I am very sorry, I forgot to re-post the study.
Let's consider Phil 2:12, "......WORK OUT your own salvation WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING".
To correctly understand Phil 2:12-13 we must understand how the Holy Spirit uses the Greek word "katergazomai" translated "work out" in verse 12.
As we begin this study I will remind the reader that James does tell us that Abraham, for example, was "justified by works" (James 2:21). That is to say, according to James, Abraham did ACCOMPLISH his own salvation. We must bear in mind however, that works only PROVES one's faith and obviously do not actually accomplish anyone's salvation.
The Greek word "katergazomai" is translated seven different ways. That tells us that there are shades of meanings, but it also tells us that the basic meaning of the word may be difficult to grasp. In order to ascertain the basic meaning I will suggest one word which, although may not be correct English grammar, and will not show the shades of meanings, it will help us to see how the Holy Spirit means for us to understand it's BASIC meaning. That one word basic meaning is "accomplish". Let us see if this word will fit it's usage.
Rom. 1:27, " men with men working (accomplishing) that which is unseemly.......".
Rom. 2:9, "Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth (accomplishes) evil....."
I Cor. 5:3, "concerning him that hath so done (accomplished) this deed".
II Cor. 4:17, "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh (accomplishes) for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory".
II Cor. 12:12, "Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought (accomplished) among you in all patience, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds".
Eph. 6:13, ".... that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done (accomplished) all, to stand".
Phil. 2:2, ".....work out (accomplish) your own salvation with fear and trembling".
James 1:3, "Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh (accomplishes) patience".
James 1:20, "For the wrath of man worketh (accomplishes) not the righteousness of God".
I Peter 4:3, "For the time past of our life, may suffice us to have wrought (accomplished) the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts,.......".
May I point out that the Greek word is never translated to include the word "out" except in Phil. 2:12.
Let me list what we have learned in this word study.
Returning then to Phil. 2:12, the most logical conclusion is that Paul wrote in Phil. 2:12, "Accomplish your own salvation with fear and trembling". But again, we know that we are saved by grace through faith and not by works. This is not a contradiction to that fact. This is the exact same principle that James spoke of when he wrote that "faith without works is dead".
My point is that the principle of our works PROVING our faith is a universal one. That is to say, it is just as true in the dispensation of the mystery as it was in all other dispensations.
In Christ,
Joyce |
