I Live I Die I Live Again Philosophy
Introduction
I am going to practice something that I have never washed before in more than than 25 years of preaching. I am going to dedicate this message to a adult female who knows far more than I the meaning and the comfort of Paul's words in our text. I dedicate this message to Kathie Keathley, who from the founding of the Biblical Studies Foundation has been responsible for preparing thousands of manuscripts for the Biblical Studies Foundation website.23 Hundreds of these messages have been my sermons from the past 20 years or more. Kathie and her married man Hampton have diligently labored to provide quality materials for students of the Scriptures. At this moment, she appears to be in the concluding days of her sojourn on this earth, rejoicing in her Savior, and looking forward to existence in His presence for all eternity.24 To Kathie and Hampton Keathley, the words of Paul in our text beautifully depict the hope and the joy that the Christian should experience in the face up of decease. May their condolement exist yours equally well, as you consider the truths of this great text.
In the providence of God, today is Easter Sunday, and no text could be any more than appropriate to Easter and the resurrection than Philippians i:18-26. If this is non a resurrection passage, I don't know what is. Paul's perspective on life and death is founded upon the bedrock certainty of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and from that, the certainty that all the dead will be raised—some to eternal life, and some to eternal torment.
From what nosotros read in Romans 15:22-33, we know Paul had long hoped to visit the saints in Rome. This was a city he had not all the same visited; it was a church he had not fifty-fifty planted. Nonetheless, Paul knew a number of the saints in Rome, and he knew about many others. He prayed for them by proper noun, and he wrote one of his finest epistles to the church in Rome, the Epistle to the Romans. Paul hoped to visit Rome shortly after he completed his ministry to the saints in Judea. He was taking a souvenir from the Gentile churches to the saints in Jerusalem, who were in not bad need at the fourth dimension. Paul knew the dangers involved in returning to Jerusalem, simply he hoped for a favorable reception by the saints. He likewise hoped that those who opposed the gospel would non exist successful this time. Paul hoped to visit Rome, to encourage the saints at that place, and so to printing on to places where the gospel had not yet been proclaimed.
Paul did go far to Rome, merely in a very unlike way than he had expected. He arrived in the custody of Roman soldiers, and he was not gratis to travel well-nigh. He was confined in some form of incarceration because he was a prisoner, awaiting trial before Caesar. The Jews in Jerusalem had falsely accused him of treason against Rome. Later on months of waiting, Paul was most forced to appeal to Caesar, and after diverse difficulties, he arrived in Rome, under house arrest. The Philippian saints had stood backside Paul from the beginning, and they were most interested to hear from the apostle how he was faring in the midst of his incarceration.
In verses 12-18a, Paul described his response to his nowadays circumstances. His guards and those who came into contact with him had watched Paul closely. If anyone were to look upon Paul'due south abort and trial with cynicism, it would be these prison house guards. ("Sure, Paul was innocent, merely like every other prisoner they had worked with.") Even though many of them were unbelievers, they realized that Paul was no criminal. They seemed to grasp the fact that the real upshot was the gospel itself, and Paul'south freedom to preach about Jesus Christ. Believers, as well, were impacted by Paul's circumstances. They were motivated to proclaim Christ much more boldly. Not all the Christians who preached Christ were prompted by pure motives, however. Some were jealous of Paul and sought to capitalize on his troubles. They used Paul's incarceration as an opportunity to question Paul's character, and perhaps to gain a larger post-obit for themselves. Paul did not waste material his time or energies agonizing virtually such innuendoes or allegations. Paul's great desire was for the progress of the gospel, and whether rightly motivated or non, the gospel was being proclaimed and advanced. And because of this, Paul rejoiced.
Merely what of the future? While the gospel was making great progress, Paul was imprisoned, soon to go on trial earlier Caesar, and his hereafter was cause for bully concern—for some perhaps, but not for Paul. After Paul presented his case to Caesar, he could be plant guilty, and if so, he would exist executed. He might also be declared innocent and fix free. The mere possibility of death would be plenty to ship some into a deep despair. In the concluding part of poetry eighteen, Paul takes up the subject of his outlook on the time to come. Paul would not only rejoice well-nigh his present circumstances, he will now tell us why he is able to rejoice in his future, whether that be life, or expiry. Let us look advisedly at the words of our text and run across why Paul has such groovy joy.
