In the verse above the Apostle Paul tells us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Paul starts this verse by saying “So then,” this phrase can also be translated as “Therefore” and both terms mean that because of what he has just said, in verses 1 – 11, we must continue to be obedient and to work out our salvation with fear and trembling.
So, let’s now do a summary of what Paul tells us in verses 1 – 11 so that that verse 12 and onwards can come into perspective! It would be good for you to have your Bibles open to Philippians 2 so that you can verify what I'm saying.
Verses 1 – 11 are all about us, each individual born again believer, actively developing Christ’s characteristics. Being like Him, having the same attitude in life as he had and imitating Him and following his lifestyle of humility. And doing all this if we truly love Him and want to be in unity with Him in the power of the Holy Spirit.
These are the characteristic of Christ we should be imitating:
Verse 2
- Being likeminded
- Having the same love
- Being one in spirit and mind
- Doing nothing out of selfish ambition
- or vain conceit
- In humility value others above yourself
- Looking to the best interest of others before your own
- Have the same mindset as Christ
- Although being equal to God he did not consider this to be taken advantage of for himself
- By making Himself nothing He took on the nature of a servant
- He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death on the cross
Because of the Lord’s humility and obedience God exalted him above all things and gave him the Name above all names and at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord in heaven and on earth!
And if we, born again Christians, diligently and humbly remain in Jesus and earnestly seek to imitate Him in every way, working out our salvation, God will raise us up to our final heavenly resting place to dwell with Him for eternity!
Now that we have set the scene, dear Readers, let’s now examine today’s topic from verse 12, “work out your salvation with fear and trembling!”
Paul starts verse twelve of Philippians 2 like this, “Therefore, my dear friends….” or “So then, my dear ones….”
This means because of what he has told us in verses 1 – 11, and by developing the characteristics of Christ in ourselves, we must “continue to work out our salvation with fear and trembling.”
Now, just to clarify things, the term “to work out our salvation” here has nothing to do with doing good works to earn our salvation. Our salvation is a free gift from God that we receive when we repent of our sins and accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour and follow His ways and teachings in the Bible, that is, when we are born again!
(To find out more about the Christian’s walk to maturity read my blog published on 25 April 2021 “From Milk to Meat: The Christian Path to Spiritual Maturity.” Just click on the link: https://rayskilton.blogspot.com/2021/04/from-milk-to-meat-christian-path-to.html)
Now, looking at the term ‘work out’ in respect to our spiritual walk to maturity in our salvation it comes from the Greek word ‘katergazomai (kat-er-gad'-zom-ahee – Strong’s 2716) and its full meaning besides to work out is, to achieve by application (applying the Word of God to our lives), to bring about (the characteristics of Jesus in ourselves), to perform (in a manner worthy of our salvation), to prepare ourselves (for the Lord’s coming), to produce (good fruit in our lives), to be committed (as a servant of Christ) and effecting change in ourselves (allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us in our lifestyles and actions, being truly obedient to the Bible).
Working out our salvation means that a born again Christian needs to become more and more reliant on the leading of the Holy Spirit rather than giving in to fleshly desires and relapsing into our old selves!
When we look at the phrase ‘with fear and trembling’ in terms of what Paul shows us in verses 1 – 11 we come to understand that fear and trembling is used in the context of a Christian having a reverent fear of God which is born out of our love for him and a fear that genuinely does not want to do anything that will be offensive to Him or discredit Christ in any way (Php 2:12 AMP above)!
This context of fear lines up with the Hebrew word for fear that the Old Testament writers use when referring to the fear of God. This is the word ‘yirah’ (pron: yir-aw – Strong’s 3373) and its expanded meaning is: a morally reverent fear. It is a fear that inspires awe and aspiration and is not a destructive, cowardly and controlling fear. It is a fear that all Christians should have for their creator and the author of their salvation.
