WORK OUT YOUR OWN SALVATION
Righteousness, Peace and Joy.
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of rules about food and drink, but is in the realm of the Holy Spirit, filled with righteousness, peace, and joy. Romans 14:17 Passion Translation
In the Kingdom of God we can live in righteousness, peace and joy between us and among us. But before these can be normal attributes of life in the kingdom it has to be within the hearts of individual believers.
Jesus said the Kingdom of God is taken by forceful men. And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. Matthew 11:12 (NKJV)
Yet, we learn that one does not enter the kingdom by force or even works of service. One enters by the new birth of John 3:5; as a child according to Luke 18:17; and simply receiving it as the Father gives it to us in Luke 12:32. Paul makes all this clear in verses like Ephesians 2:8, 9, Gal 2:16 and Romans 10:9, 10 as he teaches that one enters the kingdom by grace through faith as they believe that Jesus Christ, as the Son of God, rose from the dead. And through that faith one is translated in the new birth from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of the Son of God the Father’s love (Col 1:13).
So why do we read things like Matthew 11:12 above and that one must labor to enter the rest God has prepared for His people when Jesus promises us His rest by simply coming to Him? (Matthew 11:28-30)
Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. Hebrews 4:11 KJV
Why does Paul tell the Philippians to work out their own salvation in fear and trembling when he told the Romans and Galatians that the righteousness of the kingdom is not attained by works, but given to us according to our faith in the finished work of Christ?
The word for salvation in Philippians 2:12 in the Greek language (soteria) is a noun form of the verb (sozo) to be saved. It includes spirit, soul and body (1 Thess 5:23, 24) and also means healing, deliverance and being made whole. As one believes on Christ he becomes a new creation (2 Cor 5:17); born of the Spirit of God and translated into God’s kingdom (Col 1:13). At that moment the Holy Spirit enters the person’s spirit and becomes one with him or her (1 Cor 6:17). That person’s spirit is saved and reconciled to God the Father by the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ (2 Cor 5:18, 19). All past, present and future sins are forgiven and he/she is given access to the throne of God the Father by the righteousness of Christ (Heb 4:16) which has been given to him/her. The person is righteous before God.
In fact, according to Philippians 1:6 God, Who began this good work of salvation in you is the One Who will complete it. Not you.
Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; Philippians 1:6 (NKJV)
And notice Philippians 2:12 is followed by verse 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
God’s purpose is to do within you what He wills. With your agreement in faith He works within you the power to perform His good pleasure so you are preserved blameless when Jesus returns. It’s not by your power or your work; He will do it by His own faithfulness.
23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:23–24 (NKJV)
God puts His righteousness upon and within those who believe. Your faith is important in this as an agreement with God to account you righteous because of Christ’s faith to suffer as the only sacrifice lamb worthy to pay the price for your salvation.
And be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; Philippians 3:9 (NKJV)
Because your faith in Jesus is all God needs to declare you righteous, it also is all God needs to put Jesus in you and you in Jesus (John 14:20). So God sees you, the believer in Christ, as righteous, sanctified and redeemed.
But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— 1 Corinthians 1:30 (NKJV)
Work Our Your Own Salvation
The sad truth is that many believers who know this do not walk in the peace and joy of God’s kingdom. So Paul says work out the salvation of His righteousness which is in your spirit-man into your soul. Paul is not talking about salvation to Heaven in this key verse. We know we cannot work for that. Paul is talking about healing (soteria) of your soul; your heart. Agree with God’s Spirit to show you the places in your heart where you have not yet received the truth that heals old wounds of fear and resentment. His truth, received from His heart to your heart, sets you free of old lies the enemy spoke to you in the midst of emotionally charged events which still keep you bound in hatred and fear.
Again, because you are saved, you are righteous and His Spirit lives within your spirit. You believed the truth in your spirit. Now it’s time to let the Spirit of Truth reveal the truth about past traumatic events to your heart so the wound is healed. You agree with the Holy Spirit to speak out of your spirit the truth of your own salvation into those dark places in your soul – so you become full of light.
You do this in fear and trembling because the places in your heart are painful and protected with walls of fear, not trusting anyone to know what’s hidden there. But God knows. Though you’ve become fearful to let God look at them and speak to you about them, He knows what you are protecting there. He wants to reveal the truth of His love for you which will drive out fear and cover you in His peace.
Just like Jesus entered the locked room where the disciples were hiding in fear after He was crucified (John 20:19); He speaks “Peace” into the dark places of our hearts. He has already saved you and made you righteous. He is not coming to condemn you, but to come into those dark painful places with His love and fill them with His marvelous light. There is comfort, peace and a return to joy in your heart.
The Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. Where is the Holy Ghost for a believer in Christ? He is within you, in your spirit. As you allow Him to deal with the dark painful places in your heart – the Kingdom of God expands within you. I believe you want that; or would you have read this far? All believers in Jesus want the Kingdom of God expanding in the world. Let’s agree for His kingdom to expand in our hearts. Then we can truly hear with open hearts.
Can you pray this prayer? Holy Spirit, I want Your peace and joy to take over more and more of the real estate within my heart. I agree to allow You to shine Your light upon any lies the enemy has used to keep me in fear and bondage to hatred and self-protection. Jesus, help me forgive all those who have hurt me, either ignorantly or on purpose, just as You have forgiven me. Father God, open the ears of my heart to hear You speak the truth of Your love for me into my heart, even in the midst of negative choices as I reacted to harmful or ignorant people, or my own misperceptions. I trust You that Your Truth will set me free. So have Your way, Holy Spirit.
I encourage you to examine the following passages of Scripture in light of this understanding. Receive the revelation of His heart for you.
For there is nothing that is hidden that won’t be disclosed, and there is no secret that won’t be brought out into the light!” Then he said to them, “Be diligent to understand the meaning behind everything you hear, for as you do, more understanding will be given to you. And according to the depth of your longing to understand, much more will be added to you. For those who listen with open hearts will receive more revelation. But those who don’t listen with open hearts will lose what little they think they have!” Mark 4:22, 24, 25 Passion Translation
My fellow Israelites . . . are unenlightened. . . . And since they’ve ignored the righteousness God gives, wanting to be acceptable to God because of their own works, they’ve refused to submit to God’s faith-righteousness. For the Christ is the end of the law. And because of him, God has transferred his perfect righteousness to all who believe. Moses wrote long ago about the need to obey every part of the law in order to be declared right with God: . . . But the faith-righteousness we receive speaks to us in these words of Moses: “God’s living message is very close to you, as close as your own heart beating in your chest and as near as the tongue in your mouth.” And what is God’s “living message”? It is the revelation of faith for salvation, which is the message that we preach. For if you publicly declare with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will experience salvation. The heart that believes in him receives the gift of the righteousness of God—and then the mouth gives thanks to salvation. Romans 10:1-7, 9, 10 Passion Translation