So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, continue working out your salvation with awe and reverence, for the one bringing forth in you both the desire and the effort—for the sake of his good pleasure—is God.

Philippians 2:12-13 (NET)

 

Salvation is eternally fulfilled by grace in Christ alone. While we were dead in sin, He endured what we deserved so that we receive from Him that we do not deserve. Our part is to simply respond in faith and obedience.

In his letter to the Philippians, the Apostle Paul reminds us that God has been working in us to accomplish our salvation. Now we must diligently work with God to live the new life in Christ. This is a life which God Himself lives in us and enables us to faithfully abound in every good work.

Faith activates obedience.

We give ourselves fully over to Christ, to love Him and grow in love with Him. We become obedient in our faith because of these amazing effects of God’s love in us. We no longer live by the letter of the law. Rather, we live by the Spirit who puts His living law of love in our minds and writes them on our hearts. In other word, the Christian life is not following a set of rules, but living in a loving relationship with the One who calls us beloved. Then everything we do are the living fruits of a redeemed life in Christ.

Faith comes alive when we actively obey God.

If you have a personal desire to live a productive life, keep hearing the gospel and remind yourself who you already are in Christ and what He has already accomplished in you. Faith comes from hearing and hearing through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17). Hearing is actively receiving and applying the truth of the gospel in your daily life. This results in faith, which empowers your obedience to Christ.