Work Out Your Own Salvation

So, you know a lot about philosophy, religion, and maybe even ethics.  Maybe you should work out your own way of salvation and discard all the other tricky and rhetorical or theoretical problems that might get in your way of getting to heaven.  After all, Jesus did and He even called himself "The Son of Man".  You know what is right and wrong and how to go about leading your own life in a profitable way, probably better than anybody else.  It even says it in the King James Bible, to work out your own salvation, but it does say to do it with fear and trembling.  

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.” 

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Philippians-2-12/

There are also other things that it says about those that know better themselves than anyone else, and that might prove what I was saying, that you can do it your own way, like the song says, "I Did It My Way".  It was sung by Frank Sinatra in 1969 as "My Way", even though he stated that he didn´t like it, saying that the song stuck and he couldn't get it off his shoe. The song seemed to him like it was self-serving and self-indulgent, but it was his signature song at that time.  This information was found at wikipedia on Frank Sinatra and the song "My Way".  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Way  

Here is a YouTube version of it.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w019MzRosmk  

The New Testament also talks about examining yourselves, to test whether you are in the faith or not, and to be able to prove that you are not a liar or a reprobate and will do no evil.  These things you can know yourself and don´t need the services of any false preacher or so-called television evangelist doing a get-rich-quick monologue and broadcasting it to millions of people all over the world.     .   

2 Corinthians 13:5

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?”

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/2-Corinthians-13-5/

Ezekiel talks about knowing your own evil and remembering all the things that were not good in your lives that you loathed in yourself and found it abominable.  Yes, you can know yourself good enough to remember many sinful acts that were not that good.  But is it possible to be your own guide and follow your own way all through life and achieve salvation?  Can you actually work out your own salvation and save yourself?  I think maybe it would be wise to not follow so much of your own "Way".  That would surely get you into trouble when it comes to the judgment day.  God gave us Jesus Christ for a reason and that was to read his words and follow them so much so, that surely we might become like him in many ways, much better than ourselves trying to work out our own salvation.  You can interpret the scriptures and comprehend what Jesus Christ says.  It is not that difficult to give up your own sins willingly, because Jesus says it is a much better way of life.  Read His words in the New Testament and take on the Spirit and give up the fleshly corruptible life and live free from sin.  That is the better way that He is talking about.  That is His way and it is the way that works.   

 Ezekiel 36:31

“Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations.”

 https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Ezekiel-36-31/

John 10:7 - 10:10

7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.

9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/John-10-7_10-10/

John 6:63

“It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/John-6-63/

If you don´t follow the words of Jesus Christ explicitly and do exactly as He says, you are robbing yourself of such a fantastic life in the Spirit that He really wants you to live.  That is the only way to salvation, through the door.  Jesus wants to give you an abundant life.  Give up your own sins willingly.  Be free from sin.  His words are Spirit and they are Life.

Revelation 1:5 - 1:6

5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Revelation-1-5_1-6/

This is one of my favorite passages in the New Testament, and it says it all.  "He washed us from our sins in His own blood".  We did not do anything ourselves, and nothing of "I Did It My Way" works.  To Jesus be glory and dominion for ever and ever.  Nothing is possible without Jesus Christ.  

June 15, 2023

Cliff Rhodes Christian Ministry