Whatever course others pursue, we are individually to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. Why?—Because it is God that worketh in us, to will and to do of His good pleasure. Yes, for His own name’s glory, He works upon the minds and hearts of human beings, who are of great value in His sight, if they will allow Him to work. (TDG 12.4) MC VC

The heart is the citadel of the whole man, and until the heart is wholly on the Lord’s side, the enemy will find unguarded entrances through which he can take possession. “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:12, 13). If you would have light, you must intelligently cherish it, and constantly exercise faith, and not be controlled by feeling. It is evident that truth has been planted in the heart by the Holy Spirit when it is loved and cherished, and regarded as a sacred endowment. Love will then spring up in the heart like a well of living water, springing up unto everlasting life. When this love is in the heart, the worker will find no weariness in the work of Christ. (TDG 52.2) MC VC

We cannot even manufacture faith ourselves. “It is the gift of God: (Ephesians 2:8). The whole of our salvation comes through the gift of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. How glad I am. It comes from such a source that we cannot doubt it. And He is “the author”—does it stop there? Does it stop there? “The author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). Thank God. He attends us every step of the way through, if we are willing to be saved in Christ’s appointed way, through obedience to His requirements. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12). What does this mean? Is it a contradiction? Let us see what the last of it says. “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Verses 12, 13). Praise God. Now who will be discouraged? Who is going to faint? It is not committed to us, weak, feeble mortals to work out our own salvation in our own line. It is Christ that worketh in you. And this is the privilege of every son and daughter of Adam. But we are to work. We are not to be idle. We are put here in this world to work. We are not put here to fold our arms.—Manuscript 18, March 4, 1894, “Laborers Together With God.” (TDG 72.2) MC VC

Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Philippians 2:12, 13. (TDG 167.1) MC VC

Every one must lift the cross, and in modesty, meekness, and lowliness of mind, take up his God-given duties, engaging in personal effort for those around him who need help and light. All who accept these duties will have a rich and varied experience, their own hearts will glow with fervor, and they will be strengthened and stimulated to renewed, persevering efforts to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling, because it is God that worketh in them both to will and to do of His good pleasure.—The Review and Herald, July 21, 1891. (TDG 211.5) MC VC

The Lord Jesus is looking upon every soul with intense interest. He has declared that the spiritual character of His church is to be carefully maintained. The church is in the world, and is to do a work for the world, but the doors of the church are not to be opened to worldliness. “Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up” (Matthew 15:13). The church must be strictly guarded. Its sacred character must be demonstrated to the world. “Ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building” (1 Corinthians 3:9). “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:12, 13).... (TDG 269.4) MC VC

We need to understand that individually we are in copartnership with God. “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,” He admonishes us, and adds, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:12, 13). Here is the cooperation of the divine with human agencies.... (TDG 276.2) MC VC

December (TDG 344) MC VC

Fear to Disobey God, December 1 VC

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. Philippians 2:12. (TDG 344.1) MC VC

There is no carelessness allowed here, there is no indolence, there is no indifference, but we are to work out each of us, our own salvation with fear and trembling. Why? Let us see: “Wherefore, my beloved, ...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12). Well, then, you say, am I to go around fearing and trembling all the way? Yes, in one sense, but not in another sense. (TDG 344.2) MC VC

You have the fear of God before you, and you will have a trembling lest you will depart from the counsels of God. There will be that trembling. You will be working out your own salvation all the time with fear and trembling. Does it rest here? No, let us hear how the divine power comes in: “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Verse 13). Here are man’s works, and here are God’s works. They both cooperate. Man cannot accomplish this work without the help of the divine power. (TDG 344.3) MC VC

God does not take man with his own natural feelings and deficiencies and place him right in the light of the countenance of God. No, man must do his part, and while man works out his own salvation, with fear and trembling, it is God that worketh in him to will and to do of His own good pleasure. With these two combined powers, man will be victorious, and receive a crown of life at last. He stands in view of the haven of bliss and the eternal weight of glory before him, and he fears lest he will lose it, lest a promise being left, he shall come short of it. He cannot afford to lose it. He wants that haven of bliss, and strains every energy of his being to secure it. He taxes his abilities to the utmost. He puts to the stretch every spiritual nerve and muscle that he may be a successful overcomer in this work, and that he may obtain the precious boon of eternal life.... (TDG 344.4) MC VC

When the world sees that we have an intensity of desire, some object that is out of sight, which by faith is to us a living reality, then it puts an incentive to investigate, and they see that there is certainly something worth having, for they see that this faith has made a wonderful change in our life and character.—Manuscript 13, December 1, 1888, sermon, Des Moines, Iowa. (TDG 344.5) MC VC

“Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:12, 13). We must cooperate with the Lord Jesus. Only thus shall we be able to accomplish our part of the work. We are to hold fast to all we gain through Christ. (TDG 358.3) MC VC