To Live is Christ, To Die is Gain Pt. 3: Philippians 1:18b-26

Good morning church. This is week 2 of our expanded room, so at this time I want to go ahead and dismiss our 2nd-5th graders. Our kids team is waiting for you in the back, and will walk you to your classrooms. And as a reminder parents, you will pick those kids up at the Wetlands Building. If you have any questions don’t hesititae to ask anybody with a lanyard.

But let’s go to the Lord in prayer together:

Psalm 16?

Introduction

Well, if you have your Bible go ahead and turn with me to the book of Philippians.

Today we will finally close out this passage of text that we have spent so much time in.

If you’re new with us or just visiting, this is week 3 of chewing on, and digesting Paul’s poetic and radical statement “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

And what this statement means is that Paul’s singular, all consuming passion was to honor Jesus.

To enlarge Him, enhance Him, magnify Him, or to refelct Him.

Regardless of circumstances, whether in life or in death, Paul just wanted Jesus to be famous.

This is a desire, that if cultivated progressively, is very much possible for not just Paul, but for all of us.

History is laced with ordinary people, who lived radically abandoned for Jesus.

This week I was reminded of missionary John G. Paton.

For years Paton in his own words, “heard the wail of the perishing heathen in the South Seas”, and in 1958 Paton was ordained to serve as a missionary to the cannabilistic tribes on the New Hebrides Island.

But a lot of people couldn’t understand Paton’s passion, and as is often the case. So many will be convicted or discomforted by your radical living, and seek to numb it or dumb it down.

One older man point blank warned Paton saying, “You will be eaten by Cannibals!”

By which Paton responded, “Mr. Dickson, you are old and advanced in years now, and your own propsect is soon to be laid in the grave, and there you will be eaten by worms. So I confess to you, that if I can but live and die honoring the Lord Jesus, it will make no diference to me whether I am eaten by cannibals or by worms; and in that day, my ressurection body will arise as fair as yours when on that day I gain Christ.”

For Paton, and Paul, and many others, “To LIVE is Christ, and to die is Gain.”

What about you?

You see I pray you’ve been encouraged and edified and challenged over the last several weeks, but if we were honest, we all probably respond to stories like John G. Paton a little dumbfounded.

For us today, it’s still hard to conceptualize that we can actually live this way. Live with such radical abandonment. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain… I mean that’s radical.

And we’re dumbfounded because for most of us, we’re more of the camp saying“For to me to live is gain, and to die is Christ.”

Right, if we were honest we believe in heaven and eternal life, and we’re a whole lotta confused about it, but at least when we die we get Christ. We get heaven.

But for us living is where the real gains are.

Only in living do we get more time with family, more time to live our lives.

More time to travel, and adventure, and earn, and build, and play.

Living is where the real gains are.

We tend to adhere to To live is gain, and to die is Christ.

But that’s not what Scripture teaches.

And That’s not what Paul’s saying.

And that’s not what drove men like John G. Paton.

No, it’s the opposite… To Live is Christ, to die is the real gain.

So how do we flip it? How can we begin to live in such a way, where we view eternity and death as our ultimate gain.

That’s what we seek to answer today. And we’ll do it by looking at

Paul’s Dilemma, Paul’s Desire, and Paul’s Decision

His dilemma, desire, and decision.

So let’s read our text again, and unpack these 3 points.

Philippians 1:18–26 ESV

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, 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. 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’s Dilemma

Paul’s Dilemma

We have to understand, that Paul was in total, mental, emotional, and spiritual agony here.

As he writes, “Yet which I shall choose, I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two.” his syntax in the greek is all broken.

His phrasing and word order are tough to follow and hard to read. Which is totally out of character for the brilliance and eloquence of the Apostle Paul.

And what it reveals is a severe agitation of mind.

He’s really wrestling here yall. He’s facing a very real dilemma.

In Prison, he’s contemplating his options. Really weighing them. Really considering both options, of life and death, for both could be realities.

And you may not be in prison today, but your options are the same.

The last time I checked, the death rate was still 100%.

We are all going to die. The only difference is that Paul’s death seemed pretty imminent, where as we avoid any and all thoughts of our own death.

But you can’t. You have to understand that James 4:14 “yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.”

Understanding this, teaches us to number our days. It aids us in living for what actually matters.

But Paul’s dilemma was very tangible, very much in his face. And consequently he had seriously contemplated the possibilities of both, and as a result of his reflection he says

Hard Pressed

(vs.23) “I am hard pressed between the two...”

His dilemma is illustrated here as a traveler in narrow passage or gorge, with a wall of rock on either side.

He is truly hemmed in. He can’t go right, he can’t go left. He’s hard pressed.

Today we’d say, “between a rock and a hard place” or “torn between the two.”

He’s hard pressed. He can’t decide.

