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Continuing our discussion from part one, so if the Apostle Paul is NOT saying that we must work for our own Salvation, then exactly what IS he saying? It should be clear to you by now that whatever is meant by Philippians 2:12, must be in perfect agreement with all of the previous verses which we have already examined. Those verses clearly say that we are not saved by our own works. Therefore, something else must be meant by Philippians 2:12. In fact, if we read the very next verse, Paul's intended meaning becomes clear; at least in my view. Allow me to share those two verses together:

"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."


The first nail in the coffin regarding this false doctrine is the fact that Paul comes right out and says that it is NOT our own works per se. Rather, it is in fact GOD who is working in us and through us. What is God working through us to do? Again, the verse makes it rather plain when it states God's Will and God's good pleasure. Do you understand now? If not, let me explain further. First of all, remember to whom Paul is writing this Epistle. It is to the Christian Church in Philippi. These are brethren. They are ALREADY Believers. Paul in fact refers to them as "my beloved". In other words, these people are ALREADY saved. As the Apostle John writes:

"He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.‭"


Do you see that? John clearly wants his readers to KNOW that they ALREADY have eternal life NOW, because they believe in Jesus. It is not something to wish for, or to work for in the future. They have already got it by faith through their belief in Christ. In similar fashion, Paul cannot be saying that the brethren at Philippi must work for their Salvation, because they are ALREADY saved by faith. So in my view, and you can take it or leave it, what Paul REALLY seems to be saying is that now that they ARE saved, serve the Lord with fear and trembling. Fulfill God's Will in your lives and do those things which please the Lord. Manifest and demonstrate your Salvation through the good works which you do for the Lord. Witness for the Lord. Win souls for His Kingdom. Teach His sheep. Support His missionaries. Do whatever He's called you to do. Prove that you are truly saved. Don't just say it. Do the work of an evangelist, as in this verse:

"But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry."


In short, as I have explained so many times before, the works which we do for the Lord are the fruits, the results, and the byproduct of our Salvation. They are NOT what save us, but they do prove that we are indeed saved. As Paul writes "make full proof of thy ministry." We do said works because of the fact that we have been saved, and we have been regenerated, transformed, and renewed in our minds, by the Spirit of Christ. We are new creatures in Christ Jesus, with a brand new vision, and new goals in life. Consider the following group of verses:

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."


"And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."


"And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:"


"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."


In fact, in Philippians 2:12, that phrase "work out" finds its origin in the Koine Greek word "katergazomai", which means to perform, accomplish or achieve. Those are action verbs which result in something being seen and done. It is similar to what the Apostle James wrote in these two verses where he says to show me your faith by your works. Let me see it in your actions and in your lifestyle. Don't just talk. Do the walk:

"Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works . . . For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."


This is in fact pretty much the same message that I share in articles such as the series "Sluggards and Sloths: Are You Diligent and Faithful in the Affairs of God's Kingdom?", as well as in "The Parable of the Sower: Salvation and Service" and "Are You a Burning Ember for the Lord?". In short, once we are saved, God expects us to work diligently for Him, for the glory of His Kingdom. That is precisely how we can gain Heavenly Rewards. To reiterate, such works do NOT save us, but they most certainly DO show that we are truly saved. If you were to plant an apple orchard, and years later when the trees mature, for some odd reason they don't bear any fruit, how would you feel? Well, God feels the same way when He plants His Spirit in the soil of our flesh -- which Apostle Paul refers to as the "earnest of the Spirit" -- and then we do not bear any fruit for His Kingdom. Consider this group of verses:

"And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."


"The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise."


"But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold . . . But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."


"Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof."


"And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred."


"But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience."


"He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down."


"Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit."


"I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned . . . Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you."


"Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God."