An Uncertain Time to come, Simply Certain Joy
(1:18b-20)
18 What is the upshot? But that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is beingness proclaimed, and in this I rejoice. Yep, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the support of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. 20 My confident hope is that I will in no style be ashamed simply that with complete disrespect, fifty-fifty now as always, Christ volition be exalted in my trunk, whether by life or decease.
I found Gordon Fee'southward translation of verses 18-20 fascinating and very enlightening:
For I know that through your prayers and God's supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ 'this shall turn out [every bit with Task] to mean vindication for me,' which will also be in keeping with my earnest expectation and hope, namely, that in no way will I be brought to shame, but rather that with all openness/boldness—as always so now—Christ will be magnified in my 'trunk,' whether I am released or executed.25
Paul is joyful because he is certain that his present and futurity circumstances will plough out for his deliverance. The question nosotros must ask and reply is, "What does Paul mean past deliverance?" As a concordance search volition indicate, this discussion can refer specifically to 1's salvation (Acts 4:12; thirteen:26, 47:sixteen:17; Romans ane:16), but information technology is also used with a broader meaning of "deliverance" or "rescue" (Acts 7:25), or "preservation" (Acts 27:34). From what Paul will say in verses xx-26, we know that the meaning of the word must be broad enough to embrace anything from his release from prison (due to a verdict of "innocent") to his release from this life, by his execution.
The key to understanding Paul'south words is (every bit Fee suggested above) to be found in the Book of Job. Nosotros need to understand that the phrase, "this will turn out for my deliverance," in Philippians ane:19 is identical with Job's words in Job thirteen:
12 Your maxims are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay. 13 Refrain from talking with me so that may speak; then allow come upon me what may. 14 Why do I put myself in jeopardy, and accept my life in my hands? 15 If he slays me, I volition promise in him; I will surely defend my means to his face! 16 Moreover, this will go my deliverance, for no godless person would come before him. 17 Heed carefully to my words; permit your ears be attentive to my explanation. 18 See now, I have prepared my case; I know that I am right. xix Who will debate with me? If so, I will be silent and die (Job 13:12-19, emphasis mine).
This is no accident! Paul intended for his readers to understand that his choice of words was deliberate. He purposely chose to employ the very words of Job, because they practical to his own situation besides. Think about information technology for just a moment. Chore was a righteous man, whose suffering was non due to his sin, just because of his piety (see Job 1 and two). God was demonstrating to Satan that the righteous worship Him because of who He is, and non simply considering God blesses them. Job'due south friends and then came forth and accused him of wrongdoing. In various ways, they told Job that his suffering was the result of his sin, and if he would confess his sin and abdicate it, God would once once again bless him with prosperity.
In the context of Task xiii, Zophar has taken upward accusing Job of sin (Job eleven:1-xx), and in chapter xiii, Job responds to Zophar. I wanted to be sure that I was right in bold Paul was challenge that his suffering, like Job's, was innocent, and that his accusers were incorrect. I consulted one of my sometime and favorite works, Explore the Volume, past J. Sidlow Baxter. Listen to what Baxter has to say about Zophar:
Zophar is less courteous and more drastic than either Eliphaz or Bildad.… Zophar, like the other two, has his distinguishing characteristic. Eliphaz, as we take seen, bases his view on observation and experience. Bildad rests on tradition. But Zophar is content with mere Assumption.… He is the pure dogmatist. From get-go to stop of his speeches in that location is not a semblance of reasoning.26
Baxter then goes on to say:
… All these three men are committed to what is essentially the same fixed theory of life, namely, that calamity is always the direct event of sin, and that the Divine favour or disfavour is indicated by a human being's material prosperity or adversity. . . They all desire to prove that goodness and wickedness are always rewarded and punished in this present life: they are all silent concerning human destiny and Divine retribution in a life beyond this present one. Their philosophy and doctrine take no horizon beyond this earth.27
Job's response to Zophar (and the others) might exist paraphrased this way:
Your accusations that I have sinned and need to confess are empty and without grounds. Exist placidity and allow me speak. I am prepare to face whatever comes my way. Why practice I put myself at chance as I practise? Because I have entrusted my life and my eternal destiny to God. If He chooses to take my life, that volition be fine with me because I believe that I will stand up justified earlier Him. I believe that my circumstances volition turn out for my deliverance, whatever form that may take. Ultimately I will stand earlier Him without fear. And and then y'all had improve heed to me, instead of urging me to heed your words. My own defense is clear in my mind, so that no human may milk shake me with his accusations. If demand exist, I volition willingly die (Task 13:12-xix, my paraphrase).
