A New Beginning

Greg Laurie: Sometimes we can allow people to take the place of God in our life. A husband chooses to not go to church because his wife doesn't go anymore. Or maybe the kids don't go to church because their parents don't go anymore. Listen, you need your own relationship with God.

Guest (Male): Pastor Greg Laurie points out God wants a one-on-one relationship with each of us. Even if others don't, we need to focus on the Lord.

Greg Laurie: Only you can work out your salvation.

Guest (Male): Where does your electricity come from in your home? The electric company, right? You're connected directly. Your neighbor is connected directly. You're not running an extension cord over to the neighbors to power up your lights—at least I hope not.

Well, we each need a direct spiritual connection to our heavenly Father. And today on A New Beginning, Pastor Greg Laurie points out how that sheds light on Paul's injunction to work out our own salvation. Glad you're along today for one of our best-of messages.

Greg Laurie: Let's look at Philippians 2:12. "Therefore, my beloved, as you've always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who works in you both to will and do of His good pleasure."

Work out your own salvation. What does that mean? It means only you can work out your salvation. Wouldn't it be nice if you could hire someone to work out for you? You say, "I don't want to work out, why don't you go work out for me?" But you can't do that. You have to go work out for yourself.

So, work out your own salvation. This is not something someone else can do in your place. This is something you must do for yourself. It's a personal choice. But Paul throws in an interesting thought here in verse 12: "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but more in my absence."

Basically, Paul is writing to the believers here in Philippi from a prison. He's been arrested, and he can't go and be with them as he was in the past. He misses them, and they miss him. So basically, he's saying, "Now guys, I'm not with you, but I still want you to work out your own salvation."

I think the New Living Translation is helpful here where Paul says, "Dearest friends, you were always so careful to follow my instructions when I was with you. But now that I'm away, you must be even more careful to put into action God's saving work in your lives."

Here is what Paul is saying in effect: Guys, you need to grow up spiritually. You can't build your spiritual life on me. Don't even for a moment think you guys can go into spiritual cruise control if I'm not personally there for you, because it's God that works in you, not Paul. I'm not doing the work in your life; God is doing the work in your life.

I bring this up because sometimes we can allow people to take the place of God in our life. A husband chooses to not go to church because his wife doesn't go anymore. Or maybe the kids don't go to church because their parents don't go anymore. Listen, you need your own relationship with God.

Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. You say, "But Greg, my parents were hypocrites" or "I saw a hypocrite at church." Yeah, get over it. Grow up. Put your faith in Christ and follow Him. Paul's saying it can't be all about me being there with you, because I won't always be there with you, but the Lord always will be there with you.

So work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Some misunderstand this. Paul did not say work for your own salvation, because salvation is a gift of God. And by the way, this is a gift that grows more valuable with the passing of time. It's not that it becomes more valuable; it always was, but we're just discovering the value of it because this salvation God gives us saves us from our past, our present, and our future.

First, it saves us from our past, the sins we've committed, the wrongs we have done. It's removed, it's taken away, it's erased. We've been given a clean slate as I pointed out. But now it saves us from our present—the power of sin in my life. I have God's power to overcome it. And lastly, it saves me from a future judgment.

That's why the Bible calls it such a great salvation. You see the value of it more and more with the passing of time. So Paul says, work out your salvation. Don't work for it; it's a gift to you from God. Ephesians 2 says, "By grace you've been saved through faith, not of yourselves; it's the gift of God."

So what does it mean? It's interesting. The verb that Paul uses carries the meaning of work to full completion. Work to full completion your salvation. There's work involved in the Christian life as I play out, as I discover what God has done for me. It doesn't say sit out your own salvation; it says work out your own salvation.

Going back to the analogy of a gym, you go and you work out to get into better shape. The more you do it, the better the results will be. Maybe it's because you're having issues. The other day I literally thought I might be close to having a heart attack. The reason is I was feeling pressure on my chest.

And then I Googled symptoms of heart attack. It says pressure in your chest, and the pressure grew stronger as soon as I read that, literally. I felt it more. And then it said nausea, and I was nauseated the second I read it. So I'm going to see my doctor, so I called him up.

I've got to come over right now. I came over and he hooked me up for an EKG. And he said, "Greg, you're absolutely fine." And then about a week later I got the bill, and I did have a heart attack. So what happened was I've been playing racquetball. I used to do that years ago; I started playing again because I hate cardiovascular.

