Beth Elohim Messianic Synagogue
Working out your salvation with fear and trembling
Examining Philippians 2:12-23: “Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is G-d who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His purpose.” The question is “what does it mean to fear and tremble? Are we to be so “afraid of G-d and what He can do to us that we do our best to obey His commands out of that fear? Or is there a deeper meaning behind the literal words fear and trembling? Let’s take a deeper look into this scripture.
Sha’ul (Paul) was speaking to the Philippian believers on the subject of imitating Yahshua’s humility, always putting others first, doing nothing out of selfish ambition or vein conceit. He encouraged these believers to be of one mind and focus, that is, on glorifying G-d. He drew a comparison by reminding them that Yahshua, although one with G-d, did not exalt himself, but humbled himself to the point of death on an execution stake. G-d as the Father exalted Yahshua to the highest place and gave Him the Name above every name by which every knee will bow in heaven, the earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue confesses that Yahshua is L-rd, to the glory of the Father (Phil. 2:1-11).
Sha’ul then praises the believers in their faithfulness to G-d’s commands whether or not Sha’ul was in their presence to teach and encourage them and tells them to continue to work out their salvation with fear and trembling. The second part of this sentence is important to our understanding of the first part. The rest of the sentence reads “for it is G-d who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” Note that the phrase “to will” and “to act” parallel the first words in Deuteronomy 6:4: “You shall love the L-rd your G-d with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might (strength, resources).And have these words which I command you be in your heart…” To will something is to desire it and work towards accomplishing it. In this context, it is willing or desiring to obtain salvation by acting on that desire or will by lovingly following G-d’s Word. This is how we fulfill G-d’s purpose for our lives.
Sha’ul encourages believers to be reverent, humble, and sensitive before G-d, not expecting salvation for doing our reasonable service. We are to go in a course of cheerful and humble obedience hoping for that which is promised to true believers defined by Yahshua himself in John 14, Romans 1-3, and the Seven-fold Witness in the Book of Revelation. The Syriac version renders the words “do the work, or “business of your lives”, the work we are to do in or generation, which YHVH/Yahshua has mandated and explained in detail in various scriptures throughout the Old and “New” Testaments. One of my favorite narratives is found in Deuteronomy 28. We are to live our lived for G-d with the humility and submission to G-d’s commands and rulings, without grumbling or an attitude of “what’s in it for me?”
This fear and trembling therefore can be understood as a mindset not of a child scared to death of a parent and uncertain of their love from one minute to the next. Rather as Sha’ul taught, humility and love for G-d and His Torah and the will/desire to act upon His Word. To fear G-d as in the previous example, is to suggest a distrust of the power and faithfulness of G-d who tells us of that which awaits those who are found to be good and faithful servants, and what it takes to be called as such. Recall that Sha’ul was himself confidently assured that the good work begun in the Philippian believers and all other true believers for that matter, and their continued reverence for and obedience to G-d through fear and trembling is as consistent with the highest acts of faith, trust, confidence, and joy. Furthermore, it is opposed to pride and self-perceived glory (Psalms 2:11; 115:11; Rom. 11:20).
As we are now able to understand Philippians 2:12-23, fear and trembling in the context of obedience to G-d’s Word and the hope of salvation intends modesty and humility, which is what Sha’ul was trying to explain throughout the narrative. Accordingly, we are urged to remain cheerful and lovingly obedient to YHVH/Yahshua’s commands and rulings with a humble soul that continually seeks to grow closer to our Saviour and King. As we learn to understand G-d’s Torah, we should be convicted of and more sensitive to our sins. We grow in our ability to draw and a sharper contrast between the world and increasing antinomianism, and G-d’s Word. As we internalize the concept of G-d’s grace and mercy, we also become more aware of the fact that G-d is both love (1 John 4:8) and a consuming fire ( (Heb. 12:29). The contrast between true believers and those who choose to disobey G-d’s Torah/Instructions is clearly written in Deuteronomy 28. This chapter is so accurate, today we can virtually look at the verses and determine where we are in the prophetic timeline.
Let anyone who reads this paper or listens to the associated podcast consider the scriptures and explanation provided and adjust our understanding of working out our salvation with humility, submission, and reverence for YHVH/Yahshua rather than a fear of failure and damnation if we make a mistake. Our Father wants the best for us and He will welcome those who seek His face out of repentance, acceptance of Yahshua’s sacrifice, and loving obedience to his Word home to a place that “But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, and into the heart of man have not entered the things which G-d has prepared for them that love him (1 Cor. 2:9).
Shalom,
Rabbi Tamah Davis-Hart