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for it is God who works in you, both to will and to act, on behalf of his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13)

We are to work out the mind of Christ in our daily walk because (for) it is God who works it in. The Greek word (ἐνεργέω energeō) is where we get our word “energy” from. It means to bring about, produce, cause to be.”[1] Because of God’s working in us, we then can work out or operate in the mind of Christ that Paul has been describing. Paul uses it in Galatians 2:8 and 1 Thessalonians 2:13. Each of these places carries the idea of effective activity in the believer.

The writer James speaks of the tension between salvation by grace and the activity of works in the believers’ life. In James 2:17-18, he writes, “So also faith, if it does not have works (deeds and actions of obedience to back it up), by itself is destitute of power (inoperative, dead). But someone will say [to you then], You [say you] have faith, and I have [good] works. Now you show me your [alleged] faith apart from any [good] works [if you can], and I by [good] works [of obedience] will show you my faith.” – AMP.

Some have tried to make James and Paul at odds with each other over whether salvation is by faith or by works. However, when taking the passages in context, we can see that it is clear that our salvation is by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9) but is visible to others by the life that we live – our works. God, who is working in us, demonstrates these works through us. We are his workmanship in the world. – Ephesians 2:10.

It should be noted here briefly that this letter, like all of Paul’s letters, was written to first-century Christians, but in principle, his words are applicable to all servants of God since. God can give us the will (θέλω thelō) to act. The Greek word means to feel or have a desire for; want strongly. God will not force us to do anything that is not our will (θέλω thelō), that is our desire. However, he can read hearts and knows who are willing to examine themselves, and so he can create the desire with us to act on behalf of that desire. ‘God gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.’ (Isa. 40:29) The Holy Spirt is able to help us to develop and improve our natural talents. (Ex. 35:30-35) Jesus tells us, “How much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.” (Lu 11:13) We must remember that “the extraordinary greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves.” (2 Cor. 4:7) The Bible is filled with examples of ordinary people who desired to act, and God gave them the power to do so. We also have an infinite amount of Bible study tools before us. And we have the church and those within it.

This is all done on behalf of the gracious purpose of God. It carries the idea of a desire or resolve for that which is good. We are able to have the mind of Christ and live out the salvation that is internal from God so that we are able to fulfill the good, gracious purpose that God has in his plan.

Paul always takes the discussed theological issues and brings them into the practical world. He has spoken of the mind of Christ and our need to have it – and then he starts to apply it to the Philippian believers, and by extension, ourselves today. He continues on from the words of practical Christianity to encouraging a steadfast spirit that carries a positive outlook on a Christian’s life. This is part of the good news of joy in adverse circumstances that we can hold on to as we walk with God.

[1] James Swanson, Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) (Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997).