Life and death for a Christian Phil 1:21

Introduction

Paul is in prison in Rome. Facing possible death for preaching the gospel. He has a dilemma. He has a conundrum he cannot solve. He isn’t sure whether he would rather live or die.

He wants to glorify Jesus in his body which he can’t do if he is dead. Yet he knows when he does die, Jesus will be glorified by his death and then he will be with Jesus in heaven.

He just cannot decide what he would rather do. He wants to live as long as possible to bring more and more honour to Jesus by his life but also wants to honour Jesus by his death and then be with him.

Why is this such a difficult choice for the Apostle Paul? He tells us in V.21. He says “For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

Sometimes Christians have a verse for the year. Well this was the verse that summed up Paul’s entire life.

But what did he really mean?

Can we say this about ourselves?

What it meant for Paul to live. What it meant for Paul to die.

I. To live is Christ

To live is Christ-

Paul is saying my whole life is for Jesus Christ. I live by him and for him. He has given me life and now my life belongs to him.

The whole point of Paul’s life is to bring glory to Jesus Christ. His purpose in life is to serve Christ by preaching what he has done and building up his church.

Give examples from Paul’s life-

His whole life was given over to telling people about Jesus Christ. He did this so that Jesus will be honoured and loved by more and more people. So that his kingdom might increase.

He travelled over 10,000 miles to make Christ known among the gentiles. Look at the maps.

2 Cor 11:22-33.

Loving Jesus above all others

Matthew 10:37 “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.”

Wanting him to be glorified because we love him.

A mother wants her son to be successful. Get a good education. Get a good career. Have a loving wife. Raise a happy family. Why? Because she loves her son.

If we love Jesus above all others we will want him to be honoured and loved by others.

No longer living for ourselves

Matthew 16:24–25 “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”

When James Calvert went out as a missionary to the cannibals of the Fiji Islands, the ship captain tried to turn him back, saying, “You will lose your life and the lives of those with you if you go among such savages.” To that, Calvert replied, “We died before we came here.”

Giving ourselves completely to God

Romans 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.”

Time

Money

Affections

All for Jesus! All for Jesus! All my being’s ransomed pow’rs; All my thoughts and words and doings, All my days and all my hours.

We must resolve to live like this

For to me...

Paul was resolved. His mind was made up. Others may want to do otherwise. But as for me…

What could make a man so resolved? Gratitude.

1 Corinthians 15:9–10 “For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”

I have decided to follow Jesus. I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back. No turning back. The cross before me. The world behind me. The cross before me. The world behind me. No turning back. No turning back.

Burn your boats. 1519 Hernan Cortes. 600 Spaniards. Arrived in America. It was an outpost of the Aztec empire. He ordered his soldiers burn your boats. The message was clear. There is no turning back.

Application

We may not be like this now. But is this what we want to be?

Are we striving for this to be true of us more and more?

CT Studd- Only one life it will soon be passed. Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Jim Elliot once said: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

If you don’t believe in Jesus you might think all of this is a bit excessive. Maybe even fanatical? But if you knew him you would understand. If he had saved your soul. Forgiven your sins. If you have been on the receiving end of his love then you would understand. If you knew the truth about who he is and what he has done you would be willing to do the same.

II. To die is gain

a) Death is gain-

Profitable.

How can death be gain? Surely death is loss? You lose you wealth, your life, your family.

Not for the Christian. Paul knew well the Christian hope. He knew death is gain for the believer.

Understatement. Why is death gain for the Christian?

Present with the Lord v.23

Changed to be like him 1 John 3:2 “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”

Co Heirs with Christ- Romans 8:17 “and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”

Hope of the resurrection- 1 Peter 1:3–4 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,”

No more suffering- Revelation 21:4 “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.””

b) Death is certain gain-

Christ has earned all of this for us.

His perfect life

His death-

His resurrection

His intercession

Application

1 Corinthians 15:55 ““O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?””

Death for the Christian has become gain.

For the unbeliever death is not gain. But loss.

Conclusion

What would you rather? Live or die?

Paul couldn’t make up his mind. He didn’t know whether he would rather live or rather die. To live means to have more opportunities to bring glory to Jesus Christ. To Die meant to be with him forever.

If we faced a question like this how would we reason?

Would we think about it biblically like Paul or would we reason like many who do not know Jesus?

Does living for us mean more opportunities to glorify Jesus?

Do we see death not as something to be afraid of but something that results in glorious realities for the believer? Is it gain?