To Die is Gain?
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INTRO:
Would you do 200 pushups for a 100 million dollars? have to do them all at one time, can’t drop to the ground…try as many times as you like, but only one chance a day…what would change about your life? would you dedicate to working out? how would your relationships change? what about your diet?
do you see what we would give up for something that is temporal?
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Greatest gift is God Himself
Paul willing to forsake everything to gain Christ
Turn to
21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
How is death gain?
Death is Gain for the Sinner
Death is Gain for the Sinner
Christ gives His life
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Christ died in our place that we might have life
that life is found in Him - For me to live is Christ (Phil. 1:21)
24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
A seed has to be buried and from that it sprouts fruitfulness
Jesus had to die that life may be gained
32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
to this day the cross draws
place of acknowledgement of our sin
our inability to fix it
our dependency on God
our starting point of worship and glorifying Him
For the sinner, Christ death and resurrection is truly life!
This is what Paul encountered
Death is Gain for the Believer
Death is Gain for the Believer
Disciple’s life is no longer their own
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.
Paul’s whole life is rooted in Christ
It’s about glorifying Him whether he lives or dies
Death brings Paul to Jesus
Nothing new to him as he has constantly been dying to self to glorify Christ
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.
Because Jesus gave His life - “Gave himself for me”
Paul gives his life - “it is no longer I how live, but Christ...”
I have died that may gain life!
23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
What do I gain by death?
Christ!
Will I lose my life?
24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.
maybe not physically
desires
socially
relationships
activities