Work out your salvation

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. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. – Philippians 2.12-13

At first look this looks like a verse that supports works salvation, doesn’t it? ‘Work out your salvation with fear and trembling?’ Well, we know works don’t save us so we need to look at this a little more.

It’s really not too complicated. It is not about working to get salvation, but working the salvation we have outwardly so that everyone can see it. I like the way I heard this explained one time – outwork your salvation with fear and trembling.

It is awesome thing to be called on to show our works to the world. Jesus said that we are let our works be seen by men so that they will glorify our Father in heave, Paul wrote to the Ephesians that it was ordained before the foundation of the world that we should walk in good works.

It's really pretty clear. If we are truly saved it doesn’t do much good if we keep it hidden and keep it to ourselves. We let our works be seen so that others can be drawn to the Christ through our example.

We can’t keep it hidden under a bush, oh no.

Our works must be seen by others so that our works always back up our words, but we must share our words so that our works mean something to the world.