"Work out you salvation with fear and trembling"
Let's keep it in context to see the meaning, Lord be willing.
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. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Verse 12 raises the question... obey what? The first word in that verse suggests to read the what before that verse, and we see it is about having this mind of Christ.
Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
It is not at the name of the Holy Spirit as in addressing in worship by saying "Holy Spirit" or "Spirit of God" or "Spirit" that every knew shall bow & every tongue confess, but the name is Jesus. That is the mind of Christ we are to have in worship in order to glorify God the Father.
But man has become wise in their own eyes in overlooking the scripture & included the worship of the Holy Spirit with the Father & the Son which is NOT supported by scripture at all as a practise to do. Yes, the Holy Spirit is God, but the indwelling Holy Spirit would keep the spotlight on the Son whereas seducing spirits will come in when the spotlight is on the Holy Spirit to take that focus, attention, & worship away from the Son & thereby God the Father as well.
But I digress. God be willing, may we at least know what it is we are supposed to be "obeying".
The working out your salvation with fear & much trembling does not depict a will power on the believer, but a respect to what is the mind of Christ is as verse 13 "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." should be meaning for it is Jesus, the Son of God, which worketh in you both to will and to do his good pleasure."
Those that call on the Holy Spirit in worship will invoke a movement of the "Spirit" or seek a gift of tongue from the "Spirit" Himself, but the man Christ Jesus is the only Mediator between God & man.
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
Our prayers are answered by the Son Whom delivers our intercessions directly to the Father solely for this purpose.
John 14:13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
Not the "Spirit" which is why Jesus really meant what He has said in how we come to God the Father in anything:
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
in worship, prayer, praise, & fellowship.
1 Corinthians 1:9God is faithful, by whom ye were
called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Jesus is the only way to have fellowship & worship & prayer with the Father.
But somewhen along the way,
the way was broaden....to include the worship of the Holy Spirit with the Father & the Son, overlooking the standard raised by Jesus on how we shall be judged.
John 5:22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: 23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
Why Jesus only? The Son of God is how God the Father is glorified by. There is no other glory to be given.
John 13:31 Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32 If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him.
What happens when they had broaden the way to include the worship of the Holy Spirit with the Father & the Son? Many houses have fallen for allowing seducing spirits to move in, thinking it was the Holy Spirit:
Matthew 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
The result? "slain in the spirit", tongues that does not come with interpretation at all but just babbling nonsense & other signs & wonders.
Matthew 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
Need a better picture of what Jesus is saying for ignoring how to approach God the Father by Him only?
Proverbs 25:26 A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring. 27 It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory. 28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.
That's what happens when believers go around the Son in anything.
John 10:1Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
That means nobody comes inbetween you & the Son in you relating to God the Father. Not even the Holy Spirit because the Bridegroom speaks to us thru the Spirit in us, but we speak in return back to the Bridegroom & by Him to God the Father.
John 10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door:
Again, the Holy Spirit is God BUT He is the Messenger, relaying the message from the Bridegroom to glorify the Son.
John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth:
for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14
He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Everything that is of the Spirit is from the Son: see verses 14 & 15 above: that means the words of the Spirit, the gifts of the Spirit, & the fruits of the Spirit are from the Son. We are the works of the Son's hands as He is teh author & finisher of our faith.
Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:...
11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
So it is time to go before that throne of grace with fear & much tremblings because citing all those wonderful works in His name is not going to prevent anyone from being left behind at the pre trib rapture for continuing in that iniquity after reading this. The solution as the call of repentance is for every believer having His seal is to narrow the way back to Jesus in relating to God the Father.
Luke 13:24
Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. 25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: 26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.
27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. 28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. 29 And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.
Any work of iniquity that is denying Him will lead to Him denying you. That does not mean you are not saved. It just means you are not ready to attend the Marriage Supper.
Titus 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
2 Timothy 2:11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: 12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him:
if we deny him, he also will deny us: 13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
18
Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and
overthrow the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 20
But in a great house there are not only
vessels of gold and of silver, but also
of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some
to dishonour. 21
If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
So to repent is...
to return to your first love & rest in Him communicating with
God by way of the Bridegroom only.
1 Timothy 4:1Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
1 John 4:1Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world....4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.....24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
May God cause the increase.