Questions and Answers: Work Out Salvation vs. Not by Works

From: Questions and Answers in Christian Treasury

Narrator: Chris Genthree

• 1 min. read • grade level: 7

QUES. How do you compare the two following scriptures? "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us," (Titus 3:5⁵Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (Titus 3:5)), and "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." Phil. 2:12¹²Wherefore, my beloved, as ye 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. (Philippians 2:12).

ANS. There is more of a contrast than comparison between these two scriptures. In Titus, the being saved is what God our Savior has done in His mercy to us. It is a change of state or position and a new life given to us.

In contrast, the passage in Philippians refers to the responsibility of the saints in Philippi (and to us Christians also) to go on daily in obedience to God's Word after Paul must leave them. This was for the salvation of their testimony and they must work it out in fear and trembling with no confidence in the flesh. Ed.

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