A Life Worth Living and a Death Worth Dying

A Life Worth Living and a Death Worth Dying

Philippians 1:18b-26

Main Idea: As Paul gives the Philippians a report on his situation and his outlook on the future, he shows them how to live and die for the glory of Christ.

In 1993, while fishing in St. Mary’s Glacier, Colorado, Bill Jeracki got his leg pinned under a boulder. Snow was in the forecast, and he was without a jacket, a pack, or communication. In a desperate attempt to survive, he used his flannel shirt as a tourniquet, and then used his fishing knife to cut off his own leg at the knee joint! He used hemostats from his fishing kit to clamp the bleeding arteries. He then crab-walked to his truck and drove himself to the hospital! In 2003 Aron Ralston had a similar experience. While hiking in Utah, a boulder fell and pinned his right arm. After various attempts to get free, on the sixth day of being stuck there, he amputated his right forearm with a dull multi-tool. Exhausted and dehydrated, he then rappelled down a 60-foot cliff and hiked eight miles before finding a Dutch family who guided him to a rescue helicopter. He eventually made it to the hospital and survived. He wrote an autobiography titled Between a Rock and a Hard Place. An appropriate title!

What do these two stories teach us? Aside from providing some basic tips for adventure recreation, they teach us that humans will do remarkable things in order to live. We will spend money on the best doctors, take up disciplined eating habits, move to particular climates, and even cut off body parts to live. The whole world has witnessed this fight for survival in various ways, including the media’s coverage of the horrific events of 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina.

But there’s a big question we must answer: What do you live for? In this short life, we don’t know how long we will live. What will you live for? Writing from a Roman prison, a chained man tells us about the meaning of life and the glory of death. The apostle Paul tells us about a life worth living and a death worth dying. Verse 21 summarizes it: “For me, living is Christ and dying is gain.” This is one of the most quoted verses in the entire New Testament, and for good reason. This is what living and dying are about: Christ. Living is about serving Christ; dying is about being with Christ.

Fill In the Blank

Unfortunately, English translations can’t capture the full beauty of this verse. There’s no verb in the Greek. We usually supply it with “is.” But other verbs could be supplied to describe this idea of purpose, meaning, center, foundation, or power. Living means Christ. Living depends on Christ. Living honors Christ (Hanson, Letter, 81). The English translation does try to get at the cadence of the verse, but it really comes out in Greek. Hanson calls this the “drumbeat repetition of the same sounds” and says that “Paul’s own heartbeats are heard in the rhythm of these words” (ibid.).

To ze¯n—Christos Living—Christ

To apothanein—kerdos Dying—gain

That’s Paul’s heartbeat. While you may not get the full literary effect in an English translation, you can get the full heart effect, and that’s the main thing! Do you see the glory of this truth?

The application of this verse appears with the little phrase at the beginning, “For me.” Paul resolved that he would live for Christ. Everyone must fill in this blank personally. How would you complete this sentence, “For me, living is __________”? It often gets filled in with cheap substitutes: money, sexual pleasure, power, beauty, entertainment, etc. But using the logic of this passage, notice what fills the second blank, “Dying is __________,” if you fill the first with one of these substitutes. If you say, “Living is money,” then you would fill in the second blank with “Dying is being broke.” After all, you can’t take it with you. If you say, “Living is sexual pleasure,” then you would conclude, “Dying is having no more pleasure.” What about power? The second blank would be, “Dying is being powerless.” What about saying, “Living is beauty”? You must conclude, “Dying is losing all beauty and rotting.” If you live for entertainment, then your gravestone would read, “Dying is having no more fun.”

In your short life, what will you live for? What will you die for? You don’t want to live merely for money, sex, power, beauty, or entertainment. These are gifts from God, to be stewarded properly, but they aren’t our aims in life. They often turn into idols. Instead, you want to spend your life on something that not only matters now but will also matter in a billion years: Christ. If you say, “Living is Christ,” then you can joyfully say, “Dying is gain.” Living for Christ not only takes the sting out of death but also makes death gloriously attractive.

