#37 Top 40 New Testament Passages: Work Out Your Salvation (Philippians 2:12-13)

Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12-13)

It's spring and a lot of people are gong outside, even in this time of quarantine, enjoying the sunshine and doing active things. They ride bikes, walk their dogs, mow, landscape and run. Working out is essential to athletic performance. If you would do well in a sport, you must be fit. You must work out. If you would have a faith that will go the distance, spiritual workouts are essential.

The Apostle Paul encourages the church in Philippi that they should continue to work out their salvation. Quite often when we speak of salvation, we talk about forgiveness of sin and entry into heaven upon our death. Faith in Christ is the key that opens the way to heaven. But Christian faith is much more than going to heaven. As Richard Foster once said, "Our faith is less about getting us into heaven and more about getting heaven into us." 

It's not that the promise of heaven is unimportant, it is. The promise of heaven is a reward that gives hope and drives faithfulness. But do you obey God only because you want heaven? Do you follow Jesus only because you fear hell? Of course not! We serve God out of love and gratitude in response to God's love for us. Maturing Christians know that the life to which we are are called is one of transformation. We are being made new in the Spirit of Christ. We are being conformed into the image of Jesus. As Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans,

I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2)

What are we being saved from? We are being saved from the power of sin in our lives. Before we knew Jesus Christ, we had no choice but to fall to sin's power. Sometimes we didn't even know we we sinning because we were ignorant of God. And even when we did know right from wrong, we still sinned out of weakness. The spirit may be willing, but the flesh is weakened by sin. 

It's the same for everyone, that is until Jesus. He was tempted in every way as you and I are tempted, but did not sin. Jesus conquered the power of sin in himself for our sake. He rose from the dead that we might share in his victory over sin and death. For sin leads to death. God raised Jesus from the grave and all who hope in Christ receive that death-defying power through the Holy Spirit. The Spirit works in us to make us more and more like Jesus. 

Paul says to work out your salvation. He means to continue in your journey of transformation, for none of us have reached perfection in Christ. This view may strike you as unhealthy perfectionism. Our perfection in Christ is what we are to be working toward. Our complete transformation is what we are saved for so that we might be servants of the Kingdom of heaven on earth. To work out your salvation is to be dedicated to your further development as a Christ follower. Our transformation will lead us to good works that transform the world. Until others can look at you and see only Jesus' perfect love can you claim to have reached the goal. Press on and know that God will complete the good work begun in you. (Philippians 1:6)

This may sound like a tall order. It is! And the good news is that you are not alone. You have the Church's witness throughout the centuries helping to point the way. Even reading this blog is an example of help from a brother in Christ. But your help doesn't stop with other Christians who support your progress in faith. The true helper is God! God is working in your heart, mind and body. God helps you to want to do as Jesus would do. God helps to reduce your fleshly cravings and increases your desire for Christ. As you grow in Christ your desire to please the Lord will take center stage. 

For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from the fathers, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish. (1st Peter 1:18-19)

You recognize that things you thought were important to you have paled in significance compared to knowing and serving Christ. Because everything in this world is coming to nothing. Nothing compares to the life-giving love of Christ. This is why Paul felt that everything he had achieved in his life as a Pharisee he now considered to be rubbish.

Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him... (Philippians 3:7-9a)

So continue to work out your transformation in Christ until you are completely a person that loves as Jesus loves, and does and Jesus does. Trust the transforming work of love happening within you as you cooperate with the Holy Spirit's guiding voice. God is fashioning in you a new person, raised to share in the glory of Christ. 

How might you work out your salvation? By doing what Jesus did. By following the pattern set by the apostles in the New Testament witness. Consider yourself called to a life of holiness. We work out our salvation by abiding in Christ through daily spiritual practices of prayer, study and meditation. You are set aside solely for God's redemptive purpose in the world. You are empowered by Christ through the Spirit to offer hope by sharing the gospel. You are send out in the authority of Christ to bring healing, help and holiness. You are sent as a worker of justice, restoring right relationships in society. As we work out our salvation we offer up our lives in spiritual worship. Each thought,word, and deed is done in love for the sake of God's glory.

As you pursue completion in Jesus Christ, you will know doubt suffer setbacks and failures. We are in a spiritual battlefield. There are spiritual forces of wickedness at work against the advancing Kingdom of God. Stand firm in the knowledge that not even the gates of hell can stand against the Church of Jesus Christ. God will bring the victory. We only need to remain faithful to our calling. God will complete the redemption of all creation. We are the firstfruits of a new creation that began in the resurrection of Jesus. The old is passing away. The new has come! Continue then to grow into this new world God has opened to you through faith in Christ in in His mighty power.