The fruitful labor of life.

Philippians 1:18–26 (NASB95)

Yes, and I will rejoice,

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

according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

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

But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose.

But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better;

yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.

Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith,

so that your proud confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again.

Greeting/ Intro

I used to work at a diner back in Duluth as a cook. Your shift isn’t exactly your shift. You’re entitled to go home when your shift is over, but often times there’s more work to be done. In a setting like that there are generally two kinds of workers. Those who are simply trying to get to that time when they can clock out and go home… and those who know they’re reaching the end of their shift and they check in with the rest of the staff. What do you need? Can I stock your fridge? Let me prep this for you so your night shift will go a bit smoother. And when everyone is in good shape, they check in with the boss, clock out and go home. Those kind of people are really a pleasure to work with.

Paul is recognizing that he’s coming to the end of his shift, and he is really looking forward to going home to glory. Yet Paul doesn’t simply stare at the clock until his shift’s over thinking about heaven. He concludes that it is more necessary to continue laboring while he has life for the fruit of the church and the glory of Christ.

To live as a Christian now is to wait for glory while laboring for the fruit of the church and the glory of Christ.

Notes:

1. The glory of Christ in life and death.

Notes:

2. The gain of Christ in death.

Notes:

3. The labor of Christ in life.

Notes:

1. The glory of Christ in life and death.

Paul has just concluded his reasons for rejoicing in the proclamation of Christ amidst his humble circumstances.

He’s content to proclaim Christ to the praetorian guard chained to him,

He’s content to see fellow believers inspired by his trials proclaim Christ.

He’s content even to see selfish preachers proclaim Christ.

He’s especially content to see his brothers proclaim Christ in love and truth.

He concludes,

Philippians 1:18 (NASB95)

What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice.

Yes, and I will rejoice,

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

according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

Paul returns to his circumstances ‘this’ and proposes another reason for rejoicing.

What is this ‘deliverance’ which Paul speaks of?

The word translated ‘deliverance’ can also be translated ‘salvation’.

When we hear the word ‘salvation’, or ‘saved’ we often think of it in the sense of conversion?

A bold evangelist might approach a stranger and ask, “Excuse me sir, have you been saved?”

This is a good and fair understanding, but I’d like us to recognize a more wholistic understanding of salvation. Paul in his letter to the Romans is encouraging them to love in light of the ‘salvation’ that is near.

Romans 13:10–12 NASB95

Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Paul acknowledges a point in the past “when we believed” or their conversion and yet looks forward to a near salvation. He’s saying that “Because salvation is near, because the work he began in you is about to be brought to completion, do this, love your neighbor.”

Paul will often speak of salvation in it’s complete sense: Conversion, justification, sanctification, and glorification together as ‘salvation’ or ‘deliverance’.

So when Paul says that his circumstances will turn out for his salvation or his deliverance. He recognizes that no matter what happens whether he lives or dies, Christ will complete the good work he began in Paul.

Paul describes it in our text saying,

Philippians 1:20 (NASB95)

20 I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

Paul is looking at the final stretch of his life assured that whether he lives or dies he can finish with his head held high.

Paul, you’re in prison. How is it that you can put on this shameless, boldness in such humble, and difficult circumstances?

Because in all his suffering in life, and finishing in death. Christ is glorified. Paul’s deliverance and the glory of Christ are inseparable realities. Paul’s finishing of his race through trial, persecution, and even death brings glory to Christ just as it always has.

“Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body...”

If we are to live now for the glory of Christ we must ask this fundamental question. Where is our deliverance found? Where do we find our salvation? Where we find our deliverance will fundamentally affect how we live.

I’d like us to notice the uniquely Christian aspects of Paul’s deliverance that undergirds how he lives.

We’ve seen already briefly, Christ is glorified in our life and death.

Christ is glorified because the deliverance provided to Paul is provided in Christ.

The life Paul lives has been given to Him by Christ.

The message Paul preaches was given to Him by Christ.

The power by which he endures was given to Him by Christ

Finally, the eternal salvation given to Him is from Christ.

A Christian’s deliverance ultimately brings glory to Christ.

2. It is provided.

a. “This will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.”

b. Paul the apostle, this great preacher, evangelist, and writer of inspired Scripture lives his life in dependence on the prayers of the saints and the provision of the Holy Spirit.

