How Can I “Work Out” Salvation?

by Edward Fudge

A BROTHER from Texas writes, “Those who claim that we must ‘do our part’ in our salvation point to Philippians 2:12 which tells us to ‘work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.’ How do you explain this?”

The word translated “work out” (or sometimes “work”) occurs frequently in the New Testament, and it always has the idea of bringing to fruition something already inherent in a situation. For example, “law works wrath”—wrath is latent in law just waiting to appear (see Romans 4:15). “Tribulation works patience”—patience is the flower inside the bud of tribulation (see Romans 5:3). “Sin works death” (Romans 7:13). “Affliction works a weight of glory” (2 Corinthians 4:17). “Godly sorrow works repentance” (2 Corinthians 7:10-11).

In each case, the thing “worked,” though originally invisible, was already there, so that given full process it finally came into view. Salvation is bound up in our relationship with Christ, and our obedient lives are the process by which that salvation blossoms from bud to bright flower.

Paul emphasizes the source of our salvation by explaining, “for it is God who is at work in you.” Literally, the apostle says that God “energizes” you. God is the One who empowers our obedience, both internally (“to will”) and externally (“and to do”). If God did not empower us, we could not do his will. We can only “work out” what God “works in.” All that God is doing through us is aimed toward the accomplishment of his great saving purpose. The Greek word here translated by the phrase “his good pleasure” always refers in the New Testament to God’s program for saving sinners (see Luke 2:14; Luke 10:21; Ephesians 1:5, 9; 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12).

Because we realize that God is at work in us, we live our lives obediently before God “with fear and trembling” (as the King James Version put it). This expression also occurs throughout the Bible, and it always signifies reverential respect in view of God’s presence and activity, or in the face of some relationship ordained by God (see Genesis 9:2; Exodus 15:16; 2 Corinthians 7:15; Ephesians 6:5).

Finally, this is an individual matter. God’s relationship is personal with each individual, and his grand saving purpose involves our individual lives day by day. Paul tells us to work out “your own” salvation. As you and I live obediently toward God each day, we may know that God will use our lives in his own master plan of salvation. Knowing that God is the one energizing our every good thought and deed causes us to live seriously and reverently. What an awesome thought that our daily lives are the arena of God’s saving purpose!