In today’s first reading from the Letter to the Philippines, we hear: “...work out your salvation with fear and trembling. For God is the one who, for his good purpose, works in you both to desire and to work.” (2:12-13). Work out our salvation? To be clear this verse does not mean that a person can (or has to) earn their salvation, or can attain justification on their own. Salvation is a free, unearned gift of grace received through faith and baptism. But then what is St. Paul telling us in these verses?
In Catholic understanding, these verses are understood as a synergy, a cooperative relationship between divine grace and human free will in the life of the Christian. “Working out” refers to the process of justification / sanctification which is understood as the ongoing, active process of letting God’s internal grace transform your actual life, character, and daily obedience. Just as a seed must grow or a physical gift must be utilized to bear fruit, the grace God plants in the soul requires active human response and cooperation. “For God is the one who, for his good purpose, works in you both to desire and to work”. Our desire for holiness, perseverance in obedience, and capacity for good come first from God’s grace. What about human freedom? God does not override human freedom. A person must freely choose to accept, cooperate with, and act upon that grace.
It sounds like “God is on our side” so what’s with “fear and trembling”? The phrase is understood not as a state of fear and paralyzing terror over losing God’s love, but as overwhelming and reverential awe in the awareness of God’s gifts of life, love and grace. It is a disposition of deep humility and a sober awareness of our human weakness. “fear and trembling” reflects what is at stake: human pride as our weakness that can lead to rejecting or squandering God’s grace. We must be ever aware that divine help is always there for us and never fear or hesitate to ask for divine grace. It is why a life of prayer and participation in the Eucharist are so important.
It is this synergetic relationship that leads Catholics to reject a doctrine of eternal security (“once saved, always saved”). Salvation is an ongoing relationship and a dynamic reality involving human freedom. A person can theoretically turn away from God through an unrepentant life, a life of apathy or even outright rejection of God’s grace. We are called to persevere to the end in faith, love, and obedience with vigilant humility. Secure in the knowledge that God’s grace always moves first. We only need to respond.
So, cooperate with your salvation for God is the one who saves you, if you’ll let Him. He won’t save you without you.
Image credit: FrG with Canva | CC-BY-NC