What Does It Mean to Work Out Your Salvation?


Philippians 2:12-13 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

 Whenever Paul says "therefore" he is moving toward an application of the text.  In this case Paul is admonishing them to a life of humility and putting others interests ahead of themselves.  Their model is Jesus who did not not count equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself and became a servant unto death on a cross.  The word "servant" comes from the Greek word "doulos" which means "bondservant".  It is also translated "slave", though this word is not used much anymore because of the association with modern day slavery.  But the term basically means, "Someone has given up their rights to serve someone else."  As a Christian, we are called to serve Jesus which is what it means to be a follower of Christ. Where are "Christ-ians", which means "little Christs".  

 In today's passage, Paul uses the phrase, "Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling".  Many people confuse this to mean that one needs to do good works to be saved.  Paul would never teach this and it is completely opposite of everything he teaches to all the churches in the rest of his letters.  So what does it mean then?

 To work out your salvation means you already have it.  You are saved because of what Jesus did for you and your faith in it.  But once you are saved, it doesn't mean you have no role in living out what it means to be saved.  The word "saved" means to be "redeemed" or "delivered".  In our case we have been delivered from sin, death and the power of the devil. So since we are now freed from these powers that used to rule us, we can use our power in Christ to serve our neighbor.  Makes sense right?  

 Jesus showed us what God is like, as he completely lived out his life in service.  You will never see Jesus putting his own interests above those around him.  Jesus was never selfish, boastful or prideful.  Ultimately he showed the full extent of his love by dying for us. The ultimate act of service and sacrifice. 

 So Paul says now that you are saved, live out your salvation intentionally knowing how important it is to offer your life back to God.  Live in the freedom you have to serve and give yourselves to one another.  Finally, Paul says, "For it is God who works in you to will and act according to his good purpose." So even as we live out our salvation is it God working in us through the power of the Holy Spirit.  

 Where is God calling you to be a servant today? Where is he calling you to be humble and consider others' interests as better than your own?  Maybe it is at home,  with a friend, or at work!  Go be a Christ-ian.

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