Work Out Your Salvation
Is Salvation by Works?
Php 2:12-13 NASB So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; (13) for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
The Bible speaks about working out our salvation with fear and trembling. One of the questions I had for the Lord about this scripture is:
"Lord, my salvation is by faith, so why did You say that I need to work out my salvation?
Is salvation by works and dependant on my performance and obedience to the law?
And, why did You mention fear and trembling when You also said we can worship You without fear? (Romans 8:15, Luke 1:74). Lord, fear comes from the fear of punishment for wrong and your perfect love casts out ALL fear in me.
I wanted to know what that scripture means because I knew the Bible does not teach salvation by works, but by faith.
Let's build first a foundation for understanding our salvation through the scriptures, so we can see what our salvation is founded on.
How were we saved?
Ephesians 2:8-10 "For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so that no one can boast. (Why is it not from myself and not from works?) For (because) we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them." –
We see that salvation is by grace,
It is through faith,
It is not of ourselves,
It is the gift of God,
It is not of works so that no man can boast before God about his performance and how self righteous he is.
Why is salvation not of myself and not of works?
Because I am God's workmanship;
Therefore salvation is all from God and completely not from anything I have done right. It's not me working, but God who is working in my life. I am His workmanship.
Therefore, we were saved by grace, through faith as a gift from God.
Do you work for a gift? Do you pay for a gift? No! A gift is given freely from love.
His "workmanship" means in the Greek: the work of God, that which has been made as the result of work; what is produced; not the act of making.
The focus is on the doing itself and not what is made.
But why is it not of ourselves and not a result of our works? "Because we are His workmanship"; Meaning:
- We are saved by grace through faith because we are what He has made,
- We are saved by grace through faith because we are the result of His work,
- We are saved by grace through faith because we are what He produced,
- We are saved by grace through faith because we are His doing,
Therefore, working out our salvation CANNOT be something we DO or PERFORM by our own doing or works. In God's Kingdom we don't work for His gift or pay for it. We freely receive all things from Him.
If we received the Most Precious of all (Messiah) freely, how can it be that God asks for a price or works to receive Him?
It's God who provided a Lamb sacrifice when we think we need to sacrifice of our most precious to God. Abraham had such mindset and thought God needed his son. No, God provided His own beloved Son who is sinless and blameless.
It's God who built us a Temple in three days when we think we need to build ourselves by our own hands.
It's God who gave us gifts when we think God needs anything from men.
God did everything and when He finished His works, He rested. He wants His children to find rest as well in His finished works.
The direction for us to take in understanding this scripture is the direction of FAITH; of believing what Jesus has done and His finished works, because we were saved by faith and not by work and not of ourselves.
Salvation is through sanctification (being set apart) by the Spirit (not of our own) and through faith in the truth.
(2Th 2:13 NASB+) But we shouldG3784 alwaysG3842 giveG2168 thanksG2168 to GodG2316 for you, brethrenG80 belovedG25 by the LordG2962, becauseG3754 GodG2316 has chosenG138 you from the beginningG746 for salvationG4991 throughG1722 sanctificationG38 by the SpiritG4151 and faithG4102 in the truthG225.
Therefore our salvation is through faith in the truth – by believing the truth of the gospel (good news).
(Eph 1:13 NIV) And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,
Since salvation is by faith in the truth which is the gospel, we see in the Bible that salvation is the outcome of believing.
The fruit (outcome) of our faith (in the truth of the gospel) IS the salvation of our souls.
(1Pe 1:9 NASB+) obtainingG2865 as the outcomeG5056 of your faithG4102 the salvationG4991 of your soulsG5590.
Meaning our salvation is a result of believing the truth of the gospel.
This suggests to us that our part in bearing this fruit of salvation is to have faith, to believe the truth of the gospel.
So, we need to grow in faith in order to obtain as outcome the salvation of our souls.
In 1 Peter 2:2-3 Peter speaks about growing in our salvation and he explains to us HOW we can grow. He explains to us that the way to grow in our salvation is by tasting the kindness of the Lord. Meaning growing in knowing how much He loves us and cares for us and believing it.
1 Peter 2:2-5 NASB like newborn babies, long for the pure (sincere, true) milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, (3) (how can you grow in salvation?) if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. (4) And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, (5) you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
This means that salvation is not just a state of our being before God. We also need to GROW in our salvation. Therefore our salvation as we also saw in 1Peter 1:9 is an outcome – a fruit that grows by tasting the kindness of the Lord.
Peter explains: We are to desire the sincere milk of the Word so we can grow in our salvation by tasting the kindness of the Lord – not His harshness.
The fact that we grow in our salvation by tasting the kindness of the Lord shows us that the works which is related to our salvation is GROWING in knowing and experiencing the kindness of the Lord.
Peter explains what tasting the kindness of the Lord has to do with: "coming to Him knowing that He Himself was rejected by men, so He understands you. But also knowing that even though men rejected Him; He is precious in God's sight. Therefore, you are to come to Him as living stones and let Him build you up. How? By Tasting His kindness".
How do we know that He builds us up as we taste His kindness?
Peter speaks about tasting the kindness of the Lord and then mentions experiences of rejection and coming to Him to be built up.
The building up is related to the rejection and the way to be built up by Him is to taste the kindness of the Lord. No more the harshness through the old covenant.
- This shows us that our salvation is founded on how much God loves us and we are being built up on His kindness, and His nature of love towards us.
- It shows us that growing in our salvation means growing in faith because faith is all about having a good opinion of God; it's believing God that He is kind, He loves you and cares for you.
