Fil Filippin 2:12, Pawlu kiteb lill-qaddisin f’Filippi, Aħdem is-salvazzjoni tiegħek bil-biża’ u t-tregħid. Forsi dan il-kliem jinstema’ stramb f’widnejk. But these words of Paul still apply to the saints in Christ Jesus. Although people are saved by Jesus Christ, it’s up to the people to stay saved. Every Christian should work out his own salvation. No one can do that for the other. But how do you work out your own salvation?
Does the church doctrine correspond with the truth of God?
People think so easily about salvation in the Christian faith. This is mainly because many churches mixed the words of God with the words of man. They created doctrines that deviate from the truth of God and His Word.
Because of wrong doctrines, many Christians have created a wrong image of the gospel and adhered to a false faith.
They think that by reciting a few words (confession) and by doing an act (magħmudija), you will be saved once and for all, despite the way you live.
But does the Bible confirm this doctrine? (Aqra wkoll: Huwa darba salvati dejjem salvati Bibliċi?)
If it was that easy and it wouldn’t matter how you live and what you do and you can’t fall from your faith and lose your salvation, then why did the apostles warn the saints in Christ Jesus for apostasy?
Why did they speak about running the race of life, holding fast to the faithful word and the faith, apostasy, preventing an evil heart of unbelief, working out your own salvation with fear and trembling, resisting sin, enduring temptation, and persevering and keeping the faith until the end? (lill-. 1 Korintin 9:24-27; 10:12, Lhud 6:4-6; 10:23-31, 2 Pietru 2:20-22)
Why did they speak about all these things, if it wouldn’t matter anyway?
God gave power to become the sons of God
Kien fid-dinja, u d-dinja saret minnu, u d-dinja ma għarfux. Huwa daħal għal Tiegħu, u Tiegħu ma laqgħuhx. Imma kemm irċevewh, tahom is-setgħa li jsiru wlied Alla, anki lil dawk li jemmnu f’ismu: Li twieldu, mhux tad-demm, lanqas tar-rieda tal-laħam, lanqas tar-rieda tal-bniedem, imma ta’ Alla (John 1:10-13)
Hija l-grazzja ta’ Alla, that God gave the ability to every human to be saved and become sons of God (Dan japplika kemm għall-irġiel kif ukoll għan-nisa. (Aqra wkoll: What does it mean the law was given by Moses, grace and truth came by Jesus Christ?)).
You are saved by faith in Jesus Christ and His redemptive work. Bil-fidi, irċevejt l-Ispirtu s-Santu. God gave this freely to you, by faith and not by works.
You are not saved by following a set of rules, ritwali, regolamenti, and laws (which are written in the law of Moses or are set in a church), or humanistic works. But you are saved by the blood of Jesus Christ, by His work.
If you are saved and born of God and are a son of God (Dan japplika kemm għall-irġiel kif ukoll għan-nisa), you shall live as a son of God.
The life of a son of God
Imma issa qed issir ħielsa mid-dnub, u jsiru qaddejja lil Alla, Int għandek il-frott tiegħek għall-qdusija, U l-ħajja ta ’tmiem eterna. Għax il-pagi tad-dnub hija l-mewt; imma d-don ta’ Alla hi l-ħajja ta’ dejjem permezz ta’ Ġesù Kristu Sidna (Rumani 6:22-23)
Bħala bin Alla, you shall live in submission to God in obedience to His Word in the Light. Dan ifisser, you shall no longer live as a son of the devil in rebellion towards God in disobedience to His Word in darkness. (lill-. John 8:12).
You have been made righteous and made free from sin. Għalhekk, m'għandekx tibqa' timxi fid-dnub, imma int trid timxi fis-sewwa. (Aqra wkoll: Dejjem tibqa 'midneb?).
You are cleansed and sanctified in Jesus Christ; il-Kelma. And by faith in Him and obedience to His words, you shall stay sanctified in the truth of the Word (John 17:14-21).
Every person has been given the ability and the power of God to become a son of God and remain a son of God or to return to the world and pick up his old life.
