Sermon Tone Analysis
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Introduction:
What are these people known for?
(PICS)
What if your life for?
What is the meaning of your life?
Today we will see what Paul had to say about his life and how we can learn from that today.
As we break down this passage.
There is so much to unpack in just the first sentence.
“For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”
This is quite the statement.
It invokes in my mind a statement similar to Patrick Henry “Give me liberty or give me death!”
Looking at the original Greek we see something that is even more revealing about this passage.
There word “is” is absent in the original Greek providing a shorter, more declarative statement.
Coupled with the precursor “for me” this seems to be almost a life motto for Paul:
To Live - Christ
To Die - Gain
Paul is expressing that in this life, Christ is what living means, death is gain.
It is an understanding of these two statements that we will first turn today.
To Live is Christ
As we break down this passage.
There is so much to unpack in just the first sentence.
We begin with “For me, to live is Christ”
What does Paul mean by this?
We mentioned that this appears to be a life motto of sorts for Paul.
This can be seen clearly elsewhere in Scripture Galatians 2:20
By this understanding it is clear that to live, means Christ, as he says it is no longer he who lives, but Christ in him.
This is in response to what Christ did for Him.
In today’s passage he goes on to explain.
“If
As though he is not sure.
As though this is a real conversation to him about what he would have happen.
I live on in the flesh,
This expression makes clear that Paul doesn’t view “death” as anything.
Death is only a separating device between life in the flesh and life eternal with Christ.
this means fruitful work for me.”
The purpose of him being in the flesh is so that he might work fruitfully.
We see this idea expressed clearly in Romans 6:22
The life free from sin is a servant of Christ.
This life produces fruit while in the flesh.
this is the same idea that Jesus expressed in Matthew 7:17-20
There is a clear picture that a person who is in Christ should produce good fruit.
The two ways we see this fruitful work Paul talks about expressed in Paul and in this passage are:
To live as a servant of Christ.
Faithfully engaging in the work of the Gospel.
Spreading the gospel and sharing it with others.
Becoming like and living as an example of Christ to the world.
To serve others
Paul says he will remain he knows he will remain for the Philippians benefit.
“It is necessary for your sake.”
For their progress in the faith
To invest ourselves in the lives of others.
To help people to grow in their faith.
For their joy in the faith
As they see the Gospel advance.
As they see the one who led them to the Lord return to them.
This mindset of to live is Christ is only possible to have when we understand that...
To Die is Gain
I long
What Paul really wants.
to depart
Again the language used is a reinforcement of Paul’s view of death.
Not a final thing, but a step toward eternity.
and be with Christ
Gives clear credence to the idea that we are present with Christ upon death.
This is also reflected by Jesus interaction with the man on the cross in Luke 23:43
which is far better.
The clear statement that being with Christ is better.
Death is not the end
The promise of eternal life
Eternity with God
Can you grasp the concept of eternity?
Longer than the longest time you can imagine.
I want you to think of the most impossibly long task, that doesn’t scratch the surface.
In a place better than the best place you can imagine.
I want you to think of the most wonderful place you can imagine.
The Gain that is promised.
Let’s contrast the confidence that Paul will remain for the time being in this passage with his certainty that he will soon pass in 2 Timothy 4:6-8
The language remains the same, only this time his “departure” is near.
He expresses that his work is complete, rather than in this passage that there is work left to be done.
His reward for this work lies ahead of him in eternity, not in this life.
We should be so bold to approach death in this manner.
To look at this life and realize that if we were to die and be with Christ, it would be far better.
We will not all likely be realizing this gain immediately and so we remember that to live is Christ, and because of this, we must:
Live a Worthy Life
As citizens of heaven.
This place is not our home.
This is seen in Hebrews 11:13
When you go on vacation, at some point you long for your home.
Live a life worthy of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Holy, righteous lives.
There are numerous lists through Scripture of the thing we should not do, as well as the things we should do.
Following these is not legalistic, it is obedient.
Hustle culture and its problems.
Stand firm in one spirit, in one accord.
We should be united together by this common bond.
Contending together for the faith of the gospel.
The proclamation of the Gospel is part of this life.
The life that is transformed by the Gospel is the life that
It is something that should be done together.
Not being frightened by your opponents.
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