While many are wasting their lives pursuing empty treasures in life, you can still find examples of people living out this Christ-centered vision of life. In my own local church (Imago Dei Church), we have an extraordinary number of people preparing to do long-term missions. We have 80-plus people in the next five years leaving to make Christ known among the nations. In their going, they’re saying (I hope!), “For me, living is Christ and dying is gain.” They’re saying, “Jesus is my everything. And death is no enemy.” Of course, you don’t have to go overseas to say this, but you have to fill in the blank: “For me, living is ________.” How do you fill it in?

Philippians 1:12-26

The apostle Paul has been telling the Philippians about his present situation. You can imagine your pastoral leadership going on a mission trip but not returning. If they sent you an e-mail after about a month, you would probably want to open it!

The Philippians were concerned for Paul. But he doesn’t say to them, “Hey, you guys, please contact the Roman officials and all your political leaders, and please work the system to get me out of prison.” Instead, Paul spends verses 12-26 comforting the Philippians. He essentially tells them not to worry about him because his suffering has led to the advance of the gospel, the whole palace guard is hearing, and others are boldly proclaiming Christ (vv. 12-15); he tells them not to be concerned with the envious evangelists since they are proclaiming Christ (vv. 16-18). And now he says they shouldn’t be worried about him since Christ will be exalted in his life and death. They have no need to be worried, no need to be ashamed. He’s comforting his friends before launching into his exhortations and encouragements, which begin in verse 27 and extend through the rest of the book.

Let’s consider these verses in light of Paul’s ambition and his inspiring vision. We see his ambition of honoring Christ in verses 18-20. He expounds his vision of being with Christ, specifically in verse 23, as he relates his win-win situation (vv. 22-26). Later in the letter Paul says, “Do what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me” (4:9). As Christians, we need to look at the words and example of Paul and follow them.

The Christian’s Ambition: Honoring Christ

Philippians 1:18b-20

Paul provides three ways the Christian should seek to honor Christ: by rejoicing in Christ, by relying on Christ, and by representing Christ. In these ways we find a life worth living. There’s a great difference in making a living and making a life. Let’s learn how to live.

By Rejoicing in Christ Consistently (1:18b)

Paul concluded the previous section with “I rejoice,” but now he turns his eyes to the future, “I will rejoice” (emphasis added). After reporting his present situation, Paul tells them his plans for the future, and they include rejoicing in Christ. He is confident and joyful despite his situation because his sufferings can’t drown his joy. In life, suffering, or death, Paul will rejoice.

“So what are your plans for the future?” Have you heard this question lately? Maybe you have great plans; maybe you have no idea. Whether you plan on going to the nations, planting a church, or planting corn, make this your plan for the future: “I will rejoice in Christ all my days.” Rejoicing, especially in suffering, greatly honors Jesus. You rejoice in what you value. When you rejoice in suffering, it really shows people that your treasure isn’t anything in this world. Everything can fall apart, and you can still sing because Christ is your treasure.

God’s people have passed on this legacy to us. The prophet Habakkuk demonstrated this steadfast commitment to rejoice in the Lord despite having no food in the fields and no cattle in the stalls (Hab 3:17-20). Job could say, “Praise the name of Yahweh,” despite losing everything (Job 1:20-21). Hanson notes, “The prospect of [Paul’s] trial drove him to prayer, but not to despair” (Letter, 77). What are your trials causing you to do: pray or pout? Praise or protest? Let us look to Jesus in our difficulty and find Habakkuk-like, Job-like, Paul-like joy.

