Work Out Your Own Salvation

Work Out Your Own Salvation
By John Woodward
January 4, 1999

I saw a couple walking to the shore of Lake Ontario a few days ago with ice skates, eager to enjoy the winter with some skating. I was surprised at the sight because I didn't think we had had enough freezing weather to have thick ice. To enjoy skating, one needs to be confident in the strength of the ice! Likewise, to progress in the life of discipleship one needs to be assured of personal salvation--based upon the strength of God's promises.

The apostle Paul wrote," . . . work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. " (Phil 2:12,13). At first glance this seems to jeopardize our assurance (like a "crack" under the ice skates!). What does it mean to "work out your salvation"?

First let's examine what the verse does NOT mean. It does not teach that salvation from sin's penalty is a life-long process. Consider Jesus' promise, "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life."(John 5:24). Notice the past tense--"has passed". Conversion to Christ places one into God's family by grace through faith.

Jesus referred to this step of commitment as "the new birth". As he said to the religious leader Nicodemus,"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3). The Christian life is a process of maturing in the faith after the new birth, not a continual attempt to achieve a right standing with God (1 Pet 1:22-2:2).

Also, Paul is NOT implying that our works have a part in meriting our salvation. In the following chapter in Philippians he strongly emphasizes that "we have no confidence in the flesh"(3:3). After listing his credentials of self-righteousness, Paul testified that he reckoned them worthless in gaining eternal life (3:8). Instead, he trusted fully in Christ's redemption, "and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith." (Phil 3:9).

When commenting on Phil 2:12, Oswald Chambers wrote, "You have to work out with concentration and care what God works in; not WORK your own salvation, but WORK IT OUT, while you base resolutely in unshaken faith on the complete and perfect Redemption of our Lord." ( My Utmost For His Highest, June 6)

What we ARE exhorted to do is to verify our personal faith in Christ. As Paul warned the Corinthians, "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? --unless indeed you are disqualified."(2 Cor 13:5). How do we "test ourselves"?

1. Be certain that you have repented and fully trusted Christ as your personal Lord and Savior (Rom 10:9,10; John 1:12)

2. Grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ (2 Pet 3:18). All living things grow! As the apostle Peter counseled,"Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble." (2 Peter 1:10).

As we demonstrate the reality of our faith by love and good works we gain SUBJECTIVE assurance (subjective= having to do with personal experience-James 2:14-26; 1 John 2:3). Our OBJECTIVE assurance (having to do with propositional truth) is based on the unfailing promises of God. "In hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began."(Titus 1:2). "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life." (1 John 5:13).

As you confirm your commitment to Christ be assured that "God works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure."

Father, use these Scriptures to encourage us to confirm that our faith is personal and genuine. May we gain assurance by resting on the precious promises of Your Word. In Jesus' gracious name, amen.

JBW

January 4, 1999 Vol. 2 # 1

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