The Key to Obedience

“Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is at work in you both to will and work for his good pleasure.” Phil 2:12

I had a eureka moment this morning as I studied this text. It has always puzzled me—on several fronts. First, how do “work” and salvation by grace coexist? Second, why fear and trembling? 1 John 4:18 says perfect love casts out all fear. What should I be afraid of? Will God not accept me unless I fulfill this command?

My word studies were the key to unlocking Paul’s meaning.

First I looked up “work out” and how that verb is used in other places in Scripture.

• Romans 5:3 tells us tribulation brings about (same verb) perseverance
• 2 Corinthians 4:17 tells us momentary, light affliction is producing (same verb) in us an eternal glory.

“Working out” is another way of saying let the thing that has happened to you produce its life-changing results. It made me think of when I add cream to my coffee each morning. One splash quickly works its way through the whole cup, changing the color, texture, and taste of the entire contents. So should our salvation work its way through us, transforming our attitudes and actions.

Next I looked in Scripture for other times when “fear” and “trembling” were paired.

• In 1 Corinthians 2:3, Paul uses this pair to describe how he was when he was in Corinth: “I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.” In other words, Paul preached not in his own power, but after acknowledging his weakness, the power of God then worked through him to change the lives of the Corinthians.
• In 2 Corinthians 7:15, Paul uses the pair to describe the attitude of the Corinthians: “[Titus] remembers the obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling.” Paul was commending the Corinthians for their repentant hearts, responding to Paul’s instruction in his first letter to oust the sin from their midst. That kind of repentant attitude necessitates an acknowledgment of wrong on our part, and submitting to the righteousness of God.
• In Ephesians 6:5, Paul tells slaves to obey their masters with fear and trembling. It is an acknowledgment of the master’s authority and a decision to submit to it.

Putting these ways Paul uses these paired adverbs—with fear and trembling—you get a picture of an acknowledgment that we are inadequate. We submit to the authority and power of another.

• The second half of the verse seems to indicate this: “for it is God who is at work in you.” We work out our salvation, which came about by an acknowledgement that we were inadequate to earn our salvation on our own merit (Eph 2:8-9), by continuing to acknowledge that we are inadequate in and of ourselves to obey.
• Paul harps on this idea later in his letter to the Philippians: 4:13 informs us “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” He gives a similar sentiment in 2 Cor 12:9: “He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.” Paul often speaks of his inadequacy and his complete dependence on Christ.

Earlier in chapter 2, Paul urged the Philippians to be of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. He then gave the example of Christ, whose attitude and example we should emulate. Jesus “emptied himself” and “humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death.” Jesus made himself completely vulnerable, submitting completely to the will of the Father.

So then, Paul tells the Philippians, work out your salvation with fear and trembling. Just like Jesus, who emptied himself, allow the fact of your salvation—your acknowledgment of your total inadequacy to earn peace with God—to work through you and affect all your attitudes and actions.

Why? Because it is God who is at work within you to will and work for his good pleasure. It is not through your power you will be able to accomplish this. It is through his power alone. Paul reiterates this idea later on in 4:13: “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

Jesus once said “If you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?” Anyone can be unified with people just like them. But it takes supernatural power to have unity with people with which we disagree, or maybe don’t even like.

Unity (or any other kind of obedience, really) does not come naturally to believers. We need supernatural power. We cannot do it on our own strength. But when we depend on the power of Christ, it can happen. Our salvation can work its way into our selfish, often self-serving attitudes and transform us. We allow that process by acknowledging our inadequacy and depending on God to do the work within us. Transformation begins with this very important attitude.

I’m so thankful for this message from the Lord this morning. I am sitting and fretfully waiting to hear results of important tests the doctors will report on this morning concerning my little grandson, Joseph. I spent last night fussing and fuming at God—anxious at the fate he has possibly doled out to my children and grandchild. Will he live? Will he be handicapped? How can I accept what God may be giving us?

I got my answer. I can’t. At least not in my power. I don’t possess the strength. But He does. He will supply. I can remain obedient to his will, submissive to what he asks, though his power alone. So that is my prayer this morning. I need you, God. Give me the power to remain obedient and submissive to your will. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.  Isaiah 41:10