Main Point

To live is Christ, to die is gain is a perspective that forms us to boldly live for the Gospel

Introduction

Good Morning.

How great are VBS and Missions huh.

One of the fun things we did this week at VBS was Karen played Would You Rather with us.

For those of you who don’t know Would You Rather, it's a game where you are given two options, and you have to pick one.

Sometimes it's two good things, sometimes it's two bad things, and sometimes it's just wacky or silly. The key is, you gotta pick.

So, I have a few would you rather for you this morning. Just so you get a feel.

Would You Rather?

Would you rather have super strength, or super speed?

Would you rather be able to fly, or turn invisible?

Would you rather swim in a pool full of Nutella or a pool full of maple syrup?

Would you rather live under the sea or in space?

Would you rather be able to talk to animals, or speak any human language?

Transition

In our passage today, the Apostle Paul spends 8 verses talking about the simplest would you rather in history: 

Hey Paul, would you rather get out of your imprisonment in Rome and be free to keep doing ministry, or would you rather be sentenced to death.

The obvious answer is, I want to be set free, please and thank you.

But when Paul presents himself with this would you rather, his answer is Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: (Philippians 1: 22-23).

Now, I don’t know about you, but that is wild. 

We’ve talked a lot over the years at this church about Jesus’ upside-down kingdom, and the upside-down logic and worldview that come with it.

You see, following Jesus makes us think and behave in counter-intuitive ways

But this seems to be taking it to an extreme.

But, that’s only because I’m taking this verse out of context. 

And when we study the Scriptures, the first thing we need to remember 

• is that it’s all about Jesus - 

but the second thing we need to remember is context, context, context.

Outline for Today

So, we are going to put this would you rather in context by reading the passage.

And then in order to answer this would your rather, we are going to seePaul’s Comfort (v. 18 - 19)

Paul’s Confidence (v. 20)

Paul’s Reasoning (v. 21 - 24)

Paul’s Answer (v. 25 - 26)

Pray with me.

Passage

Philippians 1:18b-26: Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. 

I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 

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

If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 

I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 

but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 

Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 

so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.

This is the word of the Lord.

Transition

That’s a powerful passage, right? And while it's pretty straightforward, there’s some counter-intuitive stuff to unpack. So, let’s walk through it, and start with.

Paul’s Comfort (v. 18b - 19)

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.

The first thing to notice is that Paul is rejoicing again. We said at the beginning of the series that joy in fellowship is a theme throughout this book.

Joy shows up at least ten times in Philippians, tied to fellowship with the Philippians and the Lord, and the good news, the gospel, or Jesus.

Fee

The passage comes in three parts, held together by the anticipation of his (apparently) soon-expected trial (vv. 19–20). Verses 19–20 offer the reason for his continuing joy—his earnest expectation that Christ will be magnified whatever the outcome (life [= released] or death [= executed]). Even though he has no real choice in the matter, in verses 21–24 he ponders the options of life and death. Paul’s clear preference is death, since that means to gain the final prize—Christ himself (cf. 3:12–14). But he expects the outcome to be life—since that is what is best for the Philippians. Verses 25–26 then offer the end result of his being given life—your progress (cf. v. 12) and joy in the faith.

The future—the full realization of Christ—is a glorious prospect, Paul reassures them, even if it were to mean in his case to arrive there prematurely at the hands of others!

Again we see the three-way bond—between him, them and Christ—that informs every part of the letter. The present emphasis is on Paul’s relationship with Christ (to live is Christ; hence his desire is to be with Christ); it concludes on the note of his relationship with them (they will glory in Christ on account of him when he comes to be with them), which has their relationship with Christ as its ultimate concern (their progress and joy in the faith).

Joy in Philippians

And so Paul finds joy, finds comfort in the midst of his imprisonment. As Paul is in prison, he’s not obsessing about the outcome.

I’m someone who obsesses about outcomes. Does anyone else run scenarios in your mind?

I got a text message saying we need to talk. 

What could they want to talk about? I probably said something they found offensive. What could I have said? Was it that? If it was they shouldn’t have been offended by that, but if they are I could diffuse it by saying this. But would that just compound.

Does that resonate with anyone?

Paul doesn’t seem to be running these scenarios. In the face of imprisonment and potential death, he is finding joy.

Joy because the gospel is being preached, but also comfort and joy because of the prayers of the Philippians, and the presence of the Holy Spirit.

I’ve been struck a lot going through James and Philippians by the simplicity and power of the Christian faith. 

It’s so easy to think that there is something more we should be doing, some secret truth we have yet to discover, and when we do everything will just fall into place.

