Thank you again, Mark and Diane. Appreciate you leading us in worship. Good morning to everyone. I guess we can quit waiting. Winter's here, eh? So only six, seven months, and it'll be over.

Well, we're working through the Book of Philippians, and we come to a really interesting passage in verses 12 to 13 this morning. And I wanted to start by telling you about a sort of friend I have, or what I would call an ongoing acquaintance. He's a religious man, a traditionalist. He's very educated on the history and dogma of his religion and at least professes a great allegiance to his church. I've had countless conversations with him about the gospel and the word of God, and nearly every time I bring up any scripture, he quotes one of two texts, perhaps the only ones he knows. 

First is 1 Corinthians 9, where Paul says, "I do not fight as one who beats the air, but discipline my body and bring it into subjection." And the other is the text before us this morning, generally just verse 12, when he tells me that we must work out our own salvation. According to him, this verse means that we must work for our salvation by all the trappings of religion and the works of man. 

This is common to all of man's religions, a need, a desire, to work to gain one's own righteousness through religious means, such as sacraments, rites, and rituals, self-sacrifice, and so on. Paul shows us in Romans 9.30 and following that this was the very problem of the Jews of his day, those self-righteous religious people. If you turn over to Romans 9.30 with me, we'll look at that passage. 

Romans 9.30, what shall we say then that Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith? But Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were by the works of the law, for they stumbled at that stumbling stone, as it is written, "Behold, I lay in Zion, a stumbling stone and rock of offense." And whoever believes on him will not be put to shame. 

Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they, being ignorant of God's righteousness and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. 

I would point out right here at the beginning of our study that the verse before us does not say that we are to work for our salvation, nor does it say that we are to work at our salvation. Paul could not be appealing to these believers to obtain salvation, for they have already obtained it through faith in Jesus Christ. They are saints. They are in Christ. They are saved, justified. They possess eternal life. 

What the verse says is that we are to work out our salvation, for it is God who works in us to will and to do for his good pleasure. What we see in verses 12 to 13 of Philippians in our text is a tension, an antinomy that exists in nearly every aspect of God's relation to man, and specifically in every aspect of salvation. 

For example, we see in the very nature of our Savior that he is fully God, and yet he is fully man. We cannot explain this truth, nor do we truly understand it, but we believe it. We take it by faith. We see in justification that a man is responsible to believe the gospel, to come to faith in Christ, and yet we also see that God is sovereign in salvation, and it is God alone who saves. And we see here in sanctification, outward conforming to the inward reality of who we are in Christ, that we have a great responsibility, and yet God is accomplishing this work by his grace and power. 

Here in our text, we see that the wording, "to work out," has the primary meaning of taking something to its end, and this is important. The words here do not speak of being saved in the sense of justification. This is already true for all who believe, and to those to whom Paul writes, his beloved. What they speak of in verse 12 is the responsibility of every saved person to take that salvation and grow in it, work it out to its final conclusion, strive toward the goal of sanctification, and ultimately glorification. 

And at the same time, in verse 13, we see that it is God who works these things out, energizes us, works by his great power in us to accomplish these things, his very will in saving us. So the words, by definition, "work out," speak of taking to a consummation, a final end, a completion. But inherent in the idea of sanctification throughout the New Testament is also the truth of outwardly conforming our behavior to the inward reality of who we are in Christ. 

And thus, I believe, with the support of so many scriptures that we're going to consider, that we can also understand that our responsibility to work out our salvation has the inherent idea that this salvation is in us, that we are changed inwardly, that we have a new heart and a new spirit, and that the biblical understanding of sanctification is living outwardly in equal weight or in consistency in our outward walk with what is true of us on the inside because of regeneration. 

So we see, as we begin our consideration of this most interesting passage, that we have a responsibility. We are to be cooperating. We have a part in how we live what we believe in the process of sanctification. That is, to work out from the inside to bring to fullness, to consummation, our salvation. And at the same time, we see that this process of outward confirmation to Christ-likeness is the work of God by His grace and power as He works in us to bring about His will and purpose. 

