To Live is Christ

We are continuing our study of Philippians, attempting to get into the mind of the Apostle Paul, so we can be challenged even more by his instruction in 4:9 to follow his teachings and example.

9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. (NASB)

We studied up to verse 11, seeing how Paul was thankful for God’s work amongst the Philippians, for the fellowship that they had in the gospel, and the relationship they built as they shared in the work of Paul and in the sufferings of Christ alongside Paul.

As we study verses 12-26 of in this lesson, we will see a great picture of how Paul’s mind worked; what his thinking was focused on no matter what the circumstances of his life were. At times where many would be discouraged or despondent, Paul would think differently. He would have joy because he understood the fact that God is working even during the times of suffering for the glory of Christ. He learned this first hand during his ministry. For instance, let’s think again about Paul’s introduction to the city of Philippi. Who would have thought that when Paul and Silas were beaten and imprisoned, that the circumstances would have led to the salvation of the jailor and his household? Only the Lord can turn what seems to be such a negative circumstance into a good circumstance such as this. This will continue in the text we will study today. May his example in this text challenge us…

This section in 12-26 divides naturally into two sections. Verse 12-17 tells us about Paul’s circumstances and his response to them, and then verses 18-26 tells us about Paul’s mindset that he used to approach his circumstances. Outside of updating the Philippians on his circumstances, this passage should serve as an example to the Philippians on how to view and respond to their own difficulties that they had been graciously given from the Lord (1:29-30).

à THE PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL

Let’s begin by reading verse 12:

12 “Now I want you to know brethren that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel…” (NASB)

Once again, this would not have seemed to be the best of circumstances. Paul was beaten by the Jews and then arrested by the Romans in Jerusalem. At this point, he may not have had “freedom” for at 2-3 years (or more). But over that time, Paul had many reasons to be thankful. The Lord told the Apostles in that they would be arrested in persecuted, and this will lead to an opportunity to teach the gospel to governors and others. Paul’s imprisonment had led him to teach the gospel to some very influential people; to Felix, Agrippa, and Festus in the book of Acts, and many others later while he was in house arrest.

There is some debate regarding where Paul was when he wrote this epistle; either in his two year imprisonment in Caesarea or in his two year house arrest in Rome. Either way, his imprisonment for the sake of Christ made an impact. Paul goes as far to say that led to the GREATER progress of the gospel (NASB). It may be the case that Paul is doing more for the Lord in prison than he could out of prison. How is this possible? Let’s read on:

13 “so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, 14 and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear” (NASB)

It is remarkable here how Paul looks for the good in his circumstances. His thinking was not focused on his own personal discomfort and inconvenience. He understood that he was caught up in something much greater than himself. He looked at his life through the lens of the gospel and how Christ’s message is spread. He looked at being in prison as an opportunity instead of having his opportunities taken away. (POSSIBLE APPLICATIONS???)

First, he saw how his being there made an impact on those who were watching over him (the “palace guard” or the “praetorian guard” depending on your translation). Paul was obviously not in prison for the reason why most would be imprisoned (for crimes). His situation may have naturally led to discussion amongst the guards, and maybe even asking questions of Paul. They also would have overheard what Paul said to others about the gospel as he was often allowed visitors. Either way, it was very clear to all of them that Paul was there for his devotion to Jesus Christ.

Second, Paul had learned that others were hearing about his imprisonment for the Lord and were becoming bolder in proclaiming the message themselves. They may have been holding back in fear previously, but seeing how Paul was so triumphant in his circumstances; how he was still being used by the Lord to make an impact on others; their fear disappeared and they got to work for the Lord, proclaiming the Lord in the face of opposition as Paul did.

à TWO GROUPS PREACHING

There was two groups of people who were spurred on to preach the gospel based on what they heard of Paul’s imprisonment. We see them in verses 15-17:

15 Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will; 16 the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; 17 the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment. (NASB)

Just because people are being emboldened by Paul’s circumstances to preach the gospel does not necessitate that their motivations for preaching are good! Of course there are those who have good motives. There are those who love Paul and want to be an encouragement to him as they follow his example and show the impact that his imprisonment is having on their faith in Christ.

But there was a second group that had the wrong motivation behind their preaching. They seemed to see all of the success that Paul was having for Christ even in his imprisonment, and this led them to become envious. They were not too happy about the success of Paul, and they wanted to do what they could to try to tear him down.

