Are you actively working out your own salvation with fear and trembling?

“… work out your own salvation with fear and trembling …” Philippians 2:12.

“… what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness …?” 2 Peter 3:11.

Unfortunately, this is something quite uncommon! How many people are there who really work on being thoroughly saved from everything that so easily ensnares us? Who strives to do that? Who works hard at it? And besides, who fears and trembles at the thought of possibly being too lazy or not being sufficiently interested in this, so that he might not reach the goal for that reason?

There is a tremendous amount of superficiality and indifference among believers! Most of them are under the power of the spirit of sleep. If there is anything they are striving with at all, it is only with earthly things, which is the very opposite of Jesus’ exhortations: “Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you …” John 6:27.

Dear friend, if you think that you are really working on your soul’s salvation, then please be so upright and kind as to write down on a piece of paper everything with which you are actually working so very hard! Consider it well, and do it, and then you will get an idea of how matters stand with you.

When it concerns this kind of work, you possibly resemble a tourist more than a laborer.

However, better late than never!

Make a serious start! Try to make up for what you have missed! You should have toiled not only to find spiritual food for yourself, but also to have an abundance of spiritual food to give to others.

This article has been translated from Norwegian and was first published under the title “Arbeid på eders frelse” (“Work out your own salvation”) in BCC’s periodical Skjulte Skatter (Hidden Treasures) in August 1985.
© Stiftelsen Skjulte Skatters Forlag, Norway | ActiveChristianity