Counterfeit gospels make many people believe that they are saved when they are not. The believers of works-based gospels get many things wrong in the Bible (one of which is addressed in this article). This is because their faith is built on the wrong foundation – works. We must clearly differentiate between the requirement for salvation and the Christians walk. That is the purpose of this article.
Introduction
In 2 Timothy 2:15, we are commanded to:
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Effective Bible study begins with carefully reading the text, in this case, an entire passage, not just one verse, or a part of a verse. The next step to reading is to rightly divide – meaning, to interpret the text in the context of the passage. After this, then we can correctly apply the truth of the passage to our lives. This is what false teachers (who preach the false gospels) do not understand or do.
The Problem with False Gospels
False gospels create counterfeit Christians. Since these ‘Christians’ never received the true message of the gospel, it is unlikely that any conversion has taken place in them. As a result of this, they do not understand the things of the Spirit, since these things “are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14).
Those who claim to be saved by believing false gospels began to build their faith on the wrong foundation. They live their lives with the wrong mentality of what Christianity should be. And because they got the gospel wrong, they will get everything else wrong in the Bible. If you believe that you need to do something (order than trusting in Christ) in order to be saved, then your entire ‘Christian life’ will be performance-based, which is contrary to the true gospel.
The above point is the reason why many have misappropriated several Bible verses including Philippians 2:12:
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.
If you believe that you need to do something in order to be saved, then your entire ‘Christian life’ will be performance-based, which is contrary to the true gospel.
Grace Tidings also produces life-changing video teachings and preaching. See related videos on Grace Tidings YouTube Channel. I strongly recommend that you subscribe to the Channel.
The Wrong Application
The believers of the works-based gospels approach the above text as if it tells them to work for their salvation. This is because they read the text with a preconceived notion that salvation is wrought by their performance. But according to the Bible this is not the case.
I’ve heard people bring up this verse many times in defense of salvation by works. Since they can read somewhere in the passage that says “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling”, they just conclude based on that statement, that they have to work or keep working for salvation. This is exactly what it means to rip the Scripture out of context.
When it comes to true Bible study and interpretation, context is the key. That is exactly what I intend to do with this Episode of Misapplied Series on Grace Tidings. May this Episode convince those who misuse this passage to preach the gospel of works.
When it comes to true Bible study and interpretation, context is the key.
The True Interpretation and Application
It is easy to fall into errors if you base your doctrines and beliefs on one verse or just a part of the verse. The text in Philippians 2:12 cannot be correctly interpreted and applied without a close look at the verses that surround it. In Bible interpretation, there are some basic questions that need to be answered. These will enhance our handling of the text.
1. To Whom is the Text Written?
According to the opening of the Epistle itself, the text is written to “all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi”:
Philippians 1:1 ¶ Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.
This means that the Epistle is written to the believers, those who are already saved. The Bible calls them “the saints in Christ”, these aren’t people who are still trying to work to merit salvation, they already have salvation!
2. What’s the Purpose of the Text?
As pointed out earlier, the point of Philippians 2:12 cannot be clearly understood without the proper understanding of the preceding verses, and of course, the verses that follow. I will now take a closer look at the Chapter from the beginning in order to explain verse 12 in context.
Reading the Passage in Context
In Philippians 2:1-4, we see the exhortation to unity and meekness. Paul encourages the Philippians to be like-minded and get rid of all forms of dissension. This the believers can achieve if they work together under the control of the same love.
The believers are to do all that they do for the right reasons – that is to point people to Christ and not to themselves. Nothing should be done “through strife” – we saw some people in Chapter 1 of Philippians who were preaching Christ out “of envy and strife”. Nothing should be done through “vainglory”. Vainglory is being boastful of your performance as if you’re the center of worship.
In other words, Christian services should not be self-centered, or used to put others down. It is meant to edify others while at the same time glorifying God.
The Teaching Applied
In Philippians 2:5-8, we see this teaching practically brought to life in the life, ministry, and experiences of Christ. He is “in the form of God”, meaning He is like God, because He’s God. But He had no problem coming all the way down to the level of man. He “became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross”.
This He did obviously not for Himself but for the benefit of all mankind. He did it not to lift up Himself but He lift us up from our wretched state. This is what Christian service should be like, for the edification of others and not for self-promotion.
The Results
In Philippians 2:9-11, we see God’s response to this selfless acts of Christ. He is promoted, exalted, and given a Name that is above every name, a name that is absolutely supreme. He is placed above ALL! Christian services done right bring the rewards of exaltation from God to the servants.
Luke 14:11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
With the above analysis, we can know what’s in the mind of the author when he says “work out your own salvation” in verse 12. In verse 5, Paul writes: “Let this mind be in you”, the “mind” is the fact that Christ “humbled Himself” unto “death.”
The Philippians have been humble and obedient in the presence of Paul. Now he is exhorting them to be even more humble and obedient in his absence. Since there were dangers threatening them from within and from without, they needed to energize themselves in seeking and manifesting that “mind” which was in Christ.
