Last week I shared my desire to make sure that my salvation will be evident in all I am and all I do in 2018. This will become a reality when I follow Paul’s admonition in Philippians 2 where he writes that we must work out your salvation with fear and trembling. But how can I do this? What are the steps? I believe that God’s Word provides us with a process for making our salvation something that not only changes our lives but also allows us to impact the culture.
The first step in working out ones salvation is to work out what God has done in our hearts to impact our minds. Romans 12:2 says that we must avoid being conformed to the ways of this world by renewing our minds. This isn’t something that comes naturally. In 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, Paul explains how the effort to renew one’s mind can be best described as entering into spiritual warfare.
The human mind is the center that drives our decisions and actions in life. Because we are born with a sin nature, our minds have to be renewed if we are going to live lives that reflect the work of salvation that takes place in our hearts. The key to success is bringing all of our thoughts in line with God’s Word. This is what Paul meant when he wrote that we must bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. In essence, Paul says we must think biblically about every area of life. Christians must develop a strong biblical worldview. Kyle Idleman explained this in his book, Gods at War. He wrote,
It is time to choose a worldview and let it remake you.
This leads us to the next step. A renewed mind will remake us and will result in us developing Christ-like character. Christ-like character is the mark of a transformed life. As Christians develop Christ-like character, we will also see entire families being transformed. Our families will become kingdom-focused and parents will follow biblical principles in all areas of their parenting responsibilities, including how they educate their children.
Finally, when Christians work out their salvation in these areas, we will see culture influenced. BJ Press recently released a new textbook, Biblical Worldview. In this book the authors explain how a worldview is a set of basic beliefs, assumptions and values about life and the world. The book goes on to explain that a worldview produces individual and group action which results in human culture.
Today’s culture is a result of individual and group actions that are based on our society’s dominant worldview. This worldview is man-centered and completely secular in nature. If Christians are ever going to influence the culture, they will have to change their beliefs and their actions to be in line with the truth of Scripture. This is why we must work out our salvation with fear and trembling in 2018. Our children’s future depends on it.
Glen,
Profoundly simple, but simply profound. Evangelicals so often emphasize being born again, but without what should be a corresponding emphasis on discipleship leading to an on-going process of transformation through a Holy Spirit enabled renewing of the mind. This, indeed, is a vital part of “working out” the implications of our salvation! Thanks for this timely emphasis and reminder!
John Morrison
Unfortunately, many North Americans make their most significant decisions based upon feelings rather than rational thoughts or worldviews.Their minds are not the primary drivers for their decisions and actions. Their hearts are. Advertisers are well aware of that fact. (When was the last time you saw an ad for a car that primarily focused upon the vehicle’s mechanical advantages?) The pervasive ‘don’t think, feel’ ideology has captivated our continent. We in Christian schools must address both the hearts (emotional core) and minds (worldviews) of parents and students. Francis Schaeffer was right, “Christians cannot afford the luxury of engaging in spiritual warfare on just one front.”