God Works Supernaturally-Naturally

Philippians 2:12–13 Therefore, my beloved ones, just as you 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, because he who works in you both to will and to do for his good pleasure is God.

This is such a beautiful truth, isn’t it? The reason that we are able to obey God at all is “because he who works in us both to will and to do for his good pleasure is God.” We usually only thank God for the ability to do, but the Apostle Paul says there that even the willing to do and the very doing itself are things that God works in us! Truly, “in him we live, and move, and exist.” (Acts 17:28)

Some Christians go to an extreme and say, “Since God works in me to will and to do, then I should just rest, trust God, and do nothing!” But that does not make any sense. If God is “working in you both to will and to do,” then you will will, and you will do! Thus, God’s working in us does not negate our working. Rather, God’s working in us inevitably brings about our working. Conversely, if a person is not working out his salvation, then it is indicative that God is not working in him.

I have even heard some preachers say, “When you work, God rests; when you rest, God works! So, just rest and trust God! Let go, and let God!” Sounds very godly, doesn’t it, all this talk about “resting” and “trusting God”? But notice that Paul does not say: “Rest and don't work, because God is working.” To the very contrary, he says: “Work out your own salvation” precisely “because he who works in you both to will and to do for his good pleasure is God”!

We Christians like to say things like, “Don’t trust in your efforts; trust God,” which is not at all wrong, but “Don’t trust in your efforts” does not mean “Don’t make any effort”! Many Christians have this attitude which emphasizes the supernatural aspect of God’s working, but downplays the natural aspect of God’s working. They consider any work done on our part to be faithless “self-effort”. They fail to see that God works supernaturally-naturally; that he gives us the privilege of working through us as natural means.

This is why Paul said in another place: “I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.” (1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV) Paul knew that he was only able to work harder than the rest because the grace of God was with him. Even then, he does not deny that “I worked harder.” The grace of God causing him to work harder did not negate the fact that he was the one who put in the effort; the blood, sweat, and tears.

The supernaturally-natural working of God is like two sides of the same coin. It is true that we cannot work out our salvation without God first working in us to will and to do. However, it is not true that we should not make any effort. Contrarily, the Apostle Paul says: “Work out your salvation (natural)... because God is working in you (supernatural).” Both aspects, supernatural and natural, work together; the natural as the inevitable result of the supernatural, but never one without the other.