By Relying on Christ Completely (1:19)

In verse 19 Paul speaks of the source of his joyful confidence. He’s relying on the prayers of the Philippians and the sufficiency of the Spirit of Christ. Commentators point out that Paul exactly quotes Job 13:16 from the Greek translation of the Old Testament. And he may have been reflecting on the life of Job, who also suffered even though he committed no crime. Here’s what he quotes:

Even if He kills me, I will hope in Him. . . . Yes, this will result in my deliverance. (Job 13:15a,16a; emphasis added)

What exactly does Paul mean by deliverance? Does he mean release from prison? Or does he mean deliverance in the sense of final salvation? The former seems like a legitimate interpretation based on verses 25-26, where Paul states his confidence that he will survive and be reunited with the Philippians. In verse 19 he says, “I know,” and in verse 25 he says, “I know,” showing an apparent consistency of thought. In addition to this clue, the term itself can speak of preservation and deliverance from temporary crises (see Acts 7:25; 27:31).

However, I tend to side with Silva, Hanson, Witherington, and others that Paul is probably referring to final salvation and ultimate vindication. Even though he does express his belief that he will be delivered in verses 25-26, that doesn’t mean that this reference in verse 19 has to mean release from prison. It still could mean deliverance in an ultimate sense, as Paul is talking about in the following verses, particularly in verses 20-21, 23, and 28. In addition to these references, another compelling argument for this interpretation is the context of the Job 13 reference. Witherington says,

The context of Job is important there. The issue is Job’s standing before God and his vindication. . . . Presumably, then, “this” [Phil 1:19] refers to all the things that have happened to Paul, both good and bad, and he is reflecting on his own experience in light of that of Job. God will work these things out for Paul’s ultimate good, and if things go badly, humanly speaking, God can provide a bountiful supply of the Spirit’s aid so that Paul can endure and remain a good witness to the end. (Friendship and Finances, 46)

Witherington goes on, “Soteria surely does not mean personal safety here, for v. 20 suggests that Paul will obtain soteria whether or not his trial turns out favorably” (ibid.; cf. 2:12; 2 Tim 4:18).

What I want to emphasize here is not only Paul’s confidence in the sovereignty of God (though we could linger on that!), but also how Paul plans on being sustained in the trial—namely, through the prayers of the Philippians and the Spirit of Christ. We, too, will endure hard times and ultimately arrive at our final destination in the same way: by relying on the sufficiency of the Spirit of Christ. How can you honestly say, “For me, living is Christ”? You need the Spirit of Christ to say this and live this. Otherwise, you will live for something else.

Notice two applications related to prayer. First, note the relationship between prayer and God’s provision of the Spirit (Rom 8:26). Don’t think your prayers don’t matter! God uses means, and one of the means for sustaining His servants is the prayers of His people. Don’t presume on a strong degree of the Spirit’s presence either! Such power comes through prayer. The omnipresence of God isn’t synonymous with the effects and influences of the Spirit. While we can’t presume on these influences even when we pray, we know that prayer is the normal means that God uses to provide abundant help to the believer.

James reminds us that prayer is effectual (Jas 5:16). In the book of Acts we have numerous examples of the church praying for boldness and endurance in trial (e.g., Acts 12). Paul told the Corinthians that God was using their prayers to help them in his great trials (2 Cor 1:5,8-11). He also implored the Romans, the Ephesians, the Colossians, and the Thessalonians to pray for him (Rom 15:30; Eph 6:18-19; Col 4:3-4; 1 Thess 5:25; 2 Thess 3:1). So this reference to the Philippians isn’t some passing comment. Paul really believed, like the other apostles and early saints, that God uses the prayers of His people to provide strength to His servants. So then, let’s ask others to pray for us. And let’s pray for others. What an encouragement it is to know that people are praying for you, and how important it is that you are praying for others.

Second, notice Paul’s apparent meditation on Scripture and his prayer. It seems that Paul was reflecting on the life of Job, which led him to trust God and pour out his heart in thanks, praise, and prayer. If Paul meditates on Scripture in the midst of suffering, how much more should we? Don’t think you can go without Scripture; you need God’s Word to sustain you in your trials.

By Representing Christ Courageously (1:20-21)

By the power of the Spirit of Christ, Paul confidently asserts his goal for the future. When Paul uses the word hope, he doesn’t mean it the way we often mean it. “I hope the Tigers make it to the World Series.” “I hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow.” Paul isn’t uncertain; rather, he is confident that he will represent Jesus because of the sufficiency of the Spirit and the sovereignty of God.

