Work out your own salvation

Because our lack of humility and our inclination to be our own god has continued since our initial rebellion in Eden, everything we do tends to be ¹performance-based i.e. We are naturally inclined to take everything that God says - His directions or commandments - and turn them into a performance based approach to God i.e. a way of earning God's approval, acceptance, and love. 

Why? 

We feel compelled to prove our worth and counter our sense of inadequacy that resulted from our abandoning God, the source and only true basis of our identity. 

Why? Because we were created for glory but are no longer connected to the Source of glory, life, and meaning i.e. we are missing what we were designed to partake of; the beautiful (glorious), all-wise, and loving God. 

Since we (humanity in general) are designed to experience our greatest sense of worth and true identity in God, but turned away from Him, we now seek to regain this outside of and apart from him. 

We no longer do things to honor God but try to "save ourselves" and prove our worth by doing "good deeds." 

Even as His children, we are ²naturally inclined this way if we are not operating in and by His Spirit. 

True humility recognizes I can't (and never will) follow and pursue God perfectly in my natural strength, i.e., by simply willing it. God must be the energy and driving force behind my actions. I must recognize my weakness in living as God intends before I can be strong (in His strength) in faithfully pursuing Him.

This is the paradox of the "upside down" Christian life; when I am weak I am strong. 2 Cor 12:7-10

"Therefore, my beloved... work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." - Phil 2:12-13

This passage does not say work for your salvation but work out your salvation that is already yours i.e. live out who you are - who God has made you to be in and through Christ - i.e. act as someone who is perfectly righteous (and loved) because of Christ's efforts on your behalf, not as someone trying desperately to make yourself righteous to win the acceptance and approval (and love) of others... starting with God.

Who we are in Christ (our "own salvation") is what gives us the will (desire) and power to live for God's pleasure. But we must fully believe and embrace what God declares about us in Christ if we are to experience His strength in and through us.

This is what Paul was also saying in Romans 6:11 

"So you also *must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus."

*must count - λογίζεσθε (logizesthe) 

Strong's 3049: To reckon, count, charge with; reason, decide, conclude; think, suppose.

Because sin no longer has a legal claim 

on us, live accordingly i.e. we are free from sins legal claims i.e. dead to sin's condemnation because Christ already fully bore it's consequences so we no longer have to.

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." - Romans 8:1

For a further discussion on the difference between being righteous and living righteously, click here.

For a discussion on the difference between being spirit-driven vs works-driven click here.

For a discussion on being loved, vs experiencing his love click here.

For a discussion on becoming who we already are in Christ click here.

For a discussion on how we are created for glory click here, here, and here.

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Footnotes:

¹a performance-based approach simply means attempting to win Gods love and acceptance by our good deeds. However this is not only unnecessary because of Christ's work on our behalf, but an insult to Him and His work that fully accomplished this for us. This is a disposition of rebellion to God? When we take time to contemplate this we are saying Christs efforts were a waste of time because my actions can be good enough to satisfy and match the perfect and infinite holiness and goodness of God.

²This is why the Galatians reverted back to a performance based salvation after Paul initially had clearly presented the gospel to them, resulting in him writing his letter to get them back on track.