But in some of the most difficult circumstances possible, Paul shows us the simplicity of comfort - people are praying for me, and I have the Holy Spirit who allows me to know Jesus. 

I’m good. That’s enough. I’m rejoicing. 

Prayers and Presence are more powerful and more important than we often allow ourselves to believe. 

If you are not devoted to praying for others, odds are we haven’t really convinced you yet about the power of prayer.

Prayer is powerful. That’s why we have devoted our first year as a pastoral team to focusing on it. Prayer is powerful.

The same is true of the presence of Christ, communicated to us through the Holy Spirit.

Christ’s presence is what gives me comfort and strength to navigate life, because He is powerful, and He is present. 

So whatever I am going through He is enough.

As Pastor Andrea said last week, Jesus is greater than our circumstances. Jesus is greater than our fears. Jesus is greater than other people's failures. 

We need to  internalize that through constant communion with the Holy Spirit through prayer. 

And we need each other to be praying that we will experience the truth of that reality.

We need to be people who experience, and who practice, the comfort that comes from prayer and presence.

That comfort gave Paul confidence of deliverance. If it was me, I would want confidence that I would be set free from prison.

But it's not the circumstances that are Paul’s primary concern. It’s not freedom from prison that he is focused on.

Paul’s Confidence (v. 20)

What he is focused on is representing Jesus well.

Look at verse 20

I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

Paul’s concern is that in the face of suffering and death, he might not represent Jesus well. 

But he is comforted by the Prayers of the Philippians, and the Presence of the Spirit, so he can have confidence that he will be able to represent Jesus well, whether through his life or his death.

He is confident that no matter what happens he will be able to stand up for Jesus and he will be able to act like Jesus.

Paul is imitating Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane. On the night He was betrayed, Jesus went into the Garden and prayed because He didn’t want to go to the cross.

Mark 14:35-36: Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him.“Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”

From that moment on, Jesus faced the torture, humiliation, shame, disgrace, pain, injustice, and the full weight of human evil and the wrath of God, with dignity, humility, grace, strength, compassion, truth, and peace.

In the midst of the chaos and confusion of all that was going on, Jesus was a secure center, not rising to the bait of his adversaries, nor lowering himself to play the games of the political and religious leaders around him.

And Jesus warned that

Matthew 16:24-25: Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.

And that is the confidence and courage that Paul wants to have. Paul wants to imitate Christ.

Whether he is living, or he takes up his cross and faces execution - Paul only cares about honoring Jesus.

Paul wants to be a good Ambassador of Christ.

If he was a fruit, and he was squeezed, he’d want Jesus juice to come out.

The same confidence that he prayed for the Philippians in 1:6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus 

He is confident in himself, because of their prayers and presence of the Spirit.

So, if we go back to our Would You Rather, Paul is already not playing the game right.

Somebody asks him, would you rather be freed from prison or sentenced  to death?

He’s saying, it doesn’t matter as long as I honor Jesus.

But, that’s not a real answer to Would You Rather. 

You have to pick. So now, Paul gives us his thoughts on the matter.

Paul’s going to be an external processor and figure this out.

Paul’s Reasoning (v. 21 - 24)

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

This line means a LOT to me. When I first came to Jesus, this verse was one of the most important and formative for me.

My mom and sister thought I had a death wish, because I kept talking about how much I was looking forward to dying.

Mom would say, don’t you want to get married, or have kids, or do the things God has planned for you? And I would say, ya of course. But I would much rather be with Jesus.

And I didn’t see any problem with that - it made sense to me. 

I didn’t get why they were worried or concerned. 

I was just so obsessed with Jesus, and wanting to see Him, that I wasn’t understanding what I was saying.

I realize now, that I was taking a verse out of context. 

I understood the context, and had internalized it, and was excited about it - I wasn’t sharing it. I wasn’t communicating well.

I would share this Bible verse without context, and people were coming to some wrong conclusions about what I meant.

So, what is Paul saying here?

Well, is next phrase is:

If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. 

So is living good to Paul? 

Yeah, living is great! To live is Christ!

If he goes on living he's going to have fruitful labor. 

He's going to continue to do the work that God has prepared and equipped him to do. (Philippians 2:13)

He's going to keep being an ambassador of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20), representing Jesus as Lord, even to his prison guards.

Paul has the confidence that if he goes on living, he will keep imitating Christ, Christ will keep using him, and the Holy Spirit will keep making him more like Christ.

There's no question in Paul's mind that his life would not be fruitful. There is no doubt that living would be rich and meaningful.

This isn't because Paul is so amazing, or that his circumstances are always going to be comfortable or good.

It is a trust in the spirit of Christ, in the work of Christ, in the kingdom of Christ.

So, in the would you rather, Paul can see the good of being released. 