Now, with Job's situation and response in mind, let united states of america consider how Paul meant for the states to come across his response to his circumstances and his accusers. In Philippians ane:12-18, Paul wrote nigh his nowadays circumstances and the various responses others had to his incarceration. He said that fifty-fifty cynical guards had come to meet that the real consequence was not an criminal offense confronting the country, but the offense taken past the Jews, considering of the gospel Paul preached. Most of the saints were encouraged by Paul's boldness in proclaiming the organized religion, and in the advance of the gospel. Simply some, sorry to say, had used Paul's suffering equally a pretext for accusing him of wrongdoing. Are these folks not just like Chore's "friends," who defendant him of wrongdoing?
Paul chose his words very wisely when he borrowed from Job's own words of defense. Like Chore, he knew that he was non guilty of wrongdoing. Similar Job, he was ready to die, if necessary. Like Job, Paul was ready and willing to stand before Him and make his defense. Similar Job, he knew that somehow God was going to make his circumstances plough out for his deliverance. In the end (if not in time), he would be vindicated, and his enemies would exist silenced. In the end, God's purposes and promises would be achieved through his innocent suffering.
I believe Paul is clear in verse 19 that his "deliverance" is not his spiritual salvation, just rather his vindication. I say this because Paul's salvation was non dependent upon the prayers of the saints. He was saved, in one case for all. The prayers of the saints and the support of the Holy Spirit were those things that strengthened him in his times of adversity, and which gave him courage to stand firm for the gospel. And because of this, he would not be ashamed when he stood earlier God. His goal was to glorify God in his body, whether this was by life or past decease (Philippians ane:twenty).
Decease: Friend, Not Foe
(ane:21-24)
21 For to me, to alive is Christ and to die is proceeds. 22 Now if I am to go along living in the body, this will hateful productive work for me; still I don't know what I prefer: 23 I feel torn between the 2, because I have a want to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far, 24 but it is more than vital for your sake that I remain in the torso.
Paul'southward statement in verse twenty leads to the words of poesy 21, which is surely Paul'southward life motto, and the key to his boundless joy, even in the face of expiry. Verse 21 is probably one of the most well known verses of all Paul's writings. I fear, however, that like John 3:16, it may non be well understood, even though it is well known. For many years, I read Paul'due south words in verse 21 something like this: "For to me to exist able to live is wonderful, And to dice will be better." I take now come up to see information technology in a unlike way. Permit me to explain.
I desire to showtime of all show you a pic of what I am nigh to say. This can exist done past thinking of God'due south blessings equally two circles. The first circle represents the blessings we accept in Christ, now, in this present life. The second circle represents the blessings we have in Christ, which nosotros will only receive in eternity, subsequently this life is over:
Christians don't differ over the fact that we accept these blessings, but they do differ greatly over the relationship betwixt these 2 blessings. There are some who believe that these two circles almost overlap, something like an eclipse:
Many sincere Christians believe that near of heaven'due south blessings are intended for us to enjoy at present, if we only accept the faith to claim them. We know that in heaven there volition exist no sin, but some saints believe in sinless perfection now. We know that in sky at that place will be no sickness, sorrow, or expiry, but some believe that if they have plenty organized religion, they will be healed of their illnesses now. In short, some folks believe that because there will exist no suffering in heaven, at that place should non be any suffering here, and now, if you are a Christian and have enough faith to claim God's blessings. Some people call this mistaken viewpoint "triumphalism." By this, they hateful that time to come blessings are available to Christians now.
Paul gives us a very different picture:
In poesy 23, Paul amplifies on this word "proceeds." Paul says that to die is "better past far." We exercise a great disservice to the Scriptures, to the Christian life, and to ourselves when nosotros seek to move hereafter blessings into the nowadays. Paul could await frontwards to death because the blessings which prevarication alee, after death, are vastly greater than the blessings of this life, great as they are.
What does Paul hateful, then, past the words, "for to me to live is Christ"? Every bit mentioned earlier, I used to call back that Paul meant, "Life is only wonderful!" Well, it is wonderful in many ways. But Paul is saying that for him to alive is to alive out the life of Christ: "I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. Then the life I now alive in the body, I alive because of the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:xx).
