Work out your salvation?

[Steve L]

This is probably very basic for some of you, but I'm new to this, so....

We read in Phillippians 2:12

"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."

How can we do that if we cannot earn our way to Heaven?

 

[smithed64]

You should read before and after each verse, if you haven't done so already.

Before v.12. Paul is talking about how God came down to be the sacrifice, and how while He lived He was Humble and showed others the Love the Father had for them. And through that love became the sacrifice so that we might be saved.


From v.12 onward. We see Paul telling those Born Again, to serve God without grumbling or arguing amongst your brother and sisters in Christ...why? So you may be blameless and pure...(how many times have you heard the lost say "well the church is full of hypocrites and gossipers and such" and "there's more divorce in the church today than ever") This is because of people doing just the opposite of what Paul preaches here. Because we live in a crooked and perverse society today, maybe worse then they did When the letter was wrote. And they look for any reason not to be amongst those who claim Christianity.
We are to be lights unto the World, then Paul tells how to do that, by holding on to the word of life (the bible) just as Paul has. Because He set up the church there in Philippi and didn't want it to be in vain.

Your right though, we can't earn our way into Heaven.

But once we are Born Again, we are to work to show our faith.

 

[Ken Behrens]

The work is to continue accepting Christ's guidance, even when the world interferes. You don't earn your salvation, but you don't let it be stolen either (like some of the seed the sower sowed).

 

[Greg J.]

I interpret it to be a reference to a facet that James mentions in James 2:22. When we genuinely believe, we are saved, but that is not the end of our transformation. There are additional changes in us as we continue to walk with Jesus. (James is referring to the type of faith that saves, and not "dead faith.") Fundamentally, every time we obey with a right heart we are changed. Since we must "work out" our salvation, I see the verse as a reference to the continuing fight to be obedient, which continues to transform a person. God is our Savior, not just from the consequences of sin, but in all other ways, as well, such as being saved from our spiritual infancy and fallen character (sanctification).

 

[hedrick]

For what it's worth, the Word commentary says that this is addressed to the church. His comments so far were that way, and the words involved are plural. The term translated "salvation" is also used in contemporary documents for "heath."

Note also that in vs 13 he says that it is God working in them, so no matter whether you read it individually or corporately, this is not saying that they are responsible for doing this on their own.

 

[ronandcarol]

How can we do that if we cannot earn our way to Heaven?

We cannot 'work out our own salvation', as it was freely given to the believer by God. But we must put an effort into our new christian lives that we have been redeemed to. I remember a line I read a couple months ago by, (Muller) We must work out what God in His grace has worked in.

ronandcarol

 

[Greg J.]

Salvation in a fuller meaning than is usually used is not an event that happens at a single point in time, it is a new life.

but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:14, 1984 NIV)

 

[John Hyperspace]

This is probably very basic for some of you, but I'm new to this, so....

We read in Phillippians 2:12

"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."

How can we do that if we cannot earn our way to Heaven?

This isn't meaning to 'do works of your own power and will which will earn you salvation' but as others have commented, this is meaning 'that which works in you works to your own salvation'; the idea that you acknowledge God to 'work' these things out through you, to your own salvation, even in troubling times, do not resist what God is accomplishing through and for you, but allow it to be worked out through you.

This is the mind of Christ of which the apostle speaks. Jesus was not afraid of His enemies because He knew that God was behind them all (even if they didn't know it) and was working through them and through Christ for the purpose of the glorification of His Son. Many times people won't comprehend that what are perceived as 'bad things' are in fact, very good things in the end of it.

So, Peter tried to stop the guards from taking Jesus to the cross, and what did Jesus do? He told Peter to put his sword away. Not to fight, because these things are all the will of God in our lives. We never need resist those things that happen to us, as we should know that even the bad things are the will of God in our lives. Forgive me to speak a little long here, but at Mark 8:31-33 we see Jesus speaking of His death and Peter stands in opposition to this, not understanding that this is the will of God (Peter is not understanding that the bad things, are good things which 'work out' our spirit to the glory of God, and our own salvation) and Jesus calls Peter 'Satan' in this instance. Because Peter has become an adversary to the will of God, and wants to stop it from happening.

