First, the verse:
Philippians 2:12 (KJV) - 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.
Please note that the question itself is encapsulated in verse 12, not 13. However, I believe that there is a definite reason that this author included verse 13 in their question.
“work out”
Clearly, this shows that salvation is a matter of works, correct?
Incorrect, but rather the type of works or fruit you produce is a clear sign of whose character resides in your heart.
This answer goes into greater depth on this point.
If good works are the fruit of salvation, are there different levels of them?
“your own salvation”
With the previous two words correctly identified, we can now conclude that if we succeed in making it to eternity it is by our own merits. This is supported here:
John 14:6 (KJV) - Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Wait!
That doesn’t suggest what I said at all.
In fact, it suggests exactly the opposite when one realizes who stated those words.
John 14:6 (KJV) - Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Just to be clear what is it that Jesus is saying He is?
- Jesus is the way.
- Jesus is the truth.
- Jesus is life.
Just in case this has not been made clear enough the verse which happens to be spoken by Jesus Himself then goes on to say:
John 14:6 (KJV) - Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
No man can easily be translated here as alone.
Thus if we go back to the 3 attributes given to Jesus alone it would look like this.
- Jesus ALONE is the way.
- Jesus ALONE is the truth.
- Jesus ALONE is life.
It should be noted that there is another that positions themselves within such a framework.
Isaiah 14:13-14 (KJV) - For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
Notice the change of word usage between I AM and I WILL?
What was the end result of this one’s boasting?
Isaiah 14:15 (KJV) - Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
This is the absolute epitome of this verse:
Matthew 23:12 (KJV) - And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
Thus we can conclude as Paul did.
Galatians 6:14 (KJV) - But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
But I would ask, is it really the cross which Paul boasts in or rather the results of the fullness of what the crucifixion brought forward as seen in the resurrection of our precious Lord and Savior?
I, for one, would suggest the latter.
Shouldn't true Christians wear a cross to show their devotion to Jesus Christ?
What exactly is it that Jesus alone does?
If it is not clear by the above then the next few words of this verse make everything solid.
John 14:6 (KJV) - Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
The only possible way of us getting to the Father is by Jesus.
It is the absolute only way and nothing we do can possibly empower our arrival into eternal life and reconciliation with the Father but Jesus alone.
Just in case that has not been made extremely clear this verse closes with 3 words.
“BUT BY ME” (IE Jesus alone).
So far we have looked at the first part of the statement in this verse and this remains:
Philippians 2:12 (KJV) - 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.
Two actions are now identified.
- Fear
- Trembling
Let’s talk about fear.
1 John 4:18 (KJV) - There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
So why would this verse so identify fear as a positive attribute?
Perhaps because:
Psalm 111:10 (KJV) - The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
Or…
Proverbs 10:27 (KJV) - The fear of the Lord prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
Or…
Job 4:6 (KJV) - Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?
The fear spoken of here intermingles with confidence, hope & uprightness to prolong one's life through wisdom and understanding.
When one thinks of the word fear I would suggest it is not with this type of positioning but rather.
Hosea 4:6 (KJV) - My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
If those very words spoken, do not humble you to your knees I do not know what will.
But please note, this is not the Godhead pronouncing the verdict upon us but rather us pronouncing the judgment upon them.
If we reject the godhead what choice do they have but allow us to do so causing in its fullness the requirement for them to reject us?
We will be no priest because we reject them.
If we forget the laws established by the Godhead they will forget us. Not because they want to but we force them into a position of having to. Their love for us is amazing:
John 3:16-18 (KJV) - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Within their perfect agape love of us, if we push them away they have no choice but to leave us to our own vices. It is within this understanding that we can now read verse 13.
Philippians 2:13 (KJV) - For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
With the type of fear and trembling that is identified from within a tight-knit relationship with God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ, we find their character exuding out of our very beings.
It is within this understanding that we can now clearly understand verse 12.
2 Corinthians 3:18 (KJV) - But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.