Choices

Philippians 1:21–24 ESV

21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.

and PRAY...

I believe life is all about choices. Think about it. You chose to get out of bed this morning. You chose to wear certain clothes. You chose when to leave your house. You chose the route you took to get here. All kinds of choices. Most of the time, these choices are practically automatic. If we see a giant pothole in the road, we will almost automatically decide not to damage our car by driving through it. We will try to move, or at least slow down. It's an easy choice.

But there are other choices in life that are not quite so easy. Choices that may leave us wondering if we made the right decision. Often times they only way to know which choice is the best choice is to wait and see how things work out. But can we predict which has the better outcome? I submit to you we can, and I will tell you how after we work through Paul's dilemma of which is best. Paul plays a little game of which is better in these verses.

Some of those were easier than others, weren't they? Why is that? Well, because in some cases both are good. I mean which is better, a chocolate bar or chocolate cake, who cares? Just pass the chocolate, right? But if you have to choose, which is it? That struggle is the same kind of struggle we see today. In fact, Paul is going to answer the question of which is better, in regard to the church at Philippi. This is a simple either-or kind of choice that is before Paul. But I am getting ahead of myself.

Which is better, a chocolate bar or chocolate cake, who cares? Just pass the chocolate, right? But if you have to choose, which is it? That struggle is the same kind of struggle we see today. In fact, Paul is going to answer the question of which is better, in regard to the church at Philippi. This is a simple either-or kind of choice that is before Paul. But I am getting ahead of myself.

Let me remind you of the context. The book of the Bible we call Philippians is actually a personal letter from the Apostle Paul to the church at the city of Philippi. Philippi is an important city on the Egnation Way, a major trade route between Rome and Asia. Because it was such a vital city to trade, Rome stationed military retirees (and some active duty) there to protect their interests. The Romans did what they always did when they took over a city, they made the inhabitants their slaves. So, we have Greek slaves and Roman soldiers together with influences from Asia that the trade route would have brought in. It was a diverse city. And Paul, from the contents of this letter, loved that church. And I'm not talking about a building, but the people that made up the Christian church at Philippi. This letter is laid out in a typical way, with Paul applying theological significance to the format. For example, He has gone from thanking the generic Greek gods of the day, to thanking the one true God for His work in the church. We are currently in a section of the letter where Paul is addressing the faithfulness of the church. Last week we looked at 3 direct ways we can help one another in our mission to make disciples. We need to pray for the Spirit's help of deliverance. We need to pray for the Spirit's help of courage. And we need to pray for the Spirit's help in exalting Christ. As Paul thinks about his upcoming sentence and whether or not he might die, he enters into a sort of debate with himself over which is better, to die, or to live. We are almost reading Paul's very thoughts here as he argues with himself. So let's look at which is better, to live or to die.

First, Paul looks at what it means to die.

1.1. Paul says to die is gain. What does he mean by that? He explains there in verse 23. To die is to be in the presence of Christ! Paul said a very similar thing in

2 Corinthians 5:1–9 ESV

1 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. 6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.

1.2. In summary, to be out our body is to be with the LORD. And if I can chase a rabbit real quick here, this completely disproves the nonsense of ghosts being people who are somehow trapped here on this world to atone for their past. The Scripture is clear. When we depart, we are with God. And that is Paul's point in Philippians as well. Think about it the way Paul is arguing it. As we saw last week, he wants Christ to be exalted whether he lives or dies. Which reminds him that he could very well get the death penalty from Caesar. But that doesn't cause Paul any anguish about dying. Rather, then he thinks what would it be like if I died? And you can hear him say, “I'd be with my LORD! AWESOME!” Dying is not a fear for Paul, it is a reason to rejoice. As he said in , Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words. ()

1.2. In summary, to be out our body is to be with the LORD. And if I can chase a rabbit real quick here, this completely disproves the nonsense of ghosts being people who are somehow trapped here on this world to atone for their past. The Scripture is clear. When we depart, we are with God. And that is Paul's point in Philippians as well. Think about it the way Paul is arguing it. As we saw last week, he wants Christ to be exalted whether he lives or dies. Which reminds him that he could very well get the death penalty from Caesar. But that doesn't cause Paul any anguish about dying. Rather, then he thinks what would it be like if I died? And you can hear him say, “I'd be with my LORD! AWESOME!” Dying is not a fear for Paul, it is a reason to rejoice. As he said in

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 ESV

13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

1.3. For the believer in Jesus, death is not a fear, it is a rejoicing. It is not a heartbreak, but a rejoicing. Jesus conquered death. We have no reason to fear it. In fact, if we look at Paul's words right here, we see that he says death is gain. And that word translated “gain” can also be translated “advantage”. It is better for me to die! That is Paul's point. I will be happier dead than I am alive! Is that a bit radical for you?