- Therefore, being saved by faith through grace means being saved by believing in Jesus who wants you to be built up on His kindness.
- The kindness of God leads us to repentance (to think differently) about God's love for us and believing Him that He loves us.
This is why the disciples wrote:
1Jn 4:16 NASB We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love,
Who would write that now he believes and knows that God has love for him?
Only someone who did not know love would write something like that. That's the Bride. She doesn't know or believe that God loves her.
Coming out of the law (harsh nanny) all she knows is harshness, demands, obey, perform, work and work some more to meet the demands of the law. The law demands righteousness from man.
Isn't it how Jesus built Peter after he was sifted?
He revealed to Peter how much He loves Him God's love (Agapao) and made sure Peter knows he can only love Him human love (Phileo).
Peter was founded on the law and how much He loves God with all his heart. He thought he would die for Jesus.
However, Jesus revealed truth to him after allowing him to fail in his performance; to show Peter "it's not how much you love Me and die for Me; it's how much I love you and gave My life and My all for you".
When Peter got it that he cannot love God the way God loves him, Jesus chose him to feed His sheep on that revelation of truth. Jesus could have chosen John the beloved to feed His sheep; but He chose messed up Peter who had truth revealed to him through his failures.
No, God doesn't design our failures and pits. He knows the enemy will trap us and He uses it to reveal truth to us so we can be set free, and then go and set others free.
Back to our original scripture:
Php 2:12-13 NASB So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, (obedience in the NT is obedience to faith = believing, not obedience to the law) not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; (13) (Why with fear and trembling?) for (because) it is God who is at work in you, (meaning, not you working in you) both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
Just as you have always obeyed (believed); work out (accomplish, bring about), your salvation with fear and trembling.
Why do they need to accomplish their salvation with fear and trembling?
Because it is God who is at work in them. This shows us they didn't know it is God (and Him alone) who is at work in them. According to the Greek it means: He is the one who is active in them, efficient in them, effectual in them, mighty in them, who shows forth Himself in them.
Meaning they believed THEY ARE THE ONES who are at work in themselves; they are the ones who are active, efficient, effectual, and mighty and show forth their self (effort).
We know their righteousness was from the law and by works because Paul writes to them in chapter 3 not to put confidence in the flesh (Php 3:3) and to count everything they think they are as loss. Then he tells them that right standing with God is not of our own from the law; but through faith in Christ.
Php 3:9 NASB and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,
Trusting their own works and not the works of the Lord made Paul be concerned about their faith and this is why he told them to have the attitude Christ had. He tells them not to regard themselves equal with God.
Php 2:5-6 NASB Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, (6) who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, (to be seized, robbed, retained)
Since they trusted their own works for their right standing with God they had no regard for the works of the Lord. They regarded themselves equal with God as if they were the ones doing the works. Meaning their right standing with God depended on their performance. This is why the fear and trembling – because trusting our own performance and self righteousness is as a filthy rag before God and pride.
This is why when the Lord mentions the wicked, He says they show no regard for the works of the Lord (Psa 28:3,5)
Job 37:7-8 MKJV He seals up the hand of every man, so that all men may know His work. 8 Then the beast goes into its lair, and it remains in its dens.
There is no way they could have grown in their salvation through faith; because the law of works is not of faith (Gal 3:12). Remember, the outcome (fruit, result) of our FAITH is the salvation of our souls.
Therefore, believing that their salvation is by their own performance through the law which is not of faith put them in a place where they better fear and tremble.
Since the outcome of our faith is salvation, having no faith because they were under law of works meant having no outcome of salvation.
Paul did not want them to think they are saved by their performance; but to know that it is God who is at work, active efficient and effectual in them.
The church in Philippi trusted their works and therefore did not need grace because "if it's of works it is no longer of grace" (Rom 11:6).
Those who are righteous by the works of the law have fallen from grace:
Gal 5:4 NASB You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.
God says to His people that their righteousness and deeds will not profit them.
Isa 57:12 NASB "I will declare your righteousness and your deeds, But they will not profit you.
Paul wanted them to grow in their salvation by growing in faith – believing it is the works of the Lord, not their own.
Therefore, the working out of their salvation has to do with right believing – faith - that God is the One who works, active, efficient, effectual and shows Himself forth in them; not of themselves.
Jeremiah 32:30 NASB "Indeed the sons of Israel and the sons of Judah have been doing only evil in My sight from their youth; for the sons of Israel have been only provoking Me to anger by the work of their hands," declares the LORD.
Psalms 9:15-19 MKJV The nations have sunk down in the pit that they made; their foot is caught in the net which they hid. 16 Jehovah is known. He has executed judgment; the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. A meditation. Selah.
This is why Noah, who is the type of the Messiah, was born to give us rest from the works of our own hands.
Genesis 5:29 NASB Now he called his name Noah, saying, "This one will give us rest from our work and from the toil of our hands arising from the ground which the LORD has cursed."
Psalms 92:4-6 MKJV For You, Jehovah, have made Me glad with Your work; I will triumph in the works of Your hands. 5 O Jehovah, how great are Your works; Your purposes are very deep. 6 A beastly man does not know; nor does a fool understand this.
Psa 71:15-16 NIV My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure. (16) I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign LORD; I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone. 17 O God, You have taught me from my youth, And I still declare Your wondrous deeds.
Psa 77:11-12 NASB I shall remember the deeds of the LORD; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. (12) I will meditate on all Your work And muse on Your deeds.
Know the truth of the gospel which is the glory of Jesus, and grow in faith as you believe the gospel and know the kindness and the love of the Lord for yourself.
Much love and grace,
Elana
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