Lessons In Truth - Lesson 9 - Annotation 10
How do we work out our own salvation?
10. We need to understand the meaning of the word salvation before we can say how it is worked out. Webster's Dictionary gives the meaning of the root word for salvation as "to save" implying deliverance, preservation from destruction or calamity. However, Webster throws more light on the word for our use in considering man's spiritual unfoldment, for we read further: "That which saves or delivers from danger or difficulty; the source, cause of means, of preservation." All our Truth study has impressed us with the understanding that it is the Christ within, sometimes termed the I AM, that can save and deliver us from difficulty; that this inner God Presence is the real source of the protection that we seek. Therefore, we can say, "God is my salvation" (Isa. 12:2). If our spiritual nature, our God self, the Christ, is our salvation, then salvation is a gift of God.
"For by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God" (Eph. 2:8).
A gift can neither be worked out nor earned, so what do we mean by "working out our salvation"? This has reference to all the work that has to be done in our soul (thinking and feeling) so that we are able to accept the gift so freely offered to us and then to express it understandingly. Part of this work will be denial of error beliefs, especially of the belief that we are separated from God. Another important part of "working out our salvation" will be that of speaking affirmations. It is only after we have done the work of cleansing our consciousness of beliefs that are not based on Truth that we are ready to lay hold of divine ideas. Our soul has to be trained to accept the truth that salvation is ours right now because our true salvation is our indwelling Christ nature. We may have to do much mental work, and a great deal of prayer work, to impress this truth on our soul. All the discipline we use in cleansing our consciousness of error (denial) and filling it (affirming) with Truth ideas helps to build a poised state of mind. Then we can accept the truth that our divine nature, the Christ, is our salvation.
The text points out on pages 99 and 100 that we must go beyond the mechanics of denials and affirmations (Emilie Cady Lessons In Truth 9:28). We must come to the place of stillness that we call "the secret place of the Most High" and let Spirit, the I AM, or Christ, do its work in us. It is much like preparing the soil for seed, then allowing the life principle in the seed do its work of growth so that it will become the plant or tree that God intended it to be. When we "let" God work in us, we are actually giving our consent and preparing the way for fulfillment of His purpose for us. God never forces Himself on us but awaits our acknowledgment of His presence. Jesus said, "My Father worketh even until now, and I work" (John 5:17), which shows reciprocal action between God as Father and us as His sons. God works in the sense that He moves His ideas into expression through us to accomplish His good; we work by preparing our consciousness to be a clear channel for this good to manifest; thus we "work out our own salvation."
The hours I've spent with Thee, dear Lord,
Are pearls of priceless worth to me.
My soul, my being merge in sweet accord,
In love for Thee, in love for Thee.
Each hour a pearl, each pearl a prayer,
Binding Thy presence close to me;
I only know that Thou art there,
And I am lost in Thee.
Oh, glorious joys that thrill and bless!
Oh, visions sweet of love divine!
My soul its rapturous bliss can ill express
That Thou art mine, O Lord! that Thou art mine'.
-- Myrtle Page Fillmore
(Best-Loved Unity Poems 90).
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Preceding Entry: For what purpose did man come into the world?
Following Entry: Explain why "finding the secret place" may be instantaneous but the full development of the Christ consciousness cannot be hurried.