Someone can leave Jesus and the faith in Him and return to the world and live like the world under the influence of worldly spirits at any time.
God doesn’t force anyone! God has given every person a free will and the freedom to make his own choices in life. But every choice has consequences (Aqra wkoll: Dak li tinżergħa, Int taħsad)
Kun qaddis, for God is holy
Għalhekk għożż il-flett ta’ moħħok, tkun sober, u tittama sal-aħħar għall-grazzja li għandha tinġieb lilkom fir-rivelazzjoni ta’ Ġesù Kristu; Bħala tfal ubbidjenti, Mhux qed tfassal lilkom infuskom skont l-ex-xewqat fl-injoranza tiegħek: Imma kif hu li sejjaħlek huwa qaddis, Mela kunu qaddisa f'kull mod ta 'konversazzjoni; Minħabba li huwa miktub, Kun qaddis; Għax jien qaddis (1 Pietru 1:13-16)
Many Christians have a carnal mind and created a god in their minds after their own image. They believe that God adjusts His will and words to the time we live in and to the will, Lust, u x-xewqat tal-laħam.
Minħabba dan, many churches have become world-like and have approved and accepted the works of the flesh.
Jgħidu, that you can keep walking after the flesh, living like the world in sin, u jirtu l-ħajja eterna.
Iżda għal darb'oħra, the Bible doesn’t confirm this doctrine but says something else.
God is not created by (ir-rieda ta ') Bniedem (from his carnal mind) after the image of man. God is also not created for man, to submit to the will of man and obey and serve man.
But man is created by (ir-rieda ta ') God after His image. Man is created for God, and to submit to God and obey and serve God.
It is not God, who must give account to man for His words and works on the Day of Judgment. But it is man, who must give account to God for his words and works on the Day of Judgment.
The restoration in Christ
Il- (ġdid) man is restored (imfejjaq) in Christ from his fallen state and reconciled with God. The new man should be renewed and changed into the image of God. This happens by the renewing of the mind with the Word, minn iwarrab ix-xjuħ, tilbes il-bniedem il-ġdid, living in submission to Jesus Christ, and walking after the Spirit in obedience to God in the truth.
It is a lie, that the works of the flesh lead to eternal life. Għax tgħid il-Kelma, that the works of the flesh lead to death.
Therefore faith in Jesus Christ, riġenerazzjoni fiH, u l- proċess ta’ qdusija are essential for every human being.
You are sanctified in Christ and through obedience to Him you stay sanctified
Christians should realize that Jesus has given His life for this! Kull persuna, who has been born again in Christ has been made free from sin and death. The person has been given power to become a son of God and live as a son of God.
You live as a son of God by living in obedience to the Father and His Word and doing what Jesus has said and commanded you to do.
You have been sanctified in Christ. Permezz tal-ubbidjenza lejn il-Kelma; il-Verità, you remain sanctified.
Madankollu, obedience to the Truth of God’s Word has consequences for your life on earth. (Aqra wkoll: Xi jfisser li tgħodd l-ispiża?)
A son of God has become an enemy of the world
Imbagħad qal lil Ġesù lid-dixxipli Tiegħu, Jekk xi raġel jiġi warajja, Ħallih jiċħad lilu nnifsu, u ħu s-salib tiegħu, u segwini. Għal kull min isalva ħajtu għandu jitlefha: u kull min jitlef ħajtu għall-fini tiegħi għandu jsibha. For what is a man profited, jekk jikseb id-dinja kollha, u jitlef ruħu stess? jew x'għandu jagħti bniedem bi skambju għal ruħu? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then He shall reward every man according to his works (Mattew 16:24-27)
Intom adulteri u adulteri, ma tafux li l-ħbiberija tad-dinja hija mibegħda ma’ Alla? kull min għalhekk ikun ħabib tad-dinja huwa l-għadu ta’ Alla (James 4:4)
Another lie that is preached is, that a son of God is a friend of the world and that you be loved by the world.
