Philippians 2:12-13  Therefore, my dear friends, as you have already obeyed – not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence – continue to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

In the opening verses of this Chapter of Paul’s letter to the believers at Philippi he laid out the extent to which Jesus humbled himself and so fulfilled the will of his Father, and the exaltation which has followed. Then he gave them the above instruction which almost seems contradictory at first glance. It might lead you to think: “Wait a minute, my salvation is guaranteed by faith in Christ and his shed blood for me, what do you mean I must work out my own salvation?” Having been saved means that the nature of sin you inherited at birth has been replaced by the nature of Christ when you confessed your need for him. God now works in you through the Holy Spirit to transform you into the person God wants you to be. The question then becomes: Will you let him or will you continue to do as you like?

Transformation requires your cooperation. “For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.” (Romans 6:9-12). Read this entire chapter.

The principal focus of Jesus’ life was to do what his Father wanted. That too is your calling and mine. “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life …” (Philippians 2:14-16). What an assignment we have!