“Work Out Your Salvation with Fear and Trembling”

Philippians 2:12-14

Rev. Min J. Chung

(Friday Night Large Group, November 30, 2001)

“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.” Philippians 2:12-14, NIV

I. Introduction

A. George Verwer is the president of a missions agency called Operation Mobilization. He has spoken many times at the Urbana Missions Conference. This man is crazy about reaching the world for Jesus Christ. Every time he gives an illustration, he starts off by saying, “I was sitting, thinking about how to reach the world...” He seems to be thinking about that all the time—how to reach the world effectively. I was a speaker at the Korean World Missions Conference and he was also a speaker there. I don’t really remember much about what he said. I remember him wearing a global jacket with a map of the world on it. By the end of the message, he had taken out this world beach ball (it was huge, not like the ones my kids have). He made everyone pray for the world as he carried the beach ball all around the stage. After that, I wanted a world beach ball. I wanted to put one at the office and pray for the world. George Verwer is crazy about world missions. More than what he said, he was the message. When I remember him, I think, “I need to be crazy about reaching the world for Jesus Christ.”

B. Paul is similar. This man is crazy about reaching the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. He was in prison, in chains. Look what he says about that. Verse 1:12 says, “Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.” He’s really happy about his imprisonment because it has caused the gospel to spread. Verse 1:13 says, “As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.” He was chained to a Roman guard. But this guard couldn’t go anywhere. Paul talked about Jesus to him the whole time. Who was really imprisoned? Who was chained to who? Verse 14 says, “Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.” Many people knew Paul was in chains because of the gospel of Jesus Christ and thought, “We need to fearlessly preach the gospel and put our lives on the line.” The gospel spread because they became more courageous due to their mentor. Can you imagine if Pastor Peter was in the mission field and got imprisoned? We’d be motivated to preach the gospel. Paul’s imprisonment contributed to the advancement of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

C. Look at what he says about his life in verse 21, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” What he really means is, “For to me, to live means Christ. I get to live for Him. But if I die, I’m going to see Christ. So to die means more of Christ.” The man was crazy for the gospel of Jesus Christ. In verses 21-26 he’s saying in effect, “If I die it would be better because I’m going to see Him alive. That’s great, but I gotta live so I can bring God’s grace through the Word of God to you. Even though personally it’s better for me to die, I’ll live for your sake, for the advancement of the gospel.”

D. In verse 27 he says, “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” That is a personal command given to each and every one us. You need to live in a manner worthy of the gospel.

E. Then he gives a corporate command at the end of verse 27: “Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel.” Be crazy about Jesus so that together you are thinking about advancing the gospel of Jesus Christ. He talks about how we need to face the world.

F. He expands on this in chapter 2. Verses 1-11 are what we ought to do as a church (a corporate command). We need to be united, have fellowship in the Spirit, be like-minded and humble. Have the same humble attitude as Christ so you’ll be united. Then he talks about what we need to do individually in verses 12-14 (a personal command). In verses 14-18, he explains how you can face the world and shine like stars in the universe (how we need to face the world). Today we’d like to focus on verses 12-14, the individual command. We will learn about how we need to fight in our spiritual lives so we can work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Then we’ll have love in the church and fire in our hearts and we’ll spread Jesus in the world. Let’s talk about three things under this personal command.

II. Body

A. God Works in You (13)

1. Verse 13 says, “For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” Let’s think about this phrase for a minute. Is it a bothersome or a helpful concept? Let’s say there’s an Olympic swimmer; she swims the 400 meter event. She’s about to swim a race and is guaranteed to win because she’s worked all her life for it. Everyone knows she will win it. What does a lifesaver mean to that Olympic swimmer? Nothing. Think of that same swimmer in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Her strength has run out. She’s grasping for her last breath. What does a lifesaver mean to that same Olympic swimmer? It means everything. If we are proud, self-reliant people like that swimmer in the Olympic pool, we think we don’t need God. That’s why you’re not motivated to read the Bible, pray, help out small group or go to church. You can get what you want without God’s work in you. The Bible says that the true picture of humanity is the swimmer in the middle of Atlantic. You’re swimming in the ocean of our sin and God’s wrath, thus we are unable to get out of trouble without His saving work.

2. If we have the eyes of faith, life is not about personal glory but about being prepared to see God after death. Sin is powerful. There are sins and sinful addictions that prove our nature. Sin is in us. How can I fight? Some of you are swimming. You’ve swum as far as your strength can hold you afloat and are gasping for your last breath. You’ve already come up for air the first time. Then the second. They say the third time is the last time. You’ve taken your third and final breath and are waiting for a lifesaver. Think about soldiers of faith like Paul, the author of this book. He says in Romans 7:15, “For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate to do.” He’s talking about the struggle in his heart. There’s a bad, evil desire that loves sin. There’s a good desire given by the Spirit that loves God. He’s fighting to live. For soldiers of faith like Paul, “God works in you” is a tremendous encouragement.

