What does it mean to work out salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12)?

Question: "What does it mean to work out salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12)?"



              Answer: In Philippians 2:12-13, Paul writes, “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 purpose.” 

This text is often misused to instill fear into people, warning them that it means that they can lose salvation. What does it mean to work out our salvation with fear and trembling? Paul can hardly be encouraging believers to live in a continuous condition of nervousness and anxiety. That would contradict his many other exhortations to peace of mind, courage, and confidence in the God who authors our salvation.

The Greek word translated "fear" in this context can equally mean "reverence" or "respect." Paul uses the same phrase in (2 Corinthians 7:15) where he refers to Titus as being encouraged by the Corinthians’ reception of him “with fear and trembling,” that is, with great humility and respect for his position as a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul himself came to the Corinthian church in “weakness and fear, and with much trembling” (1 Corinthians 2:3), mindful of the great and awesome nature of the work in which he was engaged.

The sense in which we are to work out our salvation in fear and trembling is twofold.

First, the Greek verb rendered “work out” means "to continually work to bring something to completion or fruition." We do this by actively pursuing obedience in the process of sanctification, which Paul explains further in the next chapter of Philippians. He describes himself as “straining” and “pressing on” toward the goal of Christlikeness (Philippians 3:13-14).

The “trembling” he experiences is the attitude Christians are to have in pursuing this goal—a healthy fear of offending God through disobedience and an awe and respect for His majesty and holiness. "Trembling" can also refer to a shaking due to weakness, but this is a weakness of higher purpose, one which brings us to a state of dependency on God. Obedience and submission to the God we revere and respect is our “reasonable service” (Romans 12:1-2) and brings great joy. Psalm 2:11 sums it up perfectly: “Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling.” We work out our salvation by going to the very source of our salvation—the Word of God—wherein we renew our hearts and minds (Romans 12:1-2), coming into His presence with a spirit of reverence and awe.



Recommended Resources: Eternal Security by Charles Stanley and Logos Bible Software.

 Ref: http://www.gotquestions.org/fear-and-trembling.html

Nurse Pakhat in Mithi zik pawl ih an Sirawkmi pa (5) a sim

Mithi zik pawl kilkhawi phah in zarh hnih thum hrawng caan an hmang tlaang theu ih cutawk ah an sirawkmi thu culole rak tuahta sehla a tha tuk ding nan nan timi in sim hram uh tiah thu a suh tikah a tanglam panga pawl hi mi tam bik ih an simmi a si.

1.     Midang ih nun ter in duh daan hnak in, keimah te a tha, a mawi ka timi rak tuah ngam sehla ka duh tuk nan tiah an ti bik cio (Decision Making).

Mi tam sawn cu an san sung ih tuah an duh zet nan an tuah ngam lomi, tuah thei lomi an lungthlitum tampi a um ti an hmu. Midang ih nun ter in duh daan lawng ruat in, keimah ih lungthlitum ka rak tuah ngah lomi ka sir aw tiah an ti cio. Keimah te thu thencat in ka duhmi rak tuah sehla ka duh nan tiah an ti.   

Curuangah, na san sungah tuah na duh zetmi kha a zate pi ih na tuah thei lo khal le a hrek khat cu tuah ngah ding in tum ko aw. Na dam nawn lo tikcu ahcun, cu pawl cu an cang thei nawn lo ding.

2.     Hnatuan teima luan tuk in rak tuan hlah sehla ka duh nan tiah an ti (Work).

An faa le pawl an falat le tlaangval lai pawl tthitha in an zoh kilkhawi man lo. An nupi le pasal thawn nuam zet in caan hmang in an pawlkom aw man lo. Hnatuan lawnglawngah an caan an cem termi kha poi an ti cio.

Ruahnak pek in duhmi cu zozo khal kan sinfen le umtu khuasak daan hi simple te in, le latest thil pawl ti ciamco lo in um sehla tawkfang sumlut thawn cu nun nuam te ih nun a theih ko timi a si. Cun, innsang nufa le midang hrangah caan pe thei sehla midang khal an nuam sinsin ding tihi ruahnak pek in duhmi a si.

3.     Ka duhmi le duh lomi, ka thinhennak le lungawinak pawl kha rak sim ngam sehla ka duh nan tiah an ti (Feeling Expression).

Mi hrek khat cu an duh zetmi le an thinnatnak pawl kha midang hmaisong ah an sup aw. Cutik ah, an thinnatnak le huatnak in natnak tiang a thlen ter.

Ruahnak in pek duhmi cu midang in thudik zet ih na sim tikah hmakhat te cu an lo hua tla si thei men. Asinan, thudikmi kha thil tha sin ding duh ruangih na simsuak a si ahcun, neta lam ih nan pawlkom awk daan a dam sawn ding ih nangmah khal na dam ding. Curuangah, na feeling kha thiltha suah ternak ding a si ahcun ral tha zet in duhdawtnak thawn sim ko aw.

