Free To Fail Series

Now, someone might say. “Tim, okay, I understand the “work out” your salvation part - that we are to be making progress but why does Paul say to do that with “fear and trembling”? Most scholars agree that the “fear and trembling” here refer to the environment that you are working out your salvation in. In other words, as you train, as you progress in your Christian life, you do so with the utmost respect that this world and our enemy Satan wants to pull you away from God and with the utmost responsibility knowing it is what your Lord wants of you. J.B. Philipps translated this verse this way: “... work out the salvation that God has given you with a proper awe and responsibility.” So, the first practical step is to understand that because of your relationship with Jesus you desire and are progressing in your faith, “working out” your salvation.

(2) And the second part of how you do this is found in vs:13 - let’s read this together. "...for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose." This is what we’ve been waiting for. God is saying, "You don’t have to do this by yourself, I’ll help.”Now, how does God do that? Let me mention three resources very briefly as we close.

(1) The Bible. Write this scripture in your margin: 2 Tim. 3:16-17. (On screen) That tells us that the Bible is all we need for salvation and for growing in Christ. It says that the Bible is "useful for teaching, telling us what’s right & what’s wrong; "rebuking," The Bible will reprimand your spirit. Ever sat and listened to a sermon and felt like the preacher had read your mail, bugged your house? "..correcting" The Bible doesn’t just knock you over the head, it tells you how to get back on track, and then finally,’training in righteousness.." A consistent study of the Bible will be your manual for change, for making progress. I’ll be real straight with you. Some of you are not progressing like you would like to because you are not studying His Word! God has said that His Word is living, it is active. The Psalmist says it gives life. Get yourself a readable translation and spend 15 minutes a day reading. I guarantee it will change and help you. If you don’t have a Bible, we’ll give one to you, that’s how much we believe in taking advantage of this resource.

(2) Resource is the Holy Spirit. When you come to Christ one of the blessings He promises is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38 -"Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." One of the resources God provides is the Holy Spirit who will comfort, convict and guide you, IF... here’s our choice.. If we will submit to His leading in our lives. The bible teaches us we can resist, ignore and even grieve the spirit. But it also teaches us that if we submit to the Spirit’s leading He will help us pray, guide our decisions and prick out hearts when needed.

(3) resource is circumstances. Sometimes God uses this resource when the other two won’t work. Prov. 20:30- "Sometimes it takes a painful situation to make us change our ways." (GN)(repeat) How many here are living proof of that verse? Sometimes it is only when we get knocked down that we look up. You know what I’ve learned in my life? I don’t change to quickly when I see the light, but I always change when I feel the heat. Now, we are going to spend next week talking about how we respond to circumstances. Either we are grumblers or grateful.. But let me say this.. the way you handle circumstances goes a long way in demonstrating how much you are progressing in your relationship with the Lord.