He is not telling the Philippians that they need to bring about their salvation as in bring about new life but rather that they need to live out what Christ has already purchased. Through this, we are to persevere with faithful obedience to the end. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. So we will not understand salvation if we think it just means that Jesus can give you a happier life. The New Living Translation of Philippians 2:12 reads "Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear." The Message version reads "Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God." Or on the other hand, you may ask why we need to work out our salvation when works do not save us? 9:24); I must be active in cleansing myself from defilement of flesh and spirit and perfecting holiness in the fear of God (2 Cor. ERV My dear friends, you always obeyed what you were taught. Ending soon! When the Lord withdraws Himself (Hosea 5:6). Proverbs 13:4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat. (a) gen: with, in company with, (b) acc: (1) behind, beyond, after, of place, (2) after, of time, with nouns, neut. Philippians 2:12 in all English translations. Keep on working with fear and trembling to complete your salvation, New Revised Standard Version Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; Contemporary English Version My dear friends, you always obeyed when I was with you. To understand this text, we must take note of the context and of several facts brought out by the Greek text. (2) ST. PAUL'S INTENTION TO SEND TIMOTHY, AND HOPE TO COME HIMSELF SHORTLY (Philippians 2:19-24). A man who was trying to find a juicy bit of gossip once asked Whitefield if he thought he would see John Wesley in heaven. Unless we do our part Christ cannot save us. It refers to Gods rescuing us from Satans domain of darkness and transferring us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins (Col. 1:13, 14). Jesus said plainly, No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him (John 6:44). You see, works do not save us because the Bible is clear that we have been saved by grace through faithit is the gift of God, not a result of works (Ephesians 2:8-9). How is the fear of the Lord the beginning of wisdom. How do you work out your own salvation with fear and trembling (Phil 2:1213). Keep on working to complete your salvation with fear and trembling. In so doing, they will stand out as lights in this dark, selfish world (2:15). From hupo and akouo; to hear under, i.e. But you dont stop until youre safe inside the gates of that city. All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him (Luke 10:22). A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether. Why Should We Work Out Our Salvation with Fear and Trembling? Wesley put such an emphasis on human responsibility that he was unsure of his own salvation on his deathbed, after a life of preaching the gospel. All rights reserved. King James Version (KJV). Apparently he had nerve damage which made it impossible for him to move or use his hand. This transcript is from a live Ask Ligonier event with W. Robert Godfrey and has been lightly edited for readability. If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at [email protected]. You asked me if I would see John Wesley in heaven, Whitefield replied. But there are also many verses in the New Testament which show that even the Spirit-filled life requires that I must strive against sin (Heb. The command to ''work out'' salvation is a directive to let the new birth in Christ translate into actions. To put off your old self and put on the new. If God wants to do it, He will do it without our effort. Not so: Maybe this sounds like double-talk, but it is clearly what Gods Word declares. We labor to live in such a way to accurately reflect the worth of Jesus with fear and trembling because so much is at stake. New American Standard Bible (NASB). Paul was a mighty man of faith, yet he came to Corinth in fear and in much trembling. Pruning Season - Greg Laurie Devotion - July 17, 2023. But as we work through such problems or differences, we learn more of Christ. The word for work out is an imperative, which means to cause a state or condition, bring about, produce, or create (Ibid.). It begins with having a high view of God, especially the holiness of God. So then, my beloved, just 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; Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always been obedient when I am present, you must be so all the more now when I am absent, as you work out your salvation in fear and trembling. Read on to hopefully untangle a few of these knots. The only ones going to heaven are those who have recognized that they were lost and who called out to God to save them through the blood of His Son Jesus. This should cause us to approach our task much as Paul did in 1 Corinthians 2:3, with weakness and fear and much trembling. So now, my beloved, obey as you have always done, not only when I am with you, but even more so when I cant be. Think of how wrong it will be if you do not. Reflexive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural. Philippians 2:12New American Standard Bible. Not, lest. Read full chapter Philippians 2:12 in all English translations Philippians 1 Philippians 3 King James Version (KJV) Public Domain 29Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation: 30Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me. Rather, He has called you to all sorts of specific activities. Read full chapter Footnotes Philippians 2:13 Or be willing Philippians 1 Philippians 3 2:12). Those truly saved by God want to please and obey Him in all respects. Is fear and trembling a "license" to sin? . When God pleases to convert the heathen, He will do it without your aid or mine. Others have stressed human responsibility to the exclusion of divine sovereignty. I also add, the reason we work out our salvation in terms of good relationships isnt primarily so well be happy, but rather for Gods good pleasure, that is, to please God, whose pleasure is that His people love one another. A work that is complete done! Because God Himself is at work in their midst as a church, they need to lay aside personal rights and humbly serve one another, putting others ahead of self. Thats Pauls main message here, that we need to work out the practical implications of our salvation, because God Himself is working in our midst. This means God helps us to work out our salvation or process of sanctification in Him. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." Philippians 2:12-13. California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. We cannot live the Christian life in our own strength or effort, but must walk each day in the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. 2 Tim 2:15 "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. John Wesley and George Whitefield were both used of God to bring thousands of people to faith in Christ in the 18th century. Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! Good News Translation for Philippians 2:12. We labor to live in such a way to accurately reflect the worth of Jesus with fear and trembling because so much is at stake. 