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One of the favorite verses of the justification by works folks is 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." (King James Version)
There are many things wrong with interpreting this verse to mean that we, being afraid of God, should work out our own salvation by performing works.
1) The King James version isolates everything by individual verses, a concept that was added to the bible many centuries after the original texts were written. Rather than using them as the reference tool they were created to be, people quote verses out of context to prove doctrinal points, very often erroneously. Philippians 2:12 is a prime example.
The complete sentence in a modern translation reads "So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, continue working out your salvation with awe and reverence, for the one bringing forth in you both the desire and the effort—for the sake of his good pleasure—is God." (New English Translation) Most other modern translations also have this as one sentence.
2) It is God working within the believer that brings about the desire and effort to do his will. It is impossible to interpret this as meaning that we, by our own efforts, must do things to accomplish our own salvation, unless one is predisposed to follow their own doctrine rather than God's word. Simply read what it says!
3) "Fear and trembling" is a poor translation, as it goes against the basis of the New Covenant. Hebrews 12 makes it abundantly clear (if you need to be reminded) that "For you have not come to something that can be touched, to a burning fire and darkness and gloom and a whirlwind and the blast of a trumpet and a voice uttering words such that those who heard begged to hear no more. For they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.” In fact, the scene was so terrifying that Moses said, “I shudder with fear.” But you have come to Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the assembly and congregation of the firstborn, who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous, who have been made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks of something better than Abel’s does." We are not to have the fear of God that even Moses had, we are to come to him knowing fully the forgiveness, love, and acceptance that he feels for us. He is our heavenly father; we are as much his children as Christ is. When Paul, speaking by the Holy Spirit, wrote to the church in Galatia he said "But when the appropriate time had come, God sent out his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we may be adopted as sons with full rights. And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, who calls “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if you are a son, then you are also an heir through God." That means you!! If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your savior then you are saved by the grace of God. You have been adopted into his family! He sees you as he sees his firstborn son: pure, sinless, and fully loved.
You don't need to work anything out to somehow earn God's love or even his approval. He is not there to judge you, punish you, disinherit you, etc. He fully accepts you as he fully accepts his firstborn son. Jesus accomplished all that needed to be accomplished; all you have to do is believe in him and accept your status. The prodigal son was loved by his father even though he erroneously regarded himself as no better than a servant. He didn't have to do a single thing other than accept the love that was freely and enthusiastically given by his father.
He didn't have to work out his salvation with fear and trembling and neither do you. The next time that somebody tells you otherwise, you will know in your heart that they are totally and foolishly wrong.
God bless!
"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." (King James Version)
There are many things wrong with interpreting this verse to mean that we, being afraid of God, should work out our own salvation by performing works.
1) The King James version isolates everything by individual verses, a concept that was added to the bible many centuries after the original texts were written. Rather than using them as the reference tool they were created to be, people quote verses out of context to prove doctrinal points, very often erroneously. Philippians 2:12 is a prime example.
The complete sentence in a modern translation reads "So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, continue working out your salvation with awe and reverence, for the one bringing forth in you both the desire and the effort—for the sake of his good pleasure—is God." (New English Translation) Most other modern translations also have this as one sentence.
2) It is God working within the believer that brings about the desire and effort to do his will. It is impossible to interpret this as meaning that we, by our own efforts, must do things to accomplish our own salvation, unless one is predisposed to follow their own doctrine rather than God's word. Simply read what it says!
3) "Fear and trembling" is a poor translation, as it goes against the basis of the New Covenant. Hebrews 12 makes it abundantly clear (if you need to be reminded) that "For you have not come to something that can be touched, to a burning fire and darkness and gloom and a whirlwind and the blast of a trumpet and a voice uttering words such that those who heard begged to hear no more. For they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.” In fact, the scene was so terrifying that Moses said, “I shudder with fear.” But you have come to Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the assembly and congregation of the firstborn, who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous, who have been made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks of something better than Abel’s does." We are not to have the fear of God that even Moses had, we are to come to him knowing fully the forgiveness, love, and acceptance that he feels for us. He is our heavenly father; we are as much his children as Christ is. When Paul, speaking by the Holy Spirit, wrote to the church in Galatia he said "But when the appropriate time had come, God sent out his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we may be adopted as sons with full rights. And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, who calls “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if you are a son, then you are also an heir through God." That means you!! If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your savior then you are saved by the grace of God. You have been adopted into his family! He sees you as he sees his firstborn son: pure, sinless, and fully loved.
You don't need to work anything out to somehow earn God's love or even his approval. He is not there to judge you, punish you, disinherit you, etc. He fully accepts you as he fully accepts his firstborn son. Jesus accomplished all that needed to be accomplished; all you have to do is believe in him and accept your status. The prodigal son was loved by his father even though he erroneously regarded himself as no better than a servant. He didn't have to do a single thing other than accept the love that was freely and enthusiastically given by his father.
He didn't have to work out his salvation with fear and trembling and neither do you. The next time that somebody tells you otherwise, you will know in your heart that they are totally and foolishly wrong.
God bless!
