When I was much younger there were occasional summers that we as a family would go to Curie Beach in NC. One very clear memory is my mother would always get me a new plastic bucket and shovel to use on the beach.
But there was one condition, I could not use it until we got to the beach. I had other plastic shovels that were older but why use them if the brand new one was right here.
I had ants in my pants every time. I could not wait to use that new bucket and shovel.
Then finally, we would get to the destination, and I would be able to work with my new tools. I could dig and rake until my heart was content.
Philippians 2:12-13 it says, “As you have obeyed . . . continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”
When it says, work out your salvation, does it mean that we are to work to gain our righteousness? Is Scripture saying here that God does His part and we do our part?
The short answer is no.
We are saved by grace through God’s loving kindness and mercy. Grace means gift. You do not work for a gift.
In the process of being saved God changes us. It is a miraculous change of heart.
Just like the younger me with my beach toys, just itching to get busy. This is the same picture for the believer. We are excited to get busy with our new tools that God has given us.
We are not working to gain righteousness but because we are righteous.
Believers are WORKING OUT what God has WORKED IN us. (repeat)
This is the ongoing desire for every believer. Keep working out what God is working in.
Why . . .because it is for His good purpose. Our Lord always gets the glory. That is why I say:
S.D.G.