Does the Bible Say We are to Work for Our Salvation? (Part 1)

There are numerous Bible passages that others point to in order to try to prove their belief that we have to work our way to heaven. The truth is, we can do nothing to save ourselves, and nothing to earn the “right” to go to heaven.

One of the passages used to support works salvation:

Philippians 2:12 “Wherefore, 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.”

This passage does not say we are to work “for” our salvation. In fact, the original Greek that was translated “work out” is “katergazomai”, which has the idea of carrying something to fruition, or to its logical conclusion. Fear and trembling refers to a reverence and awe of God. In other words, it is saying we are to continue, in our saved state, to follow God’s will and plan for our lives and avoid letting anything hinder us from doing so.

If you are not certain of your salvation; if you do not know without a shadow of a doubt that you will spend eternity in heaven, then you are depending on your own ability to do good works to get you to heaven, and not trusting in the finished work that Christ did on the cross. And if that is so, then you are most likely not saved.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

Those of us who are saved have absolutely nothing to boast about. We didn't do anything right. We didn't perform enough good works. We weren't nice enough... We didn't give enough. Zero. Zilch. We have nothing to brag about. The only reason we're going to heaven is because Jesus Christ bought and paid for our way. And BECAUSE of that fact, our salvation is not dependent on our good works, doing anything right, being nice enough, etc. - it is dependent on God - on what His Son did on the Cross, and on the Holy Spirit Who seals us "...unto the day of redemption"(Ephesians 4:30).

I invite others who may believe in works salvation, or those who do not, but want to be better prepared to defend the doctrines of grace and eternal security of the believer, to post any Scriptural passages that seem to say that we must work for our salvation so that we can look at them together and determine what they really are saying. Once I’ve gotten a good list of such passages, I’ll post a “Part Two”.