In all of this, we have the promise of chapter 1 at verse 6, which we studied before. We can be confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will carry it to completion in the day of Jesus Christ. 

Let's read our text this morning, just a short two verses, Philippians 2.12. Therefore, my beloved, 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, for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. 

I've given you four points on your outline this morning. First, what's inside. Second, work it out. Third, the power of God. And fourth, justification unto glorification. 

Again, I want to emphasize that the words here in verse 12 indicate a bringing to a finish or a consummation. I think here the main idea is an exhortation to us to focus, to apply effort in our responsibility to continue in our sanctification. We should be growing in Christlikeness over the years. And we will get to that more specifically in later points. 

But when we consider the doctrine of sanctification as a whole in the New Testament, what we find is a clear definition and a clear foundational truth for the reality of outward confirmation to Christlikeness. So we'll start there with what's inside. 

I'd like to begin with Romans 12, if you'd turn to Romans 12, 1 and 2, a similar exhortation by Paul to holy living, to what he terms here presenting our bodies a living sacrifice wholly acceptable to God. Romans 12, 1, I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice wholly acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. We see a very significant phrase here in verse 1, "by the mercies of God." 

Paul says, "I beg you, I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God." And this here refers to all the great doctrines of salvation that he has just expounded in the first 11 chapters, the truths of justification by grace through faith alone, the truth of regeneration, our union with Jesus and his death, burial, and resurrection, to newness of life, the truth of our new heart and our new spirit made alive with Christ and the very life of Christ in us. 

Paul says, "Based on all these truths, the mercies of God, here is how you should live." So we see here that there's a basis for a new life, for holiness, Christlikeness, presenting our bodies a living sacrifice. Notice the words in verse 1 say, "which is your reasonable service." Yours might say your spiritual act of worship. The literal here is logical act of service or worship. 

What Paul is saying is that it is logical, it is reasonable that you, as a new creation in Christ, live a new life of holiness. We see this all over the New Testament. Another clear example is in the book of Ephesians. In the book of Ephesians, we studied that recently. In the first three chapters, Paul explains who we now are and what we have in Christ, using that phrase, "in Christ," over and over and over again. 

We are sons. We have been chosen. We are adopted. We've been given the Holy Spirit. The very power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work in you. The Holy Spirit imparts strength to our inner man. Jesus himself lives in us and works his life out through us. All of these things are true of every believer in Jesus Christ. 

And Paul says, "Therefore, walk worthy of your calling," Ephesians 4.1. The word means equal weight. This is who you are inwardly because of salvation. This is who you are inwardly because of regeneration. This is the power that works in you to accomplish God's will. Therefore, walk in a way outwardly that is consistent, that is of equal weight with these truths. 

This is the ever-present call of the New Testament. This is who you are. Therefore, this is how you should live. You are new men. Act like new men. This is what is on the inside. Therefore, this is what should be manifest on the outside. 

Let's go back to Romans 12.2 again and look at Paul's instruction there. He says, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." 

Paul says, literally, "Stop being conformed by the world." The outside elements and influences of this world. "Don't let these outward things conform your behavior in a way that is inconsistent with who you are. Rather, be being transformed by the renewing of your mind." 

Uist gives these helpful comments on the words "conformed" and "transformed." He says, "Conformed refers to the act of an individual assuming an outward expression that does not come from within him, nor is it representative of his inner heart life. The prefix preposition 'soon' adds the meaning of the verb, the idea of assuming an expression that is patterned after some definite thing. The verb is present imperative with a negative, which construction forbids the continuance of an action already going on." 

So here's what Paul's saying. "Stop assuming an outward expression. Stop living like the world. Stop assuming an outward expression which is patterned after this world, an expression which does not come from, nor is it representative of what you are in your inner being as a regenerated child of God." 

A wonderful word. The word transformed is "metamorphame," which speaks of the act of a person changing his outward expression from that which he has to a different one, an expression which comes from and is representative of his inner being. This is the word that is used of Jesus in the transfiguration where he pulled back his flesh, as it were, and showed the essence of his inner being, who he is. 

