Philippians 2:12-13
“So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”
These verses have caused some confusion among Christians because some believe they are saying that we have to earn our salvation, or that salvation is based on works. I don’t believe that is the case. Notice that Paul addresses the epistle (1:1) to “saints”; so the people to whom he is addressing the letter are already Christians.
I think Paul is exhorting the Christians to exercise, or put into practice, their belief. We begin exercising our belief by becoming knowledgeable of the Bible and by staying true to the convictions we gain from it. A consistent prayer life is critical to working out our salvation. How can we know the will of God for us without communicating with Him? When we sin, we confess that sin immediately (I John 1:9) so that we remain in right relationship with Him. That gives the Holy Spirit free reign to influence our decisions and our actions.
These steps lead to the outward manifestations of the Christian life. Our lives reveal the fruit of the Spirit which is “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control”(Gal. 5:22-23). As we do that we are able to develop and maintain the relationship with other Christians: “being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose”(Phil. 2:2). We are also able to live our lives before non-Christians as God desires.
The book of James has much to say about working out your salvation. In 2:24, 26 he explains “You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone…..For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.” I would encourage you to carefully study this book.
Salvation is a free gift of God and there is absolutely no way we can work our way to an eternity with Him. Once we are saved it is our responsibility to learn to live the way God desires and to then put those convictions into practice.
These verses have caused some confusion among Christians because some believe they are saying that we have to earn our salvation, or that salvation is based on works. I don’t believe that is the case. Notice that Paul addresses the epistle (1:1) to “saints”; so the people to whom he is addressing the letter are already Christians.
I think Paul is exhorting the Christians to exercise, or put into practice, their belief. We begin exercising our belief by becoming knowledgeable of the Bible and by staying true to the convictions we gain from it. A consistent prayer life is critical to working out our salvation. How can we know the will of God for us without communicating with Him? When we sin, we confess that sin immediately (I John 1:9) so that we remain in right relationship with Him. That gives the Holy Spirit free reign to influence our decisions and our actions.
These steps lead to the outward manifestations of the Christian life. Our lives reveal the fruit of the Spirit which is “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control”(Gal. 5:22-23). As we do that we are able to develop and maintain the relationship with other Christians: “being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose”(Phil. 2:2). We are also able to live our lives before non-Christians as God desires.
The book of James has much to say about working out your salvation. In 2:24, 26 he explains “You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone…..For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.” I would encourage you to carefully study this book.
Salvation is a free gift of God and there is absolutely no way we can work our way to an eternity with Him. Once we are saved it is our responsibility to learn to live the way God desires and to then put those convictions into practice.
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