3. Paul’s deliverance is certain.

a. Paul rejoices.

i. How often is it that we rejoice before the good thing is actually in our hands?

ii. The rejoicing happens after the presents are opened on Christmas morning, not before.

The rejoicing happens after the hail Mary pass is caught, not before.

iii. Paul is rejoicing before the deliverance has even arrived because Paul is certain that it will come.

b. Paul states that his deliverance will come, “according to my earnest expectation and hope.

Consider for a moment how counter cultural these three realities are.

All the world’s promises of deliverance and salvation brings glory to man.

Many religions lay the burden of deliverance on the individual: “Work hard and you will be saved.”

The provision of this deliverance is very often a self-made provision.

How certain then is that kind of promise for deliverance. It’s shocking to hear Muslims say out right, “I don’t know if I will be in paradise, I hope so.”

If we are to endure in this life with Paul in our circumstances which every believer faces we need to found our hope of deliverance in Christ and in Christ alone.

In Christ we too can rejoice in this certain deliverance graciously provided. Let’s not settle for the hopes and promises of deliverance the world tries to sell us.

The hope of this certain deliverance enables us to view death and life clearly.

2. The gain of Christ in death.

Philippians 1:21–23 NASB95

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better;

Paul finds himself at a bit of a cross roads. He’s just concluded that whether he lives or dies, Christ will be exalted.

Paul proceeds to put on display hid decision making process laying out the pros and cons.

It’s no surprise to us that at the end of our passage Paul chooses life for the benefit of the church, but let’s address the shocking consideration Paul is making here.

How is it that Paul can look at death this way, and how is he even considering this as a possibility?

“to die is gain”

What does Paul mean by this?

We can imagine for a moment a certain kind of gain in death that even our culture is familiar with.

1. A heroic gain in death.

a. A brave soldier recognizes as he enters into battle that he may surely die, yet goes into battle nevertheless for the good of his cause, the good of his country, or even the glory and honor he will receive in death.

Don’t hear me saying that such men haven’t done something worthy of praise or honor, but at the end of the day their gain is really left behind in death. They leave behind a better country, or they leave behind a legacy of sacrifice in honor.

Paul isn’t talking about a gain that’s left behind.

2. An escapist gain in death.

a. On a more tragic note, our culture may in some case interpret this gain in death as a freedom from suffering through suicide. But even this kind of gain really isn’t a gain of anything except an escape from some very real suffering.

We need to recognize that Paul isn’t merely trying to escape his circumstances, as much as that is certainly a reality of our death as Christians. Sin and death, tears and suffering will be no more after we die.

Paul most certainly has these things in mind, but at the end of the day Paul considers death not for what glory he will leave behind or what brokenness he will escape in this broken world. He considers death as a means of true and genuine gain.

Philippians 1:23 NASB95

But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better;

Paul’s hope is looking ahead to being with Christ. It cannot be understated the extravagant gain we all anticipate on the other side of death, a gain that is “very much better” than anything else.

Revelation 21 gives us this wonderful picture of what heaven will be like...

Revelation 21:1–4 (NASB95)

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.

And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them,

and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”

In the vision to John , what is the first thing that is declared?

“Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them,

The most magnificent to behold in John’s view of the new heaven and the new earth is God with man.

Rachel and I had the opportunity to go the the Grand Canyon a while back… When you come up to the viewpoint what is the thing that stands out to you most? The Canyon!! You notice the Canyon as you take a moment to grasp the enormity of the Canyon you begin to notice the smaller details, the river, the trees, the wildlife, and the rest. It would be a little odd to come to the view point, pull out the cameras and start taking pictures with a tree. There’s nothing wrong with that tree, it’s a perfectly fine good tree, but… the Canyon!!

When John is looking into heaven all the ‘trees’ are there at the edges, no more tears, no more death, no more mourning, or crying or pain. All these good and glorious things, but the magnificence of heaven is Christ with us! The Canyon!!

When Paul thinks of death he thinks of heaven; the place where he will finally experience perfect fellowship with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I hope that we, when we think of heaven would see at the center of those glorious benefits of glory, the presence and fellowship of our Savior Jesus. We will worship him for all eternity for the perfection of glory that we experience in his presence.

Let’s take some time to ask the question mentioned earlier.

