Work out your own salvation

So then, my beloved, even 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.

Philippians 2:12

For some time it has been a burden on my heart to give an extensive review of the statement Paul made there. I discovered that it is mostly misunderstood, as people explain it to mean you having to save yourself by yourself, or you bringing down your salvation by the works you do.

As much as that has always sounded correct, sounding correct does not prove it is not erroneous.

Four things worth holding on to before we go further:

• You must possess God’s salvation to work it out
• Salvation from start to finish is God’s work
• Although it is God’s work, it requires diligent effort on our own part
• Salvation has practical, interrelational implications

What Paul was not saying

If it is by grace, it is no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. — Romans 11:6

For being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. — Romans 10:3

Not by works done in righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, which He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour. — Titus 3:5 to 6

And by Him every one that believeth is justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. — Acts 13:39

Where then is the glorying? It is excluded. By what manner of law? Of works? Nay: but by a law of faith. We reckon therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. — Romans 3:27 to 28

Without explaining further, those few verses establish it. What Paul was referring to is not for you to initiate your salvation, or to cause your salvation to exist by doing good or putting up some actions.

So what was he talking about?

What “work out” actually means

Let us X-ray the phrase. To work out means to evolve, to cause a result, to cause to develop. As regards physical exercise, it means to exercise constantly to develop the features of the body.

Working out something means subjecting yourself to constant practice, meditation, exercise, study or play, to ensure that the thing being referred to is brought to maximum output.

Now Paul said, work out your own salvation.

Simply, he was saying that you should see to it that you live worthy of your calling. Ephesians 4:1 to 4. That you should keep practising the things of the Spirit. Jude 1:20. That you should not do away with the first love which you had upon the salvation you received through Christ and believing in His redemptive work.

He was saying that you have been saved, yet do not be a child. It is up to you to see that you utilise the Holy Spirit to ensure that you grow, and stop being babes who crave only milk. Milk. Milk. But labour to ensure that you get your teeth sharpened to handle the meat that comes with the bread.

He was saying that, knowing well that out of your belly shall flow rivers of living waters, do well to deepen your heart to hold more of the water, which is the Word of God, as it is the source of life which is the salvation of Christ to all men.

So

Work out your own salvation. Do not be lazy.

God is too responsible to call and save you into irresponsibility.

That is what brother Paul was saying. We do not get this confused any longer. We are aligned to the unity of one faith. We are continually made to prosper as touching anything that concerns the kingdom of heaven. Our eyes of understanding are enlightened, and we are made better.