Living out the life of Christ means living out the life that Christ lived here on this globe. It does not hateful living out the glorified existence of our exalted Lord in heaven. Over and over again, this truth is reiterated in the New Testament. Allow me cite a few examples.
In His Upper Room Discourse (John 13-17), Jesus made it abundantly clear that His disciples would experience what He had experienced at the hand of an unbelieving world:
18 If the world hates you, exist aware that it hated me first. 19 If you lot belonged to the earth, the earth would dear you as its own. Even so, because yous exercise not belong to the earth, but I chose you out of the earth, for this reason the world hates you. 20 Call up what I told y'all, 'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they obeyed my word, they will obey yours too. 21 But they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do non know the i who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. But they no longer take any excuse for their sin. 23 The one who hates me hates my Father too. 24 If I had non performed amongst them the miraculous deeds that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. Only at present they have seen the deeds and accept hated both me and my Begetter. 25 Now this happened to fulfill the discussion that is written in their law, 'They hated me without reason' (John fifteen:18-25, emphasis mine).
ane "I take told you all these things and then that you lot will not fall away. 2 They will put you lot out of the synagogue, even so a time is coming when the one who kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3 They will practise these things because they have not known the Begetter or me. 4 But I accept told you these things so that when their time comes you lot will remember that I told yous nearly them.…33 I take told y'all these things then that in me you may take peace. In the world you take trouble and suffering, merely have backbone—I accept conquered the globe" (John 16:1-4, 33, emphasis mine).
How much clearer could our Lord exist than He is here, speaking to His disciples? He tells them to expect to be treated every bit He was. He tells them to expect suffering in this life, because they take identified with Him. He was telling them, "To alive (as one of My disciples) is Christ (to experience what I did)."
Peter was a beau who did not want to hear about suffering. He rebuked our Lord when Jesus began to speak nearly His suffering:
21 From that time on Jesus began to bear witness his disciples that he must get to Jerusalem and endure many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and experts in the law, and exist killed, and on the tertiary day be raised. 22 And so Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, proverb, "God prevent, Lord! This must non happen to yous." 23 Simply he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! Y'all are a stumbling cake to me, because you are not setting your listen on God's interests, only on homo's." 24 And so Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone wants to get my follower, he must deny himself, take upwards his cross, and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life volition lose it, just whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what does it benefit a person if he gains the whole world just forfeits his life? Or what can a person give in substitution for his life? 27 For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will reward each person co-ordinate to what he has done" (Matthew sixteen:21-27, emphasis mine).
Peter wanted nothing to do with our Lord's talk almost His own suffering. Jesus rebuked Peter, and then told him that anyone who would follow Him must as well have upwards their cross. His disciples must not seek to spare their lives, but must be willing to lay down their lives. And find especially verse 27, where Jesus makes it clear that the rewards (the blessings) come then (in heaven), not now.
It is this Peter who will after write these words about suffering in this life for Christ's sake:
12 Honey friends, practice not exist astonished that a trial past fire is occurring amongst yous, as though something strange were happening to you. xiii Only rejoice in the degree that you have shared in the sufferings of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed you may also rejoice and exist glad. 14 If yous are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blest, because the Spirit of glory, who is the Spirit of God, rests on you. xv But let none of you lot endure as a murderer or thief or criminal or as a troublemaker. 16 But if you endure as a Christian, do non exist aback, just glorify God that you lot bear such a name. 17 For information technology is time for judgment to brainstorm, starting with the business firm of God. And if information technology starts with us, what will exist the fate of those who are disobedient to the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous are barely saved, what will become of the ungodly and sinners? 19 So then let those who endure according to the volition of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator as they exercise good (1 Peter 4:12-xix, emphasis mine).
Paul reiterates this theme of Christian suffering for Christ's sake over and over in his writings:
18 For I consider that our nowadays sufferings cannot even be compared to the glory that will be revealed to united states. 19 For the creation eagerly waits for the revelation of the sons of God. 20 For the cosmos was subjected to futility—not willingly simply because of God who subjected information technology—in hope 21 that the cosmos itself volition also exist set gratis from the bondage of decay into the glorious freedom of God's children. 22 For we know that the whole cosmos groans and suffers together until now. 23 Not only this, only we ourselves likewise, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly equally we eagerly await our adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in hope we were saved. At present hope that is seen is not promise, considering who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what nosotros do not meet, we eagerly expect for it with endurance (Romans 8:18-25).