Għax tgħid il-Kelma, that although you live in the world, m'għadx tagħmel parti mid-dinja, imma int ta’ Alla.
You belong to God and bear the Name of Jesus Christ. Għalhekk, the world hates you. (Aqra wkoll: Għaliex id-dinja tobgħod lill-Kristjani?).
Permezz tar-riġenerazzjoni, m'għadx tagħmel parti mid-dinja, but you become an enemy of the world.
Instead of saying and doing what the world says and does, and being led by your will, sentimenti, u emozzjonijiet, you shall obey, jitkellmu, u agħmel il-kliem ta’ Alla
“The world can’t hate, Imma jien jobgħod”
Id-dinja ma tistax tobgħodkom; but Me it hateth, għax nixhed biha, li x-xogħlijiet tagħhom huma ħżiena (John 7:7)
If the world hated and persecuted Jesus, because Jesus spoke the words of God; the truth of God, and did the works of God, imbagħad dawk, who are a new creation and belong to Christ and follow Him and speak His words and obey His commandments and do His works, shall also be hated and persecuted by the world.
Il-Wieħed, who abides in you disapproves of the works of the flesh
Il-Wieħed, who abides in you does not approve the works of the flesh. But He convicts the world of sin, of judgment, u tjieba (John 16:8-12).
By walking after the Spirit in obedience to the Word, you shall no longer be loved by the world. You shall be hated, L-istess bħal Ġesù. Because by your words and speaking the truth of God and doing righteous works, you testify that the words of the world are lies and the works of the flesh are evil and lead to (etern) mewt.
Jesus spoke the words of the Father, whereby Jesus revealed the truth of God to the house of Israel. Madankollu, the truth was not always appreciated. Since the truth of God opposes the will of the flesh. The truth of God means death for the works of the flesh. (Aqra wkoll: X'tgħid il-Bibbja dwar il-ġuvni?)
But Jesus was not intimidated or influenced by the people. Jesus held fast to the truth of God and kept speaking the truth of God, whereby Jesus was hated and experienced persecution, in His life, which eventually led to His death (Aqra wkoll: It-tbatija u t-tgergir ta’ Ġesù Kristu).
The sons of God are hated and persecuted by the world
Jekk id-dinja jobogħduk, intom tafu li kienet tobgħod Lili qabel ma kienet tobgħodkom. Kieku kont tad-dinja, Id-dinja kienet tħobb tiegħu: imma għax intom m’intix tad-dinja, Imma għażiltlek barra mid-dinja, Għalhekk id-dinja jobgħodkom. Ftakar il-kelma li għidtlek, Il-qaddej mhux ikbar mill-Mulej tiegħu. Jekk ippersegwitawni, Huma wkoll jippersegwitawk; Jekk żammew il-qal tiegħi, Huma jżommu tiegħek ukoll. Imma dawn l-affarijiet kollha se jagħmlulek minħabba Ismi, għax ma jafux lil Dak li bagħatni (John 15:18-21)
Jien tajthom kelmtek; u d-dinja kienet jobgħodhom, għax mhumiex tad-dinja, Anke kif jien mhux tad-dinja. Nitlob mhux li int teħodhom mid-dinja, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil. Mhumiex tad-dinja, Anke kif jien mhux tad-dinja (John 17:14-16)
The people hated the disciples of Jesus and persecuted them, due to their obedience to Jesus; il-Kelma.
The disciples obeyed the words of God. They preached the gospel of Jesus Christ and the truth of God and stood in the faith, minkejja l-konsegwenzi.
They knew they had become an enemy of the world and they hated them. Because they testified of their evil works. Just like their Saviour, Master, u Mulej. Madankollu, they were not intimidated or influenced by the people.
They remained faithful to Jesus and the Father and His words and commandments and were led by the Holy Spirit.
The disciples were spiritually awake and watchful. The apostles and shepherds of the churches didn’t allow anything or anyone to come in their way.
