SLIDES

The Letter to the Church at Philippi

1:18c – 21 To Live is Christ and To Die is Gain

Introduction

Every religion has to answer two questions: What is life? and, what is death? Religions answer those two questions very differently. Buddhism says, "To live is to achieve good Karma, and to die is to hope for a better reincarnation." Islam teaches, "To live is to obey Allah, and if your good deeds outweigh your bad deeds, death is to achieve a personal paradise." In reality, to even include Rabbinical Judaism today, the way one reaches God after death is that one’s good deeds must outweigh their bad needs. Silicon Valley answers that question this way: "To live is self, and to die is loss." That's what the average person in Silicon Valley believes. Life is all about the self. And to die is to lose everything. There are even some who believe that the number of earthly possessions one leaves is significant. If one left more earthly possessions than someone else, then they are seen as departing this earth has winning over the people who have less. What a mess!

All of these views are much different than what the Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians, and his other epistles. Not only is the way one is able to reach heaven after death different than all other religions, faith alone is Christ alone, but the quality and purpose of one’s life is much more than doing good deeds in order to reach God in heaven after death. As we shall see today, Paul puts a premium on the significance and relevance of our time upon the earth as believers in Jesus.

Thus far in Philippians chapter one, Paul has indicated to the church at Philippi that he loves them, appreciates them, and longs to see them. He wrote down one of his profound prayers that he had prayed for the Philippian church. In our last lesson we learned that Paul being chained to a Roman solder in prison in Rome furthered, not hindered, his ministry of sharing the gospel of Christ “to the Jew first and also to the Greek (Gentile). As a matter of fact, the gospel had not only been furthered in prison, but it was also furthered in the midst of people who were proclaiming the gospel but also trying to discredit him. They wanted to ruin his reputation so they would appear to be seen of others as superior to him. He rejoiced because at least the gospel was being preached.

To Live is Christ and to die is Gain (1:18c-26)

Beginning with the last part of verse 18, Paul turns his attention to what the meaning of life and death is to him. Let’s read the last part of verse 18 and verse 19.

18c Yes, and I will rejoice, 19 for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ…

Paul at the beginning of the verse 18 rejoiced, even though people were proclaiming the gospel out of envy and spite, because the clear gospel message was still being proclaimed and people were trusting in Christ as their Savior. In the last part of verse 18 Paul writes that he will also rejoice in the future. Of course, he would rejoice. Paul has every expectation in the near future that he would be delivered. The word this refers to his present situation of being under house arrest. In this verse was Paul writing about his physical deliverance from prison or was he talking about his spiritual deliverance that he wrote about in Romans 5:9?

Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.

The word saved in Romans 5:9 and the word delivered in Philippians can be speak of spiritual deliverance or physical deliverance. It depends on the context to whether it is spiritual or physical deliverance. The word saved in Romans 5:9 is obviously speaking of spiritual deliverance. But in Philippians 1:19 it is obvious that he is writing about his physical deliverance from prison? There are two reasons to support that. First, the word this refers back to his being in prison and not to his spiritual condition. Second, the deliverance will be as a result of the prayers from the church at Philippi. There would be no need to pray for his spiritual deliverance as in Romans 5:9 because that was a done deal. There is no need for anyone to pray about a promise God was already made.

Note that Paul knew that he would be delivered from prison. The word know here has the force of “know for sure.” The Holy Spirit revealed to Paul that he would be delivered by the Spirit of Jesus Christ. The Spirit of Jesus Christ is another name for the Holy Spirit. He was going to deliver him which would be aided by the prayers of the Philippian believers. Paul is telling the Philippian believers that their prayers in combination with the help of the Holy Spirit was powerful and significant. Today it is s no different. The prayers of believers in Jesus in combination with the support from the Holy Spirit is unbeatable. Now let’s read verse 20.

according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

Paul knew he would be delivered. Because of a fervent and confident expectation, he also knew he would not be put to shame or be disgraced in anything that he did. He would always do what Lord led him to do. Since Paul did what the Lord led him to do in ministry, there would be no disgrace. Instead of bringing disgrace upon himself, Paul would exalt Jesus the Messiah. The Messiah would be exalted in prison (even now) and after he was delivered from prison.

Wheather living or dead, Paul would exalt Christ. Paul would magnify Christ in all that he did. How could Paul exalt and magnify Jesus in all that he did and in whatever situation he was in - in prison, out of prison, shipped wrecked, beaten, harassed, stoned, etc. He experienced violent persecutions and there was also constant ridicule and contempt for his ministry and message. How was it possible to magnify Jesus under these difficult circumstances? He did by means of boldness, by being courageous. It was a necessary ingredient.

It's the lack of boldness that keeps many of us from sharing the gospel to friends, neighbors, acquaintances, etc. Paul knew the importance of boldness in ministry. He asked some of churches he wrote to pray that he would have boldness or courageousness to proclaim the gospel and to accomplish his ministry. It was a necessary ingredient then and it still is. If you are fearful or frightened in sharing the gospel with people, you lack boldness. Boldness comes through the power of the Holy Spirit. During your prayer time or before your day begins, ask the Lord to give you boldness. When you feel you are being led to share the gospel with someone, ask the Holy Spirit to give you the boldness needed. Part of Paul’s desire in life is seen in Philippians 3:10.

