To Live is Christ - Philippians 1:18b-26

INTRO

It was the day before graduation.

I was leaving school grabbing some food and the heading to graduation rehearsal.

Back at this time Freedom and East Burke were the only two schools in the county and the amount of traffic after school was outrageous.

It would often take a very long time to get in and out.

So I was stuck waiting to get back.

Finally after waiting to turn left after 10 min I turn to get t-boned by a car doing 55 in a 35.

I didn't see them coming over the hill.

The next thing I knew was my window was shattering all over me, my head slammed into the side and my cur spun around 3 times and landed in a ditch.

I was unconscious for a moment.

The next thing I know was a classmate was pulling me out of the car telling me I was bleeding.

He pulled my shirt off and put it on my head.

It all happened so fast.

The EMT came with the police and I was told repeatedly how lucky I was to be alive.

To this day 16 years later you can still feel where the bone by my eye was fractured.

I remember all the emotions I had graduating the next day and thinking about what my life meant.

What really mattered?

What do I live for?

The reality of death can cause anyone to be self-reflective.

If you ever been around someone who had a near death experience, or someone who is terminally ill you know exactly what I am talking about.

Questions like, Did my life matter?

Did I make the most of my time?

Today we see the words of someone who is self-reflective like this.

Paul is in chains and the reality that his life may be coming to an end is at the forefront of his mind.

But Paul is not contemplative with a thousand yard stare wondering how frail his life is.

No he has a resolute confidence.

He is focused.

That’s because Paul can live fully in the face of death.

How is that possible?

Well that brings me to the big idea today and it is very simple and straight forward.

Big Idea: We can live fully in the face of death. Because Christ is life.

Christ is life.

Understanding the reality we now live in changes the way we face each day and how we will face our last day not with regret but with a confident hope.

Paul is living fully in the face of death.

The gospel has changed everything.

For him this starts with gospel confidence.

I. Gospel Confidence (v18b - 20)

Philippians 1:18–20 (ESV)

Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.

This is a passage full of assurance in the face of the future.

Paul is oozing confidence.

He says that I know this will turn out for my deliverance!

Now maybe you read this and think, “Oh Paul is confident he is getting out of those chains.”

That’s not all he has in mind.

IN fact that isn’t the deliverance he is saying.

The end of verse 20 says whether by life or death.

In other words Paul is writing this saying, “Look it’s all gonna work out. Either I am gonna be free and continue in gospel ministry or I will die and be with Jesus. No matter what I know Jesus will get the glory!”

What a wild statement.

But it is such a deep truth.

One thing my loving wife has said to me when I have been anxious is, “Billy worst case scenario we suffer and Jesus brings us through it, or we die and we get to be with Him forever.”

It’s that godward perspective making its way back all over again.

The result is a grounded confidence.

It’s a firm grasp of the saving sovereignty and grace of God.

You see Coram Deo if you keep heaven in your sight, if you keep the salvation that was already won for you by the cross of Christ then not even chains can cause you to stumble.

So Paul has certainty of his future salvation and that fuels his confidence.

But what else fuels his confidence?

What are the means that God will use to carry the work forward in Paul?

Look at verse 19 again

Philippians 1:19 (ESV)

for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance,

So what is the instrument God will use to finish his saving plan in the life Paul? It’s the prayer of the Philippian church and the work of the Spirit in response to that prayer.

Paul is confident in the prayers of the saints.

Here is what is so beautiful about this.

Gospel confidence isn't borne from just trying harder.

It come from looking outside of ourselves and seeing the prayer of the saints.

This is a challenging word to us on the importance of the prayer.

"The point to note here is that even Paul's personal growth--his sanctification-does not take place in isolation from the support of the church. It is indeed a sobering thought that our spiritual relationship with God is not a purely individualistic concern; we are dependent on the Spirit's power in answer to the intercessory prayers of God's people.” _Moises Silva

Paul knew he needed prayer.

He didn’t think he was so elite in his suffering that he didn’t need prayer.

He wasn’t so cast down in his affliction that he didn’t ask for prayer.

Coram Deo…so do we need intercession.

I find it troubling how self sufficient we can often be.

Or at least we deceive ourselves into thinking we are.

I’ve often asked if I could be praying for people and the response is, “Oh no I am good.”

Can we truly look our lives no matter how great the season and think that we don’t need prayer?!

Our response should at least be, “Pray that I grow deeper in Christ.”

Paul knew he needed the encouragement and prayer of the saints that as they prayed heaven would open to him and the Spirit would stir his heart.

Prayer friends…it is powerful.

