When you hear the phrase, “working out,” what comes to your mind first?
For me, the first thing that comes to mind is physical exercise, and that is a meaning of the phrase, but what did the Apostle Paul mean when he said it in Philippians 2:12?
12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
Paul actually meant something very similar when he said “work out” to physical exercise. It is a linguistically accurate analogy for the Greek word, katergazomai, which means “to fully develop.”
Just so there’s no theological confusion, it means to fully develop something that is already there. When we lift weights, we develop the existing muscles, we don’t cause muscle to exist. Just the same theologically speaking. We develop something, our salvation, which already exists, because God has already given it to us.
This is why Paul says to “work out” and not “work for” our salvation. We, of course, know that it is not possible to work for our salvation.
So what does it mean to work out in regards to our salvation? I included verse 13 as well because it helps answer the question. Verse 13 explains that when we are saved, God is at work in us to accomplish His will and work and Paul even adds that it pleases God to do His work through us.
So to work out means that I cooperate with God as He leads me into deeper faithfulness to His commandments which will result in the accomplishment of good works.
It’s a mystery of mysteries that God chooses to use us to accomplish anything! His Spirit is leading you, but are you working out? Don’t waste any more time – start today!
For our good and His glory!
Wes LeFlore (918) 607-8489 or huskerwes1@gmail.com
