It is important to understand this phrase in its immediate context in Philippians 2, as well as in the broader context of the rest of the Bible. Salvation is by faith in Christ alone, entirely apart from human works (Acts 16:31; Rom. 3:22-26; Eph. 2:8-9; Titus 3:4-7). God cannot save people because of their works, because they are tainted by sin. His standard is moral perfection, which none of us ever reach: “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all” (Jas. 2:10; Ps. 14:3). Instead, He saves us to perform good works, because they are the fruit of the Spirit of God’s work in the believer (Gal. 5:22-24; Titus 2:14).
The verse opens with “Therefore” (v.12), which calls the reader back to the preceding teaching on Christ’s selfless service and death. He is the example of our proper attitude: putting others first (Phil. 2:5-11). What is more, this shows that this is a believing community; otherwise, exhorting them to think like the Lord would be impossible. The renewed mind is the product of God’s work in the believer (Heb. 10:16). Paul also addresses them as “beloved,” demonstrating the familial love among believers (John 13:34-35). His own remarks in verse 17 show that he was willing to pour out his life like a drink offering for the advancement of their faith.
He instructs them to “work out your salvation,” not to work for your salvation. He also mentions their past and present obedience, clearly discussing spiritual effort in the Christian life. Their past obedience gives the apostle confidence that they will continue to obey in the future, further developing their sanctification. While verse twelve emphasizes believers’ diligent cooperation in progressive sanctification, the next verse explains: “for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (v.13). The true Vine energizes the saints by His Spirit to produce fruit; therefore, their progress in holiness requires dependence on Him (John 15:5; Gal. 5:16). As many teachers have said, “One must work out what God works in.”
They are told to do this “with fear and trembling,” displaying the serious attitude required for personal holiness. Vine explains that these words “. . . do not suggest a dread of, or shrinking from, God, but a watchfulness against grieving Him, an eagerness to avoid displeasing Him, and a reverent and constant consciousness of His presence, the spirit described in Isaiah 66:2 (end), the very opposite of the spirit mentioned in 2 Peter 2:10.”1 This phrase accentuates the purposeful nature of growth in holy living.
Verses 14-16 declare the believers’ responsibility to fulfill the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20). Unlike the complaining Israelites of the Old Testament wilderness, they are to be positive examples and will “become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation.” Their gospel-altered lifestyle will cause them to shine “as lights in the world.” They are called to hold forth the Word of life (KJV), meaning that they are to be witnesses to what the biblical gospel is. Others translate it “holding fast the Word of life” (NKJV), and, of course, the church must cling to the Bible as the only manual for faith and practice.
Lastly, there is internal evidence in Philippians that some beloved saints, like Euodia and Syntyche, were disagreeing (4:2). As a church, they needed to develop the love that the Lord puts within our hearts for fellow believers (Rom. 5:1-5). Progressive growth in Christ demonstrates increasing love in the church and outside in the world. When the Lord comes to receive believers to Himself, all aspects of salvation will be completed in them; then salvation will be fulfilled as the glorified saints are completely conformed to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:28-30).
Endnotes
- W. E. Vine, Collected Writings: Philippians. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1997).