I don’t have a personal trainer.  If I did, he would fashion a workout regimen specifically for me.

Scripture says to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12).  But it also says, “by grace you have been saved through faith…not of works” (Ephesians 2:8-9).  How can you work out your salvation and not be saved by your work?

English is part of the problem.  We often think of being saved as being made righteous in God’s sight.  In the Greek, however, there is a difference.  Romans 10:10 says, “with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”  Righteousness is the condition of being acceptable to God; justified – saved.  Salvation is being delivered, rescued, made whole, preserved.  So, in the Greek “work out your own salvation” means to bring about, to achieve, or to fashion the deliverance, health, preservation, welfare, etc. that is specifically planned for you.  And the fear and trembling?  According to Thayer’s lexicon, that’s just the anxiety from doubting one’s ability to fulfill requirements.  Which is what Ephesians says – i.e. recognize you can’t do it on your own.

So, no, you can’t make yourself righteous.  But you do have a part to play in receiving the abundant life Christ came to make available to you.  Work at it.