The disciples stayed awake and watchful and worked out their salvation with fear and trembling
Ye are of God, tfal żgħar, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. Huma tad-dinja: għalhekk jitkellmu huma tad-dinja, and the world heareth them. Aħna ta’ Alla: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hawnhekk nafu aħna l-ispirtu tal-verità, u l-ispirtu ta 'żball (1 John 4:4-6)
They protected the gospel of Jesus Christ and the truth of God and warned each other of false teachers.
As soon as a false teacher arose from among the believers in the church or a false teacher entered from outside and became a threat to the church, they warned the churches.
If there was a spiritual danger and someone went in the wrong direction, which led to apostasy, and the behavior of the person defiled the holiness of the church, they confronted, kastigat, and corrected the person, and called the person to repentance.
And so they warned each other and kept each other awake. They remained spiritually watchful and worked out their own salvation with fear and trembling. Because they knew, what the new life as a son of God contained.
They knew their adversary and the spiritual dangers, imma huma guarded the gates of the church.
Their love for Jesus and the fear of God was so big that it overwhelmed their earthly life. Ma kienux iħobbu ħajjithom stess, they loved Jesus and lived for Him.
This attitude must return to the Body of Christ; il-Knisja. So that the Church of Christ becomes a power of God again instead of a social institution. (Aqra wkoll: Il-knisja hija istituzzjoni soċjali jew qawwa ta’ Alla?)
Aħdem is-salvazzjoni tiegħek bil-biża’ u t-tregħid
Għalhekk, l-għeżież tiegħi, as ye have always obeyed, mhux bħal fil-preżenza tiegħi biss, imma issa ħafna aktar fin-nuqqas tiegħi, agħmel is-salvazzjoni tiegħek bil-biża’ u t-tregħid. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, Ulied Alla, without rebuke, in the midst 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 laboured in vain (Filippin 2:12-16)
The faith has become your new life instead of an addition to your old life.
Some Christians talk and act piously when they go to church and/or when they are in the presence of fellow Christians, but as soon as they are home, alone or in the company of unbelievers, they speak and act like the world and do things that oppose the will of God. Permezz ta’ ħajjithom, they deny the Word and live in rebellion and disobedience to the Word.
Many Christians don’t resist sin and don’t endure temptation. But they give in to the temptation.
They believe that by that one choice they made, they are saved forever. No matter what they do. They believe that sin won’t harm them. (Aqra wkoll: Tista' tuża dinja miksura bħala skuża?)
But it does matter, if you know His will and you know that something isn’t good to do and you do it anyway.
“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering“
Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Għax jekk nidinbu volontarjament wara li rċevejna l-għarfien tal-verità, Ma jibqax aktar sagrifiċċju għad-dnubiet, Iżda ċertu biża 'li qed tfittex ġudizzju u stmerrija ħerqana, li għandu jiddevora l-avversarji (Lhud 10:23-27).
If the Holy Spirit, Whom you have received from the Father, dwells in you and you obey Him and do what He says, you will be led by the Holy Spirit.
You shall no longer live, as you lived before in ignorance of the truth in disobedience to God and His word. You shall no longer do the works of the flesh and give into sin. But you shall resist sin and endure in temptation. (Aqra wkoll: Tista 'tirreżisti t-tentazzjoni?)
You shall obey Him and work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God, Who works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.
The sons of God are blameless, ma jagħmilx ħsara, without rebuke, holding forth the word of life
You shall do all things without murmurings and disputings. Because following Jesus is not always easy. You shall experience setbacks, reżistenza, and persecution from the people around you. Madankollu, if you love Him you stay obedient to Him and keep His commandment.
You do everything while being grateful to Him. So that you shall be blameless and harmless, Ulied Alla, without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life.
Therefore put your trust in God and hold forth His words and don’t let them slip. Let not (the words and works of) dawk, who are the ħolqien antik and belong to the crooked and perverse generation and the ruler of this world and serve him, influence you.
You are responsible for your own salvation. Għalhekk, agħmel is-salvazzjoni tiegħek bil-biża’ u t-tregħid. Standfast in the faith and obey the words of God, and walk in His truth, until the end.
‘Kun il-melħ tal-art’