4.     Ka rualpi pawl thawn pawlkom/pehtlai aw thei ringring sehla ka duh tuk nan (Friends)

Mi tampi ih rualpi tha neih cu a sunglawi tuk timi hi an thihzik lawngah an theifiang. Mi tampi cu an hnatuan lawng ruat in rualpi tha pawl thawn an pehtlai nawn lo, caan an pe thei lo, sumpai khal an cem siang lo. Asinan, an thih zik taktak cun, rualpi pawl an hlam ciamco.

In cah duhmi cu, sum le pai le sinak tivek pawl hi thih zik tikah cun a thupi bikmi an si nawn lo. A thupi bikmi cu duhdawtnak le rualpi tha take care tu neih hi a si.

5.     Nuam deuh in rak um sehla ka duh nan.

Mi tampi cun, lungawinak le nuamte ih um ding hi kan inn sungsang ah rak hril sawn lo in, mithmai bak le thintawi le tawh-awk kan rak hrilmi a poituk tiah an sim. Kanmaih nun kel in nun kan tum ringring ih, hni suamso mithmai te kan rak hril duh lomi kan sir aw tuk tiah an sim.

Pathian thu ah nung tlaang in, thlacam tlaang in kan innsangah duhdawtnak, le lungawinak mithmai pante lawng tthangso ding in nung thlang uh tiah in cah.

___________________

A lettu: San No Thuan

Sharing to FBC Maryland at Dr. Za Hlei Thang’s residence

Pathian ih Siter In Duhmi Nun Daan

1 Thessolon 5:16-18

Michael Jackson ih thihnak thu ka ruah sal tikah riah tla a sia ih zaang a fak zet. Milian le mi hmin thang zet a si. Asinan, zaan a it thei lo tuk ih, ih a duh tuk ruangah nurse a hlanmi nu kha ih theinak si a phunphun a dil. Netabik cu, cu pawl khal in an ihthah ter thei lo ruangah, lunghlo sii (meh sii) I pe aw tiah a dil. Cunu cun, lunghlo sii ka lo pek hnu ah tho nawn hlah awla ziang na tuah ding a ti ih a pe duh lo. Michael Jackson cun a vaansan tuk ah Dr. Murray a hlang ih lunghlo sii than ding a dil. Cuih Doctor pa cun, a pek ih Michael Jackson cu a it that. Tawkfang cun, a thaw a sam ciamco ih a rei hlaan ah tho nawn lo in a thi lan ta.

U le nau pawl, zaan ihhmu thaw teih ihthah thei hi lei tlun sumpai in a lei thei lo sokhaw. Pathian zaangfahnak ruangih kan donmi thluasuah liolio a si. Na ihthah thei tikah lungawi thu na sim dah maw?

1 Thessolon 5:16-18 sungah Pathian in siter in duhmi nun daan pathum lo ruah ka duh:

1.     Lungawi ringring uh (1 Thess 5:16) Zumtu pawl kan lungawi ringring ding hi Pathian in in duhsakmi a si. Sumpai nan neih tik lawngah, nan damcah tik lawngah in ti lo. Lungawi ringring uh tiah in ti. Curuangah, lei tlun thilri le sersiammi minung le thilri zoh in nan lungawi uh tiah in timi cu a si hrimhrim lo ding ti a fiang. Ziangtin kan lungawi ringring thei ding? Amah Pathian thawn kan pawlkom awk ringring lawngah, Pathian hnen ih a rami lungawi hnangamnak thawn kan khat ding ih kan lungawi ringring thei ding. Ziangtin Pathian thawn kan pawlkom aw ding? Pathian ih duhmi hawlnak tuahnak thawn kan pawlkom aw ringring ding. Ziangtin kan hawl ding? Thlacamnak, Bible siarnak, le zumtu dang pawl thawn pawlkomawknak in kan hawl ding. Zumtu dang thawn pawlkomawk ti tikah, khawm tlaangnak khal in si thei, anmah minung rori thawn khal a si thei, an cabu nganmi siarnak khal in pawlkomawknak kan neih ding a thupi zet. Cuti in Pathian in anmah hmang in a duhmi in theih ter sin ding a si.

2.     Thlacam ringring uh (1 Thess. 5:17). Thlacam cu Pathian thawn pawlkomawk khi a si. Pathian thawn pawlkomawk tikah mitsing ringring cun kan um thei lo ding. Thlacam ringring uh in ti tikah, a sim duhmi cu:

a.     Ziangkim kan tuah tikah, Pathian kha ka lo rinsan; lam I hruai aw; ka nunnak ka lo hlan tiah kan ti ringring dingmi hi a si. Thlarau lam pa pakhat in, “Kei cu ka hnatuan a tam deuhdeuh le ka thlacam a tam deuhdeuh” tiah a ti. Asim duhmi cu hna pakhat a tuan zik tinte, Pathian hnen ah, “Bawipa himi hna ka tuan thlang ding, nangmah in a tha na ti bang in I hruai aw” tiah a ti ringring.