7 Simply we have this treasure in clay jars, so that the extraordinary ability belongs to God and does not come from u.s.. 8 We are experiencing trouble on every side, but are not crushed; we are perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 we are persecuted, but not abandoned; we are knocked downward, but not destroyed, x always conveying around in our body the death of Jesus, and then that the life of Jesus may too exist made visible in our torso. 11 For we who are alive are constantly existence handed over to decease for Jesus' sake, and so that the life of Jesus may likewise be fabricated visible in our mortal trunk (2 Corinthians 4:seven-11).
From at present on let no one cause me problem, for I bear the marks of Jesus on my body (Galatians 6:17).
10 My aim is to know him, to feel the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings, and to be like him in his death, 11 and and so, somehow, to achieve to the resurrection from the dead (Philippians 3:ten-11).
At present I rejoice in my sufferings for you and I make full up—for the sake of his body, the church building—what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ (Colossians 1:24).
And so we can see that when Paul says, "to live is Christ," he ways that he has the privilege of walking in the earthly footsteps of his Lord. He, similar Christ, is committed to preaching the practiced news of the gospel. He, like Christ, groans due to the fallenness of man and of creation, yearning for the coming of God's kingdom. He, similar Christ, gives up his life sacrificially in service to others. And he, similar his Lord, suffers persecution and rejection for exposing sin and the righteousness of God. Paul is joyful, in the midst of his troubles, because in the class of his suffering for Christ, he enters into a deeper level of intimacy with Him (Philippians iii:ten-eleven). For the Christian, joy is non the absence of suffering and adversity, but the nearness of God in our arduousness.
One can run into, and so, how it is as well truthful that "to die is gain." To die is to exit backside the suffering and groaning of this life, and the rejection and persecution of unbelievers, and to immediately enter the presence of God, where sorrow, sadness, sickness, and tears practise not exist:
12 As a result, decease is at work in us, but life is at piece of work in you. 13 But since we accept the aforementioned spirit of organized religion as that shown in what has been written, "I believed; therefore I spoke," nosotros likewise believe, therefore nosotros also speak. 14 We practice and then because we know that the 1 who raised upwardly Jesus will also raise u.s.a. up with Jesus and will bring us with you into his presence. xv For all these things are for your sake, so that the grace that is including more and more people may crusade thanksgiving to increase to the glory of God. 16 Therefore we do not despair, but even if our concrete torso is wearing abroad, our inner person is being renewed day by twenty-four hours. 17 For our momentary light suffering is producing for usa an eternal weight of celebrity far beyond all comparison, 18 because we are not looking at what tin be seen but at what cannot be seen. For what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal (2 Corinthians four:12-18).
ane For we know that if our earthly house, the tent we live in, is dismantled, nosotros take a building from God, a firm not built by human hands, that is eternal in the heavens. ii For in this earthly house nosotros groan, because we desire to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed, after we have put on our heavenly house, we volition not exist constitute naked. iv For indeed nosotros groan while we are in this tent, since we are weighed down, because we practice non want to exist unclothed, merely clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed upward by life. v Now the 1 who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave united states the Spirit as a down payment. vi Therefore we are always full of courage, and we know that as long as we are alive here on globe nosotros are absent from the Lord— 7 for we live by faith, not by sight. eight Thus we are full of courage and would adopt to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. nine Then then whether nosotros are alive or away, we get in our ambition to please him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, then that each one may be paid back according to what he has washed while in the torso, whether good or evil (ii Corinthians 5:1-ten).
God was and so gracious He even gave him a "sneak preview" of what lay ahead:
i It is necessary to go on boasting. Though it is not profitable, I will continue to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a human being in Christ who fourteen years ago (whether in the body or out of the torso I do not know, God knows) was defenseless up to the third heaven. 3 And I know that this man (whether in the body or apart from the trunk I practice not know, God knows) 4 was caught upwardly into paradise and heard things too sacred to be put into words, things that a person is not permitted to speak (two Corinthians 12:i-4).
No wonder Paul did non fright death, and even welcomed information technology, when information technology was God's time.
You may exist familiar with the expression, "Heads, I win; tails, you lose." This is but another way of saying, "Either style, I can't lose." This was never more true than for the Apostle Paul. No thing what the verdict, no affair what the event of his trial, Paul could not lose; he could only gain. If Caesar pronounced his innocence, Paul could continue to alive out the life of Christ. If Caesar found Paul guilty and sentenced him to die, and so Paul gained even more than. He would go to be with his Lord, forever leaving backside his earthly trunk and all the trials and tribulations of this life. The alternative was not betwixt "bad" and "adept," but between "peachy" and "far better."
