Evenfall: The In and Out of Sanctification; Phil. 2:12-13

Delivered during the Evenfall; Sunday Evening Worship, 05/05/2024. After describing the "glorious parabola" of Christ's humiliation at His Advent and exaltation at His Ascension, Paul immediately returns to instructing his beloved church at Philippi. His first subject is the process of sanctification and how it comes about. He puzzles many by the way he approaches this, by first stating emphatically that sanctification is the responsibility of each and every Christian; and then turning right around and saying that it comes only through God. We will analyze both statements carefully and explain why "salvation" as it is used here speaks of sanctification rather than regeneration-- making this a lesson for Christians only. Ultimately we will realize that Paul has given us the 'in' and 'out' of sanctification, by emphasizing that in order to work 'out' our sanctification, it must first be worked 'in' by God.