Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Philippians 2:12 (NKJV)
Starting from a spiritual principle founded on the grace of God, Paul exhorts the Christians of Philip to work for their salvation, in the sense of living in the example of Christ. Working out one's salvation involves many things, particularly obeying the word of God. It is a process that many Christians today still cannot understand.
Working for his salvation does not mean doing good works to deserve it. However, it involves the effort of both parties, that of God who accomplished it in Jesus Christ on the cross and that of the Christian who must submit completely to the will of God. Paul gives us many examples of what to do, to be humble, blameless, to carry the word of life, to have the same mindset as Christ, etc.
To demonstrate the importance of this responsibility, Paul insists on doing al that with fear and trembling. Il does not refer to some kind of terrible fear but rather to respect and reverence towards God. In summary, Paul asks us to apply ourselves to living in a way worthy of the grace of God and the gospel of Christ.
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