Paul'southward Dilemma
(i:25-26)
25 And since I am sure of this, I know that I volition remain and continue with all of y'all for the sake of your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that because of me you lot may cracking with pride in Christ Jesus, when I come back to you.
Paul did accept a dilemma. It was the same dilemma I would face if you asked me whether I would prefer a BMW or a Lexus. His dilemma was that he had trouble deciding between one good and another. Paul knew, of course, that "to dice" was improve than "to live," and so far as the benefits for him were concerned. But Paul was like his Lord in that he was a humble retainer, who put the interests of others in a higher place his ain (encounter Philippians 2:1-30). He sensed that, while expiry was better for him, if he were to live on, he would be able to continue to minister to the Philippians and others. The option, then, came down to what was best for him, versus what was best for the Philippians. And being the retainer that he was, Paul'south preference was to live on, and thus to continue to serve his Lord and those he loved.
I don't remember Paul was absolutely certain that he would be found innocent, just I do believe this is what he sensed would be the outcome. He did non assume upon God in this matter, but he did set up for the possibility of his release. Paul'southward ambition was not for his ain advocacy, but for the advocacy of the gospel and the spiritual growth of the saints.
In verse 26, Paul speaks of the Philippians "swelling with pride" at his return. Some of the saints had fatigued back from Paul, due to his abort and incarceration. Some may have been aback to associate with Paul the prisoner. Non the Philippians! These folks were apparently the first to give and the last to ignore Paul'south needs. They had identified with Paul when information technology was non the popular (or even safe) matter to do. If Paul were pronounced innocent by Caesar, Paul would return to them in victory. He would have been vindicated of wrongdoing, and he would have proclaimed the gospel boldly to Caesar. The Philippians would certainly exist able to hold their heads loftier in Christ upon Paul's return to them.
Conclusion
Start, let me conclude this message by pointing out an awarding to this text to which Paul would say, "God prevent." Every truth is capable of beingness distorted in its awarding, and the truth of Philippians 1:21 is no exception. To die is to gain, when death is the result of our organized religion and godliness. The same cannot be said for death at our ain hand—suicide. Years ago, a young human chosen me, informing me that he was holding a 45-quotient automatic in his hand, and he was trying to decide whether to live or to die. Fortunately, he decided to live. But non long later on, another swain did take his life. And here is the tragic part of the story. This fellow was kneeling beside his bed, with his Bible turned to Revelation 21. He was a Christian, and his life was in turmoil. He knew that for the Christian, to die was to proceeds. And and then he pulled the trigger as he read the promises of God'south Discussion about the blessedness of heaven.
The problem is that this beau did not truly understand what Paul was proverb in Philippians 1:18-26. Paul would have been horrified to call up that someone would use his words as an alibi for committing suicide. Our text is a strong argument against suicide. If yous are suffering for Christ's sake, then you should also exist rejoicing in your adversity. If you are suffering because of your own folly, then you should repent, confess, and seek God's enablement to turn from your sin to righteousness.
Suicide is sin considering information technology doubts—indeed, it denies—the goodness of God and the blessedness of suffering. Suffering comes from the hand of a loving and sovereign God to strengthen the states in our religion (James 1:2-4). We are to call upon God in the time of our need, and He will provide wisdom and all that nosotros need to deal with our troubles (1 Corinthians 10:13; Philippians 4:vi-7; James 1:5-8). Our focus is non to be on ourselves, only on others. We should be willing to suffer and then that nosotros may be able to government minister to others. Suicide doubts and denies the goodness and sovereignty of God, and selfishly seeks to salvage our pain at the expense of others. Paul's words in our text are no pretext for sin, no excuse for suicide.
Second, on this Easter Sunday, permit me remind you lot that Paul'southward words are based on the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, and His promise that He will raise every believer from the dead to enter into our eternal blessings. To die is to gain, because those who are in Christ will be raised from the dead.
thirteen Now we do not want you lot to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, nearly those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the residuum who have no promise. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose over again, so likewise nosotros believe that God volition bring with him those who have fallen comatose as Christians. 15 For we tell you this by the give-and-take of the Lord, that nosotros who are live, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will surely not get ahead of those who have fallen comatose. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ volition rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be suddenly caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will exist with the Lord ever. 18 Therefore encourage ane some other with these words (1 Thessalonians iv:13-18).
