Phil.2:12 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.
There are a few things we must put into context in order to properly understand what Paul says here to the Philippian church about 'working out their salvation'.
1. The Jews had to add works to their faith in order to be inherit salvation
The very essence of the law was built on a foundation of works. This is why the book of James hammers home the need to prove your faith with works. Even the need to endure in these works was needed to be able to enter into the Kingdom.
Matt.24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
The Jews had to obey the law and prove their faith to be counted worthy. They had to pick up their cross and follow their Messiah's example, they had to sell all they had as a statement of faith that they Kingdom would supply all they needed. Works and endurance were key to the Jewish existence and salvation.
2. The Body of Christ DO NOT work for their salvation
The very essence of grace is that it cannot be earned. It is a gift. The
moment work is added, grace is cancelled.
Rom.11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
Eph.2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Tit.3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us,
The message of the grace gospel that we hear and receive today places the focus 100% and entirely on the work that Christ did for us. It is His righteousness and His cross-work that has paid for our sins, and it is His resurrection that justifies us before God. The work that Christ did is imputed to us freely, and likewise, our sins and shortcomings was placed upon Him, being nailed to the cross. We cannot even try to work for, or add anything to, the already completed work of Christ. The moment we do this, grace is cancelled. To receive the gospel of grace is to believe that the work of Christ is all sufficient for our salvation, and therefore there is no more work necessary on our part to gain or secure salvation.
3. Understanding what is 'working out your own salvation'
OK, so with the above explained and established, let me clarify the proper
context as seen in Philippians 2:12,
The primary point of this statement is NOT about the gospel and about receiving eternal salvation. The security of our salvation is already settled. So, in this regard, the statement is about our love relationship to God, our desire to serve and please Him, and the personal faithfulness we demonstrate to the gospel and to our ambassadorship in reconciliation.
2 Cor.5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, …
To add to the context that this statement is in regard to our life here, in
the flesh, and how we conduct ourselves as members of the body of Christ, let
me quote Art Licursi from his website
here and
here.
Notice what Paul says here,
Philippians 1:9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; 10 That ye may approve [prove out] things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; 11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by [of] Jesus Christ [in you], unto the glory and praise of God.
Paul concludes by saying:
"Being filled [inwardly] with the fruits of
righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of
God."
These kinds of "fruits" comes from
the life of Christ within each believer.
Fruit is not the external,
artificial works of the flesh, but of the life of the indwelling "Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.: So, in encouraging
the Philippians to
"work out your own salvation" in Philippians 2:12-13, Paul is encouraging the Saints to
work out that which is within them. They already had Salvation from perdition and they had
God working in them (v13).
Now they are to
out-work out that which is already within them.
Thus, Paul also wrote in
1Timothy 4:7 saying "exercise thyself rather unto godliness." So, the "salvation" in v12 is
not salvation from the penalty of sin, but rather from
the power of "sin in the flesh" of all men, saved and unsaved."
The "work" of the Lord appears as a common theme in Paul's letter to the Philippians as seen in 1:6; 2:12, 25, 30; 4:3. The idea of "his good pleasure" thus involves our free-will obedience (Philippians 2:12) according to the working of God's Spirit in us. This is not the legalistic obedience as under "the law" for Israel. Paul speaks against the false teachings of "the circumcision (Israel)," but rather obedience based on a love for God, which is based upon "the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus" living and working in and through the believer.
Comments
Post a Comment