“that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection…”

Of the memorials in Westminster Abbey there is not one that gives a nobler thought than that inscribed on the monument to Lord John Lawrence—simply his name, with the date of his death, and these words: “He feared man so little because he feared God so much.”

How about you? When it comes to talking about the Christian faith and sharing the gospel with others, where do you usually stand? Do you fear man more than God or God more than man? As we think about the last question, let’s consider two verses.

Romans 14:12 - So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.

2 Corinthians 5:10 - For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Questions and Comments

Now we come to a verse that is the centerpiece of this section of Scripture that we want to discuss today – Philippines 1:21.

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

The word “is” is an equative verb.

Clay Smith is the pastor of JFBC.

The pastor of JFBC is Clay Smith.

To Live is Christ To Live = Christ

Christ is to live Christ = to Live

Saul of Tarsus found an entirely new dimension in his life on the Damascus Road. He found Jesus Christ. From the moment he trusted Christ as Savior, He could say, “For to me, to live is Christ.” Or “as far as I am concerned, living is Jesus Christ.” Or, “for me Christ is what I get out of life.” Since Christ had become life to Paul, Christ had a right to the place of preeminence in his life. Christ had become the center. Christ was the hub about which the wheel revolved, and Paul could testify that through the length of days from the Damascus Road experience to the Roman imprisonment, for him living was Christ.

To live is Christ was Paul’s sole aim in living. Jesus was his life. He not only lived to be like Christ to know Him intimately. We see this in Phil 3:10, “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection… If Paul was going to remain on this earth, he wanted to grow in his personal relationship with Jesus and wanted to experience how to live with the same power by means of the Holy Spirit that resurrected Jesus from the grave. Jesus was Paul’s model for living this life. If He knew Jesus intimately and could experience the resurrection power, he would be able to minister effectively with daily guidance from the Holy Spirit of Jesus was the center of his life.

When a man and a woman marry and they give their hearts to each other, the whole center of their life changes and shifts; they find that, whereas they had each been the center of their own lives, life now has a whole new center. What kind of a marriage would it be if on the honeymoon the bridegroom said to his bride at the breakfast table this morning, “I have made plans for myself today and, when breakfast is over, I will be leaving and I will see you about suppertime tonight” Have a good day! How well would that go over?

For the believer in Christ today, Christ should also be in a place of preeminence in our lives. Christ should become the center of every aspect of our lives. He should be our Focus of our lives, the Initiator of our lives, and the Director of our lives. There should be no area in our lives where He is not preeminent. Jesus should be our sole aim in living. Jesus should be our life. We should not only live to be like Christ but to know Him intimately and to know the power of His resurrection. As long as we remain on earth, we should want to grow in his personal relationship with Jesus. We should want to experience how to live and minister with the same power from the Holy Spirit that resurrected Jesus from the grave.

Questions and comments

Now we come to the second part of the verse, “to die is gain.” Again, we see the equative verb in the sentence.

To Die is gain To Die = Gain

Gain is to Die Gain = to Die

As we shall see, in some sense, this alternative should be just as appealing and wonderful as living for Christ. The word gain in Greek means to profit in or to gain something that is advantageous. Paul knew to die was more advantageous in some sense that living for Christ. Paul knew that death would be a “gain” for him. It would profit him in many ways since it would mark the end of the life of all the negative things in his life that caused him so much pain and suffering, even from his fellow Jews. He knew that leading a life where Jesus was the center of his’ life, but when he died, he would also be with Christ in heaven. There are no negative aspects of being with Christ in heaven as we shall see. Paul’s view was that, “I am ready to go at any time!” For him, to leave this life was preferable to being in it. Can you say that? It’s something to ponder.

Yes, as we shall see to die is more advantageous in some sense than living for Christ. Death is a “gain” and profits a believer since it marks the end of the life of all the negative things in life and leads to a life of not only Him being the center of one’s life but also being with Christ and our love ones in heaven. There are also no negative aspects for believer of being with Christ in heaven as we shall see. Revelation 21:3-4 says,

3 “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; … there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain…”

In Luke 23:43, this is what Jesus told one of the thieves next to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”

Paradise is a place of blessedness and a synonym for heaven. The following helps to illustrate remaining on earth and departing to heaven.

Remaining on Earth Departing to Be with Christ in Heaven

A temporary residence A Permanent residence in Christ’s presence

Pain, suffering, and

disappointment mixed

with joy Joy without pain, suffering, and disappointment

Absent from the Lord Present with the Lord

Tears and heartache No tears and no heartache

Constant fighting with the

enemy No enemy and no fighting. Feasting with Jesus

Sin and temptation Freed from sin and temptation

Preferably this afternoon or tomorrow take a blank piece of paper, go to a quiet location for a time of meditation. Write on the paper the words “To me to live is” and then draw a blank. Don’t be hasty. Be honest. Take time to examine your goals, your desires, your motives. Then, before God, write in what is the main dimension in your life, the goals of your life now. What do you want to devote the reminder of our lives to? If it’s living for Christ as the center of your live, then write down what that may look like or entail. Seek the Lord’s guidance as you do this and keep in mind your spiritual gifts, your human talents, your time, and you treasure the Lord has given you as part of the equation. This may be something you can ruminate on for several days. Remember the goal of our life should be, “To me to live is Christ.”

If you live for Christ now, you will be prepared to depart when the LORD decides it’s time for you to leave this earth.

Questions and Comments SELAH!