So the way that we "work out" our Salvation is by bearing fruit for God's Kingdom in some way. It may not necessarily be in the form of winning souls to Christ. After all, the Body of Christ is made up of many members, and each member has their own gifts, calling and ministry. Not everyone is called to be an evangelist, or a teacher, or a prophet. It is up to each one of us to determine through personal prayer and carefully studying God's Word, what His calling is for our lives. It is not the same for everyone. But whatever it is, we must do it faithfully, diligently and consistently, and with fear and trembling. That is the gist of the matter, in my humble opinion. Let me share a few more verses with you regarding the subject of faithfulness:

"Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?"


"His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord."


"He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?"


"And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities."


"Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful."


One question which arises in my mind is why Paul and James felt compelled to bring up this issue regarding demonstrating our faith by our works. Well, one reason -- which is in fact confirmed by the Scriptures -- is that some of the brethren were apparently being rather lazy. They were being slothful in the Lord's Business, and they were not doing their share of the work. They were freeloaders. They were just sliding by. This fact becomes evident in such New Testament verses as the following:

"Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; Neither did we eat any mans bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us. For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother."


"Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;"


"And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises."


I mean think about it. According to the Book of Acts, from the day of Pentecost and forward, the Apostle were literally winning souls and converts by the thousands. Not only that, but the most dedicated ones were forsaking all and bringing their possessions -- or the money from their possessions -- to the Apostles, so that distribution could then be made according to the need of each member. This communal manner of living becomes evident by verses such as the following:

"And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need."


"And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common . . . Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need."


"For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago. Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have. For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality: As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack."


Now think how easy it must have been for a shrewd person to more or less hide amongst so great a multitude of Christian Believers, enjoying the benefits which the Church offered, without having to lift a finger . . . well, at least until they were discovered by the Apostles! So the Apostles wanted the brethren to know that being a part of the Lord's Church was not just a free ride with free room and board. In other words, once saved, everyone was expected to do their part to advance the Kingdom of God, in whatever capacity they were assigned by the Church Elders. In this way they would indeed "work out [their] own salvation with fear and trembling", and "with quietness they work, and eat their own bread."

In conclusion, you cannot take one verse -- Philippians 2:12 -- and insist that in it Paul is saying that we must work for our Salvation, while purposely ignoring all of the other verses where he says the exact opposite. As I have already made clear, yes, we must indeed work. However, it is not so that we can merit or gain Salvation. Rather, we work because we love the Lord, and because we want to help bring others into His Kingdom. As a result of doing this, we will have rewards in Heaven. And by the way, if there is anyone who demonstrated their faith by their works, it was certainly the Apostle Paul. As he writes in his second Epistle to the Corinthian brethren:

"Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness."


With these thoughts, I will bring this article to a close. It is my hope that you have found it informative, enlightening, and I pray that it has been a blessing in your life as well. If you have an account with Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr or with any other social network, I would really appreciate if you'd take the time to click or tap on the corresponding link that is found on this page. Thanks so much, and may God bless you abundantly!

For additional information and further study, you may want to refer to the list of reading resources below which were either mentioned in this article, or which contain topics which are related to this article. All of these articles are likewise located on the Bill's Bible Basics web server. To read these articles, simply click or tap on any link you see below.

A Treasure in Earthen Vessels: God's Promise of the Spirit
Are You a Burning Ember for the Lord?
Are You Saved and Sealed and Healed and Filled?
Dead to the Law: God's Laws Written on Our Hearts
Free From the Fear of Death: Law and Works vs Grace
Humility in Our Understand of God's Word
Message to the World
Modern False Prophets and Worldly Ecumenism
OSAS: Are We Once Saved, Always Saved?
OSAS: The Hebrews 10:26-27 Controversy
Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth
Salvation is Free Through Jesus Christ
Sluggards and Sloths: Are You Diligent and Faithful?
Striving for Perfection: Are You a Sinless Saint?
The Office of Prophets and Teachers
The Parable of the Sower: Salvation and Service
What is God's Will for My Life?

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