I hate treadmills, I hate stationary bicycles and all that pedaling. And so racquetball is fun because I will go to any length to chase a stupid ball around a court. And it is a good workout. I sweat a little bit more. And also, what I do is I fall. And I hit the wall really hard chasing the ball, and that's why I felt the pressure in my chest.

But I'm okay for now. But you know, sometimes you have to check up on those things and your doctor will say, "You need an exercise regimen." So you go to the gym. But here's the problem: weird people hang out in gyms. You know what I'm talking about? There's just strange people.

There's a person who sweats all over everything. What is with that? Are you one of those people? Please stand up; I want to talk to you. One of those sweaters. I mean seriously, they get up from the equipment, the whatever it is, and there's just perspiration all over the floor. It's like, can you take a towel and wipe up after yourself?

Or there's a guy that screams every rep because he's lifting too much weight. Ah! Ah! Just stop it. But still, you need to get in there and do what you can. So you work out to get in shape, and the same is true of the spiritual life. I'm not working for it. God's given me the salvation; it is mine.

But work it out or discover what it actually means for me. In fact, the phrase that Paul uses here for work out is a phrase that's also used to explain working a mine. Going into a mine and extracting the silver, the gold, or whatever is in the mine. Many years ago in California, we had the California Gold Rush.

And there was a lot of gold in this state. "There's gold in them thar hills," it was said. So people came from around the country and even the world to find their fortune. And the gold was soon gone. I think people thought it was just laying around on the streets.

But they had to go into the mines and work at it in hopes of maybe discovering the mother lode. So Paul's saying it's like a mine. Go in there and discover all God has done for you. Extract it, live it out, understand it, appreciate it. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Now, what that means is with self-distrust. So I come with a reverence for God and a distrust of myself. I can't do this on my own strength. And Paul explains it: "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God that is working in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure."

Some people say, "Well, God does it all and I do nothing." Others say, "I do it all and God does nothing." Both of those views are wrong. God does it through you as you mine it and discover it for yourself. Work out your own salvation with self-distrust, for it is God that is working in you.

Guest (Male): In a moment, Pastor Greg points out how we can respond to our spiritual adversary when he tries to convince us that we're not really saved. Good insight coming up in just a moment.

Guest (Female): Pastor Greg, I was involved in New Age spirituality when I watched the Jesus Revolution movie. It was partially because of your story that I felt safe to start exploring a relationship with Jesus. I ended up praying a prayer to accept Jesus, and now I feel like a new person. My husband and 14-year-old daughter are also attending church with me and reading the Bible. We are so grateful. Thanks again.

Guest (Male): Has Pastor Greg heard from you? Why not drop him an email and share your story? Send it to greg@harvest.org. Again, that's greg@harvest.org.

Well today, in one of Pastor Greg's most requested messages, we're taking a closer look at Philippians chapter 2, verse 12, which tells us to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. Let's continue.

Greg Laurie: Now when it says work it out with fear and trembling, I don't want you to think that Paul is suggesting that one can lose their salvation. Because I believe once you're saved, you're saved. That's why we call it eternal life and not temporary life. And that's why you don't have to get saved again and again and again.

You don't have to be born again, again, again, again, again. You're born again once. Now you can make a recommitment to Christ if you need to, but once you have eternal life, it's a gift to you from God. And I bring this up because sometimes even believers who have known the Lord for years will doubt their own salvation.

And you need to know that the devil loves to challenge what God has said. Don't forget in the Garden of Eden, he came to Adam and Eve and he said, "Did God really say what you thought God said?" He challenged the word of God. And he'll do the same to young Christians especially.

Right after they've believed, he'll say, "Do you really think you're saved? Do you really think Christ has come into your life?" And it is then that I must stand on the promises of God. This is bringing that biblical worldview, not my emotions. Because my emotions can mislead me.

"I don't feel saved today. Maybe I lost my salvation last night." No, no. It's still there. It's still the gift of God. It still belongs to you. And it is then that I come back to scripture. Scriptures like 1 John 5:10. It says, "Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart."

Romans 8:16 says, "His Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God." John 5:24, Jesus says, "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and shall not be condemned. He's crossed over from death to life."

And really my favorite assurance verse, 1 John 5:13, "These things we write to you that believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life." So when the devil comes and says, "You're not saved," you say to the devil, "I know I'm saved because the Bible says these things we write to you that believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life."

