Have you ever really stopped to think about what this verse really means. It’s a rather important point that fits into the theme of my recent Lenten social media posts. That we often put the resurrection on the shelf after Easter, at least until next year. Never venturing into true transformative discipleship.
The phrase “continue to work out your salvation” implies that holiness is indeed a process that takes time to implement. As well as there is something that isn’t working right, which interferes with our obedience. Since Jesus reveals in Matthew 15:19-29 that the heart is the source of our actions, it seems likely that this is what Paul is alluding to what we need to work on to ensure obedience. This is further reinforced by the phrase fear and trembling. As I indicated many times in my wholeness series, we often lack the courage to face the brokenness and scars in our hearts, for fear of dredging up negative emotions. Feelings connected to a trauma that we think we have neatly tucked away deep within ourselves where they can do no harm, yet in reality are influencing so many of our choices.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will. -Romans 12:2
Again, what do you think Paul means by the renewing of the mind. I think this quote brings some clarity to the idea.
"You can't fix a problem with the same mind that created it." Albert Einstein
If we don’t continue to work out our salvation, instead of just accepting forgiveness, our hearts and minds will remain effectively the same. Let’s face it, we will repeat what we don’t allow to be repaired. While the redemption we receive via the cross is an incredible and necessary start, it is just a start. Or as my pastor put it, we like to live on Saturday in between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Perhaps it’s how we keep it all about self. The cross was indeed for our benefit, whereas the resurrection enables us to benefit others.
So I urge you this post-Easter season to step out of that proverbial tomb as a new babe in Christ and don’t look back. Even when we stumble as we learn to walk again. To walk with a mission as Jesus did, instead of selfishly as the world does. We live in an age where average, mediocre, and lukewarm are the new standards that the world strives for. Be a better example than that. (Revelation 3:15-16)
