“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”

 Matthew 21:28-32  Two Sons  One said yes and didn’t go.  One said no and repented.  Which one did the will of the Father?

Our current marquee sign: “Actions speak louder than bumper stickers!”

Our salvation depends on God doing what He said He would do. We also must do what we said we would do. We are in a covenant of obedience

 The two faces of obedience:

 Parents expect obedience when they are present.

 They also expect obedience when they are absent:

 R omans 6:16-18: Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

 Man has responsibility in his salvation  1 Peter 2:2 – “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation…”  Acts 2:40 -- With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation."

“Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall…”

Proverbs 1:7 -- The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. Proverbs 8:13 -- To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.

 “But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.”

 1 John 4: In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father.“  1 Peter 3:13-15 – Peter warns us not to fear what the world fears – but to trust upon Jesus.

 We are not alone!  God works IN US to WILL according to His good purpose  God works IN US to ACT according to His good purpose

 1 Thessalonians 4: “it is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable,”

 Proper fear leads to righteousness  Too comfortable with God leads to abuse of relationship  Keep the fear of God before your eyes and obey Him.  Every day we must work out our salvation with FEAR AND TREMBLING!