Your good behavior didn’t earn your salvation—and your sins can’t undo it. Salvation isn’t something you maintain through effort; it’s a gift you received by grace, not by works. That’s why it’s secure. You didn’t achieve it, so you can’t lose it.
You may ask, what of Philippians 2:12 that says; work out your own salvation with fear and trembling?
Philippians 2:12:
“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye 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.”
Philippians 2:13:
“For it is God, which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.”
Thank you for bringing this up!
Many interpret this as Work for your salvation. Which the verse never says.
Some believe our good works must maintain salvation, which is also wrong because salvation is only by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
However, let us break this verse in two segments for easy understanding.
#1. Work Out Your Own Salvation
God will never tell you to work out something unless He works in it first.
For instance:
Romans 6:12 (NLT):
“Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires.”
For God to say, “Do not let,” or “Do not give in”, it means He has given you authority to control it.
(Check Romans 8:3)
Now God is telling us to work out something that we already have, and that is salvation.
We already have it, so we are not trying to work for it. Hope that makes sense.
Philippians 2:13:
“For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”
The Greek term used for salvation is Sozo, which in the Strong’s Concordance means forgiveness, deliverance, protection, and health.
Moreover, God has already put all these in your spirit.
(Check Ephesians 1:3)
Therefore, working out your salvation is to walk in perfect health, protection, wealth, and forgiveness as the Lord works in you.
You can as well work it out by ministering health and deliverance to others.
#2. With Fear and Trembling
Now this does not mean you fear and tremble of God’s judgement when you sin, or when you fail to live a holy life.
The word fear in Hebrew also means “awe” (Reverence), and Jesus Himself calls it “worship”.
Do you remember when Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6:13 in the book of Luke 4:8?
Deuteronomy 6:13 (NLT):
“You must fear the Lord your God and serve Him…”
Luke 4:8 (NLT):
“Jesus replied, ‘The scriptures say, you must worship the Lord your God and serve only Him.'”
Do you see how Jesus changed fear to worship?
Therefore, the fear talked about in Philippians is not about being afraid of judgement from God when we sin, but great respect for the great work He does through us.
Fear and trembling is an expression of being joyful for what God is doing through you.
I know you are wondering how trembling and joy work together—yes, they do correlate.
Psalms 2:11 (NKJV):
“Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoicing with trembling.”
Mark 5:33:
“But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her…”
It was because of the miracle she had received, and not the sin of coming in public. What a joy in trembling!
The same incident happened in:
Jeremiah 33:9:
“Then it shall be to Me a name of joy, a praise, and an honour before all nations of the earth, who shall hear all the good that I do to them; they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and all the prosperity that I provide for it.”
God told Jeremiah the reason why all nations of the earth shall fear and tremble:
“…who shall hear all the good that I do to them; they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and all the prosperity that I provide for it.”
Therefore, working out our salvation with fear and trembling does not mean fearing God’s judgement for the wrong things we do,
but it is about working out what God has placed in our spirit.
If we can understand such truth, it will help us work out our salvation with fear and trembling
in a way that brings us closer to God and appreciate the great work He is doing in us.
Uncle you have blessed me May God bless you more abundantly