b.     Pathian in a lo umpi ringring timi khal cing ringring aw.

c.     Pathian na duh daandaan in lam I hruai aw; na duhmi lawng ka tuah ding tiah ti ringring aw.

d.     Pathian ka hrangah a thabik nangmah in na thei ih, I ret sak ti ka thei tiah lungawi thu sim in, na duhmi khal dil ko aw. Zumnak thawn Bawipaih puanzim a thamtu thisen kum 12 dok nu parah Bawipaih huham damnak a suak. Elijah in zumnak thawn ruahsur lo ding ih thla a cam tikah, kum thum sung ruah a sur lo. Zumnak thawn thla a cam sal tikah, kum 3 sung ruah a sur sal kha cing ringring uh. Nan dilmi nan ngah lo tik khal ah bei dong duh hlah. Pathian in na hrangah a tha bik a thei.

3.     Lungawi thu sim ringring aw (1 Thess 5:18). Thil tha lo kan tonmi ruangah lungawi thu sim uh in timi a si lo. Zumtu cun, hi famkim lomi leiram ih kan um sungah harsatnak hi leilung le leimi pawl in in pe ding. Asinan, Pathian in kan hrangah ziangkim hi a thabik in khua in khansak thotho ih, himi harsatnak sung khal in ka hrangah a tha bik in a remsal thotho ding timi thei in lungawi thu sim ding sawn kan si (Rom 8:28).

_____________________
San No Thuan
Thanksgiving Sermon at FBCMaryland
November 28, 2013

Khrihfa pawl in riahsiatnak kan ton tikah ziang kan tuah ding?

1 Thess 4:13 “Ruahsan ding zianghman nei lomi bangtuk in nan riahsia hlah uh.”

Khrihfa pawl in riahsiatnak kan ton tikah ziang kan tuah ding?

1.     Na riahsiat tikah na mangbang hlah. Na zumnak a mal ruangah a si lo. Na duhdawtnak a tum tuk ruangah a si sawn (Rom. 12:15).

2.     Bawipa, ziangruangah (why) ka parah hivek na can ter timi hnak in, Bawipa I duhdawt tuk ti ka thei. Ziangmi (What) I zirh duh timi sawn sut aw la, ka hrangah ziangkim a tha bik in lam I hruai ding ti ka thei ti in na hmailam a mah kha tuanvo pe mei aw (Rom 8:28).

3.     Pathian kha dungtun in nangmah lawng tuar hlah. Pathian hnen ah na thinharnak le riahsiatnak pawl kha ap sawn aw. Pathian thawn pawlkom aw in, na riahsiatnak pawl hmuahhmuah kha a mah sim in ruah sawn aw. (Saam 55:22, Matt. 11:28).

4.     Na riahsiat laitak ah lungawi thu sim aw (1 Thess. 5:18).

a.     Na tonmi harsatnak ruangah lungawi thu sim aw tinak a si lo. Anmah thawn kum ziang maw zat sung caan nan hman tlaangmi parah lungawi thu sim aw.

b.     Pathian in ka hrangah a thabik in hi vansiatnak par in, lam I hruai ding timi thu sawn ah lungawi thu sim aw (Rom 8:28). E.g. Jawti nu in a taansan tikah zokhal in kan thinhar cio ih kan riahsia. A faale pawl ziangtin khua an sak ding ti kan thinhar. Asinan, Jonathan timi mirang milian pa in a lak ih inn tha zet ah a ret, tlawng a kai ter, hnatuan thazet a hawl sak ih a tu cu a nu ih umlai hnak in an fim sawn, an cangkaang sawn.  

c.     Vanram ah nun nuam zet in na ret zo ruangah lungawi thu sim aw (1 Thess. 4:13ff, John 11:25).

5.     Na riahsiat lai tak ah, midang riahsia ninghangmi pawl kha hnem tum sawn aw (Kal. 6:2). Midang a hnemtu cu Pathian in midang hnem theinak le mah le mah hnem awk theinak khal a pe ve ding.

______________________

San No Thuan

November 13, 2013

U Phun Kar Thang teih inn

A u nu in a taansan lai

Man Successfully Sues Wife Over Ugly Children and Judge Orders Wife to Pay $120,000

                       

Jian Feng sued his wife for giving birth to what he called an “incredibly ugly” girl.

“I married my wife out of love, but as soon as we had our first daughter, we began having marital issues,” he told the Irish Times. “Our daughter was incredibly ugly, to the point where it horrified me.”

Initially Jian accused his wife of infidelity, because he knew he could never be the father of an unattractive child. However, DNA tests proved that the child was indeed his. Feng’s wife then came clean and admitted she had about $100,000 worth of cosmetic surgery done in South Korea before they met.

Feng sued his wife on grounds of false pretenses, for not telling him the truth about the plastic surgery, and duping him into believing that she was beautiful. A judge agreed with Feng’s argument and ordered his wife to fork over $120,000.

One word. Damn.

______

Honesty is the best and healthiest policy.