THE ELECTION OF GRACE

"Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the
election of grace" (KJV). "In the same way then, there has also come to be at
the present time a remnant according to God's gracious choice" (NASB). "So too, At the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace" (NIV). -- Rom11:5

Devotion 7 of 18

GOD WORKS IN ACCORD WITH HIS OWN WILL
     "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye 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. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Phil 2:12-13). 

     This is a remarkable text! It is not a commandment to work, but an expression of confidence that the Philippians WILL work, i.e., "as ye have ALWAYS obeyed . . . " They were not working to be saved. Rather, salvation was to be brought to its culmination, or maturity,  in them through their sanctified activity. 

     Notice, we are not to work out a theology of salvation, but our own salvation. We are not admonished work out the other person's salvation, but our own salvation. Neither, indeed, does the Spirit say we are to remain inactive, and the Lord will work it out for us. We are to WORK out our own salvation with fear and trembling. Someone has sad, God works our salvation in, but we are charged with working it out.

     This is a text dealing with assurance -- strong confidence that our names are written in the Lamb's book of life. It has more to do with knowing what the Lord has done, than securing your salvation by your activity. Jesus has secured your salvation, and the benefits you receive are owing to his atonement. All of this, however, is conditioned upon your personal involvement in the process. It is similar to Israel coming out of Egyptian bondage. God actually brought them out "with a high hand" (Ex 14:8; Num 33:3). They, however, "worked out" that salvation by killing the passover lamb, eating it, keeping themselves ready to depart, and placing the blood over their doors as directed.
     
     God is at work in His people, and will continue to be with their consent. Notice that God works in us in the area of the will, as well as that of work. The continued involvement of the Philippians in the "great salvation" required their effort, but the credit for its accomplishment belonged to God. He works in strict accord with His own will,  not that of man! Again, and I must labor this point, all of this is done without God compromising His character or violating our volition. That is a marvelous display of His inscrutable wisdom. In the end, every child of God will ascribe all of the glory for their salvation to the Lord--even though they "worked" it out.

PRAYER POINT: Father, give me grace to work out my own salvation with fear and trembling--knowing all the while that it is You Who is at work in me, both to will and to do as You desire. In Jesus' name, may I never compromise this marvelous truth by adopting a flawed theology.

-- TOMORROW: MAN IS FREE, BUT SO IS GOD --