>>You taught, “Even Paul said he was working out his salvation in fear and trembling lest he lose his salvation.” Um, that is not what Paul wrote, but it was close so most will not catch the error.
Yes, I did misquote Paul, as you’ve pointed out. But I still would be interested to hear what you think his reason was for admonishing his followers to work out their salvation in fear and trembling. What did they have to be fearful and trembling about other than their loss of salvation?
The fear and trembling was attributed to not being saved in the first place, i.e. they needed to work out their salvation.
Philippians 2:112&13 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Since it is GOD WHO is in we Christian believers, raising us up in the way that we should go, and since 'fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom', and since Paul was writing to folks new to being guided by GOD in their human spirit, seeping through to their human soul/behavior mechanism, we can make a good guess that the relationship Paul analogized was that of small unruly child to the parent father.
Additionally, having been born from above decades ago and having been chastised by The Lord when I have not followed HIS gentle guidance, I can attest to HIS personal rebuke when a Christian gets too far from the way that they should go. Been there, done that, got the T-short ...
We may surmise this because of what Paul wrote in Galatians: "Galatians 2:2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain."
Further, we may apply the body of his other teaching and see the consistency of addressing the security of the believer, as in his passing reference, "Colossians 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:" and "1Thess 1:9For they themselves relate of us, what manner of entering in we had unto you; and how you turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God. 10And to wait for his Son from heaven (whom he raised up from the dead,) Jesus, who hath delivered us from the wrath to come."