The Salvation We Have Received VS The Salvation We Work Out (Philippians 2:12-13)

 

The Salvation We Have Received VS The Salvation We Work Out (Philippians 2:12-13)

Philippians 2:5-8: "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross."

Romans 8:29: "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren."

 

Analysis Item	The Salvation We Have Received	The Salvation We Work Out
Definition	Salvation that saves us from God's condemnation and the lake of fire; eternal salvation freely given to us, based on Christ's substitutionary death on the cross	Salvation that works out Christ as our pattern in experience; the practical experience of manifesting Christ's nature and form in daily life
Nature & Characteristics	• Objective, accomplished fact • Once and for all completion • Positional change • Concerning eternal destiny	• Subjective, experiential process<br>• Continuous working out • Life growth • Concerning daily living
Source & Foundation	• Completely by God's grace • Not by works, only by faith • Christ's redemptive work on the cross • The regenerating work of the Holy Spirit	• God's operating within us • God causing us to will and work • Christ's subjective indwelling as pattern • Cooperation with God
Method of Obtaining	• Only need to believe and receive • No good works required • Freely receive grace • Passive reception	• Work out with fear and trembling • Submit to God's operating • Active cooperation • Continuous practice
Human Role	• Passive recipient • Simple believer • Sinner receiving grace • Grateful beneficiary	• Active cooperator • Co-worker with God • Submissive vessel • Practical experiencer
Christ's Position	• Christ as Savior • Accomplishing salvation for us • Objective substitute • Lamb on the cross	• Christ as Pattern • Living out within us • Subjective indweller • Living Person and model
Time Dimension	• Already completely accomplished • Past tense salvation • Unchanging fact • Once received, eternally effective	• Needs continuous working out • Present continuous experience • Constantly renewing process • Daily practice required
Examples	Salvation Experience: • Sinner repents and believes, receives eternal life • From dead in sins to alive in Christ • From God's enemy to God's child Positional Change: • No more condemnation, has eternal life • Becomes member of God's household • Has Holy Spirit as seal and guarantee	Character Transformation: • Imitating Christ's humility, not selfish • Learning Christ's obedience unto death • Manifesting Christ's love and patience Behavioral Change: • Living out Christ in family • Witnessing Christ in workplace • Coordinating in service in church
Practical Application	Toward God: • Thanksgiving and praise for God's grace • Rest in assurance of salvation • Enjoy position as God's children Toward People: • Preach gospel to unbelievers • Testify to God's mighty salvation • Share joy of salvation	Personal Practice: • Work with God with fear and trembling • Submit to God's inner operating • Take Christ as pattern in all things Corporate Testimony: • Manifest Christ in church life • Pursue growth together with saints • Build up the Body of Christ
Related Scriptures	Ephesians 2:8-9: "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." Romans 8:1: "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus." 1 John 5:13: "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life."	Philippians 2:12-13: "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." Galatians 2:20: "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Colossians 1:27: "To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."
Key Distinctions	• Is an accomplished fact, requires nothing from us • Concerns our eternal position and destiny • Is the objective foundation of salvation • Once believed, eternally possessed	• Is an ongoing process, requires our cooperation with God • Concerns our daily experience and testimony • Is the subjective realization of salvation • Requires daily practice to work out
Theological Significance	• Salvation of justification • Legal salvation • Positional change • Eternal security	• Salvation of sanctification • Organic salvation • Character transformation • Life growth

 

Key Understanding Points:

1. Relationship Between Both

• Non-conflicting: These two salvations are different aspects of salvation, complementing each other
• Sequential order: Must first have the received salvation as foundation before the worked-out salvation can be experienced
• Same source: Both originate from God's grace and Christ's work

2. Dual Nature of Christ as Pattern

• Objective aspect: Christ has been exalted by God to the highest place in heaven (Phil. 2:9)
• Subjective aspect: Christ dwells in us as living pattern and Person
• Practical meaning: We can take Christ as pattern because He is not only in heaven but also within us

3. Principle of Divine-Human Cooperation

• God's part: God operates in us to will and to work
• Human part: Fear and trembling, submit to God's operating, actively cooperate
• Result of cooperation: Able to live out Christ and manifest God's glory

4. Balance in Practice

• Avoid legalism: Not by our own effort and works
• Avoid antinomianism: Not passive, but actively cooperate
• Correct attitude: In God's grace, by God's operating, working together with God

5. Ultimate Goal

The ultimate purpose of both salvations is for us to:

• Manifest God's glory
• Live out Christ's likeness
• Fulfill God's eternal purpose
• Be perfected in Christ

 

*Please refer to the 2025 June Semi-Annual Summer Training, General Topic: Experiencing, Enjoying, and Manifesting Christ (Part 3), Part 2: Knowing Christ as Our Model and Taking Him as Our Model