Salvation with fear and trembling?

Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

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 2:9-13

How do we ‘work out’ our own salvation? The first ‘work’ of salvation is Christ’s work within us. We then must agree to the work which has begun in us and with ‘fear and trembling’, or ‘deep humility’ and ‘submissiveness of mind’ (agreeing with the Holy Spirit within you), and ‘walking out’ that which He calls us to on a daily basis. How does one ‘lose’ their ‘salvation’? This is a very argued and debated point within religious circles. But look at it this way… after beginning a ‘work’ or ‘race’ to stand still or to go backward is obviously not understanding what is happening with you – or the actual status of what you have begun. Many make a ‘mental’ accent to an aspect of Truth with no real action to move further into it. Basically they sign up for the race but never show up to run it. So are they really in the race then? 

How are we to run the race? Why are some more successful than others? Do you know you have access to a Coach who gives you instruction and encouragement along your race? Many cannot discern their Coach’s Voice from other voices as He is encouraging them throughout their race.

Jesus said … My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27

What kind of benefit could arise from listening to the One who actually knows how to win the race? The One who knows all the pitfalls and twists and turns that need to be navigated carefully? Why do some do better than others? Those that seem to have more confidence may be that they have learned to listen to their Coach’s Voice and know that what the Coach is saying to them will help them. Pride is ALWAYS a stumbling block, and an unseen foot hazard that will always trip us up along our race. We may actually fall because of our pride and receive painful bleeding ‘road rash’ scars from our tumble / crash. Do we then stop and wallow in our pain and shame? Or do we listen to Him and get back up and continue the race. While running through the pain — repentance can give us ‘wings’, acknowledging our ‘wrong thinking’ of the status of ourselves. 

Why do so many renounce that which they have stated that they believe at a younger age? Why do so many quit the race they signed up for? The race is difficult, and as they have gotten older they have been listening to many other voices and never have learned how to discern and hear their Coach’s Voice within them. All of us in the race UNTIL we cross our finish line MUST be listening for our Coach’s Voice! This is paramount to the success of our individual race. To ‘mental’ accent and try to run the race of life on our own strength and understanding — is extremely dangerous and hazardous, and many quit. Now would be a good time to reread Jesus parable of The Sower. (Matthew 13) Jesus’ parable of the Sower is analogous to Paul’s analogy of the ‘race’.

What’s the difference in the runners of the race? Some are listening to the Coach, and many are not.

Are you listening to Him? What is He telling you about the race and what you have to navigate next? What instructions is He giving you personally today on how to run your race? 

I want to be like Paul…and actually make this statement…  (who made this statement before his execution)

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7

And hear from Jesus… at the finish line…

“Well done, good and faithful servant.”