How is it that Paul even has death as an option. Our life is given to us and entrusted to us to care for as stewards. We are made in the image of God and hold no right to take the life of another nor our own. So then, how does Paul even consider this as an option?

Paul simply doesn’t tell us what it would look like to make that decision. I believe must exclude entirely Paul considering suicide in any form. One of the fundamental elements of God’s will for his creation is the preservation of life both young and old.

With that in mind, we simply don’t know what Paul had in mind and I’m hesitant to speak further on the matter, but I’d like us to consider something briefly.

What would it look like for someone to simply choose to wait for God to grant them death in His timing. There’s faith and eager anticipation of when that day will come, but at the same time all ordinary life stops, and there’s a fixation on ‘when’ the Lord will grant that end of life.

I’m sure of you have had the experience of going to a restaurant on a Sunday afternoon. The wait is long, really long. They hand you one of those pagers because the food is excellent and worth the wait. When your handed that pager you have a choice of sorts. You can’t make a table open up for you, so you either wait or you go do something until a table is made available.

As Paul is considering the decision before him, he’s rejoicing for the place he will have at the table, yet recognizes the necessary work that is before him.

Let’s ask ourselves this question: What does our waiting for glory look like? What does our waiting for a place at the table look like? Is it a stagnant waiting or an active waiting?

I don’t know that many of us are tempted to just sit in the comfortable chair in the entry room of the restaurant. What do we do? We pull out our phone. In great anticipation of greater glories, we wait in the meantime settling for lesser glories. What does our waiting look like?

Paul let’s us know that in his waiting he will not sit idle or distracted by lesser glories, but rather labor to the end for the good of the church.

3. The labor of Christ in life.

Philippians 1:22 NASB95

But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose.

Philippians 1:24–26 NASB95

yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith, so that your proud confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again.

Think for a moment how this might come across to the church in Philippi. There’s a moment of shock when Paul says he’s thinking that departing to be with Christ is very much better… That’s it? Paul’s leaving us?

Then this moment of relief when Paul says, “Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith.”

I can’t help but think of the decision Christ made on the Mount of Olives as he looked ahead to the cross and anticipated the coming wrath he would bear in Himself on the tree. He prayed,

Matthew 26:39 NASB95

And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.”

There is no doubt that Christ has a desire to once again be in the presence of the Father in perfect fellowship as he had been for eternity past. After Peter has cut the ear off the servant , Jesus even describes the means at his disposal should he choose glory in that moment,

Matthew 26:53 NASB95

“Or do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels?

Yet in order to fulfill the Scriptures, fulfill the will of the Father, and bring about the joy set before him he endured the cross for the good of the church, His redeemed bride.

When Paul says, to live is Christ. This is what he means. Laying aside glory now for the good of the church now even in suffering trial.

If we go back to Hebrews, we see a very explicitly the example of Christ which Paul is following.

Hebrews 12:1–3 NASB95

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Paul, having seen what Christ has done for him at the hand of sinners, despising the shame, enduring great suffering, that the salvation of the saints would be accomplished and they would not grow weary or lose heart.

Paul in our text embraces his lowly circumstances, his suffering for the cause of Christ why? That he would remain and continue with the church for their progress and joy in the faith.

The writer of Hebrews says consider Christ and all he has done for you, do not grow weary and lose heart.

Paul’s mission is the same. That they would continue to make progress (not growing weary) and maintain their joy in the faith (not losing heart).

Paul has made it his ambition to bring about the good of the church through his life, even if it means walking in the footsteps of Christ to bring it about.

We now have a pretty clear picture of what Paul means when he says, “to live is Christ”.

I pray we would have that some conviction. For every day of life that God gives me it will be lived as Christ did, for the progress and joy of the church.

Application

We might ask this question of ourselves.

Who in this church benefits from the life and faith which God has given me? Who can I help to progress in the faith? Who’s faith can I encourage unto a joy in the Lord?

In closing,

Christ has accomplished for us a great and glorious deliverance in his death for our sins and his resurrection for our eternal life. We have every reason to rejoice in the hope of the eternal salvation that awaits us, yet I pray we would work out of that joy for the progress and joy in the faith of those around us. There’s nothing wrong with saying, “I can’t wait until my shift is over so I can go home.” but there are some of us who have a long night shift ahead of us.

As we eagerly wait for glory let us labor and strive for the fruitfulness of the church and the glory of Christ.

Let’s pray.