Labouring On

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” (Philippians 2:12-13).

This is a text I cherish. For three reasons.

One, it does not place responsibility for the spiritual growth of the congregation on the pastor. Certainly, pastors have a responsibility, but it is not primary, it is not even secondary. At best our responsibility is tertiary. This helps me sleep.

Two, and more to the point, it gives us pastors permission to nudge and encourage the people under our spiritual care to get busy. Salvation is not just something received. It is received, of course, but it is also worked out. It is a matter of obedience to work out the consequences of salvation in our individual and communal lives. Christians must exert themselves, put effort in. Paul has in mind continuous, sustained, and strenuous effort. The kind of workout where the muscles get tired and want to quit, but one pushes through the pain to increase muscle strength and endurance.

As Christians, people redeemed in Christ, we are to walk in step with the Spirit as the Spirit grows his fruit in us. Or to use the words of this chapter, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others” (2:3,4). The grace of God does more than get us into heaven. It also teaches us to say no to ungodly activity and to live righteous lives (Titus 2:11-12). But this is not easily done.

Sometimes it appears that Christians reduce the godly life to the gathering of correct information. The most exertion required is that which gets us out of bed and to church on Sunday morning. If we have a preacher that preaches the truth, all will be well. Truth is important, but it is insufficient. If we do not apply that truth in our lives, we remain disobedient. We must allow the Spirit to identity patterns of sinfulness in our lives and to use various means to root them out.

In classic Christian literature, we face three strong and wily enemies: the world, the flesh, and the devil. Paul calls us to make full use of every God-appointed means to defeat the evil so that the good has room to grow. Spiritual disciplines are not simply to gain knowledge or ‘do time’. Such discipline should always be about this: working out our salvation.

We pastors are sometimes invited to walk alongside people as they work this out. It is a tremendous privilege and often full of joy. However, at times it can be discouraging. Progress is slow. First gear is a frustratingly sluggish pace. Sometimes, we witness people stuck in reverse. At those times, it is important to remember that these verses place no responsibility on pastors or others who walk alongside. Rather, it says, “for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose”. That, my friends, is good news indeed and the third reason I cherish this text.

We are not on our own against our formidable enemies. God himself is at work. The God who exalted Jesus from death to the highest place is himself at work in you and me labouring out our salvation. We work with fear and trembling, not in despair, but in hope, in expectation, in certainty that progress is being made. The Holy Spirit is the chief teacher and worker after all.

As you journey on, go with the blessing of God:

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you: wherever he may send you. May he guide you through the wilderness: protect you through the storm. May he bring you home rejoicing; at the wonders he has shown you. May he bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.