Third, the resurrection of our Lord is non something we should gloat annually; it is something we must experience daily. We are commanded to "take upward our cross daily and follow Christ" (Luke 9:23). Nosotros must die daily (1 Corinthians 15:31). Nosotros must come up to see that, in our mankind, we can practice nothing. So far every bit practicing righteousness, our flesh is expressionless:
21 And so, I find the police force that when I desire to do good, evil is present with me. 22 For I delight in the police of God in my inner existence. 23 But I see a dissimilar law in my members waging war against the constabulary of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that is in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! And then then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin (Romans 7:21-25).
The practiced news is that the same Spirit who raised the dead torso of our Lord to life (the resurrection we gloat at Easter) is the One who raises our dead bodies (so far equally doing good works is concerned) to life:
i There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the life-giving Spirit in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For God achieved what the law could not do because it was weakened through the mankind. By sending his ain Son in the likeness of sinful mankind and apropos sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, iv and then that the righteous requirement of the police may be fulfilled in us, who do non walk according to the flesh just according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh take their outlook shaped by the things of the flesh, but those who live co-ordinate to the Spirit accept their outlook shaped by the things of the Spirit. half-dozen For the outlook of the mankind is expiry, only the outlook of the Spirit is life and peace, vii because the outlook of the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to the law of God, nor is it able to do and so. viii Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 You lot, all the same, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, this person does not belong to him. ten But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is your life because of righteousness. eleven Moreover if the Spirit of the ane who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you lot, the one who raised Christ from the dead will also make your mortal bodies alive through his Spirit who lives in you (Romans 8:1-eleven, emphasis mine).
Fourth, the truth of this text should transform our perspective about living. It may sound foreign, but I'thou convinced it is true: Information technology is only when we are free to dice that we are free to alive. Imagine how one would experience about standing before Caesar if he were afraid to die. One would be completely preoccupied with saying the right affair—the correct matter being words that would not offend the emperor. You would not be as concerned with speaking the truth every bit you would be with speaking that which was acceptable. Not so with Paul, and not so with Christians who are non agape to dice. Paul'southward groovy business organization was that he would non exist put to shame (Philippians 1:20). Existence put to shame would be the result of failing to proclaim the gospel clearly and with confidence. Because death was improve than life for Paul, he could speak truth with conviction, having no fright of the consequence.
Christians who embrace the truth of our text can live dangerously. I exercise not mean to say that we should live foolishly. But we are gratuitous to go places, to speak words, and to practice righteousness where it is dangerous to do and so. I am reminded of the words of David in Psalm 56:
8 You go on track of my misery. Put my tears in your leather container! Are they not recorded in your scroll? 9 My enemies will turn dorsum when I cry out to y'all for help; I know that God is on my side. 10 In God—I avowal in his promise—in the LORD—I boast in his promise—eleven in God I trust, I am not afraid. What tin can mere men practice to me? 12 I am obligated to fulfill the vows I made to yous, O God; I volition give you the thank-offerings you deserve, 13 when you deliver my life from expiry. You keep my feet from stumbling, so that I might serve God as I savor life (Psalm 56:8-13, emphasis mine).
Fearing God, trusting in His saving grace and resurrection ability, we are costless to live dangerously.
Finally, the truth of this text is the primal to our freedom from the fear of death. Reading a sermon on this text by Steve Zeisler of Peninsula Bible Church,28 I was reminded of a text I take often used, but had forgotten in connection with this text:
10 For it was fitting for him, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to celebrity, to make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For indeed he who makes holy and those being made holy all have the same origin, and then he is not aback to phone call them brothers and sisters, 12 saying, "I will proclaim your proper noun to my brothers; in the midst of the assembly I will praise you." 13 Again he says, "I will be confident in him," and once again, "Here I am, with the children God has given me." 14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, he likewise shared in their humanity, so that through death he could destroy the 1 who holds the ability of death (that is, the devil), xv and fix free those who were held in slavery all their lives past their fright of death (Hebrews 2:10-xv).
I think all too well how much I feared death every bit a immature male child, before my conversion. In order to get to my grandparents' house, nosotros had to laissez passer by a very large cemetery. I used to play all kinds of mental games to avoid looking at that cemetery, and seeing those graves. I was afraid to die, and I did everything I could to avoid death, and fifty-fifty the idea of death.
