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This podcast is entirely the work of Jeremy R. McCandless and is part of season 24 of a project to complete an in-depth, chapter-by-chapter, verse-by-verse study of the entire Bible.
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Jeremy McCandless | Creating Podcasts and Bible Study Resources
Episode Notes:
I remember a conversation years ago with a man who was genuinely puzzled by the Bible. He looked at me and said, "Jeremy, the Bible seems to contradict itself." I asked him what he meant. He said, "On the one hand, the Bible says we're saved by grace through faith and not by works. Ephesians 2 says that. Romans says that. The whole New Testament seems to say that salvation is a gift." Then he paused and added: "But then I read Philippians 2:12, and it says, 'Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.'" And then came the question:
So, which is it? Are we saved by grace or by works?
That's a fair question. In fact, it's a question that has puzzled many Christians over the years. Maybe you've wondered about it yourself. The Bible clearly teaches that salvation is not earned by our works. It is the gift of God, received by faith in Jesus Christ. But then we come to a passage like Philippians 2, and Paul tells believers: "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."
What does that mean? Is Paul contradicting himself? Is he suddenly teaching something different? Or is there something deeper going on in this passage that we're in danger of missing?
As we'll discover today, Paul is not, in fact, talking about how to get saved. He's talking about what happens after you've been saved. In fact, these verses contain one of the clearest and most practical descriptions of living the Christian life found anywhere in the New Testament. It’s about living a life of spiritual growth and obedience. It’s about shining for Christ in a dark world, and it's about learning how to cooperate with what God is already doing in our lives.
So, if you've ever wondered what it means to "work out your own salvation," or how Christians are supposed to live in the real world, then Philippians 2:12-16 has some powerful answers.
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This podcast is entirely the work of Jeremy R. McCandless...
Follow and support me as an independent podcast creator on Patreon.
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Check out my other Podcasts.
My History of the Christian Church: https://thehistoryofthechristianchurch.buzzsprout.com
The L.I.F.E. Podcast: Philosophy and current trends in the Arts and Entertainment.
https://the-living-in-faith-everyday-podcast.buzzsprout.com
The Renewed Mind Podcast. My Psychology and Mental Health Podcast:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568891
The Classic Literature Podcast:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2568906
To visit my Author page on Amazon and view my entire back catalogue of books on both Amazon and Kindle, and now also on Audible, Visit:
Amazon.com: Jeremy R Mccandless: books, biography, latest update
