"Working Out" 

Philippians 2:12-13
"Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, 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 do for His good pleasure."

We must be careful when we interpret the words "working out our salvation". The term does not mean we can earn our salvation. We have no part in the true reconciling work of forgiveness… only the blood of Jesus Christ can do that. But we are called to work out what God has worked in. This is called "the divine cooperative". In the Greek, to work out describes those who worked in the mines. They mined out of the ground what the Creator had placed there and then brought those riches into the light. The work of God delivers the gift of salvation to us. We then take that gift by the power of the Holy Spirit and diligently work to perfect ourselves as followers of Christ. How are you cooperating in that process today? I am working on it.

By His grace,
Pastor Fred