Sure, I’ll get out of prison! 

To live is Christ. 

Everything I do, I do to be like Jesus, to love Jesus, and to help other people love Jesus.

To live is Christ.

But then he says

Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two:

And now we get the explanation of what he meant when he said, to die is gain.

 I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;

This is it. This is the explanation that drives everything. The issue is a matter of perspective.

Two weeks ago, I said that when we put Jesus in his proper place, everything else falls into its proper place.

And Paul has Jesus in His proper place. Everything is a distant second to Jesus.

Paul loves Jesus so much that his greatest desire is to be with Jesus.

Paul isn’t in love with death or the idea of dying. No, Paul knew death as an enemy:

1 Corinthians 15 is a whole chapter devoted to the idea that death is the result of sin, and that death itself is defeated in the resurrection of Jesus, and that because Jesus has been raised, we will be raised, and so death has no power. Death has no sting. Death is an enemy that will be defeated. Death is swallowed up in the victory of Jesus.

Paul isn’t excited about death.

Paul is excited about departing and being with Jesus.

Paul loves Jesus so much that his heart is where Jesus is. His life is where Jesus is. Jesus is his true treasure. (Matthew 6:21)

He says in 2 Corinthians 5:7-9: For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him,whether we are at home in the body or away from it.

The best life has to offer is a pale reflection of being with Jesus. This is what I was trying to say to my mom and sister all those years ago.

I didn’t want to die. Death isn’t a good thing.

But I wanted Jesus. I wanted to see Him, to hear Him, to know Him, to please Him, and love Him and be loved by Him with all my heart and with no barriers of sin getting in the way.

I wanted to be with Him. And everything else, no matter how amazing it is, is a pale imitation.

C.S. Lewis, the author of the Chronicles of Narnia, understood and got this. At the end of the Narnia series, in the book The Last Battle, Narnia ends. The world ends. And at the end, everyone who follows Aslan, the Great Lion, or as we know Him Jesus, goes to Aslan’s Country.

And they find that Aslan’s Country is like Narnia, but better, richer. Narnia was a shadow, Aslan’s Country is the real thing.

They only loved Narnia because sometimes it was like Aslan’s Country.

And that is Paul’s heart here. To depart and be with Jesus is better by far. Because being with Jesus is what we were made for.

Being with God is our greatest good. To die is gain because Paul gets to be with the person he loves the most, and enjoy goodness greater than any he could imagine here on Earth.

Are things good here - yes - to live is Christ. 

Will things be great in the resurrection, in the new heavens and new earth - yes. 

The Story of God ends with Paradise being regained, and God’s people being resurrected like Jesus, and living on Earth with God forever.

We will live in Eden again, and everything will be as it was always meant to be.

But the real reason eternal life is good, is because we get to spend it with Jesus. 

It’s all about loving Jesus with all our hearts, all our mind, all our strength. An all consuming passion devoted to Jesus.

The more we love Jesus, the more we want to be with Jesus. 

And if we love Jesus more than anything else, we will want to be with Jesus more than anything else.

So, whether we live or we die, we are the Lord’s. (Romans 14:8)

So why does Paul have a hard time with our would you rather?

Because in Paul’s perspective, dying means he can be with Jesus forever, starting right now!

That sounds awesome. 

But if he’s still living, he can serve others, glorify Jesus, and win more for the kingdom. 

That also sounds awesome!

So he says, Ugh. It’s better for me if I die, because then I get to be with Jesus and experience eternal joy and bliss.

but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.

You know, I’ve heard this a few times from brothers and sisters further along in the faith than me. 

They are so eager to see and experience Jesus, that they aren’t afraid of death, they are ready to go.

But what they worry about are the people they would leave behind. 

The pain and suffering of those still here. Or, the work that would be left undone for the kingdom.

And Paul’s the same way. So finally, he answers the question.

Paul’s Answer (v. 25 - 26)

Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.

Paul says he would rather be released from prison and live, because that will help the Philippians grow in their faith, give them joy, and let them boast in Christ Jesus.

This is such a cool heart, such a cool perspective.

Paul has been formed by Jesus so much, that when he makes his choice, it's built around what’s best for others, not what’s best for him.

He’s taken Jesus’ words to heart: Matthew 20:34-36: Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Paul is so in love with Jesus, so committed to Jesus, that he wants to be like Jesus, to think like Jesus, to live like Jesus - so he chooses what’s best for the Philippians, just like Jesus chose to do what was best for us in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Paul lives his life imitating Christ because he loves Christ so much.

To live is Christ, to die is gain.

Whether we are given another day to live, or we are called to the presence of Jesus tomorrow, I hope we will live such lives that are devoted to loving Jesus, and doing good for others.

