To Live is Christ

 

Scripture Text

Philippians 1:20-21

Intro: One of the greatest men to ever live was the apostle Paul. He is a great example of how we as Christians should live our lives for our Savior and Lord. The Christian life is never stagnant. It is a life time of reaching toward the perfection (maturity) that Christ died to give us.

I. The Christians expectation and hope. Philippians 1:20 (NKJV) 

²⁰  according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. We are not to be ashamed but to boldly honor Christ in everything. Note the words "earnest expectation" or “eager”. It means to have a sincere and eager anticipation to honor Christ by life or death. It means to gaze into the distance with the head erect and alert just like a watchman on a tower. It is aiming one's attention at an object with concentration, eagerness, and intensity. It is turning the eyes away from everything else and focusing upon one object and one object alone. It is total concentration upon a person's desire. Paul's mind was not upon his terrible plight and circumstances; it was upon Christ—upon Christ in his body. As a prisoner he wanted to guard his mind from wondering and questioning God, from  becoming discouraged, depressed, complacent, inactive and undisciplined, denying and turning away from God or reacting wrongly toward God. If Christ is not the full focus of our mind and being we will have a tendency toward doubt, questioning everything, self-centeredness, pride, boasting, self-satisfaction, indulgence, extravagance, complacency, laziness, enslavement, bondage, which leads to ignoring God. Since his conversion, Paul had totally committed himself to magnifying Christ. And there was only one place where Christ could be magnified and seen: that was in his body. Note the reference to "by life, or by death." Paul was facing death. He did not know if he was going to die or continue living. If he was to be executed, he wanted to be as faithful as ever and to magnify Christ in death. If he was to be declared innocent and set free, he wanted to continue to magnify Christ in his body.

II. Purpose of a true believer. Philippians 1:21 (NKJV) For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
To those who don’t believe in God, life on earth is all there is, and so it is natural for them to strive for this world’s values—money, popularity, power, pleasure, and prestige. For Paul, however, living was for Christ—Paul’s life focus was to develop eternal values and to tell others about Christ, who alone could help them see life from an eternal perspective. For to me indicates Paul’s firm resolve and unshaken faith. The essence of life was Christ and having a vital spiritual union with him. Everything Paul desired or attempted was inspired by his devotion for Christ. With that attitude, dying would not be a tragedy but, instead, a realization of Paul’s hope and expectation. To live would continue Paul’s ministry of spreading the gospel; to die would be even better because Paul’s martyrdom would glorify Christ and bring him face to face with the Savior. Paul’s faithful and fearless witness even unto death would enhance the reputation of the gospel. Christ would be magnified as much in Paul’s death as he had been in Paul’s life.

Conclusion: May this be the desire of our hearts to glorify Jesus in all that we do here on earth and also to glorify Him in our deaths. May God give us the grace of a holy death.

Invitation: You can't glorify Jesus unless you know Him as your Lord and Savior. Just head knowledge alone doesn't save you. You must confess your sins to Jesus and ask Him to forgive you and then invite Him into your life to take charge and control of you. Then be baptized in a bible believing church as a public testimony of your faith in Jesus as your Savior and Lord.