Sermon Idea: The Christian life is a journey of working out our salvation, empowered by God who works in us.
Introduction: Many consider Johnathan Edwards to be the greatest and most influential theologian in American history. He served as a pastor for several years, a missionary among Native Americans, and, before his death, briefly as the president of what is now Princeton University.
As a young man, about 18 or 19 years old, Edwards wrote 70 resolutions in an attempt to live in light of eternity. Here are some examples.
28. Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly, and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.
30. Resolved, to strive to my utmost every week to be brought higher in religion, and to a higher exercise of grace, than I was the week before.
43. Resolved, never henceforward, till I die, to act as if I were any way my own, but entirely and altogether God’s…
Edward’s preamble to this long list of resolutions makes it clear that he is totally dependent on God’s grace and power in his Christian life. This power leads him to action, not apathy. Thus, he resolved to live before God in light of eternity, wishing not to waste any time.
“Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God’s help, I do humbly entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ’s sake.”
Edwards did not believe that God’s saving grace resulted in an apathetic Christian life in which the believer coasts to glory. He believed that the Christian life was the working out of our salvation because of God’s gracious work in us for salvation.
This morning’s text teaches us that the Christian life is a journey of working out our salvation, empowered by God, who works in us.
I began with Edwards’s preamble because I want to be explicit and clear that our work as believers is only possible because of God’s work of grace in us. With Edwards, I want us to read a passage like Philippians 2, believing we cannot do anything without God’s help and that we need God’s grace to enable us to work out our salvation as we are called to do in these verses.
In a passage like this, it is obvious that God is at work, and believers are to work. However, God’s work and our work are not equal. It is not a cooperation where God does his part, and then we do our part. God’s work is primary, so anything a believer does completely depends on the work God does in us.
The context reinforces this important point. The exhortation for the Philippians to work out their salvation is an elaboration of 1:27, Paul’s main purpose for writing this letter.
27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel (Php 1:27)
The gospel is fleshed out beautifully in 2:1-11, where the example of Christ’s humiliation in the incarnation and his death on the cross shows how the church is to live among one another humbly. Christ’s life and death are the pattern and the power for the Christian life. Why is this important?
It is important because of the word “therefore” in verse 12. We are to work out our salvation because of what God has done for us in the life and death of Jesus Christ, the gospel. Our manner of life is to be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so we work out our salvation toward that end.
The Christian life is working out our salvation empowered by God, who works in us.
I.) The Christian life is working out our salvation (Philippians 2:12)
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, (Php 2:12)
As a good friend should, Paul begins with a word of affirmation before giving them instruction. He mentions how they’ve obeyed Christ but wants them not to depend on his presence. He wants them to mature and live faithfully, whether he is with them or not. Paul describes this obedience as working out their salvation.
The idea to “work out,” as Paul uses it here, means cultivating, practicing, or living out. This may seem odd to us because few themes in Scripture are more prominent than salvation, being total of God’s grace and not of our works (Eph. 2:8-10; Gal. 2:15-16; Titus 3:5). This is a precious truth, and everything Paul teaches us here in Philippians 2 is consistent with it.
That is because when the Bible speaks of salvation, it does so with tension. Salvation, in one sense, is completed; in another, it is incomplete. It is already, but not yet.
Salvation is complete in that we have been justified before God, forgiven of our sins, reconciled to God, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and so saved from the guilt of our sins. Just as Jesus cries out on the cross, “It is finished!” All who place their faith in Christ can rest knowing their salvation is secure because of the finished work of Christ.
Salvation is also incomplete in another sense because we don’t now experience all that salvation has accomplished. We can still be troubled by temptation and sin. We know we’re not fully all who God has declared us to be in Christ. This means we can speak of salvation as past, present, and future: we are saved from sin’s guilt, we are being saved from sin’s power, and we will one day be saved from sin’s presence.
The New Testament speaks of salvation in the future in a number of passages. Here are just a few examples.
9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. (Ro 5:9–10)
16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. (1 Ti 4:16)
18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (2 Ti 4:18)
When Paul encourages us to work out our salvation, he does not mean that we contribute to our salvation in any sense. Paul has in mind the totality of salvation so that “working out your salvation” is the believer’s work by God’s grace in becoming more of who God has already declared them to be: holy in Christ Jesus.
What Paul has in mind is what we would normally call sanctification, the process by which we become more like Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit who works in us.
Charles Spurgeon once described hearing about good sculptors who see a block of marble and see there is a statue hidden in it. In their minds, all they need to do is remove all the extra useless material to reveal the beauty of the statue inside.
Spurgeon then used this to illustrate how we are to work out our salvation to reveal the beauty of the image of Christ that God has made us.
“Believer, you are that block of marble…God has sketched the image of his Son in you; and you have but to go chipping away these sins, infirmities, and corruptions, till the fair likeness of the Incarnate God shall be seen by all.”
