What does ‘working out our salvation in fear and trembling’ really mean?

What does ‘working out our salvation in fear and trembling’ really mean?

Php 2:12-13  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.  13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

To keep this short, let me get straight to the point. “Working out our own salvation” is not us doing good works to justify our salvation. It is not acts of kindness. It is not giving money to the church. It is not activities of any kind that make us feel we did something right or good. To put it bluntly, it is not any type of ‘physical’ actions that we do in this world that ‘works out our salvation’. How can I know this and confirm this? Well, consider this to start with. If our salvation is ALREADY SECURE in Christ (Rom.3:21-28), just by us believing in Jesus and trusting His death, burial, and resurrection (1Cor.15:1-4), then what is this ‘work’ I must do in fear and trembling? What can this ‘work’ do to contribute any more to a salvation I have that is ALREADY 100% SECURE? That does not make sense! In this regard, the ‘work’ being mentioned here has a different context than, to earn, or contribute to, or justify, salvation.

Having settled this point, there is something else that you need to be aware before I tell you what it actually means to ‘work out our salvation’. The word ‘salvation’ carries more meaning than, ‘just escaping hell’. The Lord saves us not simply for us to escape judgement, but to give us an eternal life according to a plan and a purpose. The word ‘salvation’ extends to also include the life we will live after this fleeting vapour of a life we have here on earth.

With this in mind, let’s allude to the plan and purpose of life hereafter. This is not the time to expound on the topic, but similar to the governmental structures on earth, the invisible heavens contain thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers, (Col.1:16). These places of government are to be occupied by the Body of Christ after Satan and his fallen angels are cast out of heaven (Rev.12). It is the destiny and glory of the Body of Christ to represent and execute the will and authority of Christ in the heavenly places on, and after, the day of Christ. So, to ‘work out our salvation’ carries the context that we are preparing ourselves for placements of position and functional ability in the heavenly places. By ‘working out our salvation’, we are setting ourselves up in varying degrees of responsibility and authority to the majestic Head of the eternal, multi-membered Body of Christ. Just like Israel will execute the authority and governance of Christ in the earth, the Body of Christ will do the same in the heavenly realm, so that both created realms will be under the perfect rule of Jesus Christ during the Millennial Kingdom.

Finally, let me discuss what it means to ‘work out our salvation’. Now that you are aware of our purpose and destiny in the heavens, can you see why it is ridiculous to think that working out one’s salvation can be connected to doing little acts of kindness, or giving money to the poor, or blessing someone with your time and efforts. How do these contribute in the least to our eternal purpose in the heavens? I’m not saying these things are not useful in this life. They certainly contribute to the edifying of the Body in this time. They comfort and encourage the members of the Body and they project love into the world and reconcile the unsaved. There is certainly purpose in these acts for now, BUT, these actions contribute absolutely NOTHING to the greater and eternal plan and purpose of governance in the life to come. Our ‘salvation’ is primarily for this heavenly purpose.

To ‘work out your salvation’ is the following. It is to get your nose into the Word of God. It is to become familiar with how our Father operates. Like a son that will be placed into his Fathers business, to manage it, to contribute to it, to run it, that son needs to be tutored in the methods of his Father. How does his father think? What decisions will his father make in any given situation? What is the will and desire of his father for the business? How much time did he spend under the flanks of his father, to understand his character, his cues, his gestures, his mind. The ONLY place we can learn these things of our Father, is in His Word. It contains the riches of knowledge and wisdom that will empower us in mind and understanding concerning Him. Surely, the more we know about the mind and will of our Father, will contribute to positions of honour in His government in the heavens.

2Tim.2:20  But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 21  If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

As another practical example, consider your education in this world. As a child you spent between 10-12 years in general education. Then, in college or university you spent several more years in some specialty field to hone specific skills. During this time, you never fully executed that knowledge. It is only after graduation and placement into a secular position when that knowledge becomes applicable and determines the position one can occupy in that business. Similarly, ‘working out our salvation’ has to do with the time and energy we put into studying the Word of God. The more knowledge you gain in the Word, and the more of the mind of Christ you know, will eventually determine the skill level and value you can add to specific positions of hierarchy within the heavenly government.

Did you notice the part of the verse referring to ‘fear and trembling’. The context is not so much as being afraid, as it is to respect, and humbly submit to the authority of Christ. Remember, these positions of honour that we will get in the heavenly realm is directly connected to the judgement seat of Christ. When we stand before Him on that day, we will be judged, not for the aforementioned physical works we have done, but for how much of Christ has been formed within us. How much of His Word has taken root within us. How much of the mind of Christ do we have, based on a mature knowledge of His rightly divided Word. Surely, we will stand before Christ on that day in a fearful anticipation of the evaluation of that measure of Christ that is within us, (Eph.4:7,13,16)? Surely, we will tremble at the verdict, either in His approval and endorsement, or in His disapproval and the resulting condemnation for loss suffered. (Remember 2Tim.2:20-21)

1Co 3:13-15  Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.  14  If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.  15  If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

In conclusion, I’ll reiterate that the only glory and honour we can ever work for, here on earth, is that which is connected to God’s Son, Jesus Christ. The work of the flesh, the work of performance, the work for self-glory and position, for boasting and pride, no matter how marvellous or glorious they appear in the eyes of man, will never be worth anything in God’s righteous judgement. The only glory that God will recognise on that day of judgement is that which is based on His Son. All glory originates from Christ and Christ alone. To this end, we must acknowledge that our work can only be connected to the written Word of God. The more we have His Word within us, understanding it, and practicing it in obedience, is the merits we will gain at judgement, and in the glory of God’s eternal heavenly government.

1Thes.2:13  For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

God bless.