This week I looked through my past CBR journals.

I had committed to pray Jesus Only prayers. (Explain Jesus Only)

I just want to point out two answered prayers named Sam.

I prayed every day for years after we had lost hope that we could conceive for God to give us a child.

I even prayed specifically for a son.

Listen to these prayers. (Read CBR )

Just a few weeks ago I had the privilege to baptize Sam Crouch. I love you brother.

God answers prayer.

He uses it to accomplish his purpose.

Don’t you want to see the Lord work in power abundantly in our town?

In our congregation.?

Do you ache for more of God in your life?

Do we long to see his Spirit at work?

What right do we have to expect it if we wont join together in faithful intercessory prayer?

Coram Deo lets be a people who pray.

Let’s pray together, in whatever format, at home in secret, in our households with our families, together as a united church.

If we want to see the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ given to us individually and as a congregation then we need to give ourselves in renewed prayer.

Paul knew that Jesus would be glorified in his life.

He knew he would be delivered either by dying for Jesus or living for him and serving his church.

He was confident, confident because he knew his future and he knew there was a praying church.

This brings us to one of the most profound statements from Paul, one of Gospel Purpose.

II. Gospel Purpose (v.21)

Philippians 1:21 (ESV)

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

This is Paul’s purpose.

To live is Christ.

Death is gain.

What a stark statement.

We have the word so in our Bibles it is there so it makes grammatical sense but a more accurate translation is To Live Christ.

That Jesus is Paul’s life.

So if he is alive, whatever comes, whatever pain or joy, his life is wrapped up in Christ.

In the same chains Paul writes to the Colossians

Colossians 3:4 (ESV)

When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Earlier he wrote to the Galatians

Galatians 2:20 (ESV)

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

In other words Pauls entire life was Christ living in him.

This is what it means to be a Christian friends.

That the sum total of our live is to be lived in Christ.

That we are united with him.

He isn’t a part of our life. He is life.

I have given God countless reasons not to love me...

None of them has been strong enough to change his love for me.

Even in my rebellion and pride he has loved me.

He has shown me time and time again that lesser things don’t satisfy.

Many of us we live our life of faith as though it’s a bonus.

Let me just be real here.

Paul says if the resurrection isn’t real we should be pitied.

So you don’t believe that Jesus is worth the whole of your life why even do the church thing?

Why?

I mean it!

Why show up, why sing, why go through the motions.

Jesus wants all of you friend.

He alone satisfies.

Paul looks at the Philippian church and he sees where rebellion lead a young girl to run away from her family and become a slave bound captive to evil spirits.

He sees Lydia, who had lavish luxury and yet she was still searching.

Paul on the other hand get’s his bell rung on the regular and yet he says with what could only be read with a smile, To live is Christ.

He was willing to suffer because Christ was life.

I think of the story of one of the early martyrs of the church, the disciple of John Polycarp.

As an old man he was bound and dragged in front of the Roman Proconsul.

The Roman proconsul gave Polycarp the choice of cursing the name of Jesus and worshiping Caesar to save his skin or continue embracing Jesus to his death.

“Swear,” said the proconsul, “and I will set you at liberty. Reproach Christ.”

He threaten to end his life in horrible ways.

But Polycarp just stared at him and replied, “Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?”

When the proconsul kept insisting, “Swear by the divine power of Caesar,”

Polycarp answered, “If you vainly suppose that I will swear by the divine power of Caesar, as you say, and if you pretend that you do not know who I am, listen plainly: I am a Christian. And if you wish to learn the Christian message, arrange a meeting and give me a hearing.”

After the proconsul threatened him again with the brutal punishment of being burnt at the stake, Polycarp answered, “You threaten me with fire which awaits the wicked in judgment to come and in everlasting punishment. Why are you waiting? Come, do what you will.”

As they prepared the fire he prayed for all to hear,

Lord God Almighty, Father of your beloved and blessed Child, Jesus Christ, through whom we have received full knowledge of you, the God of angels and powers and of all creation, and of the whole family of the righteous, who live before you:

I bless you for considering me worthy of this day and hour—of sharing with the martyrs in the cup of your Christ, so as to share in resurrection to everlasting life of soul and body in

the Holy Spirit. May I be received among them into your presence today as a rich and acceptable sacrifice.

For this and for everything I praise and glorify you through the eternal and heavenly high priest, Jesus Christ, your beloved Child. Through him and with him, may you be glorified with the Holy Spirit, both now and forever. Amen.

Polycarp was willing to die…because he knew death was gain.

Paul says that life is Christs but death is gain.

Do you think that way?