Now he’s not trying to insinuate that he had power over his own destiny. No one does.

We act like we do sometimes. But we don’t. Our lives are vapor, and like it or not they lie in the hands of God.

But Paul’s just playing out the options imaginatively. Right, if given the choice what would he prefer.

And as he considers the options, life or death, he’s paralyzed with indecisiveness becuase of pros and cons they both hold.

This was his dilemma.

And here’s where we need to pause and reflect ourselves, “Would this be a dilemma for you?”

Like, put yourself in Paul’s shoes a moment.

If the threat against your life was tangible, real, and immediate, yet your persecutor said, “I’ll give you a choice… what do you want? to live or die?”

Would we even hesitate?

Would you feel “hard pressed?”

I’m going to go out on a hunch and say NO.

For everyone of us, myself included, we’d grab onto life like Rose did the door in Titanic.

Now let me be clear, and compassionate…

We wouldn’t be wrong for choosing life. Life is a gift, and intended to be enjoyed unto God’s glory, which I’ll address here in a moment. But for now we need to know that yearning for life isn’t wrong.

Even Paul was hard pressed. Meaning he also viewed life as a gift. Something to enjoy. Something to continue on with.

But where we deviate from Paul is that we wouldn’t be hard pressed.

If given the choice, if death were imminent, we’d choose life at the speed of light.

We’d sprint toward the life option faster than Usain Bolt.

There’d be no hesitation, no hard pressing, no dilemma.

Am I wrong!?

No.

And the reason we don’t share Paul’s dilemma, is because we don’t share Paul’s Desire.

And the reason we don’t share Paul’s dilemma, is because we don’t share Paul’s Desire.

And what was his desire?

Paul’s Desire

Look back with me at Philippians 1:23 “I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.”

Paul’s dilemma was existent, because Paul’s desire was to be with Christ.

Our dilemma is nonexistent, not because we don’t desire to be with Christ, just that we desire the things of life more.

We desire our spouses more. Our kids more. Our homes more. Our careers more. Our possessions more.

We desire Christ sure, we just desire earthly things more

But as Thomas Watson wrote, “It is only as Heaven grows in us, the less earth will content us.”

Remember Paul’s syntax is all broken… he’s writing like a madman and as such he says,

My desire- that is the same word that the Bible uses for LUST.

It’s an intense craving and longing, and the lusts of this man’s heart was to depart.

Depart

And don’t mistake his desired departure, as some form of sinful escapism.

Sometimes I long for eternal departure because of my experience or observation of suffering. or fatigue. or depression. or whatever.

Right, sometimes just to escape the pain that accompanies life is enough for one to desire to depart.

But Paul’s desire here wasn’t escapism, the hope wasn’t reprieve, instead it was possession!

Full possession of Christ.

To taste and savor Jesus Christ to the full!

To finally step into whole intimate relationship with the Lord.

To see Him. To talk with Him. To enjoy Him. To be sourced by his strength. Comforted by His compassion. Encouraged by his teaching.

To have: The Prince of Peace in exchange for anxiety.

To be: Shephereded by the Shepherd.

Loved by the Beloved

Counseled by the Counselor.

Filled by the Fountain

To savor the Savior.

Paul’s desire was to depart, so that he’d be WITH CHRIST.

Church we must put to rest these fanciful, hollywood contrived images of heaven of little cupid angels, and continual choir practice.

That’s not bliss! That’s not fullness. That’s not heaven.

Because where is Christ, in our piecture of heaven?

Heaven is heaven, because that is where Christ is.

Where Christ is there bliss will be. Where Christ is is where your fullness is found.

If heaven is void of Christ, I don’t want it.

You see Paul desired to depart, because he had known Jesus’s company vividly by faith while a pilgrim on the earth, but he was ready to come home.

How many of you have ever dated long distance?

Or your career creates a long distance in your marriage?

Oue military families know what I’m talking about.

The Long Distance think gets old doesnt it.

Long Distance can never substitute for the real thing.

And although Paul lived here and now in intimate union and communioni with the Lord, he expressed an expectation of an even closer relationship than he had ever known.

And when he thinks about that option. He says… oh that’s far better.

The greek is a double comparative, used only to express the highest superlative.

For Paul, being with Christ was the most best.

So that’s Paul’s desire…and his dilemma existed becuase his desire was so strong.

The desire to depart and be with Christ.

Departing

But let me say something really quickly about departing.

This word is a word often used in camping.

Perhaps Paul’s career as a tent-maker is being referenced here.

A tent-maker was a transitory career. It was traveling and camping, never possessing permanent residence.

And when he had exhausted his clientele in one city, he’d pack up tent or depart.

2 Corinthians 5:1 “For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”

Paul was ready to pack up camp in this earthly tent, and move toward the permanent.

It’s also a word used in nautical terms.

It’s a weighing of the anchor, or a setting sail.

