Just Stop It!

Growing to be more like Christ is synergistic, that is, the Spirit works with the justified believer to conform them to the image of Christ. Probably the best place I can think of to see that is in the letter to the Philippians.

First in chapter 1 verse 6 as Paul spoke of how he prayed for the Philippian believers he wrote, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Phil 1:6 (ESV) Clearly here he spoke of the working of God in the life of believers to bring to completion what he by his grace had started. That taken by itself would seem to point to a completely monergistic working of sanctification in the life of a believer.

But, once we get to chapter 2 we find Paul calling for the Philippian believers to be like Christ, that is, to be more and more conformed to Christ’s pattern. (verses 1-11) However, when he comes to bringing this all together in verse 12 we read, ” Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,” Phil 2:12 (ESV) This verse seems to say the exact opposite. In essence it calls for believers to work out not getting saved, but the changes salvation are to bring, in particular that of becoming like Christ. Take on its own it would seem to point to this all being human effort and nothing of God. This is not, however, where the scriptures stop, for verse 12 is only part of the sentence which ends bringing all this together this way in verse 13, “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” Phil 2:13 (ESV)

Yes, we are to work out our salvation (sanctification) with fear and trembling, but as we work we always need to realize that we never do this merely on our own, for God is working in believers to will and do. That is synergistic sanctification.

To neglect the one part of our effort leads to what I have seen in my own life. having a sin constantly besetting one, praying about it, but not fighting against it. When that is the case the temptation is to blame God rather than realize believers need to work out their salvation with fear and trembling.

To neglect the other part, that God is at work in believers, not just to will but also to do, leads to trusting in ones own sufficiency rather than in Christ.

The second place I see this principle spoken of is in 1 Corinthians 15 where we read, ” But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.” 1 Cor 15:10 (ESV)

Based on this I would say that it is both God working in us (that is foundational) and we working with all our might, by that same gracious working in us.

When talking of sanctification one has to remember that the believe has been justified. That means not only are they declared innocent, but that by grace they are transformed by the grace of God, taken from death to life (Eph 2), freed from bondage to sin (Rom 6), removed from condemnation, and given the Spirit (Rom 8 among others). All of that is grounded in the work of God, but to say that we have absolutely no part in the sanctification that grows out of that justification would be to miss that as believers all this is true. That means there is an obligation and a freedom granted to live for God that was not there before justification. Does this striving earn anything (as was implied earlier), certainly not, for even if we were to do all we were called to do, we are not doing anything meritorious we are but being faithful servants. Even more, the good we do, is good that God prepared in advance for us to do (Eph 2), Yet, we have a responsibility a command even to work out the salvation God has given us with fear and trembling (Phil 2). To, as did Paul, work harder than everyone else (1 Cor 15). But again this is always by the grace of God. I think part of the problem is that this working with the Spirit graciously given to all believers is quite different than the situation would be in terms of justification. In justification we are dead, slaves to sin, followers of Satan. In sanctification we are born again, freed from sin, followers of Christ. That is a HUGE change, all founded in the sole working of God in Christ applied by the Spirit who is now in the believer.

As Jerry Bridges wrote, “No one can attain any degree of holiness without God working in his life, but just as surely no one will attain it without effort on his own part.” Or John Owen speaking of sanctification, “God works in us and with us, not against us or without us.” Or finally J.C. Ryle, “The is no holiness without a warfare.”

So for a true believer both, “There, but for the grace of God, go I.” and “But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”