"Therefore, my beloved, as you 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;" (Philippians 2:12)

What Paul says here in Philippians is a clear exhortation unto humility, for anyone who is abiding in pride would be offended at such an instruction!

The key to never losing humility is continuing to abide in truth; the truth that what Jesus did for us makes a way for us to come to the Father (John 14:6), not a way to avoid confession and repentance, as those of the OSAS persuasion would have Christians believe. And why would anyone want to avoid confession and repentance? There’s only one explanation—PRIDE.

Believers should never allow themselves to adopt an attitude of complacency; one that says ‘I may as well just do what I want. God will forgive me because of my faith in Jesus.’ To actually believe that the Lord’s Sacrifice for us on the cross gives us a pass, or permission to do what we want is to labor under great deception. His one-time sacrifice covers all our sins, past, present and future, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t say we’re sorry. Repentance has value other than when we first get saved:

"Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not think to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you thatGod is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." (Matthew 3:8-10)

Moreover, this is an attitude based in pride, which acts as a barrier between men and God:

"But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace t othe humble." (James 4:6) 

Being saved means we have an advocate; Jesus Christ, who speaks on our behalf; He is our mediator interceding for us. He is actively engaged in our repentance; our faith itself is not the mediator, only Jesus. We can be forgiven because of what the Lord did on our behalf and the appeal He makes on our behalf. Therefore, we go to His Throne with a repentant heart, which God grants to us as a free gift:

"in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth," (2Timothy 2:25)

Moreover, through the above verse we can clearly discern God grants repentance, therefore, no one can legitimately claim that repentance is a work of the flesh.

Furthermore, God is looking for worshippers, and how can someone abiding in pride worship Him the way He ought to be worshipped? Pride is the opposite of humility. Through maintaining pride, we only abide in ourselves, and may even worship ourselves. However, through abiding continually in humility we keep God as God in our lives; we remember that He is Almighty and we are weak and needy. For those abiding in pride that sounds like a terrible and unfair way to live, but for those who know God and love God, pride is the enemy and  humility is the ultimate craving; a beautiful and desirable countenance before Him.

The utter and complete lack of humility is the issue with the OSAS doctrine, which teaches that because of what Jesus did, we are automatically forgiven (James 4:6). Rather than emphasize that Jesus has made a way for us to come to the Father, they over emphasize grace and even teach ‘hypergrace.’ This approach to Christianity turns the beautiful Act of our Lord into a cheap chance at manipulation, but God will not be mocked:

"Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap." (Galatians 6:7)

To our Lord God, humility is beautiful. When people gather in the Name of the Lord Jesus and worship Him on their knees, THAT is beautiful, but when people gather in the name of sin and selfish fleshy desires, that is an abomination before the LORD. And if we love Him, we will, in our new nature desire only to please Him...

And God looks at the heart, so if our heart is filled with nothing but a desire to get away with something how can we say we are truly saved? We are already in danger of the judgment, for all those who defy Christ Jesus will be judged:

"I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings." (Jeremiah 17:10)

"Therefore, my beloved, as you 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;" (Philippians 2:12).

 “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.” (1Chronicles 28:9)

NKJV

Linzy is a certified Bible Counsellor, with countless republications on her viewers blogs, Bible Studies, Ezines and the like. Her portfolio includes, non-fiction articles, short stories for all ages, and Christian poetry.