This is such an important truth for us to understand, for if we believe that we are rotten, vile sinners on the inside, if we're two men with two natures, then the call to live according to who we are on the inside could be somewhat problematic. But if we understand the great New Testament truth that we are new men, new creations with a new spirit and a new heart, if we are regenerated in our spirits, then the consistent call of the New Testament to live outwardly in consistency with who we are inwardly makes perfect sense. 

Sin is still there. We still have indwelling sin. But we have died to it, Romans 6 says. Our relationship to it has changed. It's not who we are. And in this sense, we are to work out our salvation in that what's on the inside needs to control and transform what is on the outside. 

It is logical, Paul says. It is reasonable. In fact, I should expect to live a holy life because of the truth of who I am in Christ. When I live like the world, I should be surprised. I should be disgusted with myself. I should expect to live a holy life. We tend to live up to our expectations. 

And so in one sense, the pervasive call of the Christ life is to work out what is on the inside. But also in our text, we see that there's a call to work it out in the sense of perseverance, of discipline, and consistency, bringing to fruition the fullness of our salvation. There is the human responsibility side of this equation. It's not a "let go and let God" sort of scenario. 

There is a call to be faithful, to reckon the truth of God's word, to abide, to renew our minds, to reject sin, and take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. We have a part, a responsibility in this life. And yet we will see in verse 13 that this sanctification, this salvation is solely by God's grace and power. 

So we see in verse 12, "Work it out." Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 

And this verse calls us back with the "therefore" to chapter 1, verse 27, where Paul brought up the subject he's been working through. Philippians 1.27 says, only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel. 

Paul's overriding desire here is for unity in the body, and he expounds on this in chapter 2 in the first five verses there. He says, "If there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind, let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." 

And in the example of Christ that brings us up to our text, Paul highlights the example of his humility, of his selfless sacrifice for the good of others. And it is through this kind of obedience to the will of God that we find unity in the church. 

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Paul commands the believers, or commends the believers, in that they have always obeyed. Their life has been a consistent pattern of obedience to the word of God. He's encouraging them to continue in that, to bring it to completion. 

We could say to finish well. This is the great desire of our hearts that God has put there, to be faithful today, to live lives consistent with who we are for his glory as a witness, and to finish well. This is what Paul was talking about in that 1 Corinthians 9 passage we referenced earlier, not obtaining salvation, but finishing it well, looking toward glorification. 

Let's turn to that passage, 1 Corinthians 9.19. He's talking about his heart, his motive in this passage. In verse 19, he says, "For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all that I might win the more. To the Jews, I became as a Jew that I might win Jews. To those who are under the law as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law. To those who are without law as without law, not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ, that I might win those who are without law. To the weak, I became as weak that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men that I might, by all means, save some. 

Now this I do for the gospel's sake, that I may be partaker of it with you. Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore, I run thus, not with uncertainty. Thus I fight, not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. 

Paul's talking about being disqualified by some great sin or failure in his life. Disqualified from witness, from testimony, from preaching and teaching. Not losing his salvation, but ruining his witness, his testimony, his ministry. He wants to finish well. And therefore, he runs with certainty and purpose and discipline in the Christian life. 

One of the greatest passages concerning this is in the book of Philippians in chapter 3. If you look at verse 7, just a page over from our text, Philippians 3.7, Paul's given his testimony here. And now he talks about his life in Christ. He says, "What things were gained to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed, I also count all things lost for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as garbage that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith, that I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings being conformed to his death, if by any means I may attain to the resurrection from the dead." 

Not that I have already attained or am already perfected. Look at what Paul says here in verse 12. "But I press on that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended. But one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." 

Therefore, let us, as many as are mature, have this mind. This is the obedience that Paul is talking about, the working it out of verse 12 in our text. It's not a conformity by an outward standard, as in letting something external conform us, such as the law or any law. But rather, it's an outward conforming to the inward reality of who we are by the grace and power of God. 

But through our striving, pressing toward the goal, setting our mind, looking unto Jesus. Sometimes defining this discipline, this obedience that Paul talks about, can be a little elusive for us. What does it mean practically in our lives day to day to be obedient, as Paul describes here, to see the fruit of holiness in our lives and outward conforming to Christ's likeness? 

