WORKING OUT YOUR SALVATION

   

By Rev. Michael Benson Ajayi

Luke 23:43 "And Jesus said unto him,  Verily I  say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in  paradise."

       The message of grace is premised on a universal forgiveness : everyone is equally a sinner and equally forgiven and the vicarious atonement by Jesus Christ : the price for our sins have been ransomed equally . A perfect example of the application of these principles is in Luke 23 : 39 " And one of the malefactors which were hanged  railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save  thyself and us. 40 But the other answering  rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God,  seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41  And we indeed justly; for we receive the due  reward of our deeds: but this man hath done  nothing amiss. 42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord,  remember me when thou comest into thy  kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him,  Verily I  say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in  paradise."

   A condemned criminal was declared righteous by Jesus Christ. Only the righteous can enter paradise . The following  questions beg for answers 

1) What was the criminal's religion. He was neither a practising Muslim , Jew or Christian . 

2) What effort by way of religious duties ( pilgrimages, vigils, tithes,offerings ,miracles seeds,fastings , olive oil, holy water, wrist band, etc)  did he apply to attain salvation and find favour before Jesus Christ. 

Absolutely none. 

3)Did he work out his salvation with fear and trembling .? Yes he did.

4) How did he work out his salvation with fear and trembling? 

The answer is in understanding the definition of the words 

A) the word  'Trembling' (Greek : tromos ) with fear and trembling, used to describe the anxiety of one who distrusts his ability completely to meet all requirements, but religiously does his utmost to fulfil his duty.

B) The word 'Fear' from Greek 'Phobos' means ;  dread, terror that which strikes terror , reverence for one's husband'

From the above definitions  the  scripture in Philippians  2:12 "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."

Fear and trembling could not be  referring to a dread for God but the dread of the consequences of rejecting salvation which is eternal damnation . 

The scriptures describes Jesus Christ as the Husbandman to the believers. The believers duty to the husband ( Jesus Christ) is not a religious duty as enumerated but belief in him . Scriptures says in John 6:28  "Then said  they unto him, What shall we do, that we might  work the works of God? 29 Jesus answered and  said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye  believe on him whom he hath sent."  The work is simply to believe in Jesus Christ as the Lord and saviour and the duty is found in John 13:34 "A new  commandment I give unto you, That ye love one  another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one  another. 35 By this shall all  men know that ye  are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.  "and in John 15:16 and Mark 16:15  preach the gospel .

    This was what qualified the repentant criminal for Paradise and nothing else. Faith in Jesus Christ and commitment to love our neighbour as ourselves is all that is needed to guarantee a fruitful spiritual adventure .

Prayer: Heavenly Father forgive me of my sins against you I believe Jesus Christ died and was raised again I receive him as Lord and savior and receive the Holy Ghost and power for sustainable progress in Jesus name.

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