It is a reverent fear that we need to hold on to tooth and nail. It is a fear that will prevent us from doing evil and ensure us being obedient to His Word in all things because we don’t want to disobey our Father in Heaven. He is an awesome God, and His love endures forever!
Such fear protects us against temptation and sin and gives us motivation for obedient, righteous living. Being daily more and more conformed to Christ’s image!
For more information on the fear of God please read my blog “Embracing the Fear of God” published on 20 April 2021. Just follow this link: https://rayskilton.blogspot.com/2021/04/embracing-fear-of-god.html
This is the fear that the writer of Proverbs is refers to here:
And trembling, from the Greek word ‘tromos’ from which we get our English word tremor, is also a reverent trembling we should have when we think of how awesome our God is and how awesome is His Word (Jesus)!
Although we as born again Christians are forgiven, God nevertheless holds as accountable for our acts of disobedience and the sin that we commit and will commit! We still have the responsibility to walk to Christian maturity and to be conformed more and more into Christ’s image. This means ever striving to be obedient to the Word and its teachings and ever coming before him to confess our sins and ask for forgiveness when we do slip into our fleshly desires. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak!
This is what the Apostle John says to the Church, the believers, those who are already born again!
The Apostle Paul was also a man who was very much aware of his weaknesses and was not afraid to admit it. We too should always be aware of our weaknesses and be quick to repent and say sorry to the Father in Jesus’ name when we sin.
Such fear involves having a sensitive conscience, and always being on guard against temptation. It necessitates opposing self-pride and being constantly aware of the deceitfulness of one’s heart, as well as of the subtlety and strength of one’s inner corruption. It involves walking in true humility and full submission God.
Believers should have a serious dread of committing sin and a humble yearning for what is right before God. Being aware of our weakness and the power of temptation, we should fear falling into sin and thereby grieving the Lord. Godly fear not only protects us from sinning, but also protects us from wrongfully influencing our fellow believers.
To have such godly fear and trembling involves more than merely acknowledging one’s sinfulness and spiritual weakness. It is a solemn, reverential fear that comes from our deep adoration and love of God.
It is a fear that acknowledges that every sin is an offense against a holy God and produces in us a sincere desire not to offend and grieve Him, but to obey, honour, please, and glorify Jesus in all things. Those who fear the Lord willingly accept the Lord’s chastening, knowing that God “disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.”
The principle of working out one’s own salvation is an individual’s personal responsibility to conduct his Christian walk in a manner pleasing to God which pivots around our faithful and obedient daily living in the Spirit. Working out one’s salvation requires commitment to God and perseverance through life’s trials and tribulations and of one’s faithful obedience to the end. Until Jesus returns.
Our salvation has three time stages: a past, a present, and a future.
The past is that of justification, when a believer repents from their sinful ways and places their faith in Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord and is redeemed by the blood of Jesus which reconciles us with God.
The present is the sanctification process of the believer, their walk on the path to Spiritual maturity, the time between a believer’s justification and his earthly death or the Rapture, whichever comes first.
The future stage is glorification, when salvation is completed, and we have run our race and then at the rapture we are either taken up by Jesus if we are still on earth or resurrected if we have died. We receive our glorified bodies all by the power of the Holy Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead!
Believers therefore have been saved, are being saved, and will be saved.
Shine brightly for Jesus!
Therefore, my dear readers, work out your salvation with fear and trembling in the power of the Holy Spirit and let your light shine brightly before men, do everything in love and without grumbling and complaining as the world does and you will bring glory to Jesus! Let the Word of God be written indelibly upon your hearts!
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father
In the name of Jesus, I pray that you would fill me with your Holy Spirit and help me to live and grow in holiness and godliness and to work pout my salvation in fear and trembling. Help me to be quick to repent of my sinful actions and let no unconfessed sin lie hidden within me. Help me to remain steadfast and true in the teachings of the Bible in the power of your Holy Spirit that I may bring glory to the name of Jesus. Amen
Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself! I am flawed the Bible is not!