To Live is Christ part 1

VIDEO - Jesus is Better

The best thing you can imagine…Jesus is better, because Fill in:

Your Best life is found in Christ.

Best doesn’t equal easy.

What we saw with Paul last week was the reality of what it looks like when we live a life that Jesus is better because:

Living in Christ uses circumstances to advance the gospel.

Living in Christ emboldens others to advance the gospel.

Living in Christ celebrates the advance of the gospel.

Philippians 1:18–26 (ESV)

18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20 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. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

Paul had just ended the previous section with “and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,” - he’s dealing with being glad that the gospel is being communicated in every circumstance.

Now he is jumping in with some additional information of why he would rejoice (while in Jail mind you)

18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,(and here’s why he’ll rejoice),19 for I know that through your prayers AND the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance,

He could rejoice because he knew of 2 forms of aid he could count on:

Human aid - there were people in his corner fighting for him in prayer

Divine aid - Help translates epichorēgia, meaning assistance which undergirds and strengthens the object, as in Ephesians 4:16: a ligament which acts as a support. (Love how the 2 work in connection)

Here’s the thing: Living in Christ offers the all help we need.

Remember each week: John 16:33 “33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have trouble. But take heart; I have overcome the world.””

Where do we turn when we have trouble? How many try to fix it on our own? Paul is saying that having the right people in your corner and leaning on

20 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.

Living in Christ is Win-Win.

Thursday - Went to take molly for filling, had to get a root canal - she’s unique because most people have canals, she had four so we are starting a go fund me

She had an online class for college so I was listening to what she was watching on the laptop and it was based on 7 habbits of highly effective people and Dr Covey was talking about the concept of Win-Win

“In the long run, if it isn’t a win for both of us, we both lose. That’s why win-win is the only real alternative in interdependent realities.”

— Dr. Stephen R. Covey

On an earthly level, there is effort that goes into creating win-win scenarios, but,

The awesome thing for followers of Christ is that all of the work has been done for us to have a Win-Win life.

Living in Christ gives us win #1 because through faith in Him we get the promise of a restored relationship with God today, NOW (Your best life now because of HOPE)

Living in Christ gives us win #2 because we get the promise of eternity with God.

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

What does Paul mean? Paul is dealing with answering life’s big/most important questions:

What is the point of living?

What is the purpose of life?

Why does God have me on this earth?

Here’s how PAUL answers the questions:

22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell.

23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.

Living in Christ gives us purpose.

24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

In 1 Corinthians 11:1 Paul says“1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.”

Paul is giving the example to the followers that his presence has a purpose in their lives. That they would progress and have joy in their faith!

Your presence has a purpose!

2 Corinthians 5:20 “20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

Ephesians 2:10 “10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Are we part of other believers progress?

Are we bringing joy to others?

Who is your 1?

Do we know needs of others?

Build relationships, get to know people help them progress in their faith and their joy.

Is Jesus Better?

Philippians 3:7-9 “7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—”