Even though there were men who were trying to discourage Paul during his imprisonment, here is Paul’s response:

18 “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, 19 for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20 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.” (NASB)

Are you beginning to see a common thread in this first chapter of Philippians? What really made Paul tick? What made him have the devotion and joy that he had even in these circumstances? He understood that his life was not about himself! It is about Christ. To Paul, it was a bigger deal to him that Jesus Christ was being preached. What some were trying to do to him in their preaching was insignificant to him. Because of Paul’s mindset, what these men were attempting to do to Paul backfired! They meant to cause Paul some kind of emotional distress, but instead, the end of their actions was joy! Paul rejoiced that Christ was being preached. What a humbling example! And even if Paul would live through this imprisonment and be released, his desire was to continue doing what put him there: boldly preaching the gospel in the face of opposition, even if that meant that he would lose his physical life in the process. Whatever it took to magnify or exalt Christ in his life, Paul wanted to be able to do it. As one commentator paraphrased Paul’s desire in this passage, “my body shall be, as it were, the theatre on which Christ’s glory shall be displayed.”[i]

To Paul, as he says in verse 21: “to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Once again, this was what Paul’s life was all about. His life was all about Jesus Christ. I just love this statement that Paul makes: “to live is Christ.”

When I share the gospel with people, I try to focus a lot on what it means to repent; to have a total change in trajectory of life; a change from serving self as Lord to serving Jesus as Lord; a change which is seen by those around us in our actions. I usually ask them this question, “If I were to line up your ten closest friends or family members next to you and were to ask them what the most important thing in your life is, what would they say?” Often times, even when they know where I am going with the question, they will say things like their family (their spouse or their children), their friends, their work, or other things in their lives. The Lord usually is not what is brought up. At times He is not on the top five list of most of the people I talk to. I would argue that if the majority of those who are closest to you would not say along with Paul, that for you, “to live is Christ,” then it may be the case that you and I have not had this 180 degree trajectory change in our lives yet that characterizes the new creature in Christ. How would you answer this question? Would your family and friends say without giving it thought that your life is all about Jesus Christ? Is it Him you are living for? Or would other things be above Him on the list of what you are living for?

There was no doubt amongst those around Paul what was most important to him. He was so devoted to Christ that he saw death itself as a reward because he would receive what he had been living for. He continues sharing this mindset with us in 22-26. After saying, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain,” he says:

22 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. 23 But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; 24 yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that your proud confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again. (NASB)

Here Paul gives his own thoughts regarding the end of his imprisonment, but it is interesting that this is such a struggle for him. It seems that he is torn between two worlds here. Based on the devotion that we have seen in Paul up to this point, one may assume that this would be an easy decision for him; that he definitely would want the Lord to take him home to be with Him. Surely this is what Paul preferred. Nothing could beat being in the presence of the Lord. But there was still a struggle. He saw that there was a need amongst the people of God that he wanted to help meet, and with the devotion to Christ that he has, he is willing to deny himself of what he prefers to happen in order to stay in this life to serve. This is challenging. Just think about this for a moment. If you desired to stay in this life, would it be for the reason Paul gives here? Or may it be for different reasons? Would it be the case that we desire to stay because we want to serve the people of God? Or may it really be the case that there are just things that we would feel bad that we didn’t get to do before we died? Or we just want to stay with our loved ones because we care about them so much? I think that my thinking about this would tend to be selfish; focused on what I would desire instead of what I could do to serve the Lord. But this was not how it was with Paul. He saw the need to serve others, and it seems that he was convinced that the Lord would see it the same way and grant him more time on the earth to further the kingdom and to strengthen the people of God, and also that the Philippians, along with others who would be served by him, would come to glory/boast even more in Jesus Christ.

CONCLUSION

I am thankful that this section of scripture was given to us by the Lord. I believe it is clear that He gave it to us because He desired us to see into the mind of Paul and to be humbled by his love for His people and his denial of his own desires. Paul, in following the example of His Lord, gives us a great example in this text to grow to imitate.

9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. (NASB)

Remember that this life is not about you. Trust that God is working in your circumstances, even in your trials, and make it so that you could say along with Paul, “to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Work on ridding your life of the idols that distract you so easily and keep you more focused on yourself instead of the Lord so you can be near to God and enjoy life with Him.

[i] Ellicott, quoted in Thinking Through Philippians by LA Mott