Work It Out
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 salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Philippians 2:12-13
The Bible says, ‘Work out your own salvation…for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.’ This Scripture almost sounds like a contradiction, doesn’t it? But instead, it is a paradox. G.K. Chesterton described a paradox as ‘truth standing on its head to get attention’.
The key to understanding this particular paradox lies in the little word out. Notice that the Bible doesn’t say, ‘Work for your salvation.’ To work for something means to earn it, deserve it, merit it. And the Bible plainly teaches that salvation isn’t something we have to work for or earn. It’s a free gift of God’s grace (see Ephesians 2:8-9). When Paul says, ‘Work out your salvation,’ he is talking about a ‘spiritual workout’. What do you do during a physical workout? You develop and tone the muscles God has already provided you. To ‘work out’ means to grow and make the most of what you have been given. What Paul is saying here is this: develop your spiritual life!
God has a part in our spiritual growth, and we, too, have a part. He provides the power, but we must access it, flip the switch, and let it flow through our lives to fulfil His will for us. Practically speaking, how do we do that? By spending time praying and reading God’s Word each day. By sharpening and strengthening one another through fellowship. By exercising the gifts God has given us. The fact is, He has already done His part; now it’s up to you to do yours.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me in my spiritual workout to grow more and more into Your image and will for my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
That Greek word for “work out” is the same word used by the Greek historian Strabo to describe the work of some silver miners of his day. They “worked out” the mines, i.e. they reentered previously abandoned mines with the intention of getting out of them all that they still had to offer. Paul’s point? Christ’s followers are to “get out of His gift of salvation all that they can.” It’s much like Eph.2:8-10. While we are saved only by God’s grace through faith and NOT by works, we are saved to DO good works. And God wants and expects us to do lots of them as we “get out of His gift” all that we can!