Continue to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,
for it is God who works in you.
Philippians 2:12-13
It’s easy to point to this verse as proof that you must work for your salvation. However, working out your salvation is different than working for your salvation.
Here’s what the Amplified version of this passage says:
... Continue to work out your salvation [that is, cultivate it, bring it to full effect, actively pursue spiritual maturity] with awe-inspired fear and trembling [using serious caution and critical self-evaluation to avoid anything that might offend God or discredit the name of Christ]. For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for his good pleasure.
Philippians 2:12-13
In this passage from Philippians 2:12-13, remember Paul is talking to Christians—people who have already confessed their sins to Jesus and become saved. Perhaps Paul would have addressed this topic differently if he were writing to people who had not yet been saved.
Working Out Your Salvation is Like Going to the Gym
Salvation is a free gift from God, which is why you can’t work for it. Salvation isn’t based on what you do, but on what Jesus has already done on the cross. You just have to receive what He’s already done for you.
Working out your salvation is like going to the gym—it takes time, effort, and consistency to build a strong body. Have you ever seen those people who show up to the gym? They’re laser-focused; and probably have a gallon of water; and charts to write down the weights they’ve lifted.
That’s not me. When I show up at the gym, I do a few curls, hit a few machines, and after about 20 minutes, I’m ready to go get a bagel. Anybody with me on that? But Spiritually, that’s not going to cut it. It takes focus, effort, and discipline to build a strong Spiritual body.
Make Every Effort
The Bible calls us to make every effort to grow in our faith.
Make every effort to present yourself to God as one who is approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed…
2 Timothy 2:15
Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy.
Hebrews 12:14
Make every effort to add to your faith, goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control…
2 Peter 1:5-6
In other words, don’t quit! Keep working at this. Make every effort to:
- Live without shame (2 Timothy 2:15).
- Live in peace with everyone and be holy—which means to be set apart (Hebrews 12:14).
- Grow in your faith by adding goodness, knowledge, and self-control to it (2 Peter 1:5-6).
Give God access to all of you. Allow the Holy Spirit to do His full work in your life.
Renew Your Mind
Renewing your mind isn’t something you have to do on your own—the Holy Spirit does this in you. But you do have to work with the Holy Spirit, who renews your mind by filling it with the truth of God’s Word. You can’t renew your mind if you keep filling it with the same old trash on Netflix and Hulu.
When you read the Bible and go to church, you’re giving the Holy Spirit something to work with (to renew you). As the Word and worship are being declared over your life, you begin to realize some of the lies you’ve been listening to. You begin to replace those lies with the truth of God.
Watch Your Words & Thoughts
Instead of saying negative things about other people, God will tell you to find words that echo His words over their life. This brings your words in alignment with God’s Word. Or maybe your thought life runs unrestrained. The Bible says that a person’s uncontrolled thoughts are like a city without walls: you have no defense against the enemy and his attack. That’s why the Holy Spirit asks you to bring your thought life under His rule in your life.
Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Philippians 4:8
So, what must you personally bring under the authority and rule of God in your life? What step can you take today to become more like God?