Let's start with the elephant in the room- Php 2-12 ...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,- . Salvation in this passage is not referring to the forgiveness of sins. This passage is not saying that we can earn our forgiveness by doing something. The bible clearly teaches that we are forgiven by grace alone through faith alone -Eph. 2-1-10- Rom. 6-23- Gal.2-16-. Since salvation in this passage can not mean the forgiveness of sins, it must mean something else. Salvation in this passage refers to the christian's process of becoming more like Jesus. We call this process Sanctification. From our text today I believe that we can define sanctification as the Spirit empowered obedience to God's word that leads to growing christlikeness.