2:1-5), resulting in a new creation (2 Cor. Pauls primary concern here is likely their unity with one another. From hos and te; so too, i.e. George Whitefield was applying what Paul is here teaching. It begins with having a high view of God, especial So then, my beloved, obedient as you have always been, not only when I am present but all the more now when I am absent, work out your salvation with fear and trembling. So then (2:12) in Greek indicates a conclusion from what precedes. The teacher tells the intern, We need to work out a seating chart.. "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: A trembling, quaking, fear. You must keep on working to show you have been saved from the punishment of sin. Ezra 10:3 Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law. Paul wants them to know that even though it appears that he is shackled to Rome, in reality, God has wisely shackled Rome to Paul. We must be careful not to speed-read . The works that we do prove that our faith is genuine and is evidence of God saving us through His unconditional electing grace. And you have obeyed even more while I am not with you. The real Christian trusts Christ for everything, but also lives for Christ. Berean Standard Bible For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose. Verb - Present Imperative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Plural. Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence. To live worthy does not mean to live in such a way as to make yourself deserving of the gospel. Philippians 2:19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. These questions are the concern of the text in Philippians 2:12. Once you are justified before God through Christ, it is followed by sanctification your new self in Christ, which is demonstrated by its fruit. I, the first-person pronoun. Theres a good illustration of this truth in the Old Testament. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Paul is not telling individual Christians to individually work out their personal salvation, as is often taught. Weve seen that we must possess salvation to be able to work it out; and that while salvation is completely Gods work, yet we must work out our salvation in dependence on God. Paul in Philippians 2:12-13 urges the church to go through and work out this sanctification process with fear and trembling. Rather, he is appealing to the church, based on the example of humility seen in Jesus Christ, to work out the practical implications of their salvation in their relationships with one another. Fear can have two meanings: (1) to fear God is to feel reverence and awe for Him and to obey His commandments; (2) to fear man, mortal dangers, pain, and evil is to be afraid of such things and to dread them. 1 Corinthians 4:14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. A primary pronoun of the first person I. Just as Jesus laid aside His rights, just as He did not live for Himself and His own pleasure, just as He put others ahead of Himself, even to the point of death on the cross, so we must learn to die daily to self and live for others for Jesus sake. If you are uncertain about your standing before God, do not give rest to your soul until you know that God has saved you. Once we possess salvation, then its necessary to work it out in its practical, everyday implications. Time and time again, many have tried to use this verse to oppose the . So Paul is especially concerned about these dear people (my beloved) working out the relational implications of their salvation, with a view to their corporate testimony to the lost. A teacher and an intern are given a class roster at the beginning of the school year. Advent; physically, aspect. All rights reserved. In Philippians 2:12, the Apostle Paul tells the Philippians to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. This seems like such a strange command for those who believe that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. If God has saved you, youve got to follow the example of the Lord Jesus Christ, who laid aside His rights and went to the cross on our behalf. But that is most certainly not what Paul means here. Once they saw the holiness of God, it sobered them and dropped them to their knees. By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, a division of The Zondervan Corporation, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA, including commercial communications and messages from partners of Bible Gateway. When we put all of this together, what we have in Philippians 2:12 is a call to live out what the gospel has produced in our hearts. So we read in Philippians 2:12-13 that we are to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.". 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. He keeps us to the very end but the power of the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. It is essential to notice that the Apostle Paul is not saying work for your salvation; instead, he says, work out your salvation. How can we know when to let go and let God or when we need to exert more effort on a matter? There is a difference. Repentance means turning from the old way and walking in the opposite direction in a new way. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. You cant live the Christian life in isolation. The American pilot who was recently shot down in Bosnia needed to be saved, because he could not get out of his predicament by himself. Think of how we might use this word in our day. But Jesus told him to do it and when the man obeyed, his hand was restored. Philippians 1:6 says, And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.. BEST VALUE in digital Bible study. A primary particle of present time; 'now'; also as noun or adjective present or immediate. Every religion in the world, except biblical Christianity, is built on that system: If youre good enough, youll earn salvation. Psalm 2:11 sums it up perfectly: "Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling." We work out our salvation by going to the very source of our salvationthe Word of Godwherein we renew our hearts and minds ( Romans 12:1-2 ), coming into His presence with a spirit of reverence and awe. Fear describes fright or terror if we refer to Matthew 14:26, Luke 21:26, 1 Corinthians 2:3. From 1977-1992 he was the pastor of Lake Gregory Community Church in Crestline, California. Salvation, from start to finish, is Gods work. We know that we are fighting a formidable foe in the Devil. You may unsubscribe from Bible Gateways emails at any time. This is why the Reformed, following Martin Luther, said, We always preach the law and the gospel. The gospel assures us of Gods mercy in His promises, while the law not only convicts us of sin, but directs us in the path of holiness. From kata and ergazomai; to work fully, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc. Keep on working to complete your salvation with fear and tremblin So then, my beloved, even 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; for it is God who worketh in you b Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyednot only in my presence . Access 50+ premium resources. and comforts to him their apostle, who is now ready to be offered up to God. 4:7; Eph. It is built on verses like Galatians 2:20, I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me. Thats a blessed truth which we all must learn to apply! We are in awe of the salvation that God has wrought within us, and we know that we live before the presence of God. Therefore my dearly beloveds, as you have always obeyed, not only when I was present, but now much more in my absence, even so work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Once we possess salvation, we must learn to hold in tension two seemingly contradictory truths that the Bible clearly affirms: that salvation, from start to finish, is Gods work; but, also, that at the same time, salvation requires diligent effort on our part.
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