Broadcast Date: 12-9-99

Philippians 2:12-13

Have you ever had a problem - and someone told you to work out by yourself? Said something like, "you know how to do it - work it out!"

Maybe it was in a Maths class, and the teacher had just spent a lot of time explaining a new concept - long division, for example. She'd shown you what steps to take, explained how to it, probably shown a few examples on the blackboard - and maybe even got the class to do a few examples together. And then said, "ok, over to you - you know what to do - now it's your turn to work it out." What she meant, of course, was for you to apply your knowledge about long division, to work out the questions in your Maths book. Knowledge needs to be applied.

Did you know that Christians are told to do the same thing?

In the book of Philippians, God tells His children to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling"1 He tells them not to rely on their spiritual leaders (in today's language: pastors, ministers, elders of the Church), but to realise that they have individual responsibility to work it out themselves. In Philippians 2:12 and 13, we read:

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed - not only in my presence but now much more in my absence - continue to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.

A lot is packed into these two verses from the Bible, dear friend and listener, and this morning we're going to have a closer look at them. We're going to see what God means when He tells each and every believer to work out your own salvation. Let's say already from the outset, though, that he doesn't want you to respond as you may have done in that Maths class when you didn't "get it" - God doesn't want you to despair, to become discouraged. No, in this text, there are also clues as to how you need to go about "working it out".

Our Bible text of today starts with the word, therefore: therefore, my dear friends . . . What prompted this "therefore"? Well, in the preceding verses, we can learn about the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ. He humbled Himself to take on the form of a man, so that He could die for the sins of all God's children. This is (and always will be) the most amazing, most powerful, and most history-altering thing a single person has ever done. For the sake of the children of God, Jesus triumphed over the powers of evil and of hell; He defeated Satan, thus bringing honour and glory to the Name of God. In the verses immediately preceding the one we're focusing on this morning, the Bible says,

Therefore God exalted Him [that is, Jesus] in the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus gave salvation to all of God's children, and thus all Christians are told to follow Christ's perfect example: to serve God in humility, to follow the Name of Jesus, to confess that He is Lord, to obey Him.

In this context, they are now told to "work out your own salvation". We understand straight away that this does not mean to work for your salvation. Instead, Christians are told to work it out, to apply it in their lives. It's a bit like advice married couples might receive. They might be told to "work at their marriage"; implied in this is that relationships between couples continue to develop also after marriage, and they need to work at it, so that the relationship grows. That's the same with Christian life. Just like the married couple isn't working for their marriage (they're already married), so God's people don't work for their salvation. They already have it, through Jesus Christ. They are told, though, to apply their faith, so that their relationship with God develops and grows.

They're told to "work at it"; all of God's children have individual responsibility for this: work out your own salvation. How are they to this? This morning's text continues: work it out . . . with fear and trembling. Now what does that mean?

Put simply, dear friends, it means that our lives have one over-riding purpose: to worship the God of Gods, and Lord of Lords. We do this by serving Him with awe, by being afraid to offend Him. This means that we read what He has to tell us in the Bible, that we're always conscious of doing His Will, that we love His commandments. It also means that we love those around us. Somewhere else in the New Testament, we're told that the fruit of the Spirit is "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control"3 Salvation through Jesus Christ completely changes our lives, from the inside out. Instead of loving evil and being followers of the powers of darkness, Christians love what is good, are children of the light.

Being told to work out your own salvation is quite a command, though, dear listener. Does it daunt you? Do you wonder whether you're up to it? Are able to do that? Being still imperfect (we're not in heaven yet, and Jesus still hasn't returned), the fight against sin continues. And there are many throughout the history of the world who've stopped at this verse, and said, "Lord, I'm unable". And, indeed, we are unable except through the help of God. In fact, this morning's Bible passage finishes on an encouraging note: it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose. There are two sides to this coin of working: we're told to work (and we certainly need to do that as well as we're able) but at the same time God is working inside us. Now, what can be more comforting than that! God doesn't say, "you're on your own . . . now work it out by yourself". No, He tells us, "I'm helping you every step along the way". Isn't that a wonderful message? With God holding our hand, there's not a chance that we'll never make it to heaven - He'll make sure we get there. Every believer is assured of a safe arrival.

Dear friend, this morning's message teaches us a lot about God and what He has done for His children - and continues to do for them. It also instructs His children about how they are to live. Salvation through Jesus Christ means that we're in a relationship with Him, and we need to work on that. "Being saved" means responsibility. We're also told, though, that Christians do not need to work it out on their own: through His Spirit, God gives as much help as we need. He's working in us!

The Bible calls Christians the aroma of Christ4. In fact, the Bible talks about only two categories: those who are "being saved" and those who "are perishing". While the latter smell of the stench of death, the former has the sweet smell of life (through Jesus). Which group do you belong to? Do you confess that Jesus is your Savior? Then take note of this message: salvation is not a "once only" event in one's life, but means that we're in a life-long relationship with God, which we need to work at with fear and trembling.

Or do you belong to another faith? Are you still searching for the Truth? Does sin and Satan still have a hold over you? Then the Gospel call goes out ever urgently, also to you: repent and believe, have faith in Jesus as Saviour of this world, so that, you, too, may enjoy the favour of God, and may, as one of His children, also "work out your own salvation". There is nothing more precious than a relationship with God. Nothing brings more joy, more peace!

Last modified: November 23, 1999