There is no work I can do to enter into salvation. God, in Jesus, has done all the work for my salvation. But didn’t Paul write, “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)? Yes he did, but he didn’t stop there. He also wrote, “… for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). Are those statements an oxymoron? I have to work out my own salvation with fear that causes me to tremble, but it is God who works in me to both will and to do for His good pleasure. If God doesn’t both will and do the work in me, it doesn’t get done, but I have to work it out with fear and trembling.

Paul wrote that the understood “who” he was writing to had been obedient both when he was with them and at a time when he was not. Obedience to God is required for God to will and to perform the work in us for His good pleasure. And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment (1 John 3:23). And now I plead with you, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning: that we love one another. This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it (2 John 1:5-6). God wills for us to believe in Jesus Christ and for us to love one another. God works in us to do (perform) the commandment (for us to obey) to believe and to love. The work of Jesus on this earth (the cross, the tomb, the resurrection) works in us to both will and to do for God’s good pleasure.

When it comes to love, we are vessels (containers) holding God’s love to overflowing. Without His love, displayed at the cross, we would not be able to love as we are commanded to do by God. One plants and another waters but God gives the increase. The love of God that flows from one is planted in another and watered by still another (both the planting and the watering is God (God is love) overflowing from the vessel), and God gives the increase that then becomes an overflow. God wills and does the work for His good pleasure. So what is the fear and trembling? It is fear of letting go and letting God – we have to face the fear and choose to let the will of God do a work in us. We have to die to self and let God have His good pleasure in and through us (we have to obey the commandment to believe and love, by letting God both will and do His good pleasure in us). There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love (1 John 4:18).

Love without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good (Romans 12:9). Love unfeigned (not pretending); detest what is hurtful (harmful to the heart); be glued to what is good. So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God (Mark 10:18). Be glued to the things of God – to good. “You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother’” (Mark 17:19). Abhor (detest – a strong dislike for) the things that are hurtful. God does not give us rules just to see if we will follow His rules – He gives us rules to protect us and to help us protect one another. Love and do not pretend, but in loving do not do those things that are hurtful; instead make what is good part of you (glue good to you). Jesus said, “… you in Me and I in you.” Be glued to God in Christ. For God so loved the inhabitants (people) of the world that He allowed His only begotten Son to suffer, to absolutely deny that whoever believes in Him would be destroyed, but enjoy eternal life (based on John 3:16). God already did the work!

© 2011, Tim D. Coulter Sr.