Work Out Part 1
Philippians 2:12 – 18
Philippians 2:12
If you wanted to learn to play a sport, or to take up a hobby, or even to venture into a new career, what would you do? Well, one thing you would not do is to simply start calling yourself what you wanted to become without doing anything else. Let’s say you wanted to take up fishing. You would not just simply start telling people that you were a fisherman. You would begin to study what it means to be a fisherman. You might read some books on fishing and fish. Then you would go and purchase some fishing equipment. You would get a fishing license. You might even buy a boat. You could join a fishing club where you could talk to other fisherman about fishing. But ultimately, you would have to go fishing and make an attempt to catch some fish. And you have to do it more than once. In fact, you would have to make it a part of your lifestyle in order to call yourself a fisherman.
Why do we think that all we must do to be Christians is to accept Christ?
It is not what we eat
but what we digest
that makes us strong;
not what we gain
but what we save
that make us rich;
not what we read
but what we remember
that makes us learned;
and not what we profess
but what we practice
that makes us Christians.
Die eerste vraag wat beantwoord moet word is: Wat bedoel Paulus met heil?
In Engels = “salvation”.
ASV 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;
BBE So then, my loved ones, as you have at all times done what I say, not only when I am present, but now much more when I am not with you, give yourselves to working out your salvation with fear in your hearts;
GW My dear friends, you have always obeyed, not only when I was with you but even more now that I’m absent. In the same way continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.
MKJV Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, cultivate your own salvation with fear and trembling.
LO Wherefore, my beloved, since you have always obeyed, not in my presence only, but now much more in my absence; effectually work out your own salvation, with fear and trembling;
NB = Paul does not say, "Work for your salvation." It is not "work towards acquiring your salvation", nor is it "work at your salvation", nor is it "work up your salvation."
Many people interpret the word salvation in this verse to refer to eternal salvation from hell. Some have interpreted Phil 2:12 to mean that Christians must bring about their own eternal salvation by obeying God. Such an understanding is entirely foreign to the Bible!
If Paul is using "salvation" here as justification or eternal life, then works are a condition. This would be teaching "salvation" by works.
The Scripture teaches that eternal life is a gift of grace.
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, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Romans 3:27-28 (NKJV) Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.
Romans 4:5 (NKJV) But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,
Romans 6:23 (NKJV) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Justification/eternal life is a gift received by faith alone!
NB = In our verse Paul calls the readers "my beloved," an expression he reserves for believers. See also 1:1 where Paul indicates that he is writing, "to the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi." Believers are already eternally saved and cannot lose that salvation.
Every true Christian has been saved through believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. They are all in the state of salvation at this moment. Salvation is God’s gift to them, accomplished by Jesus Christ on Golgotha when he saved them there from enduring what he himself freely and lovingly chose to endure in their place - the wrath of a sin-hating God.
So what does Paul means by “salvation” in this verse.
Salvation = ‘soteria’.
The word salvation (Gk. soteria) occurs only three times in Philippians.
Philippians 1:19-20 (NKJV) For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20 according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.
The word "deliverance" is soteria. When Paul writes, “I know that this will turn out for my deliverance," their first impression would be that he anticipates release from prison. But the remainder of his words show them that this is not what he has in mind.
"For me" says Paul, "Real deliverance/soteria will consist of magnifying Christ whether I live or die. For this I need your prayers and the help of God’s Spirit."
Philippians 2:16
Paul is writing to the congregation of professing Christians in Philippi who have received salvation. To these saved people he says, "work out your own salvation."
"Work at becoming more like the Lord of your salvation." That is what he is saying.
Salvation = becoming more and more like Christ.
This salvation we must work out. What does that mean?
The words "work out" are the Greek word katergazomai, it means: "to carry to its ultimate conclusion." We say, "The student worked out a problem in arithmetic." We mean that he carried the problem to its ultimate conclusion. What is the conclusion for us? To work out in our lives Christ likeness. This Greek word is present tense imperative meaning it is a command that has a continual emphasis. We are to be continually working out our sanctification.