3. How does He work? To will and to act. Remember Paul just said, “For what I want to do (will to do), I do not do, but what I hate to do.” God works in you how? To will and to act. God changes your desires. It may be slow but God changes your desires and gives you power to act. Is that encouraging? It is if you’re fighting to be more like Christ, to be examples in the world and to love unlovable people.

4. There are those swimming in the ocean of drug addiction; some of you are like that in our church. Will this desire to have drugs ever be gone? I don’t know about your Bible, but my Bible says God works in you to change your will and desires. There are those swimming in the ocean of relational lust, constantly attached to someone. Bobby, Mike, it doesn’t matter what the name is. There’s always someone. I know some of you are like that. “Pastor Min, will I ever overcome this?” The Bible says God works in you to change your desires. Many are struggling in the ocean of sin called pornography. God can change your will. Some of you are struggling with homosexual desires. Will they ever change? Scripture says, God works in you to will and to act. A desire change can take place. The love of money. Hatred. Eating problems. Some can’t keep food down without vomiting—the food they just gave thanks for. This is encouragement for fighting soldiers who are swimming in the pool of sin, God says He works in you to will and to act. This is the hope of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The lifesaver of God’s work is coming if you will work out your faith.

B. You Must Work out Your Salvation

1. Before we know how to work it out, we must know what we are working out. Salvation. It’s a picture word that describes rescue. It can mean deliverance or salvation. There’s a good picture in Mark 4:38. The disciples are in a storm about to die. They’re trying to get all the water out of their boat. All the while Jesus is sleeping. They say, “Jesus, don’t you care if we drown?” The word drown is the same word used in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish (drown) but have eternal life.” The same word is used to refer to drowning in the ocean and drowning in sin or the wrath of God. We are drowning in the ocean of sin, and the deeper meaning is God’s wrath. God’s wrath is coming to destroy sin. Those who hold on to sin without the Savior will be destroyed by His wrath. Romans 1:17-18 say that this is the gospel: His wrath is being poured on sinners. Unless you understand wrath, you cannot understand the gospel. We are being saved from that wrath.

2. It’s not just talking about the initial moment of salvation (justification). It can also includes sanctification. When the word salvation is used in the Bible, sometimes it means that initial moment of justification, but it can also include the process of being changed, sanctification. That’s obviously what it means here. We are continuously being changed. An actual change is taking place. We are being made holy. It means to work out what God has implanted in you. God’s salvation needs to be proven through a changed life. If you are really saved, you’ll have the power to live it out. Slowly but surely there’ll be change. God is working in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.

3. When we say “Work out your salvation,” two misunderstandings can take place.

a) God works as a helper but it’s ultimately up to us. The emphasis is on my work. God is not the cause of the effectiveness. It’s like I scored the goal and God gets the assist. Is that what Scripture says? No. In basketball, I have given a lot of people assists, but they missed. Is that what God is like? He gives us assists but we can potentially miss? No. It’s completely up to God.

b) Because God works, you don’t need to do any work. I don’t have to do anything. “Let go and let God.” This error is closer to the truth because it at least gives credit to God but it’s also very wrong.

4. We have both verses 12 and 13. “God works in you” and “work out your salvation.” In Greek, verbs have moods, indicative and imperative. In verse 13 the verb is indicative, a truth—God is working in you. In verse 12 the verb is imperative, a command—work out your salvation. The first error ignores the truth of verse 13. The second error ignores the command of verse 12.

5. There has to be the Sunday of God’s work in changing your heart. Then there can be Monday work as we shine like stars in the universe. As we worship God, He works in us. Then, that process of God working is completed through our work.

6. What is our work? We can misunderstand this. God works in us to will and to act. To will—He changes our desires. To act—He gives us power to live. We mistakenly think this: God changes our hearts so we must act. No. God does both. God changes our hearts and also helps us to act. God both changes our hearts and gives strength to our hands. What is our work? We must absolutely depend on God in both in our heart work and our hand work. So think about passages like Psalm 1. “I will meditate on the law of the Lord day and night.” Then His Word becomes our delight. A desire change takes place. As we fight to pray, “Not my will but Thine be done,” God stirs up desire in us. We must absolutely depend on God in that heart work. Through prayer and God’s Word, a desire change takes place. In our hand work—acting, mundane activities—as we depend on Him, we must live it out. We must depend on Him as well as live it out. He’s the One. It’s a day by day, minute by minute thing. We must depend on Him in our hearts every moment of our lives.

7. The right way to say it is this: work out your salvation because God is at work in us. It means our work is a means of God’s grace. His grace is the power and our work is the channel through which the power of God is manifested.