Let's take a few scriptures to see what the New Testament teaches concerning this. First, Colossians 3 at verse 14. Paul instructs the believers, "But above all these things, put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body, and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching, admonishing one another in psalms and hymns, spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, he says. Completely be immersed in, saturated with the word of God. What discipline is required for this? Daily study and reading of God's word. Fellowship in the local body. Hearing the word of God taught and preached. Receiving it with eagerness. 

Speaking the word to ourselves, to others, saved and lost. Letting our lives be saturated with the truth of God's word and choosing to believe and obey God. In Ephesians 5.17, Paul says, "Therefore, do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation, but be being filled with the Holy Spirit." 

Be being filled with the Spirit. Obedience to the Holy Spirit as He guides us into all truth, as He imparts strength to our inner man. Again, find out what the will of the Lord is in His word. Speak to one another with the words of God. Give thanks. Be thankful for His grace and mercy and submit to one another. These are practical instructions. These are the things we must be setting our minds on, seeking to obey. 

In Colossians 3.1, he says, "Since you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above and not on things of the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory." 

Notice that all of these exhortations lead to glorification, to the hope we have. Set your mind on heavenly things now. Live setting your mind on Christ, singing psalms and hymns to one another, being thankful. And know that when Christ appears, you also will appear with Him in glory. 

Peter tells us to gird up the loins of our mind, to pull in all the loose ends, to get it together. And do what? Set your hope fully on the glory that is to be revealed that is coming. This is our hope. This is our calling. Jesus tells us in John 15 that the Christian life is like a branch abiding in a vine. It is dependence on Him, remaining in Him, looking to Him, taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, to the truth of His word. 

Our weapons are not carnal. They're mighty in God. In short, our focus is not to be on ourselves, our performance, or some external standard. Our focus is to be on Christ, on His greatness, His glory, His word, the truth of our salvation, the person and work of Christ as revealed in His word, and to the needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ as well as the lost. 

We are to look unto Jesus as we run this race, independence on Him. And we are to live according to who we are, rejecting sin and temptation by reckoning God's truth and rejecting sin in the mind before it is conceived and brought forth, as James says. The battle is real, my friends. There's a true and real struggle. And it's won in the mind by reckoning truth and rejecting lies. 

The weapon of our warfare is truth according to the word of God. And we must mind our sword and wield it carefully. When he says to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, that means to judge it as true or false and accept it or reject it based on God's word. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, knowing your need and dependence on the grace and power of God. 

Verse 12 of our text again, "Therefore, my beloved, 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." 

For it is God who works in you, both to will and to do for his good pleasure. You work. You continue in the faith. You seek to win the prize, reach the goal of sanctification and glorification, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to do for his good pleasure. 

First we see it is God. It's not just some great power in the world, some great man, some great organization or military might, which could be defeated, which will fade away. My brothers and sisters, it's not an earthly resource that you have, that you possess, that works in you for the express purpose of your sanctification. It's God. 

It is God who chose you before the foundation of the world. It's God who justifies you and saves you by his grace. It is God who predestined you to be conformed to the likeness of his son. It's God who works in you by his great power to make you like Christ and to bring to full consummation your complete salvation. 

It is God who began this great work in you, and he will carry it until the day of Jesus Christ. Do you understand, my brother, my sister, the confidence that we have in him, the assurance, the hope of final and full salvation for everyone who has believed? It is God. 

Turn to Ephesians 3 with me, verse 14. Let's look at this wonderful prayer of Paul for the believers in Ephesus. Ephesians 3, 14. Paul says, "For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he would grant you according to the riches of his glory." 

Again, not an earthly resource. According to His riches in glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man. That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, that you being rooted and grounded in love may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height, to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 

Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us, to him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. 

It is God. It is God the Holy Spirit who imparts strength to your inner man, your regenerated spirit. It is God the Son, Jesus Christ, who lives in you and produces the fruit of His life out through you as a branch abiding in the vine. It is God the Father who is able, who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we could ask or think according to His power that works in us. 

