge with sin." Romans 4:8


So, "working out your salvation" is the physical and spiritual process of learning how to fly on earth with new Heavenly Wings.
Its the discovery of who you have become "in Christ", and what this means and merits.
Its the lifelong process of becoming more like Christ as God completes in you the work He started when He saved you with His Blood.. Philippians 1:6
"Working out your salvation" does not mean to work to keep it, but rather to learn how to operate within it.
To be saved, is to discover you are now living on the earth while translated into the Kingdom of God at the same time.
You are now connected to the physical realm while found "seated in Heavenly places IN CHRIST".
You are in both places, at once..... You are born on the earth and have an earth suit, and spiritually born again into the Kingdom of God.
And within this Salvation process, of being 2 Births, you are "working out your salvation" by learning how to function within Both, at the same time.

There you go Kidron. I like what you said very much, very edifying. Especially this....So, "working out your salvation" is the physical and spiritual process of learning how to fly on earth with new Heavenly Wings. AND THIS..."Working out your salvation" does not mean to work to keep it, but rather to learn how to operate within it..

You have a lot of good and honorable teachings to present here at CF.net. Especially to new Believers who find their way here. You are my Brother in Christ Jesus and I love you, and look forward to more posts like this one from you....Thank you for reading that teaching from "Grace To You" from Dr. MacArthur. From my attendance at Bible College, Dr. MacArthur was one of my hero's, and I learned so very much from his teaching tapes.

Later on, he taught on the Blood and Body of Jesus and put out some very questionable theology. I was so disappointed and lost interest. Now, I believe he changed his views. Have you heard anything about Dr. MacArthur? Anyway, this teaching here, that I presented, is very good, and thanks again for your wonderful comments.

 

[Chopper]

Those who chose to live from the first birth, by gratifying the desires of the natural man, and live for the things of this world, will not inherit the kingdom of God.

24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. Matthew 6:24-27

Those who choose to live from the new birth, and the Spirit within, have crucified the natural man; the life of the flesh nature, in which they live in dominion over the sin within their flesh, and have crucified the deeds thereof, and are led by the Spirit within by which they express the righteous lifestyle of the Spirit of Christ within them.

That's why we are to work out of own salvation with fear and trembling, because the consequences are either eternal life, or eternal death.

We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. 1 John 5:18


Jesus gave us the definition of eternal life:

And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. John 17:3

Knowing God is eternal life.

Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 1 John 2:3-4


Those who claim they know Him, and have eternal life, yet live a life of sin and practicing the works of the flesh, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.



JLB

PLEASE JLB. I'm asking you to cease this continued theological battle with my Brother Kidron. I love him like I love you and I want this "works keep you saved" and "only Jesus' cross work keeps you saved" to end right now!! My problem is, I agree with some of what you say, and some of what Kidron says. I don't like being in the middle and I know that Reba, my Buddy, doesn't either and I agree with her most of all, and I believe she wants it to end as well.

Brother Kidron just posted a great reply to the thread that I posted and I'm very pleased with what he wrote. So, thank you for your cooperation.

 

[Hospes]

Chopper, very good stuff. I do wonder why the next verse was not dealt with; seems they should not be separated.

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12-13 ESV)​

I think verse 13 is a safeguard against someone getting the notion they are not dependent on God's gracious interaction and intervention for the success of "working out" their salvation.

Again, good stuff.

 

[JLB]

PLEASE JLB. I'm asking you to cease this continued theological battle with my Brother Kidron. I love him like I love you and I want this "works keep you saved" and "only Jesus' cross work keeps you saved" to end right now!! My problem is, I agree with some of what you say, and some of what Kidron says. I don't like being in the middle and I know that Reba, my Buddy, doesn't either and I agree with her most of all, and I believe she wants it to end as well.

Brother Kidron just posted a great reply to the thread that I posted and I'm very pleased with what he wrote. So, thank you for your cooperation.

Ok. Will do.

JLB

 

[smaller]

There are a quite a few "repeating" terms in the scriptures. Fear and trembling are repeating terms. I might even toss in "dread" to the mix.

Job 13:
11 Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you?

