12 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; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:12-13
Spiritual maturity is a step-by-step process. The process is often stunted by early misconceptions. For example, we often act as if the goal is faith in Christ leading to salvation. It’s a little like the student for whom the goal is graduation. Graduation is just the beginning. Salvation is just the beginning. God’s goal, and thus ours, is for us to be transformed into the image of His Son. Some never get past this misconception.
Others, recognizing that something more is expected, try to be conformed to the image of Christ on their own. They try to do good deeds and ultimately fail. It is at this point that we often go astray. We think we are suppose to do something for God in gratitude for what He has done for us. God has everything, including all power. He doesn’t need for us to do for Him. He wants to do through us. He will do wonderful miraculous things, things that only He can do. Our job is to get out of the way. We need to make ourselves available to God and say, “God, I’m tired of being inhibited. I want to be inhabited by You. I want You to live Your life through me.”
There is often controversy surrounding the working out of our salvation with fear and trembling. Read alone, it seems to imply a salvation by works. But read with verse 13 it’s clear that it is God who does the work. When the God of the universe is working uninhibited in your life, what response can there be but “fear and trembling.”
Surrender and obey and watch with fear and trembling what God does.
Nick
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