Living The Jesus Life

This series is a part of our annual practice of spending time focusing on one book of the Bible. In this case, the study is of Philippians – the letter Paul wrote from a Roman prison to the church at Philippi, the first church Paul started in Eastern Europe (see Acts 16). The people at Philippi were facing the resistance of Rome but remained a vibrant community of faith.

Philippians is a letter that speaks to living life as a disciple of Jesus in 2023. That's why we've entitled the series, 'Living the Jesus Life'.

Today's focus is Philippians 2:12-18.

The obvious question is:
What does it mean to "work out your salvation"?
And, perhaps just as importantly, what doesn't it mean?

-Salvation is not a prize that we work for. It's not an accomplishment. It's a free gift of God.
-In Philippians 1:11, Paul proclaims that righteousness comes through Christ alone.
-About this same time Paul writes this letter, while still in prison, he writes another letter in which he clearly proclaims: "For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.…" (Ephesians 2:8-9)

-Paul is not de-valuing the work of Christ, but rather He is re-emphasizing it (see Philippians 2:5-11 which precedes this text).
-The Greek word used in verse 12 gives the implication of 'completeness'.
-The idea here is that your salvation should be evident in every area of your life. Salvation must find it's completeness as you work it out in your life.
-Paul doesn't say 'work FOR your salvation'. It's as if Paul is saying 'activate the salvation God has given you'.

Interesting to compare these two mentions of work:
1. "continue to work out your salvation" (verse 12)
2. "it is God who works in you" (verse 13)

We are called to work out our salvation, but it is God who works in us.

Verses for further study/reflection:
Philippians 1:6
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
James 5:9
1 Peter 1:9
1 Corinthians 10:10
Ephesians 4:1-3