1.3. For the believer in Jesus, death is not a fear, it is a rejoicing. It is not a heartbreak, but a rejoicing. Jesus conquered death. We have no reason to fear it. In fact, if we look at Paul's words right here, we see that he says death is gain. And that word translated “gain” can also be translated “advantage”. It is better for me to die! That is Paul's point. I will be happier dead than I am alive! Is that a bit radical for you?

1.4. Why would Paul say that? Well, I think the description of the New Jerusalem that John writes about in is one reason

Revelation 21:2–4 ESV

2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

He will wipe every tear away. There will be no more death, or mourning, or crying or pain. They have passed away! Do you see a reason to rejoice in those words? I certainly do. To be with Christ is to be absent from this world full of tears and crying and death and mourning and pain. Don't we all want to be away from all of that?

He will wipe every tear away. There will be no more death, or mourning, or crying or pain. They have passed away! Do you see a reason to rejoice in those words? I certainly do. To be with Christ is to be absent from this world full of tears and crying and death and mourning and pain. Don't we all want to be away from all of that?

1.5. This is a VERY good thing indeed. And Paul longs for it just like we do. That is what he really wants deep in his heart of hearts. He wants to be with Christ. He longs for it. So the first choice in the question of which is better is to die and be with Christ.

The second choice is to live and make more disciples.

2.1. To live is Christ... If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me...it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.

2.2. Paul knows that with his passing, there are people who will not grow as much as they could have. Perhaps there are people who will not reach as many people as they could have. I think Paul is talking about discipleship here, but not in the traditional sense. Usually when we talk about discipleship we are talking about deeper Bible study, or practical, how to live as a Christian, studies. And I certainly think that kind of discipleship is present in Paul's mind, but I think there is more. When he talks about fruitful labor, I wonder if he is talking about spiritual grandchildren. Let me explain.

2.3. In , Paul calls Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. And again in , Paul writes, To Timothy my true son in the faith. From this, I am thinking that Paul has led Timothy to Christ. Paul is talking like a father to his son. So, I don't think it is a stretch to say Timothy is Paul's spiritual child. Now, Paul says that living will mean fruitful labor for him. That word fruit drew me back to when God says to Adam and Eve, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." Be fruitful. Fruitful labor. Do you see the connection. Now what if what Paul is saying is that by living, more people will come to faith in Christ. That is why it is necessary for the church at Philippi for Paul to remain in the body. By continuing to encourage and train the church at Philippi, more people would come to Christ. And the more people that come to Christ, the greater Christ's name becomes. In other words, I think Paul is saying that God will use him to advance God's Kingdom here on earth. So we have another VERY good choice here don't we. Paul says he can be in the presence of God and that is VERY good, or he can stay and more will come to Christ which is also VERY good. Which one should I choose?

Well, as I wrap up this sermon, let me remind you of the choices in front of Paul and really in front of all of us this morning. That choice is summarized in verse 21, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Which is better?

Now, let me give you one more picture, this time from the negative. How many of you remember the show, Let's Make a Deal? Monte Hall would offer the contestants the box or the curtain and they would agonize over which to choose because they didn't want to get zonked. Well, in the choices before us this morning, there is no zonker. There is no bad choice. Both are very good. Which is better? I submit to you that the one that is better is that one that will bring more glory to the name of Jesus. The one that is better is the one that will work so that people from every tongue, tribe, and nation can sing the praises of our Creator. The best choice is the one that sees more people saved.

Now, how does that apply to us today? There are many things we can choose to be involved in. And most of them are good, even VERY good. But which is best? I submit to you that just like Paul says here Philippians, that the best choice is the one that will win more people to Jesus. But what does that look like? Well, first of all, it has to involve people who don't know Jesus. If all we do is serve the saved, we will not see an increase in the Kingdom of God. Now, working with Christians is fun and very rewarding. It is probably the easiest thing on earth for a Christian to do. But is that what our Heavenly Father would prefer? If you think ministering to believers only is God's preference, then let me ask you this, Why did Jesus say we were to be witnesses to the ends of the Earth? Why did He say we were to make disciples? Why are we to baptize and teach? The primary mission of the church is in the Great Commission and it is our calling to bring the great news of Jesus to a world that is lost and dying.

But that task is for those who truly belong to the church. I'm not talking about which congregation your membership is with. I'm talking being a part of the church that calls Jesus LORD. I am talking about being born again. I am talking about being saved. Paul wrote some words about that in Romans.

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ()

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. ()

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. ()

that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. ()

Christian, commit today to choosing the best. Choose to do those things that will enable you to share Jesus with your lost friends, family members, co-workers, neighbors, and acquaintances. Would you commit to do that to God this morning?

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