Bible Verse

[Grangermiya]

Philippians 2:12–13​

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.

The Philippians have obeyed (cf. Christ’s obedience, You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.) in the past and should continue to do so as they work out their salvation with fear and trembling. They cannot be content with past glories but need to demonstrate their faith day by day as they nurture their relationship with God. But while God’s justice is a cause for sober living (“fear and trembling”), it is not as though Paul wants the Philippians to be anxious that they can never be good enough to merit God’s favor. Rather, it is God’s love and enabling grace that will see them through: it is God who works in you. They can rejoice in God’s empowering presence even as they work hard at living responsible Christian lives. While You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. may seem to suggest salvation by works, it is clear that Paul rejects any such teaching (cf. You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.). In You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. Paul means “salvation” in terms of progressively coming to experience all of the aspects and blessings of salvation. The Philippians’ continued obedience is an inherent part of “working out” their salvation in this sense. But as You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. demonstrates, these works are the result of God’s work within his people. both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Even the desire (“to will”) to do what is good comes from God; but he also works in the believer to generate actual choices of the good, so that the desires result in actions.

 

[OrangeMoon]

The reason the Philippians needed to work out their own salvation was that it was God who was at work among them, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. That sounds contradictory, doesn’t it? But the Bible puts both together. We’re not saved because we choose God; we’re saved because God willed to save us.