We can’t be passive in spiritual matters. We have to be aggressive. When it comes to spiritual health, we need to exercise our faith. In short, we need to work out what God is working into us.
As Paul said in Philippians 2:12-13: “Therefore, my beloved, as you 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 who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”
Christianity is more than just a decision to make Jesus your Savior. It’s also a determination to walk with Jesus as your Lord. If you don’t do that, you’re going to become what so many in the church have become: pew potatoes—the spiritual equivalent of couch potatoes. They watch things happen, but they aren’t “doers of the word” (James 1:22).
Now, Philippians 2:12 can seem like a problem verse at first glance. The words “work out” translate to “maintain constant energy and effort to finish a task.” And some people think that means it’s a self-help salvation that requires their personal effort and hard work. It sounds like the equivalent of “God helps those who help themselves.”
If you ask the average person whether they’re going to heaven, they’ll tell you the things they do to earn God’s favor. But please notice Paul didn’t say, “work for your salvation.” He’s writing to believers, “the saints in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:1), when he says, “work out your own salvation.” You can’t work out what God hasn’t first worked in.
The original Greek means to work something to full completion. It’s like when a doctor performs surgery, prescribes medication and sends you to rehabilitation. Effectively, he has done it all, but you still need to follow through: Go to rehab, do the workout, take the prescribed medication. There must be cooperation with the doctor’s course of care.
One translation says, “Put into action God’s saving work in your lives.” God has done all the work. He is the one who brings salvation. But it takes energy to grow as a believer. If you’re going to grow, you can’t just “let go and let God.”
“His divine power has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us…” (2 Peter 1:3). But read on to verse 5: “…Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance…” (vv. 5-6). Spiritual growth is not accidental. It’s intentional. Spiritual maturity is human cooperation with the divine operation, working out something that has first been worked in.
You can’t work something out of you that God hasn’t first worked in you. It begins with His divine power at work in you, enabling you to work hard and obey and serve Him.
Now, God’s power begins in the will and ends in the action. But it always affects our will first—God will give you the desire to do His will. He plants a longing in you.
God begins with your will before He works on your actions so you’ll enjoy it when you do it. So that your action is not resignation: “I have to serve God.” You’ll desire to serve Him.
So let God work His desires in you, and He’ll work His plan and His purpose through you.