Job learned the very legitimate fear, trembling and dread of God the hard way. Most believers give these things lip service. But if God has ever laid His Hands upon a person, even remotely close to what happened to Job, they figure it out in a hurry.

MacArthur is pretty solid in his stuff.

 

[Chopper]

Chopper, very good stuff. I do wonder why the next verse was not dealt with; seems they should not be separated.

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12-13 ESV)​

I think verse 13 is a safeguard against someone getting the notion they are not dependent on God's gracious interaction and intervention for the success of "working out" their salvation.

Again, good stuff.

Thank you Hospes. I appreciate your kindness Brother. You are right, verse 13 is important. We'll never know, this side of Glory, how pleased Jesus and His Father is when we continue in the Faith with the good works that He is pleased to work thru us. It must please Him very much when He sees His will mirrored back to Him because of our obedience of waiting on Him.

 

[Chopper]

Ok. Will do.

JLB

Thank you so very much my old friend and Teacher. You, over a long span of time, have been one of the men of whom I have been blessed to know, and call you Friend. Your spiritual wisdom is beyond most and I've learned some valuable doctrine from your posts. I appreciate the fact that you'll back off from this troubling back and forth comments between two Brothers in Christ Jesus. I believe that Jesus is too. My respect for you has grown because of your decision.

 

[JLB]

MacArthur is pretty solid in his stuff.

John MacArthur teaches cessationism and that The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is paganism.

He teaches that those who operate by the Holy Spirit today are operating by demons, which is the text book definition of blaspheming the Holy Spirit.

I will not post any more about this subject, but will talk in PM if you would like evidence.

John MacArthur is good at exposing the false signs and corruption that has infiltrated the Church, but in my opinion does err about some things as well.

My two cents.


JLB

 

[smaller]

John MacArthur teaches cessationism and that The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is paganism.

I wouldn't disagree with him as it is taught by certain sects. I have personally witnessed and SADLY participated in more witchcraft, spiritual voodoo, lies and hypocrisy in the realms of christian pentacostalism than can be seen anywhere else on earth. Preachers are right to speak against some of the utter nonsense that goes on in that arena.

He teaches that those who operate by the Holy Spirit today are operating by demons, which is the text book definition of blaspheming the Holy Spirit.

Depends on how closely one cares to examine what they are being taught about "operating in the Spirit." Very often it's NOT that at all. It's operating in the realm of imaginations and play acting. I personally can't even stand to watch a lot of the hierarchy I used to adore, because I took off my rosy colored glasses and examined their teachings and practices according to The Word.

I will not post any more about this subject, but will talk in PM if you would like evidence.

I know J. MacArthur has had some controversies and I wouldn't say Mr. MacArthur is spot on with everything he holds. That doesn't mean he isn't quite solid on the majority of his counts.

John MacArthur is good at exposing the false sings and corruption that has infiltrated the Church, but in my opinion does err about some things as well.

I don't disagree with that. But who doesn't err to some extents? I've learned to examine any claim to what is written and if it's missing some parts, so I am also missing. We all see only in part after all is said and done in any case of honesty. Gods Grace and Mercy in Christ, "personally extended" fills in for me what man can't provide regardless.

 

[Runner]

Here is a great Bible study on this topic that many don't really grasp. Its rather long, but worth reading. It's from, "Grace To You" a teaching by Dr. John MacArthur.
work out your salvation with fear and trembling; ( Philippians 2:12e)

This is another good study of the verse (also kind of long) that seems to be in line with what MacArthur says: http://www.biblestudytools.com/classics/warfield-faith-life/working-out-salvation.html

As 2 Peter states, some things in Paul's letters are "hard to understand." The phrase "work out your own salvation" is a very curious use of terms - both that Paul would say "work out" and that he would say "salvation" in this context. I don't think Philippians can reasonably be read as "Continue to do good works with fear and trembling that you may not be saved at all." That isn't the context of the letter, isn't consistent with Paul's teaching in general, and twists the words past the breaking point. I did used to think the verses meant something like "Concern yourself with your own salvation - work out for yourself what it means to be saved and whether you are in fact saved" - but I now agree that it means something more along the lines of what MacArthur says and the author of the article I linked says.