And sometimes I'll quote scripture out loud to remind myself. Even Jesus did that. Remember when he was tempted in the wilderness? And the devil said to him, "Why don't you turn this rock into a piece of bread?" Jesus says, "It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God."

Satan says, "Why don't you fall down and worship me?" and Jesus says, "It is written, you shall worship the Lord God and Him only shall you serve." The point is you come back with scripture. That's what I mean when I say think biblically. Let everything go through the grid of scripture, not your emotions. This is something God has given to you.

So we may wonder, well, can you lose salvation once you have it? I already said I don't think you can. So what about those people that make a profession of faith and say they're saved, and we even see some evidence or so it would seem initially, but then a month later, two months later, maybe six months later, they just walk away and they never come back?

So is that someone who was saved who is now unsaved? I would suggest to you if a person walks away and never comes back, they were never saved to begin with. Here's how you know who the real Christians are: it's where they end up. Christians can go astray. Christians can be prodigal sons and daughters, can't they?

But God will call them and if they're real believers, they'll always come home again. And if they never were believers, they'll never come home because it never was their home. We're told over in 1 John 2:19, "They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; for their going out showed that none of them ever belonged to us."

So sometimes people will make a profession of faith that is based on emotion. Jesus talked about this in the parable of the sower. In Mark 4:16, he said those that receive the seed that goes on ground that's embedded with rocks, so it shoots up but it doesn't take root. He says, "These are those that hear the word of God with great enthusiasm. But there's shallow soil of character, so when the emotions wear off or some difficulty arises, there's nothing to show for it."

So these are the people that were never really believers at all. It was just the whim of an emotion. So don't work for your salvation; work out your salvation. And what an incredible gift it is. And all you have to do is receive it. I just flew back from Hawaii visiting our church there, and I had to get a plane ticket.

And I printed it out. And I boarded my flight. And they always check your ticket. They want to make sure you're in the right seat. You cannot board a flight without a ticket. I used this analogy a number of years ago at a Harvest Crusade, and I was asking people, "Do you have your ticket to go to heaven?"

And Stella, who was then a little girl, my granddaughter, heard me say this and she had a flyer that was given to her when she went in the event. And she held it up and yelled out to me—I couldn't hear her; she was so far away—"I have my ticket, Papa!" she said. It's so cute.

But really, do you have your ticket? You say, "Well, what do you mean my ticket?" Do you know that you're saved? You might say, "Well, I think so." Hey, I think you'll know it. And if you don't know it, maybe you aren't. And I don't want you to leave this service today without knowing beyond the shadow of a doubt that your sin is forgiven.

You say, "Okay, how does this happen again?" Remember, Acts 13 says, "This man Jesus gives forgiveness of sins, and whoever trusts in Him is freed from all guilt and he is declared righteous." So have you put your trust in Jesus? Again, scripture says, "Whoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved."

I've used this illustration before, but there was a time I was out with my son Jonathan in the ocean, and we got caught in a little rip tide. He was a young guy at this point and I was keeping him above the surface, and I couldn't believe I'm in a rip tide because the irony is I'm like literally 12 feet from the shore.

So I'm thinking I can't get in a rip tide this close to the shore, and but I am, and I can't get my feet on the ground. And I'm getting pulled out, and it's becoming a problem. And I see a lifeguard and I thought there's no way on God's green earth I'm going to yell for help this close to shore.

And I'm getting pulled out, and this lifeguard sees me and she realizes I'm in trouble and she starts swimming toward me. She's got her little preserver, she's swimming, I'm like, oh no, this is so humiliating. And finally I got my feet on the shore. I said, "I'm okay, I'm okay. Thank you, thank you." And I walked in.

Now, if you're going to get rescued, I'd rather get rescued by a girl lifeguard than a guy, right? I mean, if there's mouth-to-mouth involved, you want it to be a girl, that's all I'm saying. Just kidding. But here's the point: I was too proud to call out for help.

That's how a lot of us can be, maybe men especially, but sometimes all of us. "Oh, I don't need to be saved. I'm good." No, you aren't. You're not good at all. Your situation is worse than a person in a burning building or in a combat zone. Your situation is worse than a person caught in a rip tide.

