Philippians 1:18b-26

Philippians 1:18b-26

What is the meaning of life?

I took to AI to find out.

Claude: “This is one of humanity's oldest and most profound questions. Rather than a single answer, here are several perspectives:

Existentialist View: We create our own meaning. Philosophers like Jean-Paul Sartre argued that life has no predetermined purpose—we are "condemned to be free" and must construct meaning through our choices and actions.

Scientific Perspective: From a biological standpoint, life's "purpose" is survival and reproduction—but this mechanical explanation often feels incomplete for conscious beings like us.”

ChatGPT: Can’t give a single final answer… “I don’t think the meaning of life is a slogan. It’s more like a direction: To love well, to grow in character, and to give something of yourself to others before your time is done.

But your answer has to be personal. Can I ask you something back?

When have you felt most alive or most “this matters”? Your experiences are often the best clues to the meaning you’re meant to live.”

Gemini: “The meaning of life is a multi-faceted question with diverse interpretations across philosophy, science, and religion. While there is no single universally accepted answer, most perspectives categorize meaning as something either discovered (pre-existing) or created (subjective).

Stoicism: Focuses on living in accordance with reason and virtue. Meaning is found in internal self-control and fulfilling one's role in the natural order of the universe.

Buddhism: Focuses on ending suffering by attaining Nirvana (enlightenment) through the cessation of worldly attachments.

Biological Imperative: From a purely evolutionary standpoint, the "meaning" of life is the continuation of life itself through survival and procreation.

In Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the "Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything" is famously calculated by a supercomputer to be 42”

The Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 1 asks, "What is the chief end of man?" and answers, "Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever," a foundational statement about humanity's purpose, centered on God's glory and eternal fellowship with Him.

It’s a question often in the background. What’s the point? What are we living for? And there is nothing like the potential of death to force the question.

From Paul, we get the biblical source code for a life well lived. One of the strongest Christian slogans ever!

In our text today, Paul is in tension. Difficult circumstances. We talked about how he is in prison, and learned that we are where we are for the advancement of the gospel. Not just true for an apostle but for all followers of Jesus.

Paul’s rejoicing carries over into the very real possibility of execution as he awaits trial before the emperor.

This is the Rome he was in, according to Tacitus: “Besides being put to death, the Christians were made to serve as objects of amusement. They were clothed in the hides of beasts and torn to death by dogs. Others were crucified. Others were set on fire to serve to illuminate the night when daylight failed. Nero had thrown open his grounds for the display and was putting on a show and a circus where he mingled with the people in the dress of a charioteer and drove about in his chariot. All this gave rise to a feeling of pity, for it was felt that they—the Christians—were being destroyed not for the public good but to gratify the cruelty of an individual.”

It is in this environment from which we are served among the most important truths of Scripture — “to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

Let’s say it, so as to memorize it! “To live is Christ, and to die is gain.” “To live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

Surrounding that nucleus, we gain two keys to a life well lived, the meaning of life, the best life. Paul’s example might spur us on.

A Life in Christ

Paul is the apostle of “union with Christ,” that in salvation we share all the righteousness and privileges of Jesus, as we are in Christ.

This is the driving force of his life. It is what keeps him through persecution, rejection, highs, and lows.

While he waits with eager expectation to go on preaching even before Caesar.

“Paul fully expected to be courageous and bold in holding forth the gospel before Caesar, so that Christ would be honored whether he lived or died. In effect he confidently said, “My body will be the theatre in which Christ’s glory is displayed” (Ellicott).7

Paul, the veteran of hundreds of lashes and a thousand indignities, did not know what pains and humiliations awaited him. Yet there was no fear in Paul. Rather, there was bounding, eager confidence that whatever happened, Christ would be surely glorified.

Whether by life or death. Then comes “to live is Christ!”

Staking a claim on what he is living for.

This is over and against what are the typical draws of life…

In G.K. Chesterton's essay "Giant or Pigmy" from Tremendous Trifles (1909), a boy named Paul wishes to be a giant, only to find the world small, boring, and colorless, ultimately leading to his downfall. Paul becomes a giant to dominate, but finds the Himalayas look like small rocks and Niagara Falls like a tiny tap, and eventually dies from his arrogant detachment from reality. Conversely, a boy named Peter wishes to be a pigmy, finding joy and wonder in the detailed beauty of a small world.

This story highlights Chesterton's philosophy that pursuing prideful, limitless expansion (being "big") ruins the magic of life, while embracing humility and limitations (being small) allows one to appreciate the immense wonder in ordinary things.

