"WORK OUT YOUR OWN SALVATION"
Philippians 2:12-18
April 6, 2008
Ilexene Alphonse
Salvation does not come from reformation or good works or a good life, but from a sincere looking up to God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
The apostle Paul describes the two-part process God uses in Philippians 2:12-13, where he says, "Work out your own salvation," and then turns around and says, "It is God who works in you." It sounds like a contradiction, doesn't it? But it isn't. It is a paradox. The British sage describes a paradox as "truth standing on its head to get attention." Paul's writings contain many paradoxes.
The key to understand this paradox is the little word "out" in verse 12. Notice that Paul doesn't say, "Work FOR your salvation." There is a big difference. To work for something means to earn it, to deserve it, to merit it. The Bible clearly teaches that salvation is not something we have to work for, it is a free gift of God's grace. Paul says work OUT your salvation. Paul is talking about a spiritual workout.
What do you do in a physical workout? You develop or tone muscles that God has given you. To work out means to cultivate, to make the most of what you have been given. That is what Paul says here. Cultivate your spiritual life.
"Work out your own salvation" does not suggest "work for your own salvation." To begin with, Paul was writing to people who were already saints, which means they had trusted Christ and had been set apart for him. The verb, "work out," carries the meaning of "work to full completion," such as working out a problem in mathematics. In Paul's day, it was also used for working a mine; that is, getting out of the mine all the valuable ore; working a field, so as to get the greatest harvest possible. The purpose God wants us to achieve is Christ-likeness, to be conformed to the image of his Son, according to Romans 8:29. There are problems in life, but God will help us to work them out. Our lives have tremendous potential, like a mine or a field, and God wants to help us to fulfill that potential.
One of the wonderful things about being a Christian is the knowledge that God has a plan for our lives, (Ephesians 2:10), and he will help us to work it out for his glory. Our God is a God of infinite variety! No two flowers are the same, no two snowflakes are the same; therefore, we should not do what someone else does, or what someone else expects us to do. Why should two Christians be the same? All of us must be like Christ, but we must also be ourselves.
The phrase, "work out your own salvation," probably has reference, particularly, to the special problems in the church at Philippi, but the statement also applies to the individual Christian. We are not to be cheap imitations of other people, especially great Christians. We are to follow only what we see of Christ in their lives. "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ." (1 Corinthians 11:1, King James Version). Every great Christian has feet of clay and ultimately may deceive you, but Jesus can never fail you.
THE BELIEVER'S LIFE AND THE LIVES OF THOSE IN THE WORLD
In Philippians 2:14-15, Paul contrasted the life of believers with the life of those who live in the world. Unsaved people complain and find fault, but Christians rejoice. Society round us is twisted and distorted, but the Christians stand straight, because they measure life by God's Word, the perfect standard. The world is dark, but Christians shine as bright lights. The world has nothing to offer, but the Christians hold out the Word of Life, the message of salvation through faith in Christ. In other words, as we allow God to achieve this purpose in our lives, we become better witnesses in a world that desperately needs Christ. Apply these characteristics to Jesus, and you will see that he lived a perfect life in an imperfect world.
It is very important to note that this purpose is achieved in the midst of a perverse generation. Paul did not tell us to retreat from the world and go into a spiritual isolation. It is only as we are confronted with the needs and problems of real life that we can begin to become more like Christ.
THERE IS POWER TO RECEIVE.
The principle Paul laid down is this: God must work IN us before he can work THROUGH us. This principle is seen throughout the Bible in the lives of men like Moses, David, the apostles, and others. God had a special purpose for each man to fulfill, and each man was unique and not an imitation of someone else. For example, it took God forty years to bring Moses to where he could use him to lead the people of Israel. As Moses tended sheep during those forty years, God was working in him so that one day, he might work through him. God is more interested in the workman than the work. If the workman is what he ought to be, the work will be what it ought to be.
So many Christians obey only because of pressure on the outside, and not power on the inside. Paul warned the Philippians that not his presence with them, but the desire to obey God and please him was the important thing. They could not build their lives on Paul, because he might not be with them for long. It is sad to see the way some churches and ministries weaken and fall apart because of a change in leadership. We have a tendency to please men and to obey God when others are watching. But when you surrender to the power of God within you, then obedience becomes a delight and not a battle.
The power that works in us is the power of the Holy Spirit of God. In Philippians 2:13, it is God's divine energy at work in us and through us. The same Holy Spirit who empowered Christ when he was ministering on earth can empower us as well. But we must recognize the fact that the energy of the flesh and of the devil are also at work. Because of the death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ, God's divine energy is available to us. (Ephesians 1:18-23). The power is here, but how do we use it? What tools does God use? There are four tools that God uses to work in our lives:
1. His Holy Spirit
2. His Word
3. Prayer
4. Suffering
In addition to his Holy Spirit, one of tools God uses in changing our lives is THE BIBLE. Through Scripture, he teaches us how to live. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us that the whole Bible was given to us by inspiration of God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It helps us to do what is right. It is God's way of making us well-prepared at every point. Has the Bible transformed your life?
I heard about a converted cannibal sitting by a large pot reading the Bible when an anthropologist came and asked, "What are you doing?" He replied, "I am reading the Bible." The anthropologist scoffed and said, "Don't you know that modern, civilized man has rejected that book? It is nothing but a pack of lies. You should not waste your time reading it." The cannibal looked at him from head to toe and slowly replied, "Sir, if it weren't for this book, you'd be in that pot."
The word of God changed his life and his appetite. If you are serious about working out your own salvation, if you are serious about changing your life, you need to read it and memorize it and apply it.
God also uses PRAYER to change us. If we want God's power working in us, we must spend time daily with the Word of God, but we must also pray, because prayer is the third tool God uses to work in the lives of his children. Pray without ceasing. Pray about everything and anything.
Finally, God's fourth tool is SUFFERING. The Spirit of God works in special ways in the lives of those who suffer for the glory of Christ. Read 1 Peter 4:12-19.
The Holy Spirit, the Word of God, Prayer, and Suffering are the four tools God uses in our lives. Just as electricity must run through a conductor, so the Holy Spirit must work through the means God has provided. As Christians read the Word of God and pray, they become more like Christ. Let us pray.
Loving and merciful Father, thank you for eternal life through your Son, Jesus Christ, who died for our sake, Pleas help is to work out our salvation. Keep us in your word today and forever. AMEN.