If you don't have Jesus Christ living in you right now, bottom line, you're headed to a certain judgment in hell. And God does not want that. That is why He sent Jesus. Christ died to save sinners like you and me. And you can be saved today, forgiven of all your sin, put all of your past behind you, have a fresh start, a clean slate.

Think about it. And then have the power you need in your life to live the life God has called you to live. It can all happen, and it doesn't take years, it doesn't take months, it doesn't take days, it doesn't take hours—it can happen just like that if you'll just call out to Him.

So we're going to close in prayer, and I'm going to extend an invitation to anyone here. If you don't know Jesus Christ as your own Savior and your Lord and your friend, He can come into your life right now and forgive you of all of your sin and give you that fresh start you long for and give you the guaranteed hope of heaven.

If you don't know this for sure, let's get this settled right here. Let's all pray. Father, thank you for the incredible gift of salvation. It is really the gift that keeps on giving. And I pray for any here or listening wherever they are, if they don't know You yet, if they've not called upon Your name yet, would You help them to do that right now? I pray Your Holy Spirit will speak to their hearts. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Guest (Male): Pastor Greg Laurie with an important word of prayer. And if you'd like to make a change in your relationship with the Lord, Pastor Greg will help you with that in just a moment before today's edition of A New Beginning comes to a close.

Are you receiving Pastor Greg's daily devotions each day via email? If not, let's take care of that right now. You can sign up today free of charge at harvest.org, and you'll receive a daily inspirational thought from God's word each day in your inbox. Again, go to harvest.org. And then here's Pastor Greg once again.

Greg Laurie: Let me close with this thought: would you like to know that you will go to heaven when you die? Would you like to fill that big hole deep inside of you? Listen, it's about a relationship with God. And here's the good news: God loved you so much that 2,000 years ago, He sent His Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for your sins and then to rise again from the dead.

And now Jesus, who died and rose, is standing at the door of your life and He is knocking. And He says, "If you'll hear my voice and open the door, I'll come in." Would you like Jesus Christ to come into your life? Would you like your sin forgiven? Would you like to fill the hole in your soul?

Would you like to go to heaven when you die? If so, just stop what you're doing and pray this prayer with me. You can pray it out loud if you like, you can pray it in the quietness of your heart if you choose, but pray this prayer. This is a prayer of asking Jesus Christ to come into your life. Pray these words:

Lord Jesus, I know that I'm a sinner. But I know that You're the Savior who died on the cross for my sin and rose again from the dead. I turn from that sin now, and I choose to follow You from this moment forward. Thank You for hearing this prayer and answering this prayer. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Hey, did you just pray that prayer? If so, I want to congratulate you and be the first to say welcome to the family of God.

Guest (Male): Yeah, that's right. You have a whole new life in front of you now. And to help you begin living this new life, Pastor Greg would like to send you a special edition of God's word called the New Believer's Bible. It's practical help for those who've just come to the Lord.

Let us send it to you without any charge. You can call us at 1-800-821-3300. We're here around the clock to take your call. Again, 1-800-821-3300. Our mailing address is A New Beginning, Box 4000, Riverside, California 92514. Or go online to harvest.org and click "Know God."

And then let us take a moment to thank you for praying for this ministry and for supporting it through your generous donation. It's an investment in kingdom business, isn't that right, Pastor Greg?

Greg Laurie: Yeah, it's really true, Dave. And I believe it's so important because you know the gospel saves lives. It saves eternal lives, because when a person believes in Jesus according to scripture, they pass from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to the power of God.

And then of course, that changes the course of their future. That impacts their children and their children's children. The gospel changes everything. And thousands and thousands of people respond every single year, thanks to the Lord, also thanks to you for your investment in this ministry enabling us to reach people wherever they are. So if this is something you care about, I encourage you to make a financial investment in A New Beginning and Harvest Ministries.

Guest (Male): Yeah, that's right. And we really do appreciate your support. Thanks for partnering with us today. It can make a real difference, not just for today or this week, but for eternity. So get in touch with your support today by calling 1-800-821-3300.

That's a 24/7 phone number: 1-800-821-3300. Or write A New Beginning, Box 4000, Riverside, California 92514. Or go online to harvest.org. Well next time, as our top 10 series continues, we'll see how Jonah, in spite of his initial refusal, turned himself around and finally preached in Nineveh.

And that brought about the spiritual turnaround of the entire city. Join us here for A New Beginning with pastor and Bible teacher Greg Laurie.