Work Out Your Salvation, Not For It

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. (Philippians 2:12)

Paul was not writing to Christians to tell them to work for their salvation. That would contradict everything else he wrote in his epistles. What he was communicating was something far more powerful: you and I are called to work out what is already in us. The Greek word for “work" here is katergazomai, meaning to work fully, accomplish, finish, or perform. The subject of the sentence is not God but rather it is you.

Paul was saying, "You do this. You perform it. You accomplish it. You work it out." Why would he say that? Because before he said it, he reminded the reader of who Jesus is and what He did. Jesus, being in the form of God, stepped out of glory, wrapped Himself in human flesh, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Because of that obedience, God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name above every other name. That is what you are standing on. That finished work is inside you in the person of the Holy Ghost.

And then Paul wrote that God is working in you. The Greek word used is energeo, which means actively and efficiently. The Holy Spirit is actively working inside you, carrying out His will and empowering you to do His good pleasure. He wants you healed. He wants you to be provided for. He wants you delivered. He wants you walking in victory. That is His good pleasure for you. However, whether this manifests depends on whether you work it out.

The Holy Spirit is in you, ready and waiting for you to take action. Stop waiting for Him to do what He is waiting for you to release.

Practical Application

Identify one area where you have been passively waiting on God to act—something He is waiting for you to activate. Open your mouth, speak the Word, and take the corresponding action. Work out what God has already placed in you.

Philippians 2:5; Philippians 2:8