Working Out Salvation (Philippians 1:12-13)

Have you ever noticed that some things in life call for a kind of commitment that goes beyond words? Think about it: whether it’s raising a family, managing a job, or even just trying to build healthy habits, we know that it takes more than a “good intention” to see real results. It takes a lot of effort. It takes a commitment to live responsibly. But have you ever felt like you were being asked to go beyond your own limits, realizing that you can’t do it all on your own.

Our faith journey is no different. God calls us to be all in, to live with integrity, to be sure our actions match our words. But we also know that we need His strength, His guidance, to truly live the life He’s calling us to.

Today, we’re going to look at what it means to live out this calling, to take ownership of our faith while depending fully on God’s power. It’s an invitation to a faith that’s real, that’s active, and that’s sustained by the One who never leaves us to do it on our own.

A Call to Faithful Obedience

Philippians 2:12 (ESV) — 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,

So, Paul opens up here with, “Therefore, my beloved…” And let’s just stop right there. Beloved. Paul isn’t just writing a cold command; he’s speaking to them as people he deeply cares about. People God and Christ care about. He’s calling them his beloved. And he goes on: “As you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence.” Do you feel what he’s saying here? Paul’s not asking for some half-hearted, surface-level obedience. No, he’s asking for something real, something steady, something that doesn’t depend on whether he’s around to see it.

It’s like Paul is saying, “Look, you’ve obeyed when I was there to guide you. But now… now I want you to keep going, to keep obeying, and even more, now that I’m not with you!” Why? Because obedience, real obedience, isn’t about putting on a good face for other people. It’s about who you are in the core of your being, especially when no one’s watching. It’s easy to look like a good Christian in front of people, isn’t it? But Paul’s pushing us here, he’s saying, “Let your obedience be the kind that runs deep, the kind that keeps going even when it’s just you and God.”

And I think we need to see how Paul sets this up. Just a few verses before, he’s described the obedience of Jesus—the One who “became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” That’s the backdrop here. Paul isn’t just saying, “Hey, keep following the rules.” He’s saying, “Look at Jesus! Follow Him.” The obedience Paul calls us to is patterned after Christ. It’s this wholehearted, deep-down obedience that comes out of love for God, not out of obligation or fear.

And this line, “much more in my absence,”—this hits home, doesn’t it? Paul is talking about integrity. About the kind of faith that doesn’t waver when no one’s there to see it. It’s as if he’s saying, “Your faith can’t rest on my presence. It has to be real; it has to be yours.” That’s the kind of obedience he’s talking about here: obedience that’s steady, that’s anchored, that doesn’t shift with who’s around or who’s watching.

So let’s be honest with ourselves here—this is challenging, right? Obedience isn’t just about when we’re sitting in church or doing a Bible study. It’s about what we do with those everyday moments, with the quiet decisions that nobody else will know about. It’s a call to live with real, tested integrity. And I think this is where we need to ask ourselves: Is our obedience like that? Is it steady? Is it real? Because Paul is calling the Philippians—and us—not to settle for an obedience that depends on anyone else but God.

It’s not about impressing anyone. It’s about being faithful, about living a life that reflects Jesus, no matter where we are or who’s around. It’s that kind of life that’s going to stand firm, that’s going to hold up over time. And Paul knew it. That’s what he’s after here—a life of obedience that’s true, that’s deep, that’s faithful all the way down. And that’s what God is calling us to right now.

Working Out Salvation with Reverence

Philippians 2:12 (ESV) — 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,

Paul goes on to say something that, honestly, can sound a little intimidating: “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Now, let’s break that down, because we can hear that phrase and think, Wait, am I supposed to be scared here?

But here’s the thing: Paul’s not talking about being terrified of God. He’s talking about approaching our faith with reverence. It’s this deep, gut-level respect for the fact that our lives are meant to reflect something so much greater than ourselves. When he says “work out your salvation,” he’s not saying we need to earn salvation. Salvation has been bought and paid for by Jesus. But he’s saying, “Live it out.” Make what God has done inside you something visible, something that shows up in the real world, in real ways.

And that “fear and trembling”? That’s reverence. It’s humility. It’s coming to terms with the weight of what it means to belong to God. Think about it—when we say we’re followers of Jesus, we’re not just carrying around a label. We’re carrying the image of Christ. And that should stir something in us, right? That should make us sit up a little straighter, live with a bit more intention, a bit more urgency. Because if we’re living this out the way Paul calls us to, then it’s not just “our salvation.” It’s everything that salvation is supposed to mean to us and how we respond to it. It’s God’s work being shown through our lives.

And here’s what that “working out” looks like. It’s about surrendering ourselves to God’s transformation in every part of life, letting His Spirit change how we think, how we act, how we speak. It’s taking that salvation that Jesus secured for us and allowing it to shape our responses, our relationships, even our struggles.

And Paul’s language here—“with fear and trembling”—it’s like he’s reminding us that this isn’t just a casual thing. This is big. It’s worth our attention.

