"So Then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to desire and to work out His good purpose. Do everything without grumbling and arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world. Hold firmly to the message of life. Then I can boast in the day of Christ that I didn't run or labor for nothing."
Philippians 2: 12 - 16
--We are to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. What does this mean? Well, first we can not understand what it means to fear and tremble before God if we have no clue who God is. Once we have the correct view of God then the reflection of God will cause our life and our very being to shatter. Once we are broken completely and our confidence in ourselves has dwindled to nothing, then, we are in the perfect position to understand what this passage of scripture means. With fear and trembling I will work out my own salvation. In this passage of scripture the greek translation for fear is phobos, which means to dread, terror, that which strikes terror. In this passage of scripture the greek translation for trembling is tromos, which means to describe the anxiety of one who distrusts his ability completely to meet all requirements, but religiously does his utmost to fulfill his duty. So, are we to fear God with terror? In the Old Testament we read scripture that describes the total destruction of tribes and villages because the people whom lived there had no fear of God. These people who lived in these villages we would describe as being, "beyond saving." These people were a lost people and were overcome by their wickedness, they were given to the desires of their flesh. After reading this passage I had to talk to my husband. With all honesty I want to please God and do His will. I do grow anxious because at times I feel like I am not doing all I can be doing for God. (Faith is not based on works but on Grace alone). My husband had to remind me that in scripture there are times when God explains things in order to get our attention, to fully explain to us the view that we should have of God. When in all reality we can not explain with words who God is, because He is indescribable. Because God is sovereign He has revealed through revelation given to men, what is written in scripture in order for His will to be accomplished. When we can truly understand the glory and majesty of God, and truly understand His Holiness and justice, grace and His mercy then we can truly obey Him through reverence and not fright. Work out which is the result of fear and trembling in the greek text is the word katergazomai. This word is a verb, therefore requiring action. If we understand the true view of God, resulting in our own distrust within ourselves to meet all requirements to be holy and blameless in His sight, but with utmost desire work to fulfill the duty given to us through Christ, then as a result - we attain salvation.
"...walk worthy of the calling you have received..." Ephesians 4:1