We might also think about watching the sunrise. As it rises, we can often only see portions of its bright glory, but it’s there nonetheless. So the Christian life in sanctification is like the rising of the sun. We are holy saints in Christ Jesus, but life in this fallen world and life in our fallen bodies dims this reality. Working out our salvation over time slowly makes us more of what God has made us to be.
These verses make clear that believers should be diligent and make every effort to care for their own souls. Our spiritual lives will not coast unattended into greater Christ-likeness.
Many godly pastors before me have noted that no one drifts into godliness. If we are drifting, we are drifting from sound doctrine, godly character, and the church. We don’t drift into greater holiness and love for God. We only drift away from it.
Spiritual growth in Christ requires grace-fueled, Spirit-empowered working out of our salvation in the fear and trembling of the Lord. In the words of Hebrews, it is to “offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:28-29)
The question naturally arises: how might we do this? The answer is much simpler than you may like, and that is truly good news for you. Too many Christians think true spiritual growth only comes through big, spiritual experiences. The truth is that God has promised to work in us by his grace and Spirit through ordinary means. Before moving to verse 13, I want to encourage you to work out your salvation in three ways. So much more can be said, but these three ways are primary.
- Work out your salvation by confessing and repenting as often as you sin.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 Jn 1:9)
Don’t suppress the Spirit’s work on your conscience, even this morning. If you’re burdened by sin, confess it before the Lord this morning. Hear the reassuring grace of the gospel, and ask God for the grace to change. The finished work of Christ on the cross is sufficient for every sin and transgression of God’s law. Trust in the cleansing and renewing power of the gospel.
2. Work out your salvation by making use of God’s ordinary means of grace, especially the Word of God, and prayer.
According to our statement of faith, sanctification “is carried on in the hearts of believers by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit… in the continual use of the appointed means- especially the Word of God, self-examination, self-denial, watchfulness, and prayer.”
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Ti 3:16–17)
16 vRejoice always, 17 wpray without ceasing, 18 xgive thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thess. 5:16-18)
As the new year approaches, pray about making a plan for the disciplined reading of God’s Word. Read it prayerfully to meet with the Lord, hear from Him, commune with Him, and be transformed by the grace of his presence.
With Jonathan Edward, be resolved “…to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly, and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.
3. Work out your own salvation by committing to gather on the Lord’s Day with your local church.
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Heb 10:24–25)
One of the most important ways to work out your salvation is to be committed to gathering with the church for corporate worship. This is much more than simply “going to church.” It is to gather with the saints of your local church to worship God and be nourished by the ordinary means of grace (preaching, prayer, & the ordinances) in covenant fellowship with one another. The corporate worship gathering is God’s plan A for making his people more like Jesus Christ.
How might your Spiritual life look like a year from now if you committed in 2025 to faithfully read God’s Word daily, cultivated a habit of daily prayer, and resolved yourself to be faithfully present every Lord’s day, gathering as far as it depended on you?
II.) The Christian life is empowered by God, who works in us (Philippians 2:13)
13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (Php 2:13)
God’s work in us for his good pleasure is the ground and motivation for working out our salvation. We should remember the glorious promise of 1:6, 6 And I am sure that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion on the day of Jesus Christ. (Php 1:6)
God’s work in us has two ends: to will and to work.
- God works in you to will. God’s work in us changes our will or desires so that we’ll want to obey him in great holiness and godliness. Every desire we have to defeat sin, turn from it, and be free of it comes from the gracious work of God in us. Every desire for God, his Word, and his church comes from the gracious work of God in us.
- God works in us to work for his good pleasure. Not only does he change our desires by his grace, but he enables and empowers us to obey His Word. Beloved, the power of God and the grace to change is available for all those who are in Christ Jesus through faith.
It is amazing to think that God works in us what pleases him. He works in our desires of holiness so that he might be pleased with our holiness. He works in our obedience so that he might be pleased with our obedience to him.
I can’t help but wonder then if some of our troubles in seeing progress against temptation and sin are rooted in unspoken unbelief that God really is working in us to will and work for his good pleasure.
Friends, if you’re in Christ Jesus, please know with assurance that God is at work in you. Believe that the grace to grow, change, and mature is at work in you through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Reflection Questions
- How would you describe your spiritual life? Are you working out your salvation, or are you coasting aimlessly?
- Is your private devotional life with God consistent with your public displays of devotion to God?
3. Are you fueled by God’s grace in your life to pursue greater holiness and joy in God? Or do you think about your spiritual life apart from God’s work of grace, as if it’s all on your shoulders or as if you’re trying to earn favor with God?
We work out our salvation, but we do so because of God’s gracious work in us! Let’s believe we’re only working out what God has worked in. The work he began in the past will be completed in the future. That is all that grace we need to work out our salvation in the present.
Nathaniel R. Martin 