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The Acts of the Apostles
being found in a fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became
obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
“Wherefore, my beloved,” he continued, “as ye have always
obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my ab-
sence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is
God which worketh in you both to will and to do His good pleasure.
Do all things without murmurings and disputings: that ye may be
blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst
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of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in
the world; holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day
of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain.”
These words were recorded for the help of every striving soul. Paul
holds up the standard of perfection and shows how it may be reached.
“Work out your own salvation,” he says, “for it is God which worketh
in you.”
The work of gaining salvation is one of copartnership, a joint
operation. There is to be co-operation between God and the repentant
sinner. This is necessary for the formation of right principles in the
character. Man is to make earnest efforts to overcome that which
hinders him from attaining to perfection. But he is wholly dependent
upon God for success. Human effort of itself is not sufficient. Without
the aid of divine power it avails nothing. God works and man works.
Resistance of temptation must come from man, who must draw his
power from God. On the one side there is infinite wisdom, compassion,
and power; on the other, weakness, sinfulness, absolute helplessness.
God wishes us to have the mastery over ourselves. But He cannot
help us without our consent and co-operation. The divine Spirit works
through the powers and faculties given to man. Of ourselves, we are not
able to bring the purposes and desires and inclinations into harmony
with the will of God; but if we are “willing to be made willing,” the
Saviour will accomplish this for us, “Casting down imaginations, and
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every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and
bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”
2
Corinthians 10:5
.
He who would build up a strong, symmetrical character, he who
would be a well-balanced Christian, must give all and do all for Christ;
for the Redeemer will not accept divided service. Daily he must learn
the meaning of self-surrender. He must study the word of God, learning