Conclusion

As we wrap up, I want to give an invitation to three different groups.

If you are resonating with Paul, if you are so in love with Jesus that you can’t wait to be with Him, and until that day comes, you are so excited about life because it means you get to represent Him to others and do the work He has for you to do, then my invitation to you is this:Keep on keeping on. Be praying for others, that they may experience the presence of Christ through the Holy Spirit. 

Keep living to do the fruitful labor God has given you to do. Your faithfulness is seen by your Lord, and all you do, no matter how small, matters.

Keep on keeping on.

Second group, if you are a Christian, but life has just robbed you of hope, peace, and joy, let me invite you today to lean into the love of Jesus.

Pastor Andrea reminded us last week that our circumstances and pain are real. 

And He told us that Jesus is with us in our pain. 

We don’t need to hide, we don’t need to fake it. 

Jesus experienced the fullness of pain, and it was real.

Trust that Jesus knows your pain, He sympathizes with you in your hurt

You don’t need to fake it, you don’t need to act holy, you don’t need to have all the right words or answers. What you need is Jesus.

Christian, Jesus loves you. Jesus knows your pain, and is with you in it. 

Today I am asking you, would you rather be alone in your hurt, or share it with him? 

Too often we go everywhere with our pain and circumstances, or our plans and purposes, other than Jesus.

We think we can solve things. The right program, the right diet, the right therapist, the right relationship, the right job, everything will be okay. I just have to get to…and things will get better.

The only one who truly gets us, who truly understands, and who truly loves us is the one who loved us enough to die for us.

He never stopped loving you, and he never will. Don’t let life rob you of the comfort and presence of Jesus. Lean into Jesus.

Finally, If you are someone who isn’t a Christian, if you have never given our life over to Jesus, never given your love and devotion to Him, then today let me invite you to do so.

Learn what Paul learned - learn how to face life with peace, and joy, and hope no matter the circumstances.

Put Jesus in His proper place - put Him first in your heart, first in your mind, first in your life. Give yourself to Him. He loves you so much.

He knows everything you’ve thought, said, and done - and He loves you more than you could ever imagine. He knows you perfectly, and He loves you perfectly, and He is calling you today to receive that love.

He wants to cleanse you of all the brokenness, all the rebellion, all the sin that draws us away from God created us.

And he wants to be with you forever. He wants to teach you what it means to be truly alive, to be truly human, and to live with Him, forever and ever.

He is Lord of Lords, and King of Kings. Today, I invite you to give your heart, your life, your devotion to Him.

Today, start learning to love Jesus, just as He has loved you.

Whatever group you are in, I hope today, you take one step closer to being able to say, For me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

I’m going to invite the band up, so we can respond in song after I pray for us. Take this time to really know the love of Christ for you.

Pray with me.

Benediction

Galatians 1:3-5: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Overview

Fee

The passage comes in three parts, held together by the anticipation of his (apparently) soon-expected trial (vv. 19–20). Verses 19–20 offer the reason for his continuing joy—his earnest expectation that Christ will be magnified whatever the outcome (life [= released] or death [= executed]). Even though he has no real choice in the matter, in verses 21–24 he ponders the options of life and death. Paul’s clear preference is death, since that means to gain the final prize—Christ himself (cf. 3:12–14). But he expects the outcome to be life—since that is what is best for the Philippians. Verses 25–26 then offer the end result of his being given life—your progress (cf. v. 12) and joy in the faith.

The future—the full realization of Christ—is a glorious prospect, Paul reassures them, even if it were to mean in his case to arrive there prematurely at the hands of others!

Again we see the three-way bond—between him, them and Christ—that informs every part of the letter. The present emphasis is on Paul’s relationship with Christ (to live is Christ; hence his desire is to be with Christ); it concludes on the note of his relationship with them (they will glory in Christ on account of him when he comes to be with them), which has their relationship with Christ as its ultimate concern (their progress and joy in the faith).

Resources Used

• Cohick, Lynn H. The Story of God Bible Commentary: Philippians. Edited by McKnight. Scot, Zondervan, 2013.

• Edwards, Mark J., and Thomas C. Oden, editors. Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians. InterVarsity Press, 2005.

• Fee, Gordon D. Philippians. IVP Academic, 1999.

• Freedman, David Noel, et al., editors. The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary, Doubleday, 1992.

• Guthrie, George H. Philippians. Zondervan Academic, 2023.

• Motyer, J. A. The Message of Philippians. InterVarsity Press, 1984.

• Wright, Nicholas Thomas. Paul for Everyone: The Prison Letters : Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon. SPCK, 2004.