Work Out Your Own Salvation

by T.W. Fullerton, Melbourne | Category: General | Dec 1975

"Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Phil. 2:12).

These words of the apostle Paul are often misunderstood, and misapplied to the salvation of the sinner from eternal judgement. It is important to observe the context in which the words appear. The epistle was addressed to "all the saints which are at Philippi, with the bishops (overseers) and deacons" (1:1). Among them would be the jailor and his household, of whom we read in Acts 16. It is evident that a number in the city had turned to the Lord, repentance having been wrought in their hearts by the Spirit of God. In reply to the query from the jailor, "What must I do to be saved?", the answer was given, "Believe on the Lord Jesus and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:30,31). Following this the jailor and his household, having believed, were baptized. The usual pattern would be followed; they would then be added together with other disciples, forming the Church of God in Philippi. The message which the jailor heard was one bringing assurance of eternal salvation through faith in Christ. There was nothing doubtful about it. The proclamation was, "That Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried; and that He hath been raised on the third day according to the Scriptures" (1 Cor. 15:3,4). It would have the emphatic ring which is found in the words of the Lord, "He that heareth My word, and believeth Him that sent Me, hath eternal life, and cometh not into judgement, but hath passed out of death into life" (John 5:24).

Salvation involves much more than the immediate experience of the forgiveness of sins. Man is mortal, subject to death. Following the fall in Eden the fact of mortality was soon realized. Through one man sin had entered into the world and death through sin. When Seth, the son of Eve, begat a son he called his name Enosh - frail, mortal man (Gen. 4:26). The promised Seed of the woman would be One who would bruise the head of the serpent and "restore that which he took not away" (Psa. 69:4). He would bring immortality within the reach of man. The gospel offers dying man not only forgiveness of sins, but future immortality. This has been secured by the death, burial and resurrection of the great Redeemer. Of this Redeemer it is written, that as yet He "only hath immortality" (1 Tim. 6:14-16). He is a risen Man, not having experienced corruption in His death. He bears in heaven a human body, sinless, perfect, and deathless - therefore immortal. He is the living Head of a New Creation. The Adamic race is condemned already and cannot be healed. The only hope for sinful mankind lies in death, burial and resurrection. This has taken place in the Person of the divine Substitute - Christ. Faith in Christ immediately identifies the sinner with his Substitute, and he becomes part of the New Creation. The forgiveness of sin and justification are immediate but the putting on of the image of the Redeemer in immortality lies ahead at the return of the Lord for His children. It is fully assured (see 1 Cor. 15:49-53; Phil. 3:20,21; 1 Thess. 4:16,17; 1 John 3:2; Heb. 9:28). Justification and immortality are the free gift of God to all who believe on His Son; procured by the redemptive work of Christ.

What then is the salvation which children of God must "work out" with fear and trembling? Lying between the new birth and the putting on of immortality is the life lived in mortal body on earth, whether that life be measured by many or few years of time. Divine provision has been made whereby that life may be saved, and not lost by reason of the failures due to mortality. The believer may offer his body "a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God" (Rom. 12:1). In that body he may live to His glory and in His service. It is this to which New Testament writers refer as coming within the scope of human responsibility, to "work out". The writer of the epistle to the Hebrews lays much emphasis on this, for "The Lord shall judge His people" (Heb. 10:30). It is God's purpose that His children should be "a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ" (1 Pet. 2:5). The high priestly work of the Lord in heaven is with a view to saving to the uttermost those who come to God through Him (Heb. 7:25). As failing mortal individuals provision has also been made for children of God, who have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous (1 John 1:5-2:1).

Forgiveness, justification and immortality are assured to the believer (incorruption is the term used for those who will be raised from the dead). Yet if sin or disobedience are permitted to take control he may lose the life which God desires should be lived for Him, and which the Lord Jesus has purchased with His own blood. When the lives of God's children are "made manifest" at the judgement seat of Christ (1 Cor. 3:12-15) the life lived on earth will be revealed as having been of the quality of gold, silver, costly stones; or wood, hay, stubble. Let us therefore be deeply concerned and exercised regarding that approaching day. What we do with our mortal bodies while on earth will be "revealed". The issues are eternal, as regards reward or loss. In God-appointed service let us seek to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling.

T.W. Fullerton, Melbourne | Dec 1975
General