1 of the ways that a Christian is distinguished from the unbeliever is past his attitude toward death. For Paul, death was a promotion. For the unbeliever, decease is a terrifying thought. May I ask you lot, my friend, "How practise y'all deal with decease?" Do you seek to avoid it, or to deny information technology? So I would suggest that y'all may need to experience the aforementioned conversion that Paul did, equally he describes it in Philippians three. In his case, Paul was a very religious human, zealous about his religious deeds. Just he was also very lost. Those whose sins accept been forgiven and who are assured of eternal life need have no fear of death. Those who are trusting in their own good works, and who have not come to faith in Christ, take everything to fear:
3 We ought to thank God ever for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith flourishes more than and more and the beloved of each one of y'all all for one another is ever greater. 4 As a consequence we ourselves avowal nearly you in the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and afflictions y'all are enduring. v This is prove of God's righteous judgment, to make you worthy of the kingdom of God, for which in fact yous are suffering. 6 For it is right for God to repay with illness those who afflict you, vii and to yous who are being afflicted to requite rest together with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels. 8 With flaming fire he will mete out punishment on those who do not know God and practise not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will undergo the penalty of eternal destruction, abroad from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, ten when he comes to exist glorified amongst his saints and admired on that solar day among all who take believed—and you lot did in fact believe our testimony. eleven And in this regard nosotros pray for you lot always, that our God will make yous worthy of his calling and fulfill past his power your every desire for goodness and work of faith, 12 that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you lot, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 1:iii-12).
24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands—the representation of the true sanctuary—merely into heaven itself, and he appears now in God'south presence for us. 25 And he did not enter to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the sanctuary year subsequently year with blood that is not his ain, 26 for then he would have had to suffer again and once more since the foundation of the globe. Only now he has appeared once for all at the consummation of the ages to put away sin by his cede. 27 And just as people are appointed to die once, and then to face judgment, 28 so besides, after Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many, to those who eagerly await him he will appear a second fourth dimension, non to bear sin but to bring salvation (Hebrews 9:24-28).
11 So I saw a large white throne and the one who was seated on information technology; the world and the heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the expressionless, the bang-up and the small, continuing before the throne. Then books were opened, and another volume was opened—the volume of life. So the expressionless were judged by what was written in the books, according to their deeds. 13 The ocean gave upwardly the dead that were in it, and Expiry and Hades gave up the expressionless that were in them, and each one was judged according to his deeds. 14 So Decease and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second decease—the lake of burn. fifteen If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, that person was thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation twenty:11-xv).
I urge y'all, my friend, if you are terrified of death, to notice the freedom that only Jesus Christ can give. You must admit your sin and your guilt earlier God, and trust in the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the cantankerous of Calvary. Accept His cede for your sins and His provision of righteousness. It is simply through faith in Jesus Christ that you tin exist delivered from the fear and the power of death.
My Christian friend, ours is a text which should give y'all keen freedom as well, the freedom to face death without fear. This past yr I lost a good friend to cancer. I tin tell you that some of the sweetest times of fellowship were those that others and I experienced at our friend Pecker Humphries' bedside. His organized religion enabled him to face expiry, and to government minister to others in the procedure. Now, another friend, Kathie Keathley, is waging a boxing against cancer, and all appearances are that she will presently see our Lord face to face. What a wonderful text this is for her. And what a wonderful commentary her last days take been on this text. She can bear witness far more than forcefully than I the condolement Paul's words tin can be. To Kathie, every bit to every Christian, "To live is Christ; to die is gain." To God be the glory.
23 http://www.bible.org
24 This sermon was preached on April 23, 2000, but I am finalizing this message in print in mid-September of 2000. Kathie'southward wellness is deteriorating, but her letters are filled with hope and joy and comfort, as she awaits her upward call.
25 Gordon D. Fee, Philippians The IVP New Testament Commentary Series (Downers Grove, Illinois, U.s.a.: Inter-Varsity Printing, 1999), p. 67.
26 J. Sidlow Baxter, Explore the Book (One thousand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1960), vol. 3, p. 49.
27 J. Sidlow Baxter, vol. three, pp. l-51.
28 Steve Zeisler, "Rags, Riches, and Relationships." http://www.pbc.org/dp/zeisler/3734.html.
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Source: https://bible.org/seriespage/5-paul-s-perspective-life-and-death-phil-118b-26
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