Living Between Two Kingdoms

Sermon Intro

Illustration: Bro Buddy in the face of death.

If there is one thing that sucks the joy out of people’s hearts, it is death. In a way that previous centuries never could have imagined, we are more removed from death than ever.

We have been studying the book of Philippians, where Paul from prison writes to the Philippians under persecution. We said that this book has a very special theme: joy. But we also said that there is another concept used unusually often in this short little letter, the idea of thinking. Philippians is really the letter of how we should think about God, ourselves and each other in order to have joy. Joy that goes beyond our circumstances, whether things go well or poorly. If we are going to have real, durable joy at all, that joy must be able to withstand the bitter wind of death. The one trial which is the lot of every person, and the one trial which we seem to want only to ignore. If we are to have the joy that God intends for us to have, we will have to learn to think about death. But even more than that, we will have to learn to think about life.

Open your Bibles with me to the book of Philippians, chapter 1 and the 21st verse. We are picking up just after Paul explaining that he wanted to see God’s Kingdom advanced, whatever it takes. The apostle was happy to be in prison, because the whole Emperor’s guard knew that he was there because he was preaching a new Lord - a better Emperor, Christ instead of Caesar. He said that he wanted Christ honored in his body, whether by his life or by his death. Whatever it takes.

Then we read:

Philippians 1:21–30 KJV 1900

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again. Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

This is a tough chapter, wrestling with tough issues. Paul, sitting in prison and contemplating his two possible futures: execution or release, is thinking out loud about which he would prefer. But ultimately, the same heart that we looked at last week determines his answer. It does not matter much if he lives or dies, because whatever happens, he wants to see Christ glorified. That is what he will do, in this life or the next.

Big Idea: Whether here or there, we are citizens of Heaven.

Let’s see what that looks like by going back to verse 21.

Point 1 Explain

Philippians 1:21 KJV 1900

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

The apostle days that his life or his death are means to an end. If he lives, he can glorify Christ through His service, but if he dies, that will be profit to him, for reasons which we will discuss in a moment. There is a certain wordplay in the original language which is not present here, where Christ and gain rhyme.