Philippians 2:12-13 is the verse we will be looking at. What I would like to state about this verse first is what it does not teach. Here it is: No 'unsaved' person can do good works or enough good works to 'earn' their salvation. Here's why and for two reasons. First, the people being addressed in this passage were already saved, and second, the Bible is very clear that it is "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy he saved us" (Titus 3:5). Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it (Ephesians 2:9). Again, the passage does not mean that a Christian should work out an inworked salvation. There is absolutely no such idea in the Greek.
The words "your own salvation", have to be taken in the context of the scripture. For the 'Philippians', they were already saved but when Paul was with them, his teaching, example, and his encouragement: instructed, inspired, and urged them on in their growth of grace. Now when Paul was not with them they were on their own. They have to learn to row their raft on their own. Paul is showing them about the human responsibility in their growth in grace. Sanctification is in the mind of the apostle here. What is 'sanctification'? Sanctification also refers to the practical experience of this separation unto God, being the effect of obedience to the Word of God in one’s life, and is to be pursued by the believer earnestly (1 Peter 1:15; Hebrews 12:14). Their growth in Christ-likeness is the 'salvation' concerning which Paul is speaking. So the saints are exhorted to carry their growth in grace to its ultimate goal which is Christ-likeness.
The salvation spoken of in verse twelve is defined for us in verse thirteen and that is, the act of willing to do God's good pleasure and the doing of it. That is our responsibility from the human standpoint. But remember, God does not leave us without power or the resources to do the above. God gave us His Holy Spirit to enable us.
In verse twelve we have human responsibility, and in verse thirteen, divine enablement.
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