Asbury Bible Commentary – C. Cooperating With God (2:12-13)
Resources chevron-right Asbury Bible Commentary chevron-right C. Cooperating With God (2:12-13)
C. Cooperating With God (2:12-13)

C. Cooperating With God (2:12-13)

Therefore (v.12), in light of the humble, self-sacrificing service called for, continue to work out your salvation with “awe inspired by . . . the divine presence” (Beare, 91). This is a call to perseverance, which requires human cooperation. “Here is our duty,” says Wesley. This is to be done because “it is God who works in you,” to which Wesley responds, “Here is our encouragement.” That there is paradox in perseverance is obvious. Salvation is ultimately the work of God’s grace; but his grace is effective in salvation only as we “trust and obey.”