Good morning!
A few years ago , our new lead pastor at the time was doing a 16-week sermon series on Philippians called Christ is Life. At the time, one of his sermons was on the following verses and the sermon and these verses have left me in frequent thought about my faith – the maturity and depth of my faith.
Philippians 1:19-26 To Live Is Christ
Paul is writing from prison in Rome an those he wrote to were mainly Gentiles and he is sharing his heart for them, and his appreciation of them. In this section of scripture Paul gets very personal about his faith. This led me to consider my faith and where my relationship with Jesus sits right now.
Paul says: To live is Christ and to die is gain -à to be able to say this (for Paul to say this) shows a depth of faith, a maturity – what is Paul saying here? He answers some of that in verse 22 – if I live, that means I have fruitful labor (sharing the good news of the gospel). So he finds joy in that thought. But in verse 21 he also shares “to die is gain”. In verse 23 he explains this further – my desire is to depart, to be with Christ, for that is far better. Although at the beginning of verse 23 he says that he is hard pressed between life and death he concludes verse 23 with dying to be with Christ would be far better.
But Paul is not done – he recognizes that the call Jesus put on his life is more important that his desires and that his call to minister to these Philippians is absolutely necessary – as this would be obedience to his Savior, Jesus – see verse 24-26. Paul is finding his joy and working for their growth in faith and their joy in Christ so that Jesus will be glorified.
A point our pastor made that was important is that God is not only worried about our destination (by faith in Jesus, salvation) but also about our journey home to Him. Paul had faith the moment he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus but now in this letter we see his journey has brought Paul to deep and mature faith where he can actually say “To live is Christ and to die is gain” and actually mean it – where he has joy in Christ no matter what happens to him – and is happy to be obedient to Christ for the sake of others, in this case the Philippians.
Paul is keeping it real and in doing so let’s the Philippians know he is there for them, that he chooses them rather than death which would reunite him to Christ.
Is my faith this deep? How mature is my faith? Am I able to say this with confidence? And am I ready to declare my desire to stay to minister to others (to strengthen their faith) rather than to go home to Christ?
Lord Jesus, my prayer for each of us as we enter this weekend is that even if we know that for us it is better to be home with You, that we choose to build up the faith of others in You for as long as you give us breath and life to live in the here and now! Amen!
Have a weekend filled with the Peace that comes from knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
Patrick
A few years ago , our new lead pastor at the time was doing a 16-week sermon series on Philippians called Christ is Life. At the time, one of his sermons was on the following verses and the sermon and these verses have left me in frequent thought about my faith – the maturity and depth of my faith.
Philippians 1:19-26 To Live Is Christ
- 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. 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. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.
Paul is writing from prison in Rome an those he wrote to were mainly Gentiles and he is sharing his heart for them, and his appreciation of them. In this section of scripture Paul gets very personal about his faith. This led me to consider my faith and where my relationship with Jesus sits right now.
Paul says: To live is Christ and to die is gain -à to be able to say this (for Paul to say this) shows a depth of faith, a maturity – what is Paul saying here? He answers some of that in verse 22 – if I live, that means I have fruitful labor (sharing the good news of the gospel). So he finds joy in that thought. But in verse 21 he also shares “to die is gain”. In verse 23 he explains this further – my desire is to depart, to be with Christ, for that is far better. Although at the beginning of verse 23 he says that he is hard pressed between life and death he concludes verse 23 with dying to be with Christ would be far better.
But Paul is not done – he recognizes that the call Jesus put on his life is more important that his desires and that his call to minister to these Philippians is absolutely necessary – as this would be obedience to his Savior, Jesus – see verse 24-26. Paul is finding his joy and working for their growth in faith and their joy in Christ so that Jesus will be glorified.
A point our pastor made that was important is that God is not only worried about our destination (by faith in Jesus, salvation) but also about our journey home to Him. Paul had faith the moment he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus but now in this letter we see his journey has brought Paul to deep and mature faith where he can actually say “To live is Christ and to die is gain” and actually mean it – where he has joy in Christ no matter what happens to him – and is happy to be obedient to Christ for the sake of others, in this case the Philippians.
Paul is keeping it real and in doing so let’s the Philippians know he is there for them, that he chooses them rather than death which would reunite him to Christ.
Is my faith this deep? How mature is my faith? Am I able to say this with confidence? And am I ready to declare my desire to stay to minister to others (to strengthen their faith) rather than to go home to Christ?
Lord Jesus, my prayer for each of us as we enter this weekend is that even if we know that for us it is better to be home with You, that we choose to build up the faith of others in You for as long as you give us breath and life to live in the here and now! Amen!
Have a weekend filled with the Peace that comes from knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
Patrick
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