Consciously Working Out My 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.” Phil. 2:12.

Working out our salvation is something we do deliberately and consciously. We must be obedient to the word so that it can create something entirely new in us.

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” 1 Cor. 9:24-27.

We see here how it was with Paul. He ran as though only one would win the prize. He did not live a life of uncertainty, but by the grace of God he labored more than they all. 1 Cor. 15:10. He was gripped by Jesus Christ and truly counted all things loss in order to gain Him. The knowledge of Christ Jesus, who was his Lord, was far more valuable than what he had in this world—his own knowledge and greatness according to the flesh. He counted it as rubbish in order to gain Christ. Phil. 3:8.

Here I must examine myself: Is it with me as it was with Paul? Do I count everything I have that is great to me in this world as loss and rubbish—my honor, my will, and what I can do and want to do? Am I using the days I have to work out my salvation so that I can come to know Him? “Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord.” Hos. 6:3.

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” Phil. 2:5-8. Jesus lived this life of humiliation every day. If I am to become a servant who can be of true help to others, then I myself must enter into this life where I humble myself. If I am a servant, I do not think highly of myself, but do my work for God. It is He who works in us so that we can work for His good pleasure. Phil. 2:13. My own boasting is therefore entirely excluded.

Let us give Him the glory and thank Him for the grace we have received in our lives. Eph. 3:20-21. We have been allowed to hear the word of the cross, which can set us free, and we can run with zeal on this way that leads downward into humiliation. There we come to know Him, to whom belongs the glory and the power forever and ever. There we partake of the life of Jesus, which will shine forth from us both now and for all eternity. Praise be to God for such a calling!