Babies are born to grow. In the same way, you should “grow up into salvation” (1 Peter 2:2). In Romans, Paul makes this same point about changing for the better. He refutes the lie that “grace” lets people get away with deliberate disobedience. Paul reminds Christians how they started. In baptism, they died to their sins. Now raised, their lives should reflect the reality of their new birth.
In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life . . . (Romans 6:11-13).
Keep dying to yourself. Keep living up to what the Good News has done for you. Which is to say,
“Let your manner of life be worthy of the Gospel of Christ” (Philippians 1:27).
As you continue to submit to God, He continues to work powerfully in you.
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, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure (Philippians 2:12-13).