This exhortation is given to those who by the grace of God have possessed salvation, to ‘work it out’ in their daily lives in such a way that God will be glorified in them. This message hasn’t changed with the current 21St Century believers. It is as useful now as it was at the time of the writing of this Epistle.
But the believers must live this life “with fear and trembling”. This means that we should be filled with carefulness as we conduct ourselves in order not to spoil our testimonies or be self-reliant. Also we must live this life realizing that in all our working, “it is God that worketh in us to will and do of His own good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13).
James in Agreement with Paul
In his Epistle, James writes concerning those who profess faith in Christ but with poor testimony. According to the passage, these people have nothing but a dead faith:
James 2:14-19 ¶ What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
James’ point is focused on how the believers should “work out” their salvation. The expression “can faith save him?” in verse 14 is not referring to the justification of the sinners. It refers however to how the one who claims to be saved is conducting himself before men.
Pay a close attention to verses 15 and 19: knowing something without acting on it as necessary is as bad as not knowing it. So, if someone comes to you for tangible help, and all you did is tell them sweet words, you’ve done nothing. James is very specific, if someone is hungry, he needs food, not prayer!
Also, he says in verse 19, that if you believe in God, and you do not act like it, then you’re worse than the devils because they at least tremble. Faith without works is truly dead. But pay attention to verse 18: James says to those who claim to be saved but with poor testimonies,
“Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.”
Did you notice the word “shew” that appeared multiple times in the verse? Doesn’t it agree with Philippians 2:12 “work out your own salvation”? The way we “shew” people (not God) we are saved is not just by professing faith in Christ, it is by our works. Therefore, James’ point in James 2:18 is the same as that of Paul in Philippians 2:12.
Our salvation is through faith. God is aware of it and can identify those who have put their faith in Christ. But since it is impossible for men to see faith, the only way people will know we are Christians is by the way we conduct ourselves and live our lives.
“It is God Which Worketh in You”
The part which must never be overlooked is that God is the One who makes the good works happen in us. We only need to yield to what He’s doing in our lives.
Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Salvation is granted at no cost to us. When it is received by faith, salvation sets the believers free from the penalty and the power of sin. Although this victory is already granted, the believers are to yield daily to the sanctification of the Holy Spirit in their lives.
The flesh is still here, so there is the tendency at times for the believers to struggle with its desires. But if we work according to the purpose and will of Christ, we will experience more victory over the flesh.
Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
1 Peter 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
But as we make efforts to live to the glory of God, we must remember that the desires to do so did not originate from us. It is a result of what God is doing in us. We are to work out our own salvation, but it is God who works in us, to the willing and doing of His good pleasure.
Salvation is by faith alone. Our good works are the way we respond to the salvation which we already have. Good works neither make us saved, keep us saved, nor make us more saved! As I always say, good works are good, but only for those who are already saved.
Salvation is by faith alone. Our good works are the way we respond to the salvation which we already have.
But if you’re unsaved, or aren’t sure of your salvation, you can be saved and know it even now. Agree with the Bible that you’re a sinner who cannot save him/herself. Repent from your sins and believe that Christ died and paid for your sins and He rose again from the dead. If you believe this with all your heart, your sins will be forgiven, and you will receive the gift of eternal life.
For more on the gospel of salvation and how to be saved and know it, please visit the Salvation Category.
Thank you for reading!
There is problem in the way people applies the Epistle/letter Paul wrote to the Philippians in 2:12. First of all the word ‘therefore or wherefore’ that Paul started the verse with indicates a continuation of conversation. Therefore, in order to understand verse 12 it’s very important to not only read the proceeding verse but at least read the entire chapter 2.
Secondly, the statement in question “,… work out your own salvation” unfortunately, people misinterpreted it to mean “work for your own salvation” which is not, of course Jesus already worked for our salvation, we received it as a gift, Eph 2:8. Despite that it was a free gift we still have responsibility of cultivating it.
Paul knew that Philippians walked with the Lord at the same time there is tendency of going back in his absence. He doesn’t want their situation to be like Galatians who went backward in the absence of Paul. Work out as used here mean I Paul Apostle has shown you how to secure the key to the glorious mansion, you’ve already secured it. Now it’s your responsibility to make sure you clean it. Not that Paul was telling them to look for land to started building up the house again.
Thirdly, this is one of the implications of not reading the bible.
We work out our salvation by keeping in step with the Holy Spirit who leads us in God’s direction. Paul is telling us as Philippians to be aware of devil strategies since we still have the flesh on.
Lessons from this episode include but not limited to:
1. Reading bible by ourselves. If possible avoid people reading it for us when we have all it takes to read. It’s ok to ask questions but make your own research. If you know you can’t find the writer for example, Paul, to ask him what he was talking about, then I will suggest you read over and over, you’ll understand.
2. There are implications when we misinterpret.
3. It’s beneficial to read bible in its entirety to be able to understand.
Awesome comment! Thanks brother. My prayer is that more people will get the point: Our salvation has been settled in Christ, our good works are the way we “shew” it. And it is God who empowers us to do them.