I don’t want to sound all over the board, but I think this thing is rather hard to precisely articulate. I say that because I agree with your post except for your phrase “work out our own salvation:, though I agree with what follos it in parentheses.
Thank you RR -- however, this is not my words, but from the Bible and echoed in the catechim. These are Church teachings. We are told in Phil 2:12 to
12Wherefore, 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. Remember also Matt 10:22
| 22And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. |
matt 24:13
| 13But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. |
Mark 13:13
| 13And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. |
So clearly we must "endure" in our Faith to the end, not reject our God-given salvation
Also, we are told to have belief
Mark 16:16
| 16He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned |
Luke 13:3
| 3I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. |
Rom. 10:9
| 9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. |
Rom 10:13
| 13For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. |
yet Matt. 7:21
| Not every one who says to me, "Lord, Lord," shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven |
John 3:3
| 3Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. |
and finally 1 Pet. 3:21
| 21The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: |