The Divine Partnership: Working Out What God Worked In Series

Introduction:

One of the greatest theological tensions in the Christian life is the balance between God’s sovereignty and human responsibility. We often swing between two extremes. On one side, there is the "Let go and let God" mentality, where we become passive, waiting for God to zap us with holiness. On the other side, there is a "spiritual boot camp" mentality, where we grit our teeth and try to force ourselves to be righteous through sheer willpower.

In these two profound verses, the Apostle Paul destroys both extremes. He presents a beautiful paradox: we work, because God is working. It is not 50% you and 50% God. It is 100% you working out what God is 100% working in. It is the glorious doctrine of Sanctification—the process of becoming who you already are in Christ.

I. The Believer’s Charge: A Call to Active Obedience

Paul begins with a command that initially sounds startling: "Work out your own salvation..."

We must be very careful here. Paul is not saying "work for your salvation." He is not suggesting that you can earn your way into heaven. In Ephesians 2:8, he clearly states that we are saved by grace through faith, not of works.

The Greek phrase for "work out" (katergazesthe) means to "bring to completion," to "fashion," or to "fully manifest."

* The Mining Analogy: Think of a mine. God has deposited the gold of salvation deep within the soil of your heart. That is justification; it is a gift. But now, you must mine that gold. You must bring it to the surface so it can be seen and used.

* The Health Analogy: If you are given a healthy body, you must exercise to maintain it. You don't exercise to get a body; you exercise because you have one.

Paul is saying: "The life of Christ is inside you. Now, get it to the outside. Let your daily conduct match your inner reality."

II. The Believer’s Attitude: Holy Reverence

How are we to go about this work? Paul adds: "...with fear and trembling."

This does not mean we live in terror of God, afraid that He will strike us down if we make a mistake. In the New Testament, this phrase refers to a deep, trembling awe—a recognition of the seriousness of the task.

Why "fear and trembling"?

* Because of the Presence we carry. We are temples of the Living God. The Holy Spirit dwells within us. That reality should crush our flippancy. We are handling holy things.

* Because of the weakness of our flesh. We know how prone we are to stumble, so we walk carefully.

It is the attitude of a surgeon performing a life-saving operation. He is not terrified, but he is intense, focused, and deeply serious because the stakes are high.

III. The Believer’s Power: The Divine Engine

If the command to "work out" our salvation with such seriousness feels overwhelming, Verse 13 comes as a tidal wave of comfort: "For it is God which worketh in you..."

The word "worketh" comes from the Greek word energein, from which we get our English word "energy." God is the Energizer. He is the engine room of the Christian life.

This is the secret that keeps us from burnout. You are not striving to reach a distant God; you are striving with the power of an indwelling God. You work because He is already at work. The only reason we can work out the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace) is because God is working in the root.

IV. The Believer’s Transformation: Desire and Ability

What exactly is God doing inside of us? Paul gets specific: "...both to will and to do of his good pleasure."

God does not just give us the power to perform the action; He changes the very "want to" of our hearts.

* "To Will": This deals with our desires. Before Christ, we wanted sin. We loved darkness. But God begins to change our appetite. Suddenly, the things we used to love, we hate; and the things we used to find boring (prayer, scripture, holiness), we begin to desire. He aligns our will with His.

* "To Do": This deals with our ability. He gives us the capability to follow through on those new desires.

He does all of this "of his good pleasure." It brings God joy to make you holy. He is not reluctantly helping you; He is delightfully transforming you.

Conclusion: The Rhythm of Grace

So, what is the Christian life? It is a response.

God works in; we work out.

God gives the will; we make the choice.

God provides the power; we expend the effort.

Imagine a musician playing a piano. The music requires the fingers of the musician (human effort), but the music is impossible without the strings and the design of the instrument (God's provision).