LESSON 26 IT IS GOD THAT WORKETH IN YOU
1. 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. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Philippians 2:12, 13
It is the love of God that awakens the dormant spiritual faculties of man through the drawing of the Holy Spirit. It is by this means that man is enabled and then desires to yield his life and will to God. However left to himself with no act of God in his behalf man remains estranged from Him. This estrangement includes open disregard of God and can include religious rebellion, this is religion, which follows the false god’s, and ideas of man. Religion has enough truth to be plausible but eventually takes man away from the true God. When mankind religious or irreligious, is not subject to the Word and law of God, this is evidence of his estrangement.
“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one” (Romans 3:10–12). Once man’s will is enlightened and sensitized by the Spirit to turn to God, it remains for man himself to continually choose to yield that will unto God, and as he does so, it is God who enables and strengthens man to do “His good pleasure.”
Therefore, my dear ones, as you have always obeyed [my suggestions], so now, not only [with the enthusiasm you would show] in my presence but much more because I am absent, work out (cultivate, carry out the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ). [Not in your own strength] for it is God who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight. Philippians 2:12, 13 AMP
The work of gaining salvation is one of cooperation as the will of man submits to the drawing love of God. This yielding of the heart and mind of an individual to the grace of God is necessary for the formation of right principles in our character. Humanity is wholly dependent upon God for salvation. Human effort of itself is not sufficient. Without the aid of divine power, mankind’s efforts will accomplish nothing in the salvation of his soul or the development of Christian character.
It is the work of man to yield to the drawing of God’s love, and man must choose to resist temptation, he must choose to obey God, but it is the grace of God that causes and enables an individual to have the desire and then the ability to make these choices in the surrender of the mind and heart. The power of choice is with man to exercise, and the power of the gospel to save lies with God. Therefore man is called to work out his own salvation with fear and trembling, while it is “God that worketh in you.”
2. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:2, 6–10
3. But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. James 4:6
But He gives us more and more grace (power of the Holy Spirit, to meet this evil tendency and all others fully). That is why He says, God sets Himself against the proud and haughty, but gives grace [continually] to the lowly (those who are humble enough to receive it). James 4:6 AMP
4. And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first. And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me. Jeremiah 33:7, 8
5. For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. Ezekiel 36:24–28
6. For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:9–14
7. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:10–13
In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides]. Ephesians 6:10 AMP
8. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3–5
9. O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low. Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name’s sake. Psalm 79:8–9
10. Who gave himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus 2:14
Redeem—Ransom, atonement.
Iniquity—Illegality i.e. violation of law; wickedness.
Peculiar—Being beyond usual, special (ones own).
11. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 1 Peter 5:10
Make—Complete thoroughly, repair.
Stablish—To set fast, turn resolutely to confirm.
Strengthen—To strengthen, figurative confirm, (in spiritual knowledge and power).
12. Man’s work—Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:16–22
God’s work—And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:23, 24
13. Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6
Human effort to obtain salvation or to live the Christian life is not possible without divine power. Yet without the cooperation of man in responding to divine grace and drawing love, God’s work is of no avail. To make God’s grace our own, we must act our part. His grace is given to work in us to will and to do, but never as a substitute for our effort.
14. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13
I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]. Philippians 4:13 AMP
15. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. Jude 1:24
Falling—Not stumbling, i.e. figurative, without sin.
16. But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. 2 Thessalonians 3:3
Stablish—To set fast, turn resolutely in a certain direction, figurative to confirm.
17. And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live. Deuteronomy 30:6
Circumcise—To quicken ones spiritual perception, to make tender ones conscience.
18. Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20, 21
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:57, 58
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LTBS - Section 1
LTBS - Section 2
LTBS - Section 3
LTBS - Section 4
LTBS - Section 5
LTBS - Section 6
LTBS - Section 7
LTBS - Section 8
LTBS - Section 9
LTBS - Section 10
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