We like to make ourselves big. We place ourselves at the center of the universe and we ask Jesus to orbit around us. We say, “I like Jesus; he’s great. I want some Jesus, I want some Christianity, I want some church. But I’m going to stay at the center of my life. Jesus, you orbit around me. I’ll see you every time you come around.”

As Justin Buzzard remarked, “That’s not what Jesus wants from us though. Jesus comes into our life, and he mettles with us. He tells us to die to ourselves. He becomes the new center of our lives. The issue of the whole Bible and the issue of our whole life is idolatry. Idolatry is putting anything other than God at the center of your life, at the center of your solar system.”

Anything else as the chief end of man. We can self-diagnose with some questions:

What do I worry about most?

If I failed at it or lost it, what would cause me to not even want to live?

What do I use to comfort myself when things go badly or when things are difficult?

What preoccupies me? What do I daydream about? Where do I fixate my thoughts?

What makes me feel worthy? What is the first thing I want people to know about me?

What unanswered prayer would make me think about turning away from God?

What do I expect out of life? What would make me happy?

Simplifying the categories, there are four dominating idols that vie for first place in order of things we live for.

“Comfort - The first idol is comfort. That means you really like privacy, lack of stress, freedom. You worship comfort. Your greatest nightmares are stress and demands — the thought of anxiety wrecks you. Others can feel hurt by you because you chase comfort so much that you back away from difficult situations.

Approval - A second idol that a lot of us have is approval. You love affirmation. You want love, you want relationship. Your greatest nightmare is rejection, because you can’t handle the thought of being discarded by somebody. Others may feel mothered by you, but a problem in your life is cowardice. Like those who idolize comfort, you back away from difficult situations.

Control - A third idol is control. You really like self-discipline, certainty, and standards. Your greatest nightmare is uncertainty. You can’t handle uncertainty. You do a lot of worrying.

Power - A fourth idol is power. You want success, you want to win, you want to influence. Your greatest nightmare is humiliation. You can’t handle humiliation. Others often feel used by you. Your problem emotion is anger.” Buzzard

These are underneath all the things we might list as most important, that we can’t live without. And they are all about self.

Notice Paul didn’t say, “to live is self…” He met someone who gave more than comfort, who gave salvation. He met someone who knew the worst about him and still claimed him as his own. He met the One who called all that is into being and who by the word of his power upholds the universe. He was humbled before his Lord.

Paul has an overriding hope, purpose, loyalty, and devotion to Christ. For him, the self is in Christ, the old died with him…

Galatians 2:20 “I 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, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (ESV)

This is how he lives empowered, how he can face the craziness that is a trial before Nero.

We must understand that “For to me to live is Christ” is not the triumphant sentimentality of a trouble-free life but the joyous embrace of the burdens of the cross of Christ.

“To live is Christ,” means to grow in sanctification, becoming more like Christ day by day.

To grow in knowledge of him, in relationship with him.

To desire His glory over your own.

And living in Christ shapes how you face death.

“Alive, I’m Christ’s messenger; dead, I’m his prize. Life versus even more life! I can’t lose.” Eugene Peterson, The Message, 1:21

All hoped for is realized, eternity, rest secured. Paul has given himself to this ministry, a full life of service, of proclaiming forgiveness in the name of Jesus. Come what may, he is ready.

2 Timothy 4:6–8 “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. [7] I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. [8] Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.” (ESV)

Death is the top fear for most of humanity, rightly so when there is nothing more.

Among the ruins of ancient Carthage there is an inscription carved by a Roman soldier: “To laugh, to hunt, to bathe, to game—that is life.”

When Queen Elizabeth I, the idol of European fashion, was dying, she turned to her lady-in-waiting and said, “O my God! It is over. I have come to the end of it—the end, the end.”

We live for lesser things and forget the expansiveness of who we are in Christ.

Kari Hardesty - “We are forgetful of our eternality.” Life is more significant than the temporal events, bumps on the road; there is glory ahead.

How you define life controls how you define death. How you define life will set the tone for how you think about death.

Paul shows us to live well is to die ready.

“Salvation is a present possession whose riches they may and must explore and enjoy, day after day. But the full experience of all that salvation means lies in the future. To this Paul looks forward when he says that ‘salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed’” J. A. Motyer

Whether Paul lives or dies, glory… we can say the same in Christ.

“Paul affirms that it makes no difference to him, and is the same thing, whether he lives or he dies, because having Christ, he is the gainer either way. And certainly, it is Christ alone who makes both our life and our death blessed; otherwise, if death be misery, life is no better. Hence without Christ, there is little to choose between life and death. On the other hand, if Christ be with us, he will bless our death equally with our life; and we shall look ahead to both with hope and gladness.” John Calvin

As Paul goes on, we see there is tension; if he is left to decide between life and death.