 

[Chopper]

John MacArthur teaches cessationism and that The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is paganism.

He teaches that those who operate by the Holy Spirit today are operating by demons, which is the text book definition of blaspheming the Holy Spirit.

I will not post any more about this subject, but will talk in PM if you would like evidence.

John MacArthur is good at exposing the false sings and corruption that has infiltrated the Church, but in my opinion does err about some things as well.

My two cents.


JLB

Thanks for your two cents worth. I don't know why it is, that a famed Theologian, such as Dr. MacArthur, and others can have such good theology and spew out error. That really upsets me. By cessationism, do you mean that since the passing of the Apostles, there are only a few of the gifts of the Holy Spirit for today?

When, back in the late 70s, I was a member of MacArthur's teaching tape ministry. I never heard anything "off the wall" that he presented. I was not listening to him when he taught the error on the Blood of Christ. When I did hear about it I didn't like it at all. At some point, I read his book "Charismatic Confusion" which at the time, I was a Baptist dispensational legalistic preacher and agreed with him.

Well, apparently, the God who called me to be a teacher of His Word, didn't like it and in January of 1990 in Florida, God Himself baptized me in the Holy Spirit, as I was going for my morning walk. About a month later, I burst out in "tongues" to my surprise. The Father must have looked at His Son and said, "there, we straightened him out!!" It took that long for tongues to flow thru me because I had, along with MacArthur, taught that tongues were from the devil.

Needless to say, I had a lot of repenting to do, and confession because I did it ignorantly, was greatly appreciated that God forgave me. My entire life changed after that Baptism, especially in the area of loving my fellow man & Brethren.

 

[Chopper]

This is another good study of the verse (also kind of long) that seems to be in line with what MacArthur says: http://www.biblestudytools.com/classics/warfield-faith-life/working-out-salvation.html

As 2 Peter states, some things in Paul's letters are "hard to understand." The phrase "work out your own salvation" is a very curious use of terms - both that Paul would say "work out" and that he would say "salvation" in this context. I don't think Philippians can reasonably be read as "Continue to do good works with fear and trembling that you may not be saved at all." That isn't the context of the letter, isn't consistent with Paul's teaching in general, and twists the words past the breaking point. I did used to think the verses meant something like "Concern yourself with your own salvation - work out for yourself what it means to be saved and whether you are in fact saved" - but I now agree that it means something more along the lines of what MacArthur says and the author of the article I linked says.

I agree with your assessment here. I know, as a new believer, way back when, I was confused to its meaning. You have a good way of explaining what's on your heart. That's a sign of a good teacher. Keep it up Brother, you're needed.

 

[iLOVE]

What Does It Mean to "Work Out Your Salvation"? It means with maturity and Christlikeness. Our perspective must change and see things through the lens of God. That Believer who has that kind of character and integrity shall never be shaken. Psalm 112:6-8 NIV

 

[Chopper]

What Does It Mean to "Work Out Your Salvation"? It means with maturity and Christlikeness. Our perspective must change and see things through the lens of God. That Believer who has that kind of character and integrity shall never be shaken. Psalm 112:6-8 NIV

Thank you iLOVE. I like this, what you said..."It means with maturity and Christlikeness" To be like Christ has been a theme that's been running thru my Bible studies of late, and the desire of my heart.

 

[for_his_glory]

Chopper and another Chopper home run

One who runs a race trains first that they will be fit to finish the race knowing all they have done is well within them. When we first came to Christ and started that personal relationship with him through the Spiritual rebirth of John 3:3-6 we were as a baby that needed nourishment. We train ourselves through the word of God as the Holy Spirit was from the beginning and ever more our trainer who gives us instruction how to run that race to obtain the prize of eternal life with the Father. Sometimes our shoelaces come untied and we trip over them, but God will always pick us up, dust us off and set our feet straight again as He knows in the flesh we will never be perfect and only He knows our heart for Him. We are being perfect daily as when we rise from sleep God's righteousness, mercy and grace helps us to crucify this flesh that we keep our blinders on like that of a horse that wears blinders as to keep our path straight so we do not veer off to the left or right of it that we remain pleasing to the Lord in all we do and say.