Work Out Your Own Salvation?

Phil. 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.

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

Many oftentimes, Philippians chapter 2 verse 12 is often taught that the hearers must ‘work out’ their own salvation from the debt and penalty of sin against them. And they feel that one could ‘lose’ their justified standing in Christ, and no longer saved from the wrath of God against them. And they feel that walking in sin could ‘throw them right back’ out of the Body of Christ, and back into Adam again. And that their “salvation” is found by their ‘repentance,’ or asking for forgiveness unto God for their every day sins. But this type of ‘temporal salvation’ is not biblical, and it is not what the Holy Ghost “teacheth” to us by Apostle Paul in the book of Philippians. But there is another misunderstanding about the verses above by those who are in Christ and justified unto eternal life, and that is that the “work out your own salvation” is referring to ‘because you are saved, work it out in your sanctification walk,’ but this is not what Paul is teaching either.

Phil. 1:14] And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

Wherefore, we must understand that the book of Philippians is dedicated to the sufferings of Christ. And because this is the case, we must understand the context of the doctrine given unto us. Paul addresses those faithful Brethren who were preaching “of contention,” and of “fear,” and some were “ashamed,” this is the “salvation” of which Paul speaks. Paul teaches these faithful Brethren who were experiencing the sufferings of Christ that there is salvation from the effects of being “ashamed,” and being ‘afraid,’ and that it is by the “doctrine which is according to godliness.” And in Philippians chapter 1:28-30, Paul says that these faithful “sons” were experiencing “the same conflict” that Paul himself also suffered. But notice what he says in verse 29, “it is given on the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake.”

Phil. 1:18] What then? Notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

[19] For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

[20] According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

Therefore,  this is the “salvation” that Paul is referring to, remember Paul says in the verses above, that “this shall turn to my salvation,” and then he says, “in nothing I shall be ashamed.” We must understand the context of the doctrine given unto us in Philippians,  and the plight of the Saints who also were having the same “conflict” of the preaching of Christ according to suffering for Christ’s sake. And notice what Paul says, in verse 28, these Saints have “adversaries” to be “terrified” by. And what Paul teaches us in Philippians 2:12, is about “salvation” from fear and being ashamed as they preached the gospel. This Doctrine goes far beyond just living the sanctified life in Christ Jesus by His word, this Doctrine given unto us speaks unto the “strong,” and the Bible teacher who faces the persecution and opposition from this world because not only has he become a “living sacrifice,” but he now teaches others to be a living sacrifice for Christ’s sake as well. This type of faithful Saint is a threat to what Satan desires to accomplish today, and will go after the Saints and cause “fear and trembling” unto them, but through the doctrine of the God of Peace, he will have salvation from these sufferings.

Phil. 1:28] And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.

[29] For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

[30] Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

Finally, Paul says that it is “given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake.” And it is our inward man only that receives the salvation from the sufferings of Christ, and our ‘working out our own salvation’ deals with the effectual working of His word “working” in us and for us, this is why Paul says in the next verse, “for it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” And that is the Living Word of God working effectually within us regardless of the opposition, and persecution that we could face for Christ’s sake. And notice what Paul says in the verses below, that even though we are in the “midst of a crooked and perverse nation,” we are not to ‘fit right in,’ but we are to ‘stand out,’ and not be as the world, but oppose this world’s life. And being “blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke,” is contrary to the evil, and the persecution that the men of this world will throw at the Saints. But regardless, they are to “shine as lights” in the midst of Satan’s darkness, and they have they salvation of God’s Word to save them from the fear and trembling of being ashamed, knowing that it is given on the behalf of Christ to suffer for His sake as “sons.”

Phil. 2:15] That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

[16] Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

[17] Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.

[18] For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.

Rod Jones