Think of it like a surgeon preparing for a life-saving operation. Now, imagine if that surgeon just casually walked into the operating room, tossed on gloves without washing, and started without even a second thought. We’d be horrified, right? We’d think, Does this person understand what’s at stake here?

A skilled surgeon enters that room with a sense of reverence, of weight. They scrub their hands meticulously, they double-check every instrument, and they focus intensely on every move they’re about to make. Why? Because they know the stakes—they understand that their actions affect a life. Every step is taken with a mixture of confidence in their training and respect for the task at hand.

In the same way, Paul is saying to us: “Approach your faith with that kind of seriousness.” Not because we’re afraid of messing up, but because we respect the significance of what’s happening in us. Consider how one might reverently chiseling away at stone to bring out a masterpiece. That’s how Paul wants us to see our spiritual lives: every action, every choice is part of working out what God has put in us, revealing the masterpiece of Christ within us. It’s humbling, isn’t it? But it’s also empowering because it reminds us that what we do with our lives matters. Working out our salvation with “fear and trembling” is about entering each moment of our lives aware that God is at work in us, that this isn’t something to take lightly.

This is God’s masterpiece, His life-saving work, unfolding in and through us. Just like the surgeon who prepares carefully, who steps into the task with a sense of responsibility and care, we’re called to live with that same kind of intentionality. Every decision, every conversation, every quiet moment is a chance to reveal God’s work in us.

So what does that mean for us, practically? It means we live with purpose. We don’t approach our faith lightly, or casually. We take it seriously, not in a joyless way, but in a way that respects the weight of what God is doing in us. We lean into prayer, we make time for God’s Word, we invite Him to shape us because we know we’re in His hands.

Paul is telling us here: don’t just go through the motions. Live your faith with reverence, with humility, with that “fear and trembling” that keeps you aware of God’s work in you. He’s saying, “Take this seriously.” Let the reality of who you are in Christ show up in every part of your life. So, let’s live like we know the stakes. Let’s approach our faith with that reverent focus, with that humble respect, because we’re carrying something precious, something eternal. And as we do, the work that God is doing within us shines out into the world.

The Source of Our Strength: God’s Work Within

Philippians 2:13 (ESV) — 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Now, here’s the part that makes all of this possible: Paul says, “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” This is where the whole weight shifts. Yes, Paul has just called us to a life of deep, reverent obedience and responsibility in our faith—but here, he’s telling us we’re not alone in it. It’s God who’s at work in us. God is the source of our strength.

Let’s not miss this: God isn’t just watching from a distance, waiting to see how we handle things on our own. No, He’s actually working in us. He’s transforming our desires and empowering our actions. That’s what Paul means when he says, “both to will and to work.” God isn’t just changing what we do; He’s shaping what we want. He’s aligning our hearts with His. And that changes everything because now we’re not trying to obey God out of sheer willpower; we’re obeying because He’s putting new desires, His desires, in our hearts.

Think about what a relief that is. God knows we don’t have the strength on our own, and He doesn’t expect us to. He supplies what we lack. Our job is to yield to His work within us, to trust that as we move forward in faith, He’s going to meet us there with the strength we need. So, when we feel like we’re not enough, when we’re worn out or discouraged, this verse is our reminder: God is working in us. We’re not in this alone. God is equipping us from the inside out.

And it’s not just for our sake. Paul says God does this “for His good pleasure.” Our growth, our transformation, brings God joy. He takes pleasure in seeing His work come to life in us. He’s invested in this process with us, like a craftsman perfecting His masterpiece, watching it come together exactly as He planned.

So, how does this change the way we live? It means we don’t have to rely on our own strength. We’re called to lean into God, to let His Spirit guide us, to listen to His word for His leading. When we feel like we don’t have what it takes, we remember that God is actively working in us, shaping our will, fueling our actions. We live with the confidence that we’re not alone, that God’s presence is real, powerful, and working for our good.

Let’s take hold of that, church. Let’s live with the strength that comes from knowing that God Himself is working in us, empowering us to do exactly what He’s called us to do. And as we live in that strength, we become living testimonies of God’s power, His love, and His joy in seeing His work unfold in our lives.

Conclusion

So here we are. We’ve walked through this text together and seen the weight, the beauty, and the call of Paul’s words. Our faith is no small thing; it’s a life-changing commitment. God has called us to be people of deep, real obedience—not a surface-level faith, but the kind of faith that shapes us from the inside out. And it’s a faith that we don’t carry alone. The power at work in us is not our own strength; it’s the power of God, who’s actively working in our hearts and lives.

From the first step to the last, our journey with God is both a calling and a gift. He calls us to live out our salvation with reverence, with commitment, with humility, but He also promises His presence every step of the way. As we work, He works. As we strive, He supplies. And as we grow, He delights in us, watching His purpose unfold in our lives.

So let’s leave here with this in our hearts: we’re not striving alone. We’re not just trying to do better or be better on our own terms. We’re partnering with the living God, who has placed His Spirit within us, who is both willing and able to shape us into people who reflect His goodness, His grace, and His glory. Let’s walk out this faith with confidence, knowing that He is faithful to complete the work He began in us.