To Live Is Christ

12 I want you to know, brothers,[e] that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel,13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard[f] and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. 14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.17 The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.

19 Yes, and I will rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.

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

THE MEANING OF LIFE - Paul’s Mission Statement

“To me, to live is Christ”

in other words - Christ’s glory and purpose are so central that all he can say is “to live is Christ”

the original languages are even more direct because there isn’t a verb. “To Live: Christ”

FOR to live is Christ

“because” - think of his context

prison, execution on the horizon, betrayal

and yet in all this v19 - he rejoices. How?? BECAUSE - to live is Christ.

the meaning of life for him isn’t outside of prison, it doesn’t depend upon his freedom, or even his life.

it cannot be taken from him. and no one can restrict his access to it. Paul’s life is centralized on Christ - therefore - he has joy even in his sufferings.

How? Well, one specific hint we’re given is v13. He’s chained to the guard.

think back to your pagan days, if you’ve got them. You wanna be chained up with Paul all day?

Hymn singing, devotions, prayers, super-annoying-never-ending joy.

other texts tell us that many soldiers AND EVEN some in Caesar’s household came to believer. Why? Because Paul had opportunity in his sufferings.

this also made others more bold v14 “And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.”

think about it - if one of us goes to jail for Jesus you’re going to be forced to wrestle with the fact that you might too.

and as you wrestle you’ll come to the conclusion, either you’re in or you’re out.

and if you’re in, you’re that much more bold and confident, because you’re ok with jailtime now.

some of us here have already lost or are going to lose our Jobs because of our convictions… it’s not that far off.

and as a result others here have had to come to terms with that possibility.

your persecution doesn’t just build you up, it builds up the church.

Paul is thrilled to be in prison - he rejoices in it - because the soldiers hear his witness and the brothers back home are encouraged and strengthened in boldness.

But what about the betrayal part… v15-17

15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.17 The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment.

but even still… regardless of their motives… Paul rejoices.

because v18 - “Christ is proclaimed”

God can use a fake preacher just chasing a paycheck to still proclaim his Gospel and save sinners.

So Paul resists surcumbing to hatred in the eyes of betrayal - why? - because the Gospel is proclaimed.

AND Paul rejoices in his prison sentence because he gets to reach a new audience and the brothers are strengthened.

But… he’s probably on his way to his execution… he ought be scared. How can he think about anything else when death is looming at the door?

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.

he won’t mind dying. he’s only still around for their benefit. he knows where he’s going.

HOW? Because - to live…Christ.

His life is centered upon Jesus, THEREFORE to die is gain.

and you can experience this too!

if your life, plans, finances, agendas, are all centered on Jesus, then this can be you as well. And for some of you it is.

Joy in the midst of a bad marriage - Christ

Joy in the midst of an IRS audit - Christ

false accusations - character assassination - your job on the line - the mockery of your faith…

TO LIVE: Christ - in him you can face anything.

This was Paul’s point in v1 of Phil 1 - he is a bondservant.

his life is SO MUCH CHRIST that he refers to himself as a bond-servant of Jesus. it’s synonymous.

we are slaves of Christ, in other words.

And so if Jesus wants Paul in prison? So be it. Betrayal? Chains? Death? So be it.

but lets get into this terminology more here… bond-slave...

first off - it means we are beneath jesus in rank. We owe him our lives. We had a sin debt of sin we could not pay, and he paid it for us. Therefore, we are not our own.

THIS FOLLOWS OT - explain.

someone could buy your debt, redeem it, and then you’d owe them service. Max in OT is six years, no lifelong bondage here.

but if you liked? - nail through ear - but here’s the interesting piece we miss in taht moment.

you didn’t just stay a bondservant - you became a part of that household - and you know what that means?

now you have an inheritance. Now you’re not the firstborn son, who rightfully rules over it all, but you are a co-heir. You see where this is going don’t you?

Christ paid our sin debt - we owe him everything - he has opened our ears to his good Gospel - he rules and reigns, over ALL THINGS and with him we are co-heirs of the world.

so stop cringing at the word bond-servant/slave, stop apologizing for what the Bible says, and stop reading your current historical context into the text.

Embrace the good news that’s really there, and you’ll see where Paul get’s his joy from. We are slaves of Christ, and that is GOOD NEWS

we are just below Christ, but over ALL THINGS - even one day to judge the angels, Paul says.

for us to cringe at the word bond-servants or the idea that we might be slaves of God really points us to just how sinful and misguided our hearts can be. And how easily the devil is still lying to God’s people, just like in the garden.

So… what would your life read like?

To live… my career. my kids. serving others. making money. love.

or would it read - Christ?