Making Disciples for a Salvation not our own.

"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" Philippians 2:12

St. Paul writes the above to the Church in Philipi.

Work out our own salvation continuously

St. Paul asks the Church to "work out your own salvation". Salvation is not something already achieved, as some would like to claim. It has to be continuously "worked out", strived for, struggled for, fought for. Even when we understand the truth that salvation is a free gift by grace, we realize, it has
to be worked for, and here St. Paul underlines this crucial truth.

In the light of this verse, let us examine another theme also which we often hear about:
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Matthew 28:19

Evangelization is the fruit of proper Christian living

Is it not strange that there is a call to "make disciples" of all nations, even while we need to "work out our own salvation"? Isn't it a paradox? How do we deal with both at the same time? If we are unsure of ourselves, how do we help save another? Will it not be like the blind leading the blind? We are not yet owners of the salvation we seek, yet we are called to invite others to it - how do we do it???

Do we "make disciples" on one day and "work out our salvation" on the next? Can these two tasks be compartmentalized? Are they mutually exclusive? Does not one require the other? Does not one flow from the other? I believe, it does. So how do we deal with this apparent contradiction?

Turn to the Orthodox Church for the answer

The Orthodox Church is also called a Eucharistic society. The Holy Eucharist forms the central focus of all our acts. It is the Queen of all Holy Sacraments. It is the Ultimate "Act of Love" as aptly called by Paulose Mar Gregorios of blessed memory.


It is primarily through the Holy Eucharist that we "work out our salvation", as we participate in the life of the Church.

Through the Holy Eucharist, we are given the Holy Body and Blood of the very Creator. Just like Mary carried Christ within her, we carry Christ within ourselves, and with this great and real communion with God, we are empowered to live a life sanctified in Christ. With this power we go back to the world, with Christ in us. As we live this life in Christ and with Christ, healed by Christ, we are (able) to deal with the others without ill-will, with genuine respect, and with true love and concern, and by so doing, we radiate the brilliance of Christ into the surroundings, into the world, into the society - by our words, by our actions, by our deeds. Thus we (need to) affect the surroundings, influence the others, challenge the society, change the world, and finally result in "making disciples" of the nations.

Thus the focus is always on "working out our own salvation" but in so doing, we end up "making disciples" too. Both (should) happen together and seamlessly. If today we are worried that we are unable to "make disciples", it is really because we are not properly "working out our own salvation" (which then should really be what should concern us!). Really we should only be worried about how we approach our own salvation. This may sound selfish, but when this part is set right, the Holy Spirit in us will be able to work through us naturally on the "make disciples" part.

The only question to ask for us is - 'Am I living my life worthy of the Christ in me?'

This, I believe, is the approach to mission of the Indian Orthodox Church, and this I believe, is the only way in which mankind can truly "work out his own salvation" and "make disciples" of all nations simultaneously, continuously and in perfect obedience of the Holy Scriptures.

Here's wishing, hoping and praying that these two verses from the Holy Scriptures challenge our lives so that our light shines before men, that they may see our good deeds and praise our Father in heaven.

Source: ICON