Christ as Our Example vs Christ as Our Salvation - Objective & Subjective
Phil. 2:9 "Therefore God highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name"
Phil. 2:12 "So then, my beloved, even as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much rather in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling"
Gal. 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me"
Eph. 2:8-9 "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, so that no one may boast"
|
Analysis Items |
Christ as Our Example - Objective |
Christ as Our Example - Subjective |
Christ as Our Salvation - Objective |
Christ as Our Salvation - Subjective |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Definition |
Christ exalted on high in heaven as our external, historical model |
Christ as the indwelling life, becoming an experiential example within us |
Christ's objectively accomplished redemptive work, delivering from God's condemnation and the lake of fire |
Christ as the living Person within us, becoming the salvation we "work out" |
|
Location |
In the third heaven, at the highest place in the universe |
Within us as life and example |
The redemptive fact accomplished on the cross |
Within us as the power and reality of salvation |
|
Nature & Characteristics |
• External, distant • Historical fact • Difficult to follow directly |
• Internal, experiential • Living life • Practically followable |
• Accomplished, certain • Legal positional change • Requires no human effort |
• Living, dynamic • Needs to be worked out • Experiential salvation |
|
Function & Role |
• Provides moral standards • Gives behavioral patterns • Reveals God's intention |
• Enables us to actually follow • Lives out Christ from within • Becomes the reality of life |
• Provides legal positional change • Gives eternal security • Delivers from condemnation and lake of fire |
• Experience salvation in daily life • Power over sin and death • Dynamic force for transformation |
|
Means of Realization |
• Learning Christ's character • Imitating Christ's behavior • Looking to Christ in heaven |
• Cooperating with God's operation • Letting Christ live from within • Through the Spirit's power |
• Trusting in Christ's accomplished work • Accepting the fact of redemption • Justification by faith |
• Working out salvation with fear and trembling • Cooperating with God's operation • Manifesting salvation in experience |
|
Temporal Characteristics |
• Historical accomplished fact • Eternal standard • Unchanging model |
• Ongoing present process • Continuous sanctification • Progressive transformation |
• Past accomplished redemption • Eternally effective salvation • Once-for-all work |
• Present need to work out • Dynamic experience • Continuous process of salvation |
|
Focus of Experience |
• Learning moral character • Changing external behavior • Establishing ethical standards |
• Transformation of life and nature • Internal actual experience • Living out Christ |
• Establishing position and identity • Guarantee of eternal destiny • Forgiveness of sins |
• Experiencing life's power • Reality of daily salvation • Life transformation and renewal |
|
Limitations or Challenges |
• Difficult to follow heavenly example from earth • May become external imitation • Could lead to legalism |
• Need to learn cooperation with God • Requires spiritual sensitivity • Needs time for maturation |
• Only positional change • Lacks practical reality in living • May neglect sanctification |
• Requires subjective cooperation • Needs attitude of fear and trembling • Easy to neglect God's operation |
|
Related Detailed Scriptures |
1 Pet. 2:21 "For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example so that you would follow in His steps" John 13:15 "For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you" |
Phil. 2:13 "For it is God who operates in you both the willing and the working for His good pleasure" Col. 1:27 "To whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory" |
Rom. 5:1 "Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life" |
Phil. 1:19 "For I know that this will turn out to my salvation through your petition and the bountiful supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ" Rom. 7:24-25 "Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" |
|
Practical Application |
• Study Christ's life and deeds • Learn Christ's character qualities • Use Christ as behavioral standard • Look to Christ in difficulties |
• Practice fellowship with the Spirit • Learn to obey inner sensing • Let Christ's life flow out • Live out Christ in daily life |
• Preach gospel to save sinners • Establish assurance of salvation • Thank God for redemptive grace • Boast in salvation |
• Experience salvation in trials • Practice cooperation with God's operation • Experience God's power in weakness • Work out salvation in daily living |
|
Ultimate Goal |
Know and imitate Christ's example, becoming like Christ in character |
Live out Christ, letting Christ become our life and living |
Obtain eternal life, delivered from the power of sin and death |
Experience Christ as life, manifesting God's good pleasure in all things |
Integrated Conclusion:
According to the revelation in Philippians 2:12-13, Christ as our example and salvation, along with their objective and subjective aspects, are actually four dimensions of one complete spiritual experience:
- 1. Objective Foundation: Christ's exaltation in heaven (example) and the accomplishment of the cross (salvation)
- 2. Subjective Reality: Christ within us as life (example) and saving power (salvation)
- 3. Unified Experience: "Working out salvation" is the concrete practice of "taking Christ as our example"
- 4. Divine-Human Cooperation: We work with fear and trembling, God operates within, causing us both to will and to work
Key Insight:
The "salvation" in Philippians 2:12 does not refer to salvation from the lake of fire, but refers to our example Christ becoming the salvation we work out, experience, and enjoy. This salvation is a living Person, Christ Himself.
*Please refer to the 2025 June Semi-Annual Summer Training, General Topic: Experiencing, Enjoying, and Manifesting Christ (Part 3), Part 2: Knowing Christ as Our Model and Taking Him as Our Model
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