WORK OUT YOUR OWN SALVATION

The Apostle Paul cautioned the Saints of Philippi, saying: “Therefore, my beloved, as you 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).

This passage is a Word of admonition (cautionary advice) to the people of God (the Saints) who have been washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of our LORD Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. But there are so many “untaught” and  unstable people who misinterpret the passage to their own spiritual demolition. 

As we share and preach the gospel of the water and the Spirit which is the embodiment of God’s “RIGHTEOUSNESS” to people, we encounter so many legalistic Christians who use Scripture passages like the one above to counter-attack us when we say that salvation is not by works of the “LAW,” but it is only attained through “FAITH” in the atoning work of the “GRACE” of Jesus Christ (John 1:17). But still, they misunderstand us in these things. 

There is a saying that, “A drowning man cannot be saved until he ceases to save himself.” This is a true statement. And until Christians comprehend this fact, they will continue to live a hypocritical life under the “LAW,” and trying to paint camouflage picture for everybody to believe that they are the “born again” who do not commit sins any longer. But in reality, they actually wallow in sin, and it spills from their hearts and thoughts continuously. 

When the Scripture through the Apostle Paul says, “WORK OUT YOUR OWN SALVATION with FEAR and trembling,” we need to understand the meaning of the “FEAR” which he was talking about. This will enable us to get the true picture of what he was trying to convey to the believers. Therefore I want us to look at a passage in Hebrews which is written by the same Paul as shown below: 

“Therefore since a PROMISE remains of entering His rest, let us FEAR lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the Word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with FAITH in those who heard it” (Hebrews 4:1-3). 

So just like the Philippians, the Paul advised the Hebrew Saints not to take their salvation for granted (fail to properly appreciate), but to take it very serious and to hold onto their “FAITH” in the true gospel until Christ comes back to take them and all of us Home (Heaven). Jesus gave us a “PROMISE” when He said, “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a PLACE for you. And if I go and prepare a PLACE for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:2-3).

That “PLACE” is what all born again Saints desire to be. For this reason, when we heard the true gospel of salvation, we believed wholeheartedly because Jesus said that unless we are born of this gospel of His water and the Spirit, no one can enter the “PLACE” that He was talking about in the passage that we just read. 

But after believing in the gospel, it doesn’t end there. This is because Satan does not give up on us. The Devil tries as much as possible with his fallen angels to use the false pastors, prophets, and other things to overthrow our “FAITH” in Jesus Christ. That’s why the Apostle Peter also cautioned us, saying, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your ADVERSARY the Devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. RESIST him, steadfastly in the FAITH...” (1 Peter 5:8). 

Brothers and Sisters, the Apostle Peter has also confirmed the fact that the Devil does not give up on us. But he uses many strategic schemes to bring our “FAITH” to an abrupt end so that he can “kill” us spiritually to be thrown alongside with him in hell fire. This is why he employs so many methods such as using false pastors and prophets, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, the pride of life, our human thoughts, and other things to subvert our “FAITH” in the righteous salvation of Jesus Christ. 

Therefore both the Apostle Paul and Apostle Peter were cautioning us to be sober, vigilant and “RESIST” this Devil who constantly uses those things as his evil tools to lead us astray, and to make us “FALL AWAY” from our pure faith which Paul described in Hebrews 6:4-6 as very dangerous. It is dangerous because Paul spoke by the Holy Spirit that there is no chance of repentance for any believer who FALLS AWAY.

That’s why Paul was telling the Philippians to “WORK OUT” their own salvation with “FEAR” and trembling. It does not mean they must “WORK” or do something in order to obtain salvation. Rather, he was telling them and all of us to keep on HOLDING onto the righteous salvation of God. And Jesus told us the same thing in Revelation when He said, “Behold, I am coming quickly! HOLD fast to what you HAVE, that no one may take your crown” (Revelation 3:11).

It shows that the Devil and his demons will do everything possible to “take” away what we “HAVE.” But we must never allow this to happen to any of us. And this is what Paul mean by, “WORK OUT YOUR OWN SALVATION with FEAR and trembling.”

May the name of the Lord Jesus be praised forever!