12 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 salvation with fear and trembling …
Subject of much theological debate, the question cannot be relegated to intramural academics to be decided by the scholars and the ecclesiastical courts. Eternity hangs in the balance for each individual as to how the question is answered. Our text is addressing individuals, not the collective. In the end, we each will stand before the Creator and Judge of all the earth and have to answer for ourselves. Too many rely on the pastor, their church, their denomination to answer this question, “How do I work out my salvation?”
Does this passage mean, as some would teach, that we must work for our salvation, in some way earn it through our good works? That can’t possibly be the case, for we are told elsewhere in Scripture that, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). We have already failed in trying to work for our salvation! What we have earned, what we have worked for has resulted in failure: “The wages of sin is death” (Rom 6:23). So how can we possibly work for and earn our salvation through living righteously? We can’t—it’s impossible.
But notice, our passage does not say, “Work for your salvation.” Rather it says, “Work out your salvation.” There is an eternity of difference in meaning. Many commentators have interpreted it this way, “Work out the implications of your salvation.” Paul had given them the gospel teaching, the good news of the new life in relationship to God, one that comes about by grace, a gift from God. Now (at time of writing) he is no longer with them and therefore unable to help them work out all the ramifications of that foundational truth. He defers to them to think through and put into practice all that the gospel means for living the Christ-centered life. Salvation itself is not in question for them. What is in question is the quality of life they will live now that they are saved. Will they live like saved people, walking in the grace of God?
God is at work in us and will perfect the work He began (Phil 1:3). The Christian’s “work” is to keep in step with what God wants to accomplish in us. That is what He has saved us for (Eph 2:20). And that takes effort on our part; it takes work. Lazy Christianity is not what Christ died for. But neither did He die so that we would spend our lives trying to win salvation. It’s a done deal, now live out the truth of that, live up to it!
Lord, thank You for Your wonderful salvation. I renew my efforts to live in a way that honors what You have done in my life.
Thanks for this most important summary of a most important teaching. The 21st century church has not heard this theme often enough … to our detriment.