The phrase "work out" means to carry on to its ultimate conclusion, that is, work on to completion, finish, manifest it. The term was used for “working a mine” or “working a field” thoroughly until it produced an abundant harvest. Diligently work your field. Thoroughly work your mine. The tense of the verb is continuous, sustained effort, “continue to work out.”
Katergazomai means to work out fully and thoroughly, to accomplish or achieve an end, to finish or carry something to its conclusion. To work so as to bring something to fulfillment or successful completion and implies doing something with thoroughness. It means to do that from which something results.
Katergazomai describes not the spirit in which the work is done, but the aim and issue—"carry through" and so it represents the full and final bringing of an enterprise to a successful conclusion.
Let me give you another illustration to help understand what Paul is calling believers to carry out ---
"When a musician has a fine composition placed before her, that music is not the musician’s masterpiece; it is the composer’s gift to the musician. But it then becomes the task of the musician to work it out, to give it sound and expression and beauty as she applies his skills to the composition. When she does, the composition reaches its completed purpose and thrills the hearts of her listeners."
Barclay: So then, my beloved, just as at all times you obeyed not only as in my presence, but much more, as things now are, in my absence, carry to its perfect conclusion the work of your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God, who, that he may carry out his own good pleasure, brings to effect in you both the initial willing and the effective action.
Wuest: Wherefore, my beloved ones, as you always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, carry to its ultimate conclusion your own salvation [likeness to the Lord Jesus] with a wholesome, serious caution and trembling.
But now comes the best part – vers 13.
Amplified.
The word "for" connects this verse to verse 12. "It is God who works in you." You are to work it out depending on God’s strength. The words "it is" are from the Greek ei me which mean: "It keeps on being." "God" is Theos. It is God who keeps on working in you, He indwells, empowers, controls and directs. The word "works" is the Greek word energeo, it means: "to work effectively, to be at work, to work inside."
The Greek word translated works in verse 13 is the word from which we get the English word energy. God is the one who gives you the power to work out your salvation.
It is in the present tense which means it is an action begun in the past and continues into the present. It is in the active voice which means that God produces the action. It is God who has started to work in you and Who continues to work in you. He energizes and empowers us to live for Him. It is God who effectively works in us.
Paul does not say that God once worked in you when he regenerated and justified you. No, God is still working in you.
Paul uses here for the word ’working’ the very term he uses elsewhere to describe the work of raising Jesus Christ from the dead. That mighty resurrection power once active in making this universe out of nothing in six days and all very good. That same power is at work in every ordinary Christian.
Look at the two things God is doing in your life. God is at work in you to create the desire to be conformed into the image of His Son and to give you the power to do it.
God gives us both the desire and the energy. God’s Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ lives in each believer and He gives us the desire and the energy to "not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit"...and enables us "by the Spirit...(to put) to death the deeds of the body." In short we are to be continually "led by the Spirit" of the Living God Who is continually at work in us and Who Alone "is able to keep (us) from stumbling, and to make (us) stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy" (Romans 8:4, 13 Galatians 5:18 Jude 24)
New Living Translation renders 2 Corinthians 3:18b:
And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more.
We are called to work out what God has already worked in.
Without the energy there can be no working out. Like going to a gym without energy and trying to work out.
Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.”
Colossians 1:29
God works in us to will and to do, that is to do His will, which is to be conformed to His image.
Lastly – we all must work out our own salvation. Your momma or daddy or brother or pastor cannot work out your salvation. Wouldn’t it be silly for someone to put milk, a banana, ice cubes, and sugar in an electric blender and then put the top on and shake it? Wouldn’t it be ridiculous for a tree surgeon to take his power saw and use it to cut a tree limb sawing back and forth without turning it on? Yet we all do this at times in the Christian life, relying on own power when God’s unlimited power is available.
May F B Meyer’s prayer also be our prayer beloved:
O God work in me,
not only to will
but to do of Thy good pleasure;
and may I work out in daily life
what Thou dost work in. AMEN.
