2 Thessalonians 2:3 warns: “…except there come a falling away first….” A “falling away” in Greek means apostasy. The Christian faith will fall away in the last days (which began at Christ’s first coming). Now, at the last of the last days, we live in a perilous time. Hence, it is even more needful for us today to “work out [our] own salvation” (Phil 2:12). To “work out” means to work fully, comprehensively. Thus, we are to ensure that we have every aspect of true salvation. And to “work out” (present tense, middle voice) means we must do it ourselves for the rest of our life.

Although some in the Philippian church shared the Gospel with wrong motives (to make Paul jealous), Paul was happy that the Gospel was preached (Phil 1:18). However, in Philippians 2:1-4, Paul warned that anyone who was truly born-again would not serve God with such motives.

To those who loved him, Paul encouraged them to work out their salvation in sincerity to God (Phil 2:12-13). So, whether he was present or not, the brethren would sincerely and faithfully serve God because of the conviction in their heart. Hence, it is vital that parents keep praying for their children to truly believe in God, and not think that they are saved just by going through the motion of attending church. Many know the Bible, but do not know Christ. Times when they are alone, or when they have to choose between their desires or God’s Word, will reveal if they are truly born-again. When parents “train up a child in the way he should go” (Prov 22:6), bringing their children up with proper discipline, and with the love of God in their hearts, they would not have to face the painful eventuality of their children disobeying God’s Word, eg: marrying an unbeliever.

To “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil 2:12) means we are to be very serious and sincere about the truth of salvation. For if we have a false gospel, we cannot be saved. And we will end up being tormented in the lake of fire for eternity. We must make sure that our Gospel is the biblical Gospel. And we must know now, before we die, that we are born-again.

Philippians 2:13 tells us that we are to rely on God’s strength in order that we can have the conviction to do what is right, even in the face of persecution. The Spirit of God will give us the encouragement and the strength to obey the Scriptures and, when we sin, to return to God in repentance, seeking His forgiveness.

Let us work out our salvation in sincerity, in seriousness and in truth through God’s strength.