Did you notice the last two words, the same words in our text in verse 13? It says, "in you." Ephesians 1.19 says that the very power that raised Jesus from the dead works in you. We often have great confidence in the powers and provisions of this world. In our bank account when it's full, but it goes away. In our politics when they go in our favor, but they will change. In our physical strength when we are young, but trust me, it will fade. 

In our business or possessions or whatever it may be, we deceive ourselves into having confidence in these things as the world does. But my friends, he who sets his hope on Jesus, who believes in Him, will never be disappointed. We have full confidence and assurance in the strength and power and promises of God. And He has promised to us to make us like Jesus, to accomplish our sanctification and our glorification. 

In Ephesians 1.3 it says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be God who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love. Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will." 

Is it hard to get somebody to do something that's to the good pleasure of their will? I mean, do you think my wife would have a problem if she said, "Hey, let's go fishing. Now let's take a trip and we'll go down to Florida and the Keys and we'll go out in Everglades and hire a guide and we'll go fishing." I'd say, "Wow, honey, that would be according to the good pleasure of my will." 

The only problem is, I lack resources. But God doesn't lack resources. He will do what is according to the good pleasure of His will. It says, to the praise of His glory, of His grace by which He made us accepted in the beloved. 

Beloved, He chose us and predestined us to be like Jesus, to be holy and without blame before Him in love. Romans 8.28, we know that all things work together for the good of those who love God to the called, according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined, what? To be conformed to the image of His Son, that's sanctification. 

That He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom He predestined, these He also called, whom He called, He also justified, listen to this great truth, whom He justified, He also glorified. We are secure in Christ. He predestined us to be conformed to the image of His Son. For those who believe, they are justified. And those whom He justified, He's sanctifying. 

And look at this, He also glorified, past tense. It's a done deal in the mind of God. He will accomplish His purpose, nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord, and when He appears, we will appear with Him in glory. He will transform our lowly body, that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. 

Our salvation is as sure as the Word of God. He will bring to completion our full salvation, and we are in that process now. We have been saved, if we believe Jesus, justification. We are being saved, sanctification, and we will be saved, glorification. All glory to God, for it is God who works in you. 

The word translated work is where we get our word energy, force applied. This is the definition of work, and it is God, His energy, His resource, His power, His grace that works in us to accomplish His perfect will, our salvation. 

Listen to Weiss' comments on the words "to will" and "to do." He said, "It is God, the Holy Spirit, who energizes the saint, making him not only willing, but actively desirous of doing God's sweet will. But He does not merely leave the saint with the desire to do His will, He provides the necessary power to do it." 

This we have in the words "to do." The Greek construction implies habit, the habitual doing of God's will. In these verses, we see the perfect balance of human responsibility in the Christian life in verse 12. A call to bring to fruition the process of sanctification in balance with God's grace and power and provision in this endeavor as the energy and the will to bring it to pass. 

We must be diligent to be in His word, to be in fellowship, to speak the word, to encourage, to witness, and to reckon all that He says to be true in contrast to my thoughts and my feelings and emotions and the wisdom of this world. The battle of the Christian life is one of the mind, and the mind must be controlled by the truth, the word, the Spirit who lives in us if we are to bear the fruit of righteousness, the perfect will of God for our lives, and this so that we might see unity in the body, which is the will of God for each one of us and corporately in this local body.

Let's close in prayer. 

Father, we're so thankful that you just keep telling us the truth and giving us these great promises and instructions and exhortations, and that you not only encourage us and give us the desire, but you also give us the power. That's the difference. In the law, we had a command, but we had no power to keep it. But in Christ, we have a logical basis for a new and holy life, a regeneration, a recreation with Him. 

We have the very life of Christ in us, the Holy Spirit indwelling us and energizing our regenerated inner man. We have your grace, which is sufficient today and every day to produce your will through our lives, and we have the great hope, the confidence of your coming and eternal life with you. Thank you. Thank you, Father, for your goodness, your grace, your mercy to us. In Jesus' name, Amen.