Philippians 1:20-26
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[Intro]
Today we are going to continue in Philippians and we’ll be going through chapter 1:20-26. Last time we went over Philippians 1:12-19. And in that section the main highlights were Paul talking about how the suffering he was enduring in prison was for the better. It was actually encouraging other believers and increasing the spread of the gospel through those that loved Paul. Now on the flip side he also talked about some believers who went out preaching the word with bad motives. They were believers and they were preaching the gospel, but they preached out of jealousy, with selfish ambition and hoped to make Paul’s circumstances in prison even tougher for him.
So you had a mix of the Good News being spread by people who had good motives and loved Paul and by those who had bad motives and did not like Paul. But in the end Paul said all that matters is that Christ is being preached. He didn’t care about what other’s thought of him, only about what they thought of Christ and that they were telling other’s the gospel.
[Prayer]
Now let’s continue on and read Philippians 1:20-26. What this section is focused on is Paul’s hope.
[Body]
20 For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. 21 For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. 22 But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. 23 I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. 24 But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live.
25 Knowing this, I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith. 26 And when I come to you again, you will have even more reason to take pride in Christ Jesus because of what he is doing through me.
Starting in verse 20 we read “I fully expect and hope” these really come to gether meaning one thing. Paul is anxiously awaiting what is to come. Now what is to come? The next part of verse 20 explains, that he will never be ashamed and that Christ will be exalted in his body. Now it’s a little confusing reading that at first. What did Paul mean here by ashamed and exalting or glorifying God in his body?
By not being ashamed, he’s using an objective aspect of hope or trust as used in Isaiah 28:16.
16 Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says:
“Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem,
a firm and tested stone.
It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on.
Whoever believes need never be shaken.
Paul quotes this scripture of Isaiah in Romans.
First in Romans 9:33
33 God warned them of this in the Scriptures when he said,
“I am placing a stone in Jerusalem that makes people stumble,
a rock that makes them fall.
But anyone who trusts in him
will never be disgraced.”
Secondly in Romans 10:11
11 As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”
So those that put their trust in Christ, who is the cornerstone referenced in Isaiah, will never be disgraced, aka they will never be ashamed. This is the connection in Philippians. And so ashamed here in Philippians isn’t used how we usually think of it. It’s not meaning you will never feel or act timid about speaking the Gospel. It’s stating the certainty of the solid foundation of Christ and the security for us as believers who have placed our trust in Christ. He will work through you.
Now when Paul talks about his body being used to glorify Christ, he goes into more detail on how his body will be used in the next few verses.
In verses 21-24 he’s weighing out the options. As we look at them, you have to remember context, he’s in prison and he doesn’t know whether he’ll be set free eventually or if he’ll be executed. The assurance that Paul has in God’s plan is demonstrated in these verses. Most would think “this doesn’t feel right that I’m in this position.” “I know God is going to set me free from this because He is good and just and my faith is in Him.” “The devil can’t win.”
Paul looked at it completely different. Let’s re-read verses 21-24.
21 For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. 22 But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. 23 I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. 24 But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live.
Life or death? Is our faith strong enough to respond like Paul did here in this situation? The faith to have absolutely no fear in death. At the end of verse 21 where it reads “dying is even better.” yours might read far better or something along those lines. That reference to “even better” is actually three comparative adjectives in the Greek language. It literally means “Much more better in every way.” Paul probably had to hold himself back from adding more adjectives. The day when Paul would depart from this earth was what motivated him in life. Because he was absolutely certain of the truth and he was ready to be with Christ. One way I heard a pastor put it is Paul was heavenly minded so he did many great works for God while he was alive. Many Christians can be so earthly minded at times. If you’re earthly minded, it’s difficult to produce much fruit. God’s work will likely feel like a burden to a more earthly minded person. So we need to be heavenly minded.
Now on the flip side of Paul’s thoughts is that he comes out of this situation alive. Paul knows he can be very beneficial by staying alive, because then he can continue his fruitful work for Christ. Anything you do for the kingdom of God is not in vain. It’s fruitful and profitable. And you’ll be rewarded someday in Heaven.
In all of this, he has no worries, he knows everything is in God’s sovereign care and that Christ will be glorified no matter the outcome. We know this because at the end of verse 20 we read “And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die.” If he lives he gets to continue to spread the Good News, if he dies Christ is still glorified. Everyone would know Paul was martyred for the sake of the gospel.
Those who have been martyred because of their faith in Christ brings encouragement to other believers as well. When Don spoke on Easter, he brought out the example of how the disciples were scared and confused after Jesus was crucified on the cross. But after they saw Christ ascend into heaven, they went throughout the world to spread the news and put their lives on the line. The fact that many of them were martyred for Christ’s name when at one time they weren’t completely sure about everything, brings glory to Christ and encourages others. What those disciples saw, when Christ ascended to heaven, was proof that Jesus is truly the Son of God.
In verse 25-26, Paul concludes that he is convinced he’s going to stay alive. These verses feel like you’re really reading about a conversation Paul had with himself going back and forth on the different outcomes. And either way he’s excited, he just doesn’t know what he wants more. But as we read, after weighing everything out he believes he’ll be released. Why? from verse 25 “to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith.” And in verse 26 he says when we meet, because of the works that God is doing through me, you’ll have even more reason to take pride in Christ Jesus. He’s confident in the work that God is going to continue to do through him.
I like verse 25 here, if you remember the main theme of this epistle is joy in the Lord. We’ve discussed how Paul has joy through this letter during his tough circumstances, and he says I believe I’ll be set free so that I can help you grow and experience the joy of your faith. As we grow spiritually in Christ our joy continues to grow.
When you are heavenly minded and focused on what Christ has done for you and how he can use you for his glory, you can’t be stopped. Even when thrown into prison, the devil didn’t win in this situation, Paul said him being put there was a victory for Christ. And then he said the outcome of his imprisonment will be a victory for Christ no matter what happens. Paul was heavenly minded and had so much joy from his faith in Christ. And we can’t think “well Paul was an Apostle, we can’t expect any of us to have that kind of faith.” God chose Paul just like he chose everyone else that is a believer. Paul didn’t claim he was special, he gave glory to God. And he knew any believer could grow and experience the joy of their faith.
Imagine having faith in Christ so strong that when being imprisoned for doing no wrong and told you’re going to be set free or possibly put to death and thinking Praise God I’ve got two great options. Now maybe some of you in this room have that level of faith, maybe not, we’re all on different walks, but fortunately none of us will likely face this kind of situation. But we will for sure face death someday, and we don’t have to fear it or anything else that comes our way. That unstoppable joy can happen for anyone only when their faith is fully in Christ.