Being with Christ is far better, but living in the flesh means fruitful labor. His desire is for one, but to remain is more necessary.

From this tension, we gain the second key to a life well lived.

A Life With Others

Because we have a slogan in verse 21, and it is a good one, worthy of coffee mugs and tattoos! We can have a tendency to narrow in and individualize just that verse. But this section paints this life well lived, “in Christ with others.”

Here it is for the sake of the church in Philippi.

“Paul began this section by highlighting the progress (prokopē) of the gospel in Rome (1:12) and now he concludes it by referencing the progress (prokopē) of the gospel among the Philippians (v. 25).” Jason C. Meyer

Philippians 1:26 “so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.” (ESV)

This is his plan and anticipation: to encourage them, build them up in person. The fruitful labor. But it wasn’t only the church that benefited, Paul needed them too!

Philippians 1:19 “for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance,” (ESV) “salvation”

He is sustained by their prayers for him.

“Paul’s joy is bound up with the salvation of his soul, not the outcome of his trial. He is not rejoicing in the possibility of getting out of jail; he is rejoicing in the certainty of his salvation in Christ. Paul’s confidence that God will complete the good work of salvation begun in the Philippians (Phil. 1:6) is true concerning his own salvation as well. Paul’s assurance of salvation will be made secure with the help of the prayers of the Philippians and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.” Jason C. Meyer

Thinking of this and talking with my pastor friend Alex this week. Leads an Indian church, and on a recent visit to see his father heard a number of stories of the tremendous persecution of Christians in India. One man, who was facing great difficulty in life, came to Christ and experienced a turnaround. His brother was then convinced that his own misfortune was because his brother was a Christian, and confronted him, killed him, his wife, and his 12-year-old daughter with an axe. Authorities ruled it domestic violence, not religious in nature.

Travel makes persecution more acute. What is needed is prayer. Is that sufficient? By Paul’s account, yes!

Sustaining the church through prayer. Even in the midst of devastating persecution.

We, in much safer circumstances, go before the throne of grace on behalf of each other, and the church at large, that with the help of the Spirit of Christ, all things will work together, not only for our good but our soteria, salvation, deliverance.

This is what creates the tension of life is Christ, to die is gain. Underscores that while eternal joy with Christ is our ultimate goal, our earthly lives still hold immeasurable value when lived for the benefit of others.

This models for us that we don’t go it alone but petition the Lord on each other’s behalf, that the Spirit would help us.

“We have an obligation to put one another’s spiritual growth in the very forefront of our prayers, and to take the responsibility very seriously. Paul even sensitively suggests that the sufficient supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ for my brother or sister in Christ depends directly on my prayer for them, and that failing my prayer the supply will dry up also.” J. A. Motyer

And this is the opposite of “self.”

“So the message of our world—to live is self, and to die is loss—will kill you. People that live by this message will be killed by it, because the essence of all sin is to live life for yourself rather than to live for God and for other people. Jesus summed up the Old Testament with two commandments: Love God and love your neighbors. Sin is a distortion of those two callings, and the Scriptures threaten horrible things for all who will not heed that message. The Scriptures are clear, there is eternal death for those of us who want to live based on this message—To live is self, and to die is loss.” Justin Buzzard

Paul is a gospel-first guy, and an others-first guy, that is how we are to live as well.

And positions him to imitate Christ. To be willing not only to give his life away for the good of others, but to give his death away as well.

“There are three major stages of Christian discipleship: the struggle to get our lives together, the struggle to give our lives away, and, ultimately, the final stage, the struggle to give our deaths away.” Ronald Rohlhiser, Sacred Fire

Legacy. That builds the church. That shapes what follows, forming us into people who live in Christ with others.

A life well lived is in Christ with others.

By the Spirit of Christ, we get there as we savor the glory of the gospel.

That Jesus gave the ultimate well-lived life for us, to be redeemed, forgiven, transformed, and guaranteed life with him forever.

So with Paul we can say: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

A life well lived is in Christ with others.

Get ready for death by living in Christ – Believe, die to self, follow Jesus, it is the way to life.

Roll with your peeps — Live with others, pray, pursue Jesus together, share the gospel together, be vulnerable, survive the craziness of life together. You were made for this.

"Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever,"

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

“No guilt in life, no fear in death,

This is the power of Christ in me;

From life’s first cry to final breath,

Jesus commands my destiny.

No power of hell, no scheme of man,

Can ever pluck me from His hand:

Till He returns or calls me home,

Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.”