As a maritime merchant you’d travel across the ocean, and dock your boat for the duration of your business.

But once that business was concluded, and you boarded once again, that boat weighs anchor, it departs, and your sail is set toward the shore of home.”

What a beauitful descriptor of a Christian’s death.

A departing, a homecoming.

And let me deviate for just a moment, to address some confusion.

When this boat of life departs, it doesn’t meander in the ocean called purgatory.

No, Scripture teaches that it immediately arrives to the shores of Heaven’s home.

2 Corinthians 5:8 “Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”

As Jesus told the criminal on the cross Luke 23:43 “And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.””

No to depart is to immediately be with Christ, now when it comes to end times theology I believe that the resurrection of our physical bodies will take place when Christ returns, but after death our souls are immediately present with Christ.

And that was Paul’s desire. To be with Christ.

Bible commentator and Pastor, Matthew Henry wrote a letter to be read after his death, especially for those who mourned his death: He beautifully writes,

“Would you like to know where I am? I am at home in my Father’s house, in the mansions prepared for me here. I am where I want to be- no longer on the stormy sea, but in God’s safe and quiet harbor. My sowing time is done and I am reaping; my joy is as the joy of harvest. Would you like to know what I am doing? I see God, not as through a glass darkly, but face to face. I am engaged in the sweet enjoyment of my precious Redeemer. Would you know what company I keep? It is better than the best of earth, and would you know how long this will continue? Oh, it’s a dawn that never fades… therefore weep not for me.

Paul’s dilemma was exaserbated by Paul’s desire.

And I wonder if the reason it wouldn’t be a dilemma for us, is because we don’t share the same desire.

Oh church, how I pray heaven gets more and more in you, and the earth contents less and less of you.

So, we have Paul’s Dilemma driven by Paul’s Desire, but let’s now look at his decision

because ultimately his personal desire was subjected to his pastoral responsibility.

Decision

Philippians 1:24–25 “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,”

What changed for Paul, just a few verses earlier he’s contemplating the very real possibility of death, and then all of a sudden he communicates confidence in his release?

Did he receive some prophetic illumination? Maybe some inside info about a favorable judge?

The truth is, we don’t know for sure, but I think it was this:

He reasons that living would honor Christ more, because as I’ll discuss in a second it will lead to more fruitful labor.

Right, that was Paul’s ultimate passion to Honor Jesus.

And for Paul living was labor leading to fruit unto the Glory of God.

So I think he reasons… I’ll probably live so that I can honor Jesus more!

And that living meant fruitful labor.

Philippians 1:22 “If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me.

Life for Paul, meant fruitful labor for Christ!

Now earlier, I said that if we were in the same dilemma, of choosing life or choosing death, we’d rush toward life, because our desire is for Life.

And I said, that choosing life isn’t wrong! Choosing life isn’t a bad thing.

But Life for the Christian shouldn’t be desired just so that we can buy and build, and live, love, and play.

No, Life for the Christian is a life spent in fruitful labor.

We, like Paul, are commanded to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them, and teaching them to oberve all that Christ has commanded,

We, like Paul, 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.

We like Paul, are to place our bodies on the alter of worship like living sacrifices.

We, are a people for God’s own possession, that we may proclaim the excellencies of him!

According to 1 Peter 4, we are to live the rest of our time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God!

We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works.

Here’s where the rubber meets the road ya’ll...

If you want to be able to genuinely say, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is Gain,” than that radical declaration should be backed up by a radical commitment to fruitful Labor.

And notice, the text says, “Fruitful LABOR” not fruitful fun.

This is work.

It can be uncomfortable, and almost always inconvenient… but once you lose your life for His sake, what you’ll find is that you’ve gained all the more.

I’ll never forget one of my teammates in South Asia’s example here.

He had been faithfully reading the Bible with a man who had 0 idea of Jesus.

But after months of faithful conversation, and reading, and prayer this young man surrendered in his life to Jesus.

The first of his people group (55 million).

Later that night i was debriefing with my teammate, and just asked, “How do you feel?”

He was visibly shaking with energy and said, “All I want to do is worship. I’ve never experienced a joy and a gratitude like this.”

He had tasted the fullness of life that comes from fruitful labor for Christ.

Perhaps what could be missing from your experience of life in Christ, is this fullness that comes from fruitful Labor for Christ.

Fruitful Labor

But what is this labor exactly? Well it’s 2 fold.

First it’s Declaring.

Opening our mouths and declaring the goodness and salvation of our God.

Church, we are Christ’s ambassadors, God making his appeal through us. So we are to implore others on behalf of Christ, to be reconciled to God.

But we must understand that it is the Word of the Gospel that bears fruit.

It is not the eloquence of the sower.

It’s not the apologetic defense we make.

