Work Out Your Own Salvation

“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; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12-13.

Here we are exhorted to work out our salvation according to how God is working. This is what gives us the proper content. Jesus said that a good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things—a treasure of God’s goodness in your inner being, from which you can draw freely and deeply. It takes work, diligence, and faithfulness to come to that, as well as more than one conversion. This is the way of the seed that endures drought, adversity, and trials until it bears mature fruit in a noble and good heart. Luke 8:15. However, if you are more interested in feelings and dreams and being blessed by God than in going on the narrow way, it is all in vain.

The exhortation to work out your own salvation is glorious to all those who are willing to prepare their soul for sufferings. The work needs to be purposeful and have a specific aim.

When we read that we are His house if we hold fast the confi­dence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end (Hebrews 3:6), then this needs to be the first goal of our work. A person is outside of God’s plan if he is not firm on this point and if he is not constantly and consciously working toward this goal.

God has placed in the church various servants to lead each one to the perfect work of ministry. This has to be the aim of the further working out of our salvation. Through faithfulness and endurance we can grow up in all things into Him who is the head. Ephesians 4:15. We need to be clear about the fact that we are His house, and we need to have given ourselves in such a way that we can feel the burden of the sacrifice (Revelation 2:24-25); otherwise it does not lead to any­thing. We will be found wanting if we have thrown off the yoke.

There are no limits to what God will do for someone who has started to work purposefully and who is working faithfully on his salvation. They will partake of a fullness and a treasure of goodness without end.

It is blessed to possess a testimony concerning God’s goodness even though one has only made a little progress on the way of salva­tion. However, if we have a word from the Holy of Holies, its effect will be much deeper and more powerful. Behind all this is work, and this is precisely what we are exhorted to.