Philippians 2:9-13

Therefore, God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (2:911) The word therefore bridges the truth formerly established to a profound conclusion As the supreme example of the attitude God desires, Paul said we should have the same attitude as that of Jesus, who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant (2: 6-7) Therefore (as a result of what Jesus did in selfless attitude and obedient action leading to the cross), God exalted Him to the highest place exalted to the right hand of the God (Acts 2:33 Therefore God gave Him the name above all names: Immanuel which means God with us (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23), Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), the Word of God, King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Rev 19:13-16) Everyone will acknowledge the lordship of Christ in heaven and on earth and under the earth God desires that ALL do so willingly He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (II Peter 3:9, also I Timothy 2:4, Roman 10:13, John 3:16) Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose. (2:12-13) With another therefore (based on the truth established), Paul then appeals to his friends at Philippi to live a life of obedience to God, whether or not he is able to visit them again He exhorts them: work out your salvation with fear and trembling a phrase that at first glance seems to conflict with the clear truth of Habakkuk 2:4 The righteous shall live by faith Paul would never teach salvation by works, for he quotes the righteous shall live by faith to both the Romans (1:17) and to the Galatians (3:11), encouraging them to live a life of faith Work out salvation does not mean work for salvation, but the phrase actually means do the work of salvation we might say express your salvation or live out your salvation If God has forgiven us our sin, we express that to others by forgiving them (Mat 7:14); if God has shown us unconditional live, we express that by loving those who do not love us (Mat 5:46) Whatever God has done in our hearts, we express in relationships not earn or achieve salvation (which is by grace through faith Ephesians 2:8), but to live out a life of salvation to the world The following phrase makes clear that salvation is the work of God, for Paul says it is God who works in you to will and to act He gives both the will (heart, motivation, desire), and the ability to act (the strength to follow through and live a life of obedience pleasing to Him) The end result of both passages have to do with the glory of God Jesus is exalted and all acknowledge Him to the glory of God the Father (2:11), and we express our salvation as God works in us to will and to act according to His good purpose (2:13)