TEXTS: 1 SAMUEL 15: 10 – 26; PHILIPPIANS 2: 12 – 18; LUKE 13: 1- 19.
AIM: To exhort Christians of the need for a life of total obedience to the Lord; obedience that is driven by a holy fear that trembles at God’s Word (Isaiah 66: 2), and leads to a turn away from evil (Prov. 3: 7; 8: 13).
INTRODUCTION
In Philippians 2: 12 – 13, Paul writes, “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed – not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence – 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 purpose”.
The Greek verb rendered “work out” means “to continually work to bring something to completion or fruition”. We do this by actively pursuing obedience in the process of sanctification, that is, the time between a believer’s justification/redemption and his/her death or the rapture (glorification). Paul explains this further in Philippians 3: 8 – 14 where he describes himself as “straining” and “pressing on” toward the goal of Christlikeness. The command is for believers to make a continuing, sustained effort to “work out” to ultimate completion, their salvation, which has been graciously granted to them by God through their faith in Jesus Christ. Believers are to make strenuous effort in living the Christian life (1 Cor. 9: 24 – 27; 1 Tim. 6: 11- 12; Col. 3: 12 – 17). They are to cleanse themselves “from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Cor. 7: 1), setting their minds “on the things above, not on the things that are on earth,” because they have died to sin and their lives are now “hidden with Christ in God” (Col. 3: 2- 3). They should present their members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification (Rom. 6: 19), walking in a manner worthy of the calling with which they have been called (Ephesians 4: 1). Believers are to pursue sanctification in this life to the time of glorification – that glorious moment when they will see the Lord “face to face” (1 Cor. 13: 12).
The Greek word translated “fear” in this context, means “reverence” or “respect.” This is not a fear of being doomed to eternal torment, nor a hopeless dread of judgment that leads to despair. It is not destructive, but a controlling and redeeming fear that leads to moral purity, life, God’s nearness, blessing, and salvation (Psalm 85: 9; Prov. 14: 27). It is a reverential fear, a holy concern to give God the honour He deserves and avoid the chastening of His displeasure. Such fear involves self-distrust, a sensitive conscience that is on guard against temptation and gives motivation for obedient, righteous living. It opposes pride, and makes the believer constantly aware of the deceitfulness of his/her heart, as well as of the subtlety and strength of his/her inner corruption. It is a dread that seeks to avoid anything that would offend and dishonour God. This is contrary to the kind of fear exhibited by King Saul while discharging the divine assignment as recorded in 1 Samuel 15: 10 – 26.
The “trembling” Paul experienced should be the attitude Christians ought to have while pursing the goal of their high calling, that is, a healthy fear of offending God through disobedience and an awe and respect for His majesty and holiness.
Such was not the case with the synagogue leader who despised Jesus in Luke 13: 10 – 17. “Trembling” can also refer to a “shaking” due to weakness. Paul himself came to the Corinthian church in “weakness and fear, and with much trembling” (1 Cor. 2: 3), mindful of the great and awesome nature of the work he was engaged. This is a weakness of higher purpose, one which brings believers to a state of total dependence on God for fruitfulness. Obedience and submission to the God we revere and respect is our “reasonable service” (Rom. 12: 1- 2) and it brings great joy (Psalm 2: 11).
“Godly fear and trembling” involves more than merely acknowledging one’s sinfulness and spiritual weakness. It is the solemn, reverential fear that springs from deep adoration and love. It acknowledges that every sin is an offense against the Holy God. It produces a sincere desire not to offend and grieve God, but to obey, honour, please, and glorify Him, in all things.
TALK BACK – Comments and Questions.
CONCLUSION: Paul sees himself as a runner in a race (Hebrew 12: 1), exerting all his strength and pressing on with intense concentration in order not to fall short of the goal that Christ has set for him. He had received a glimpse of the glory of heaven (2 Cor. 12: 4) and had resolved that his whole life, by the grace of God, would be centred around his determination to press on and someday get to heaven and see Christ “face to face” (2 Timothy 4: 8; Revelation 2: 10; 22: 4).
Such determination is necessary for all Christians. Throughout our lives there are all kinds of distractions and temptations, such as worldly cares, wealth, and evil desires, threatening to choke our commitment to the Lord (Mark 4: 19; Luke 8: 14). What is needed is a “forgetting of those things which are behind” – the perverse world and our old life of sin (Genesis 19: 17, 26; Luke 17: 32) – and a “reaching forth” for complete and final salvation in Christ – The future glorification.
Believers must choose to live righteously, to work out their salvation in daily living with fear and trembling, while at the same time realizing that all the power for that obedience comes from God’s Spirit.
MEMORY VERSE – PHILIPPIANS 2: 12.
“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.”
PRAYER
Lord, give me grace to continue in the faith, firmly established and steadfast, and not to move away from the hope of the gospel that I have heard and received, so that at the end, You will present me before the Father “blameless and beyond reproach.” (Colossians 1: 22- 23).