Featured Philippians 3:12

No, I am sorry. I didn't mean for you to take my words as an accusation that you were attempting to derail the thread. I was simply stating what I thought was obvious that WE were going away from the OP. I did start another thread.

Again, if you look at my original post you will see that I directly addressed the second half of that text. I understand "salvation" to cover lots of ground. However, within that giant unbrella term "salvation" there are individual aspects that are unique from each other but yet consistent with each other. They are unique in regard to cause and effect relationship with other aspects. They are unique in regard to their actual time applications. They are unique in regard to their applications of different aspects of my very being. They are unique in regard to different aspects of soteriology. So "salvation" is a term thrown loosely around that should not be so casually applied to everything and anything in particular without some distinguishing characteristics and applications noted.

I have said all that to say this. Progressive aspect of salvation is simply just that - progressive. Hence, it means as long as you are progressing toward something you have not yet attained it. If that goal is perfection then you are still imperfect. I apply Philip 2:10-13 to that aspect of salvation commonly referred to as "progressive sanctification" in regard to your soul/life.

Now, note I did not say justification or regeneration or glorification as these are to be distinguished from progressive sanctification but are all under the same umbrella term "salvation" but yet according to distinctions of time (past versus present or present versus future) and according to distinctions of application (regeneration of the spirit versus progressive sanctification of the soul/life OR progressive santificaiton of the soul/life versus glorification of the body).

So, I place both halves of Philippians 2:12 in the area of salvation of the life/soul dealing with progressive sanctification. I have not attained perfection but I am pressing toward that mark because that is my final reality in glorificaiton and it is my responsibility here and now and it is the very nature of the new creation inside of me that delights in the law of God and is created in true holiness and righteousness so that nothing less satisfies my expectation or desire. So I see no conflict between the first and second half in regard to my soteriology thus viewed.

 

In regard to our own person you are correct (Philip. 2:12) but in regard to our position "in Christ" we are sinless simply because He is sinless and His righteousness is imputed to us by faith - hence justification by faith.

In regard to our own person you are correct (Philip 2:12) as progressive sanctification includes our person but how it is worked out is described in Philippians 2:13 by the power of the indwelling Spirit of God Who both works in us to "WILL" and to "DO" of His good pleasure and so anything worked out is by the power of God and according to His purpose and grace. Everything we work out in our own power is nothing but filthy rags of unrighteousness (Isa. 64:5-6).

 

Balance is not the issue here! Honesty is the issue! You cannot honestly charge others with guilt for making personal attacks on you when you are doing the very same thing. That is called hypocrisy! When you are faced with the evidence of such hypocrisy as Moriah was faced with his own quotations and then deny it - that is a question of honesty and dishonesty does not bring balance to anything.

 

Personally what I believe makes "waves" is the failure to directly deal with the explicit Biblical evidence placed before you. Instead of directly dealing with the explicit evidence before you in an exegetical manner, you resort to a philosophical response and/or simply ignore the evidence or what I describe as a pit scripture against scripture or run and jump response. That in turn causes a lot of frustration in those who are dealing with your responses. This is particular true in regard to the way Moriah and HP responds as well. What you guys get back is built up frustration caused by your refusal to deal directly with the explicit evidence and/or a pit scripture against scripture response or a jump and pit type response. These responses make it impossible to contextually deal with any scripture as it promotes an endless cycle of jumping, pitting and ignoring type of mentality. That causes real frustration in those who want an objective handling of a text in its context according to an exegetical manner.