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.
Philippians 2:12–13
Salvation is not an event;it is a process. Salvation is God’s gift, for there is nothing we cando to save ourselves (Eph. 2:8–9). Yet with salvation comes theresponsibility to work out our salvation. Once we have been saved, wemust claim all that has become ours. Through salvation, God gave youvictory over sin. That victory applies not only to past sins but alsoto every sin you will ever commit. When you became a Christian, God made you a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17).
God wants to continually buildnew things into your life as you walk with Him. God gave you His joywhen He saved you, and He wants to fill you with His joy daily. Whenyou first repented of your sin, you relinquished your right to yourlife. God continues to ask you to yield your will to Him and to followHis leading rather than setting your own direction for your life. Whenyou were converted, God made everything available to you; how youimplement what He has given you is your choice (2 Pet. 1:3–9). This isthe great paradox of the Christian life. We are to work diligently onour faith, yet always with the awareness that only God can bring aboutlasting change in our lives. As we see God at work in us, we aremotivated to work even more diligently. God will not force His changesupon us; neither can we bring about lasting change in our lives apartfrom the work of the Holy Spirit. When you sense God developing anarea of your life, join Him in His activity so that His salvation willbe demonstrated fully in you.
