Working Out Our Salvation

Philippians 2:12-13

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. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

An old mountaineer had lived a full but not exactly saintly life and now was on his deathbed. He summoned his weeping wife. "Sara," he said, "go to the fireplace and take out the third stone from the top." She did as instructed. "Reach in there," said her husband, "and bring out what you find." Her fingers touched a large Mason jar, and with some effort she pulled it up. The jar was full of cash. "Sara," said the old man, "when I go, I'm going to take all that money with me. I want you to put that jar up in the attic by the window. I'll get it as I go by on my way to heaven." His wife followed his instructions. That night the old mountaineer died. After the funeral his wife remembered the Mason jar and went to the attic. There was the jar still full of money and by the window. "Oh," the widow sighed. "I knew I should have put it in the basement."

It seems that Philippians 2:12 would easily receive resistance from the brethren. Paul here encourages the readers of his epistle to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling. For one reason, it disagrees with Acts 4:12. It also disagrees with John 14:6 and Hebrews 7:25. This interpretation of the verse calls for human capacity to save himself. This verse is now used by some to justify the doctrine of salvation through works.

But the Bible teaches that salvation is through faith alone and not by works. As Paul wrote in the book of Philippians to work out the salvation that we received, he also wrote in the book of Ephesians to receive salvation by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). And the Bible does not contradict itself.

Let us first understand the meaning of “working out one’s salvation”. The King James Version, New International Version, Holman Christian Standard Bible, English Standard Version, Good News Translation, Modern English Version, and New American Bible all used the phrase “work out your salvation with fear and trembling”. The Common English Bible used the phrase, “carry out your own salvation with fear and trembling”. In the Contemporary English version, we can read, “So work with fear and trembling to discover what it really means to be saved”. With all these versions and translations, we can see that Philippians 2:12 does not at all preach salvation through works.

There are three questions that can be asked for these two verses. First, who are this preaching addressed to? Next, how does one work out salvation? Lastly, how does God fit into the picture?

Who are this preaching addressed to?

This preaching is directed to the Philippian believers (Philippians 2:1-2). This preaching is for the saints, the redeemed, the saved, the believers, the Christians who live in Philippi. The hearers of this preaching also include the leaders of the church, the bishops and deacons. So, when Paul wrote this epistle, he had in mind the believers in the church of Philippi who are already saved by the finished work of Jesus Christ on the Cross.

How do we work out our salvation?

Salvation consists of two inconsistent issues. First, salvation is already accomplished (Romans 19:30). Salvation is accomplished by Jesus Christ on the cross.The Greek term for “finished” here is teleo, which means to bring to an end, to complete, or to fulfill. Since salvation is complete through the death of Jesus Christ, it does not need to be repeated. Jesus Christ needs not die on the Cross over and over. We do not in fact, need to attempt to recreate such sacrifice upon our own hands year after year. Imagine the many ways our brethren recreate such sacrifice over and over as if Christ’s sacrifice was not convincing enough, or not powerful enough.

Our Daily Bread has this story: A man once came to D. L. Moody and said he was worried because he didn't feel saved. Moody asked, "Was Noah safe in the ark?" "Certainly, he was," the man replied. "Well, what made him safe, his feeling or the ark?" The inquirer got the point. "How foolish I've been!" he said. "It is not my feeling; it is Christ who saves!"

Secondly, salvation is maintained (Romans 8:1). Salvation is maintained through a constant communion and daily walk with the Spirit (Colossians 1:21-23). We should continue to be grounded in the same faith that saved. What does Paul mean when he said that believers should continue in faith grounded and settled? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, grounded means mentally and emotionally stable; admirably sensible, realistic, and unpretentious. Paul wanted the believers to be mentally and emotionally stable with their salvation that they are settled within their minds that they are not moved by temptations, trials, and worldly pleasures. Believers are to be mentally and emotionally stable with the hope in the Savior and the decision to honor and serve God.

How does one work out salvation?

Believers can cultivate salvation. Like a plant, salvation is cultivated through the provision of the ground of truth, the nutrients of the Word, the sunshine of the Spirit, and the minerals of daily fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Salvation is worked out by bringing its power into its full effect. If believers are saved by the blood of Jesus Christ, believers should show the power of such salvation in full effect. In forgiving an erring brother of his wrongdoing, for example, one brings salvation into its full effect. In learning to trust God amidst persecution, one brings salvation into its full effect. In turning the other cheek when being harassed, then salvation is brought into its full effect. When believers pray with compassion for a brother or a sister who had gone astray, salvation is exercised into its full effect.

Believers work out salvation by actively pursuing spiritual maturity. After many years of enjoying salvation, do believers still get offended? After many years of enjoying salvation, do believers still feel bad whenever a sister or a brother ignores them? Believers naturally grow into spiritual maturity. When believers do not pursue such maturity in their Christian life, then they are not working out their salvation.

How does God fit into the picture?

When Paul admonished the Philippian believers to work out their salvation, he strengthened his admonition with the power of God (Philippians 2:13). When believers work out their salvation, it is not through the power of man that is at work, but it is the power of God. God is the power behind every Christian to will and to do of God’s good pleasure.

So, when believers think that it is impossible to cultivate, to maintain, to carry out, and to discover what it means to be save, then they simply deny what God can do for them.

As our salvation in Jesus Christ is complete, our salvation is too precious to lose. God empowers us to grow in our salvation, so we can worship Him and serve our brothers and sisters.

D. L. Moody, from "Day by Day with D.L Moody," shared this important insight about the thief on the Cross: The thief had nails through both hands, so that he could not work; and a nail through each foot, so that he could not run errands for the Lord; he could not lift a hand or a foot toward his salvation, and yet Christ offered him the gift of God; and he took it. Christ threw him a passport and took him into Paradise.