Ozzie:
So it sounds like you turned to a church organization rather than Christ Himself to “fill your emptyness.” Christ is not the Church and the Church is not Christ. It is Christ Himself who gives eternal life, not any church. And the only life He gives to any sinner who comes to Him by faith is “eternal.” “Everlasting life” in Him (Jn. 3:14-18).
The passage you quote above is about working “outwardly” the salvation you already HAVE “inwardly.” To work “out” one’s salvation is not the same as working “for” one’s salvation. What you state above is essentially “for” your salvation and is erroneous. That’s why you think you cannot know if you’re saved (besides your church telling you that). But the BIBLICAL message, not Roman Catholic or Protestant, is very explicit. The true believer can know without a doubt that he/she IS forever saved through personal faith in Jesus Christ (Jn. 20:31; 1 Jn. 5:13; Rom. 5:1-2). To say differently is a different gospel. “Gospel” means “good news.”
St. Paul did not believe that he had already secured everlasting life in heaven. He does not talk as one that is “saved” and therefore guaranteed salvation.
1 Cor 9:24 “Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.
25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
26 Well, I do not run aimlessly, I do not box as one beating the air;
27 but I pommel my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”
What would Paul be disqualified from? What is the prize?
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Phil 2:12 “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
13 for God is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”
What is there to fear if your salvation is already secure?
Rom 11:22 “Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness; otherwise you too will be cut off.”
What would they possibly be cut off from?
Matthew’s Gospel tell us that we must persevere to the end to be saved.
Matt 24:13 “But he who endures to the end will be saved.”
None of us, Catholic or Protestant should
presume upon God’s mercy, (“Not then the kindness and severity of God”). We are all subject to sin and any one of us are capable of being disqualified, that is unless we endure to the end, working out our salvation with fear and trembling. There is no fear or trembling if we say, “
I know for sure that I am going to heaven when I die!”. Many of us that falsely believe that we are secure will certainly be surprised in the end.
1 Cor 10:11 “Now these things happened to them as a warning, but they were written down for our instruction, upon whom the end of the ages has come.
12 Therefore let any one who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.”
Brothers and sisters, TAKE HEED!
