What Does It Mean to ‘Work Out Your Own Salvation’?

In his letter to the Philippians, the apostle Paul wrote, “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” (Phil. 2:12–13).

Some believe Paul taught that people must work to acquire salvation. But there are several reasons to refute this teaching:

1. The Philippians to whom Paul wrote were already Christians, so he was not telling them how to become saved.

2. Salvation is not an act that people do for God, but rather one He has done for mankind.

3. Christ fully accomplished the work of salvation when He died on the cross for man’s sin, redeeming all who personally receive Him as Savior.

4. People receive salvation by grace through faith in Christ, not by their works (Eph. 2:8–9).

5. Believers should fear and tremble not over the possibility of losing their salvation but, rather, at the thought of sinning against God. Those truly redeemed can never lose their salvation. The word fear also can refer to a Christian’s righteous respect and reverence of God, holding Him in awe. Paul manifested this position when he took the gospel to Corinth (cf. 1 Cor. 2:1–5).

The present-tense command work out (Greek, katergazomai) in Philippians 2:12 teaches Christians to continually carry out the work God sets before them. By writing “work out your own salvation” (v. 12), Paul indicated that believers have a responsibility to Christ: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10). A believer is not only a work of God as a new creature in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17), but also His workman who is to walk obediently.

Christians are conformed into Christ’s likeness that they may please God and glorify Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit’s power (cf. Rom. 8:29–30; 12:1–2). They are responsible to work for the Lord; but God provides the energy, ability, and power to do so when they abide in Him. Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (Jn. 15:5). God works in believers “both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13; cf. Eph. 1:5, 9; 2 Th. 1:11).