LIVE WITH A HEAVEN MIND

When we take Christ into every circumstance, we will have joy. Paul was not the prisoner of Rome; he was the “prisoner of Jesus Christ” Eph 3:1; Eph 4:1). The soldiers chained to his wrist were not guards; they were souls for whom Christ died. Paul had a “captive audience,” and from Php 1:13 and Php 4:22, we conclude that he won some of them to Christ. The single-minded Christian does not allow circumstances to overcome him; he or she turns those circumstances into opportunities to magnify Christ and win souls.

• Who? Who are the participants, the author, and the intended first readers? The participants mentioned in this text are Paul and Christ. Paul wrote this letter to the Philippian believers and church leaders (Philippians 1:1).

Keys To The Bible’s Treasures 3. Investigate What the Text Says

• What? What ideas are discussed, and what is said about them? Paul said that for him personally, “to live is Christ and to die is gain” (NIV). This could be understood in different ways. Perhaps Paul meant that his true life was centered in his relationship with Christ. Or perhaps Paul meant that he experienced true life through knowing Christ personally and interacting with Jesus in all of his (Paul’s) experiences.

i. They wanted Paul to admit the humiliation of having to admit that others were more effective in ministry than he was. They didn’t understand that Paul honestly didn’t care about this, because he did not have a competitive spirit in ministry.

ii. A.W. Tozer wrote this powerful piece rebuking the attitude of competition that is common among those in the ministry:

“Dear Lord, I refuse henceforth to compete with any of Thy servants.

They have congregations larger than mine. So be it. I rejoice in their success.

They have greater gifts. Very well.

That is not in their power nor in mine.

I am humbly grateful for their greater gifts and my smaller ones.

I only pray that I may use to Thy glory such modest gifts as I possess.

I will not compare myself with any, nor try to build up my self-esteem by noting where I may excel one or another in Thy holy work.

I herewith make a blanket disavowal of all intrinsic worth.

I am but an unprofitable servant. I gladly go to the foot of the cross and own myself the least of Thy people.

I purpose to pray for others and to rejoice in their prosperity as if it were my own.

(from The Price of Neglect, 104-105)

We have here an account of the life and death of blessed Paul: his life was Christ, and his death was gain.

Observe,

. It is the undoubted character of every good Christian that to him to live is Christ.

The glory of Christ ought to be the end of our life.

the grace of Christ the principle of our life.

the word of Christ the rule of it.

APPLICATION

I. The Christian’s life a description of it. The Christian lives—

1. From Christ. Christ is the source of his existence.

2. On Christ. Christ is the support of the life He has given, nourishing it with communications from Him self.

3. To Christ. Coming from Him, He is its aim and end.

2. All those to whom to live is Christ to them to die will be gain:

it is great gain,

a present gain,

everlasting gain.

APPLICATION:

Death is a great loss to a carnal worldly man;

for he loses all his comforts and all his hopes:

but to a good Christian it is gain,

for it is the end of all his weakness and misery and

the perfection of his comforts and accomplishment of his hopes;

it delivers him from all the evils of life, and brings him to the possession of the chief good.

Or, To me to die is gain; that is, “to the gospel as well as to myself, which will receive a further confirmation by the seal of my blood, as it had before by the labours of my life.” So Christ would be magnified by his death, Php 1:20. Some read the whole expression thus: To me, living and dying, Christ is gain; that is, “I desire no more, neither while I live nor when I die, but to win Christ and be found in him.” It might be thought, if death were gain to him, he would be weary of life, and impatient for death. No, says he,

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

Paul knew that death was not a defeat to the Christian. It is merely a graduation to glory, a net gain for the Christian.

i. Paul’s death at the time would be a gain in two senses.

• First, his death for the cause of Christ would glorify Jesus, and that was gain.

• Second, to be in the immediate presence of the Lord was gain for Paul.

iii. This also obviously showed that Paul did not fear death. Though some men may fear dying, no Christian should fear death. “When men fear death it is not certain that they are wicked, but it is quite certain that if they have faith it is in a very weak and sickly condition.” (Spurgeon)

I. The proper scope and character of all truly Christian life.

1. Such life is never aimless; but how many people could give no rational answer to the question, What are you living for?

2. Its aim, however, does not lie within the circle of the seen and temporary. While not indifferent to the claims of the present world, its ambition pitches higher.

II. The desire he has while living this life Php 1:23.

1. “To set loose a second time,” as vessels, not outward bound, but from a foreign port on a return voyage. He is not looking back on the country behind him, he is looking on the sea which he has to cross before he can get home.

2. Why? Because Christ is there. “Whom have I in heaven but Thee?”

3. This is the result of the new life which tends towards Christ, its source.

4. Thus to be with Christ is “beyond all comparison better.” There is a fruition(jouissance) of Christ above, compared with which the highest enjoyment we can get out of Him here is as nothing.

Christian life and death

I. Christian life.

1. Separation for Christ, from the world, self, sin.

2. Dedication to Christ. All are dedicating their life to something—fashion, money, pleasure, science, fame.

3. Use by Christ. Religion is not a man’s transformation into something different, but his acceptance by Christ for the accomplishment of his purpose.

4. Likeness to Christ, in love and knowledge.

5. Concealment in Christ.

II. Christian death. “Gain,” because heaven.

1. No more trial and sickness, but eternal health and peace.

2. No more bereavement, but eternal union.

3. No more superstition, but eternal light.

4. No more sorrow over the dissensions of Christ’s Church, but eternal harmony.

5. No more spiritual ignorance, but perfect knowledge.

6. No more temptation and sin, but perfect safety and holiness.

7. No more death, but the fadeless life. (H. G. Guinness.)