It’s the power of the Word

1 Peter 1:23 “since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;”

Colossians 1:5–6 Paul’s writing about the conversion of the Collosians and says, “Of this hope you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—

So often we are so afraid of messing it up, or not having the right answers for questions, and we let our fear of failure, or our fear of man outweigh our fear of God.

But Like a child, we must declare the salvation of Christ, and simply trust the Word of Truth to do its work.

And if you’re nervous, the easiest place to begin is in your testimony.

It’s hard for people to argue with your personal experience. So just share with others, what Christ means to you and what he has done for you and watch the planted seed of the Word grow!

Fruitful Labor is Declaring!

Secondly, Fruitful Labor is Discipleship

Disciple comes from the greek word meaning “Learner”, so historically it was a pupil who sought to learn from a teacher.

This is what Jesus did when he called the disciples, he said, “Come and follow me, take my yoke and learn from me.”

So when we are commanded to make disciples, we are to make learners, but not of ourselves, but of Jesus.

To aid and assist other believers in their followership of Jesus.

This is what Paul means when in Philippians 1:25 “Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith,”

Paul’s task with the church in Philippi, was unfinished.

So he reasons that he must remain.

That he was needed to help them progress in the faith.

That’s all discipleship is.

Helping others progress in their faith.

To help others mature in their understanding of Christ.

To help others learn to live according to the Spirit.

To help others by praying for them, which we talked about last week.

To help others reflect Jesus.

And it’s so striking that Paul says in Philippians 1:24 “But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.”

They needed Him, to help them learn.

So the question I want to put before you is this, “To whom is it necessary that you live?”

Who is currrently in your sphere of influence, that needs you to help them progress in the faith.

And listen, if your a parent in the room, don’t ignore the fact that your kids are a part of the answer.

There are all kinds of people that God puts in our lives, that need us to help them progress in the faith.

To live is Christ, is a radical statement, but it must be backed up by a radical commitment to disciple making.

As one commentator wrote, “Heaven becomes a passion for us only when the earth is stripped of her glamor and seen in proper perspective as a battlefiled upon which the eternal souls of men and women are fought for. So if you live, you’re a soldier, living for Christ, and if you die… sweet, sweet victory.”

Conclusion

But as I close I feel the need to make one last little point.

At the time of this writing, Paul was probably in his late 50’s.

He had been on at least 2 missionary journey’s resulting in his rundown found in 2 Corinthians 11:23–28 “I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.”

I think we can all agree, at the time of writing this, Paul had labored. He had labored faithfully, and fruitfully.

So if there is anybody I can think of who deserved what we call retirement, it was Paul.

To head to his timeshare in Tarsus, and kick his feet up and just cruise on in.

But not Paul, and prayerfully not you either.

You see this idea that when the Christian finally reaches a point where you don’t have to work, where you’re free to live for self and pleasure… that’s contrary to Scripture.

Any time the Lord gives us is time managed for Him, so as long as He has given you health and strength we should ask, “How can I serve Him?

Britiesh preacher Charles Simeon once wrote late in life, “I cannot but run with all my might, for I am close to the goal.”

Many here are close to the goal, and you may not be able to serve or declare or disciple in the ways you use to.

But begin praying, God I yearn to live is Christ, to honor you, How can I serve you in this season?

Well, that wraps us this beautiful text.

And I cant think of a better way of solidifying the last 3 weeks than by taking Communion.

So if you’re serving communion, would you please go ahead and begin passing it out for us.

Now remember, communion is a sacrament of the church, and is only reserved for the believer.

And if you’re not a Christian, as these elemtns get passed out I want to encourage you.

Communion

2 Weeks ago I said that “To Live is Christ, and die is Gain” begins with a personal encounter and response to grace. And that was true for Paul.

Paul met Jesus and was radically changed. That’s the power of the Gospel. Of the good news of Jesus Christ

But for many of you, you don’t have this outlook on life.

For you to live is somewhat selfish, or even meaningless.

And for you, death is scary, to be avoided, and carries some hopeless finality.

But I want to tell you that if that’s you, it can all change today.

The Grace of God is available to you in the person of Jesus Christ who came to us and humbled himself and died the death we deserved, paying the penalty for your sins.

Then after 3 days he rose again, and is not imputing His life to us, life to be lived in fullness today, and life to be lived for all eternity.

All you must do is believe in christ, and turn from living life for self and in your own effort and abandon the lordship title, and give it to Jesus.

It changed Paul’s life, and it will change yours too.

Paul actually said that when we take Communion we are actually proclaiming the Gospel.

The Bread and Cup become visual aids.

Communion shows us that Jesus in his broken body and shed blood died the death we all deserved.

And when we partake of it we are declaring that we are dead with him, and consequently due to his resurrection we are alive with him.

So today, as the elements gets passed around, consider them each. And as you remember, that because of the bread and blood we can say

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is Gain.”