With Fear And Trembling

January 31

"...work out your own salvation
with fear and trembling,
for it is God who works in you
both to will and to do for his good pleasure."
Philippians 2:12-13

"With fear and trembling…"

Salvation is not repeating words as someone leads, saying "Jesus, come into my heart." It's not raising your hand after hearing a sermon that moved you. It's not acknowledging that there probably is a God.

"You believe that there is one God? You do well.
Even the demons believe and tremble!"
James 2:19

Salvation is a very serious thing and that's why the Scripture says we are to pursue it with FEAR and TREMBLING. Salvation is coming to acknowledge one's depravity. And if you think you're not depraved, you haven't understood salvation and had better ask God to reveal to you the state of the human soul.

Once you've realized and acknowledged your lost state, salvation is obtained by bowing before almighty God and asking the Savior to save you, surrendering yourself and your entire life to him.

It's a difficult thing to acknowledge the truth about one's self and to submit one's entire self and life to the Creator, but He alone provides the atonement which will save. Once one understands that atonement, that Jesus Christ took upon himself the judgment on our sins in our place, it remains therefore that anyone who believes can come to him and be saved. All who will come and surrender to him will be received.

If one understood the seriousness of salvation, he would understand why it truly is to be sought with fear and trembling.

Nothing less is worthy of the great and holy God.