Now, here are some passages I will keep to a minimum, but will more fully convey this idea:

Romans 5:3 Now you see why we glory in tribulation? Because tribulation works patience, and we want patience. So we willingly endure tribulations when they come, knowing they are sent of God for our own good, in the 'working out' of our salvation, or, as a means of transformation, bringing us closer and closer to the image of the son.

2 Corinthians 7:10 Now we see again this 'sorrow' which works out repentance. So we understand that the purpose behind sorrow is a good purpose, in that God is sending these trials and tribulations upon those He loves in order to bring them out of darkness and increasing in light the more and more to the fulness.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 We see here that it is indeed the very Word of God that is working in us, to guide us and push us along this working out of the salvation for the goal of gloification.

James 1:3 Again we see that trial works out patience; 'bad things' work out 'good things'; no pain, no gain, we might say.

Colossians 1:29 Now we see that our labor itself is according to the working of God in us, and that not of ourselves.

Galatians 5:6 You see it is faith itself which itself is the working of love; that is, the love of God toward us.

Now here are a few verses from the cited letter:

Philippians 1:28-30 Now we see the apostle telling us, not to be terrified of our adversaries. Most men are afraid of adversity because they don't understand the purpose of adversity. But what did Jesus say to Pilate? He said: John 19:11 You see, Pilate mistakenly thought these things were under his power, and will, and control- but they were not. None of these things could be done unless God allowed them to be done, and if God allows it to be done, then it is for the working out of good in us. Thus, never be afraid of anything at all, because nothing can do any hurt to us unless God has sanctioned this; and if God has sanctioned it, then do not resist it, nor run or fight; but submit yourself to the will of God, even to the point of the cross. And glory follows, in that of, the resurrection.

Philippians 2:5 You see, let this mind be in you, this mind of Christ which gladly endures all that God sets before Him; who did not call down legions of angels to resist the will of God, be He Himself humbled Himself to suffering according to the will of God, and the salvation of the world: Philippians 2:8

Philippians 2:12-13 Now we come to the cited verse, yet be sure to note the verse following, and understand that it is the work of God which works in you, working out your own salvation.

Philippians 2:15 You see, that we may be blameless and harmless; unlike many others who said 'I am the Christ' and lead many to resist the Romans to their death; yet Christ did not revile, nor fight back, but 'worked out' His own salvation through the workings of God in Him, as should we, and to be called, holy and blameless in the sight of God.

1 Peter 2:23

 

[Steve L]

I think I understand, I appreciate your comments. I'm a Catholic that has begun reading the Bible and I am noticing many things that lead me to believe I may have been going about this all wrong. Having been a Catholic for most of my 47 years I am terrified of making the wrong decision (moving my family away from the church). Non Catholics are heretics, there is no salvation outside the church, all of that has been ingrained into me. Please pray for me.

 

[Ken Behrens]

It's impossible. This was added to the New Testament by people who did not know Christ.

If you are correct, could you please give us a list of what other verses there are that have been added by others who did not know Christ? We need to know what verses to ignore.

 

[Soyeong]

This is probably very basic for some of you, but I'm new to this, so....

We read in Phillippians 2:12

"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."

How can we do that if we cannot earn our way to Heaven?

The Bible speaks about our salvation in the past, present, and future tenses (Ephesians 2:5, Philippians 2:12, Romans 5:9-10), so we have been saved from the penalty of sin, we are being saved from continuing to sin, and we will be saved from God's wrath on the day of the Lord. According to Titus 2:11-14, our salvation involves being saved from the penalty of our lawlessness by Jesus giving himself to redeem us from all lawlessness, but it also involves being trained by grace to do what God has revealed to be godly, righteous, and good, and trained to renounce doing what God has revealed to be ungodly, sinful, and lawless. We can't do anything to earn the payment for the penalty of our sins, so working out our salvation refers to the training that we are receiving by grace in the present.

 

[giftofGod2]

I see it as being like the working out of a math problem.

In 2+2 = 4, the 4 may represent our salvation, the first 2 may represent Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross and the second 2 may represent our living faith in Jesus Christ.

Every element of 2+2 must be present if you want to get the 4.

So it may be referring to the fact that from God's perspective, being outside of time, the 4 is a given, but from our perspective the 2+2 still needs to be worked out.

 

[giftofGod2]

@SteveL

From your statement it seems to me that you know deep down that there is salvation in Christ outside of the Catholic Church. I will pray for you.

Some verses to consider: 1 Timothy 2:5 and Hebrews 13:13.