Death is the great enemy we all avoid.

Billions are spent in looking younger, in avoiding the inevitable.

Yet here is Paul with this idea that dying is profitable that our best day on earth is our last day.

That’s because we know when we die, we have eternity to look forward to.

That our souls will be joined with Christ and that our bodies will be made new.

Listen to this from

Revelation 21:1–7 (ESV)

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

This is what we look forward to in death.

We gain.

We have so much joy to hope in.

We see that Paul is looking forward with confidence, with purpose and finally we see with gospel focus.

III. Gospel Focus

Philippians 1:21–26 (ESV)

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

Paul is torn.

He has lived a very difficult life, suffering has been constant for Paul.

His goal again has been Jesus.

So how wonderful it would be for Paul to be with the Lord.

But he knows that he has to focus on what Jesus has called him to.

He know if he is to live it means Jesus will be glorified.

More people will come to saving faith, the church will grow.

So even though it will cost him, he knows it’s worth the cost.

What is the focus of your life?

What are you living for?

Do you count the cost of following Jesus of living for him?

Several years ago in college I head a sermon that stirred my soul.

John Piper gave his now famous sermon, “Don’t Waste Your Life.”

I just want to read a snippet from it.

If you want your life to count, if you want the ripple effect of the pebbles you drop to become waves that reach the ends of the earth and roll on for centuries and into eternity, you don’t have to have a high IQ or a high EQ. You don’t have to have good looks or riches. You don’t have to come from a fine family or a fine school. You just have to know a few great, majestic, unchanging, obvious, simple, glorious things, and be set on fire by them.

But I know that not everybody in this crowd wants their life to make a difference. There are hundreds of you — you don’t care whether you make a lasting difference for something great, you just want people to like you. If people would just like you, you’d be satisfied. Or if you could just have a good job with a good wife and a couple good kids and a nice car and long weekends and a few good friends, a fun retirement, and quick and easy death and no hell — if you could have that, you’d be satisfied even without God.

That is a tragedy in the making.

Three weeks ago, we got word at our church that Ruby Eliason and Laura Edwards had both been killed in Cameroon. Ruby was over eighty. Single all her life, she poured it out for one great thing: to make Jesus Christ known among the unreached, the poor, and the sick. Laura was a widow, a medical doctor, pushing eighty years old, and serving at Ruby’s side in Cameroon.

The brakes give way, over the cliff they go, and they’re gone — killed instantly.

And I asked my people: was that a tragedy? Two lives, driven by one great vision, spent in unheralded service to the perishing poor for the glory of Jesus Christ — two decades after almost all their American counterparts have retired to throw their lives away on trifles in Florida or New Mexico. No. That is not a tragedy. That is a glory.

I tell you what a tragedy is. I’ll read to you from Reader’s Digest what a tragedy is. “Bob and Penny . . . took early retirement from their jobs in the Northeast five years ago when he was 59 and she was 51. Now they live in Florida, where they cruise on their thirty foot trawler, playing softball and collecting shells.”

That’s a tragedy. And people today are spending billions of dollars to persuade you to embrace that tragic dream. And I get a few minutes to plead with you: don’t buy it.

With all my heart I plead with you: don’t buy that dream. The American Dream: a nice house, a nice car, a nice job, a nice family, a nice retirement, collecting shells as the last chapter before you stand before the Creator of the universe to give an account of what you did: “Here it is Lord — my shell collection! And I’ve got a nice swing, and look at my boat!”

Don’t waste your life; don’t waste it.

Coram Deo the apostle Paul by his example makes the same plea to us, don’t waste your life.

Paul is in chains.

This is first century prison. You think they cared about Paul, his well-being his hygiene.

You think at this point he would be begging God to take his life.

But he’s not worried about his comfort.

He wants his life to count.

He knows that if he continues, more will know Jesus…and so it is worth it to endure.

What about you?

What is the focus of your life?

Can you rejoice in horrid circumstances because the call is Christ and the cost is your life?

Conclusion

We are just a few verses away from one of the most beautiful sections of scripture that speaks to the humility of Jesus.

That God.

The God who puts breath in your lungs gave his son for you.

The God who could crush you, crushed Jesus instead.

The gospel should stir us to like Paul see that our life truly belongs to Jesus.

That truly Christ is our life.

Do we live now infused with Gospel purpose with confidence, and focus?!

Listen Coram Deo…don’t let your life be a tragedy of seeking lesser gods that never satisfy.

Don’t give your life chasing idols.

Things that live you empty.

Live for Christ.

Because Christ is life.

Let’s pray.