“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 (KJV)
Understanding the Command: “Work Out Your Own Salvation”
The Apostle Paul’s command to the believers in Philippi is not a call to earn salvation but to demonstrate and cultivate it. The phrase “work out” comes from the Greek katergazomai, meaning “to carry to the goal, to accomplish, to bring about.” In essence, Paul is instructing believers to take the salvation God has freely given and let it reach its full expression in their lives.
Salvation begins with justification—the moment a sinner repents and believes in Christ’s finished work on the cross. But justification is only the beginning of a lifelong journey. The believer must now yield to the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, allowing God’s transforming power to shape every thought, attitude, and action. To “work out” salvation is to cooperate with God’s Spirit in the process of being made holy, conforming daily to the image of Christ.
Paul immediately balances this call to effort with divine assurance: “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” Salvation is God’s work in us, but we are commanded to work it out through obedience, humility, and reverent submission.
The Meaning of “Fear and Trembling”
The phrase “with fear and trembling” reflects the spiritual posture required in pursuing genuine salvation. This fear is not the terror of a slave before a cruel master, but the reverent awe of a child before a holy and righteous Father. It is the awareness that we stand before the Almighty God who judges both thoughts and deeds.
“Trembling” speaks to a profound sensitivity to sin and to the weight of eternal things. A true believer understands that casual or complacent faith is dangerous. We must not treat the grace of God as something cheap or ordinary. Every decision, every temptation resisted or yielded to, every act of obedience carries eternal consequence.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). It is also the foundation of true discipleship. The believer who walks with godly fear will not trifle with sin, flirt with compromise, or neglect prayer and repentance. Instead, he will live with a sober awareness that he is accountable to God for every idle word, every hidden motive, and every neglected opportunity to obey.
The Process of Working Out Salvation
To work out salvation with fear and trembling involves several spiritual disciplines and realities that reveal the authenticity of one’s faith:
1. Repentance and Daily Self-Examination
True salvation begins with repentance—a turning from sin and a turning toward God. But repentance is not a one-time event; it is a lifestyle. Paul exhorts believers to “examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith” (2 Corinthians 13:5). A heart that no longer mourns over sin is in grave danger. Daily confession and self-examination keep the believer humble and aware of his need for grace.
2. Obedience to the Word
Salvation cannot be separated from obedience. Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). The working out of salvation is visible in a life that conforms to the teachings of Scripture. Obedience proves the sincerity of faith and the reality of transformation.
3. Sanctification by the Spirit
While justification saves us from the penalty of sin, sanctification saves us from its power. The Holy Spirit works within to purify the heart, subdue the flesh, and produce the fruits of righteousness. Paul’s words remind us that sanctification is not passive—it requires yielding to the Spirit’s correction and conviction.
4. Perseverance in Faith
To “work out” salvation means to continue steadfastly in the faith until the end. The Christian race is not won by starting well but by finishing faithfully. “He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved” (Matthew 24:13). Perseverance is evidence of genuine salvation, for the truly saved cannot walk away from Christ without the Spirit’s heavy conviction drawing them back.
5. Cultivating Humility and Dependence on God
The context of Philippians 2 emphasizes humility, pointing to Christ as the supreme example. The working out of salvation must be marked by humility, for pride resists God’s grace. We are reminded that it is God who works in us; thus, our boasting must be in Him alone.
Achieving Honest and True Salvation
Many profess salvation, yet few possess it. Jesus warned that not everyone who says “Lord, Lord” will enter the kingdom (Matthew 7:21–23). True salvation is not found in words, emotion, or religious formality, but in genuine surrender to Christ’s lordship. To achieve honest and true salvation, one must follow the biblical pattern:
1. Believe the Gospel
Faith begins with hearing and believing the message of Christ crucified and risen (Romans 10:9–10). Salvation is by grace through faith, not by works (Ephesians 2:8–9). But true faith produces obedience and transformation.
2. Repent of Sin
Repentance is more than regret—it is a total change of heart and direction. The repentant soul forsakes sin and submits to God’s authority. Without repentance, faith is empty and salvation counterfeit.
3. Confess and Surrender
Salvation requires confession of Christ as Lord. To confess Him is to acknowledge His right to rule every area of life. There is no salvation apart from surrender. A man cannot serve two masters; either Christ reigns or sin does.
4. Be Transformed by the Spirit
The evidence of salvation is transformation. The old life passes away; all things become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). Those who are truly saved will bear fruit—love, holiness, humility, and obedience. Any claim to salvation without fruit is self-deception.
5. Endure in Faith and Holiness
Salvation is not secured by a momentary prayer but by a persevering faith. The saved walk with God, endure trials, and grow in grace until the end. They “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).
The Eternal Seriousness of Salvation
Paul’s words carry a tone of solemn urgency because salvation is the most serious matter in all of life. Eternity hangs in the balance. To take salvation lightly is to risk eternal loss. Jesus warned that many will seek to enter the kingdom too late, after the door has been shut (Luke 13:24–27).
Therefore, to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” is to live daily in light of eternity—to walk humbly before God, to hate sin, to love righteousness, and to cling to Christ as our only hope. It is to make one’s calling and election sure (2 Peter 1:10), knowing that the Judge stands at the door.
Conclusion
To work out one’s salvation is to live in reverent cooperation with the God who has begun a good work in us and promises to complete it. It is to walk in obedience, humility, repentance, and faith until the day of Christ. This is not salvation by works, but salvation proven by works—the outward expression of an inward transformation wrought by the Spirit of God.
Let every believer, then, approach the throne of grace with “fear and trembling,” not as those unsure of God’s love, but as those deeply aware of His holiness. For it is only those who take their salvation seriously who will hear, on that final day, the blessed words:
“Well done, thou good and faithful servant… enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” (Matthew 25:21)