8. If we don’t understand that our actions are also by God we might think this: our actions are totally up to us. Then we think that we can’t say no to sin and we feel guilty and depressed. It’s true; it’s our fault. But we can also fight in our choices. We ask for forgiveness and fight. We must say “no” not only to our sins but our prayerlessness in our heart fight. We must depend on the Lord both in heart fight and in our action fight. A lot of times we depend on God in prayer but not in our actions. We must depend on God every moment of our lives! Help me! Strengthen me! Prayer is not just something we do on Sunday but every moment of our lives. Depend on God to will and to act, so we can say no to prayerlessness and sin in our lives. No self-reliant activity nor God-reliant passivity, but God-dependent activity. Depend on God every single moment. I don’t know how many times I pray little prayers. “Lord, help me. Change me. Strengthen me.” Those little prayers will help you tremendously.

C. You Must Work out Your Salvation with Fear and Trembling (Motive)

1. We’re talking about the motive now. The phrase “with fear and trembling” is the motive. What should our motive be? God. Not anything or anyone else. For His eyes only. Isn’t that what Paul means in verse 12? “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” He’s basically saying, “Even though I’m not watching you and can’t judge you, don’t do it for my eyes.” Do it with fear and trembling, for God’s eyes. That ought to be our motive. The same phrase is used a few times in the New Testament. In Ephesians 6:5 as Paul talks to Christian slaves: “Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.” It means single-mindedness of heart. Fear and trembling emphasizes a single-minded heart that wants to please God not human beings. You live out your Christian life not so that everyone or certain people like Paul or a discipler will say nice things about you, but with a single-minded desire, sincerity of heart, fear and trembling of God.

2. Let me talk about fear. It sounds negative. Aren’t we free from fear when we become a Christian? Some verses in Scripture say yes and some say no. We are free from certain kinds of fear but there is another kind that we should have. Hebrews 3:2 tells us that we are free from the fear of death. We might fear the moment of death itself (the pain, falling in an airplane, being hurt for a split second), but we don’t fear death because after the pain we’ll be in heaven in the presence of God. There is no fear of death for Christians. However, in Hebrews 4:1, two verses later, it says, “Into fear,” of not following the Lord. We are to fear unbelief, the chance we might fall away. We have to fear sin. Jesus says this in Luke 12:4-5. Can you imagine someone saying this? “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.” Did you know Jesus said that? If any preacher said that today, we’d hear it and say he’s too much. What is he saying? He’s saying that you get rid of certain fears when you become a Christian. But you have other kinds of fear. Salvation leads to freedom from the fear of unworthy objects but causes fear of the only worthy object or person. Who is that? God. It’s not fear of people, storm or circumstance. It’s fear of God, who can save us or cast us into hell. A very good illustration is Mark 4. The disciples are in a scary storm. But their sleeping Savior, Jesus, wakes up because they are afraid. “Jesus, don’t you care if we drown?” Jesus gets up. “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” Faith and fear can’t coexist. They are mutually exclusive. Then in verse 6, after Jesus calms the storm, does the next verse say, “They didn’t fear anymore”? No. It says that they were terrified. Before they were afraid of the storm. Now they were terrified of whom? Jesus. Faith led them to a stronger fear. Before they were afraid of the storm but now they are afraid of the Savior. Faith takes away the fear of unworthy objects but leads to a fear of the proper object, God Himself. With fear and trembling, a proper motive, you want to receive His approval, not man’s.

3. Since “with fear and trembling” is in verse 12, does that mean it’s part of our responsibility? Is proper motive our work? No. It’s partly our responsibility, but it’s also mentioned in verse 13. “According to His good purpose” is literally, according to His good pleasure. Or according to His good desire. God is working to change your desires to will and to act so that you’ll please Him. I think that’s in direct correlation with fear and trembling. Our motive is to please Him. We do need to work out our salvation with our hands as well as with fear and trembling (our motive) for His glory. But God is doing all that as well. He’s changing our work and activity according to His pleasure and for His glory. He’s working out love in us for Him so that with fear and trembling we would please Him. Then we can shine in the world like stars in the universe. All glory to God!

III. Conclusion

A. Some of you are not living in the war. The Bible says life is a war. Some of you are living in a comfortable world. That means you are living according to the comfortable, evil desires of your heart. The Bible says that the days are evil. The stream of life flows toward sin. Unless you’re fighting and going upstream, you are flowing right into sin. If your spiritual life is easy, the Bible says something is wrong with you.

B. Some of you are fighting soldiers. You identify with Paul. “What I want to do, I don’t do, but what I hate to do.” You’re fighting against the pleasures of your heart. If you’re discouraged, then this passage is for you. It’s a tremendous encouragement. You need to hold on to these verses and fight. Meditate on these verses. Claim the promises of God as you pray right now. “Change my will.” As you fight every minute of you life, as you pray for your will to change and His will to increase, you can overcome sin. Slowly but surely you’ll overcome. The lifesaver will come for those swimming in sin. He will save you and help you. “For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.” So now work out your salvation with fear and trembling and you’ll shine like stars in the universe for His glory and honor. Let’s pray to the Lord for a few minutes.