PHILIPPIANS: We are to Follow Christ's Example; "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure!"

Therefore, my beloved, as you 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; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12-13)

Oftentimes we'll go to the doctor with a concern, and they'll tell us "go do ...", but they don't give us clear instruction on how. Like if we are overweight, they may say "you need to lose weigt", but they don't tell us how to change our eating or what exercises to start doing. This is one of those times where Paul does something similar.  He said, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, but how?  He does remind us that it is God who works in us both to will and to do for His good pleasure. So ultimately God through His Holy Spirit works in us, but there are certain things we have to practice doing to grow in our salvation.

The Apostle Peter gave this instruction;  But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (II Peter 1:5-11)

What Peter was explaining is that growing in our salvation requires us being diligent, and continuing to add more and more of the characteristics of Christ to our everyday behavior.  The more we practice doing something, the better we get at it.  Using the weight loss example again, we start out eliminating one bad food from our eating plan and replacing it with a better choice; then we eliminate another bad food and replace it with a better choice; then we stop sitting at the end of the day, and go for a walk; then we start noticing we're losing weight, so we start eating more better foods and doing more exercise. That's how we work out out own health and wellness change, and that's the similar process we go through to work out our own salvation.

Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain. Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me. (Philippians 2:14-18) Not only do we work on ourselves, but we also work on how we present ourselves and represent God to others.  People won't be drawn to Christ by just what we say, but mainly by how we behave.  

Again, using the weight loss example, people won't notice an immediate change in our appearance, but gradually over time, they will see that we look smaller and are moving better and are more energetic and are doing more activities.  The change they see in us will draw them to ask us what we're doing and may convict them to start making changes in their own lives.  As Christians, that's the main way we spread the gospel of Christ Jesus, we shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life.

Paul mentioned that he was poured out as a drink offering.  Remember, he's writing this letter from a Roman prison, and he knows it's very unlikely that he will be released, even though he continues to hope that he will.  However, he was making sure that he trained and prepared others to continue the work he started, so that the gospel would continue to spread and the church would continue to grow. But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel. Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes with me. But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly. (Philippians 2:19-24)

Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need; since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem; because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me. (Philippians 2:25-30)

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16) Christ has called all of us to be light.  The gospel message didn't stop when He ascended back to the Father, but the apostles and disciples continued to spread the Word of Truth.  The Gentiles didn't stop hearing the gospel message when Paul and other apostles were killed, but those they trained continued spreading the Word of Truth, and the same is true of us today.  We can't just depend on certain people to use their TV and radio programs to spread the gospel message.  We each have to share it in whichever way God works in us both to will and to do for His good pleasure. But first we have to make sure we work out our own salvation with fear and trembling!