How to Work Out Your Salvation

What does it mean to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling“? (Philippians 2:12b)

If Paul had said, “work out your body,” we would know exactly what to do. We’d hit the gym, stretch our muscles and lift some weights. For our muscles to grow, they need to be stretched, strained, and challenged.

The same is true for your salvation. Faith is not stagnant. It’s either growing stronger or becoming weaker. While working out physically is a sign of a healthy body, working out spiritually is a sign of a healthy soul.

Far too many Christians are spiritually weak, tired, sluggish, and feeble. It’s time for a workout. Just like physical training, this requires discipline and hard work. It’s not a quick overnight transformation, but rather a life-long journey of growing your faith.

Do a quick google search and you’ll discover millions of results for physical exercise ideas. (647,000,000 to be exact!)

But what does a faith workout look like? Believe it or not, it’s pretty simple. If you’ve received the free gift of eternal life that comes from Jesus’ work on the cross, the Bible lays out some pretty basic workouts for every Christ-follower. Here are a few faith workouts to consider if you’ve been saved.


If you’ve been saved, “love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind.” (Luke 10:27)

If you’ve been saved, “love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:31)

If you’ve been saved, “no foul language should come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear.” (Ephesians 4:29)

If you’ve been saved, “do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2)

If you’ve been saved, “encourage one another and build each other up.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

If you’ve been saved, “live in harmony with one another, according to Christ Jesus.” (Romans 15:5)

If you’ve been saved, “don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing?” (Matthew 6:25)

If you’ve been saved, “let all bitterness, anger, and wrath, shouting and slander be removed from you, along with all malice.” (Ephesians 4:31)

If you’ve been saved, “walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16)

If you’ve been saved, “let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

If you’ve been saved, “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things.” (Philippians 4:8)

If you’ve been saved, “Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

If you’ve been saved, “have nothing to do with pointless and silly myths. Rather, train yourself in godliness.” (1 Timothy 4:7)

If you’ve been saved, “look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” (James 1:27)

If you’ve been saved, “be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22)

If you’ve been saved, “go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19)

If you’ve been saved, “give to the one who asks you, and don’t turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” (Matthew 5:42)

If you’ve been saved, “let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:23)


Not alone.

The truth is these verses barely scratch the surface. The pages of Scripture are packed with guidance on how to grow your faith, but before you dive deep and give it your best shot, here’s one more thing to remember:

You cannot do it alone.

That’s why in the very next verse Paul says, “for it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose.” (Philippians 2:13) You see, we can only work out where God is working in.

For further study, check out Pastor Andy’s message, Work Out Your Salvation.