Philippians 2:12 (NKJV)

Therefore, my beloved, as you 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;

Throughout history, many have used this verse to argue that believers must work to maintain their salvation.

They often incorrectly interpret the verse as “work for your salvation with fear and trembling.” Granted, not all believers would agree with that statement, but merely observing how some believers live makes it evident they are indeed “working” for their salvation.

The sad reality is that many today, like the scribes and Pharisees, will try any way to reach God but His. Although they are willing to pay any price, they will not accept the price He paid. They are willing to do anything for Him, but they will not accept the finished work of His Son. They will accept any material gift from God except the saving gift of His salvation. These kinds of people are simply outwardly religious, but they are not regenerated, and therefore are not inheritors of the kingdom of heaven.

Explanation

Our first step in explaining this verse is to understand that the Bible explicitly teaches that salvation cannot be gained through works.

Scripture teaches that we are justified through faith alone in Christ alone. What that simply means is that we are declared righteous before God through Jesus Christ’s atoning work.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV)

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

We are saved only because of Jesus’ finished work on the cross, not because of what we do or not do in our lives.

The purpose of this is also mentioned in the verse above; “so no one can boast” and so only God gets the glory for graciously redeeming us. It is pertinent to note that in heaven there will be no boasting. There will be no one who can claim that I got here through my stellar work and behavior. In fact, we will all be thankful and grateful to be there solely by the grace of God.

It is important to realize that Jesus did not come to make salvation “possible” for those who do their part. His purpose was to accomplish it and to give freely to His people.

But what about James 2:17 that says faith without works is dead?

James 2:17 (NKJV)

Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

To understand this verse we must look at the distinction between work-based salvation and actual salvation.

• Any works-based salvation states:

WORKS (root) + FAITH = SALVATION

• But actual salvation:

FAITH + SALVATION = WORKS (fruit).

Your faith alone in Jesus saves you and a life sanctified and regenerated by the Holy Spirit produces the fruit of good works. Our works do not complete our salvation, but rather they are evidence of the work of God in us.

Jesus accomplished salvation. He did not say I did something now come and help me do the rest by doing some works.

We cannot be saved or remain saved by good works. Christians, however, are created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Eph. 2:10). A Christian is also supposed to bear fruit in good works (Col. 1:10).

The Christian life is not rooted in works, but it is characterized by them.

Unfortunately this simple understanding has twisted by some to teach that believers must do something in order to be saved and remain saved.

But think about this, if we have to perform works to be saved, then in effect, we are saying that we have two Saviors (God and ourselves) and that Jesus Himself did not suffice.

The scriptures, however, clearly state that Jesus was the perfect sacrifice for sin.

Hebrews 10:12 (NKJV)

But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God,

Biblically it is impossible for our good deeds to merit salvation -Because they are imperfect, and mixed with sin in them.

It is abundantly clear in the New Testament that no one can earn salvation by living a good life. As Eph. 2:1-6 records, we received God’s salvation while we were sinners.

It is also a common assumption today that God measures the world by using a grade curve and “as long as our lives are less sinful than someone else’s, we can make it into God’s kingdom.”

But despite our best efforts, God requires perfect obedience to His law (James 2:10), and since we fail to obey perfectly, this is why we need the saving work of Christ to be redeemed.

Now getting back to Philippians 2:12 on working out our salvation.

Paul here is speaking from the prison and he calls the church to obey while he is away, just as the church obeyed while he was present.

Because Paul isn’t physically with them, their obedience is more important and would show their true character. It is possible that the Philippians obeyed only out of respect for Paul, not because they truly desired to obey God.

The Greek verb “work out” means “to continually work to bring something to fulfillment or completion.” In Paul’s day, the verb “work out” meant to get all the valuable ore from a mine or to harvest a field to get the greatest yield. However, for Christians, our aim is to achieve ‘Christlikeness’, and to be “conformed to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29).

Therefore, when looked at in context, this verse does not teach that salvation is obtained or maintained by works. Instead, this verse commands believers to actively obey God’s will promising that His Spirit will sanctify us. This is made evident from the next verse.

Philippians 2:13 (NKJV)

for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

Even though believers are responsible to work (John 15:5; 1 Cor. 12:6), the Lord is to be credited with the good works and spiritual fruit they produce through the works of the Spirit dwelling within them.