His goal is quite simply to honor Christ. His desire is to represent Christ both in his living and in his dying. Paul says that he will not be ashamed but will do this with all boldness. Imprisonment was a shameful thing in Paul’s day, but he knows that God is using his imprisonment for gospel purposes. He isn’t concerned about his reputation, but about Jesus’ reputation. So he will courageously represent Christ before the world in his defense of the gospel.

This is how you honor Jesus above all things: you care more about His glory than your glory, and you live this way with courage. Will you seek to honor something or someone other than Jesus? Will you live as a coward or with courage? In Philippians 1:12-30 the theme of courage appears in several ways (vv. 14,20,28). Such boldness comes from the Spirit of Christ, as illustrated by the early church in the book of Acts (e.g., Acts 4:29-31). As we think about representing Jesus courageously, look again at verse 21: “For me, living is Christ and dying is gain.” Consider (1) the public nature of this statement, (2) the grace of this statement, and (3) the unstoppable mentality of this statement.

First, Paul isn’t saying this is his private goal—living for Christ. His ambition in life made its way into the public square; his ambition was visible to others. You are showing what’s most important to you by how you live. In verse 22 he speaks of “fruitful work.” Don’t say that you’re living for Christ if there’s no labor for Christ. If you’re going to represent Him, go public!

Second, we find grace later in the letter where Paul says that he has not yet attained this goal (3:12-15). Will we always live perfectly for Christ? No. Paul didn’t achieve perfection. There’s grace here. There’s also grace in the fact that our work for Christ is “fruitful” work. This indicates that our life flows from our union with Christ. We need His grace in order to represent Him. Each day we must saturate ourselves in His grace and then resolve to live for Him faithfully before a watching world.

Third, when we are living in the grace of Jesus, empowered by His Spirit, we can share Paul’s unstoppable mentality. You can live courageously for Christ because if they kill you, then you will be with Christ!

This verse has inspired countless Christians through the years, particularly those who have laid down their lives for the cause of Christ. But to be clear, Paul isn’t promoting martyrdom, though his words truly encourage persecuted Christians. Further, Paul isn’t saying that he wants to escape from life. He knows that his life, even in suffering, is filled with joy and fruitful labor. It’s not escape that he’s emphasizing; it’s eternal enjoyment. Paul says that in death there’s more of what satisfies him now. The “now” is amazing because it’s about serving Jesus, which brings meaning and joy. But he knows that the “later” is better because it involves face-to-face communion with Christ (1 John 3:1-3).

This outlook truly made Paul unstoppable, and I suppose it was aggravating to his opponents! You can imagine his conversations with the guards:

Guards: “Hey, Paul, we don’t like you and your Messiah. We’re going to kill you.”

Paul: “That’d be great! Dying is gain! Bring it on!”

Guards: “On second thought, we’re going to allow you to live.”

Paul: “Fantastic! Living means fruitful, joyous labor!”

Guards: “Well, we’re going to let you live, but we’re going to make you suffer.”

Paul: “Hey, guys, I consider the sufferings of this present world not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed. It would fill me with joy to suffer for the Name!”

Do you see the power of this perspective? Kill me? I’ll be with Christ. Let me live? I’ll live for Christ. Make me suffer? I’ll experience joy and get rewarded by Christ. This is the unstoppable mentality of the apostle Paul, and it can be ours as well if we treasure Christ above all things.

In verses 12-26 you can’t miss the Christ-centered passion of Paul. It’s all about Jesus—rejoicing in Jesus, relying on Jesus, and representing Jesus. It makes me think of the oft-quoted prayer of St. Patrick, an evangelist to Ireland, who represented and relied on Jesus in the fifth century:

As I arise today, may the strength of God pilot me, the power of God uphold me, the wisdom of God guide me. May the eye of God look before me, the ear of God hear me, the word of God speak for me. May the hand of God protect me, the way of God lie before me, the shield of God defend me, the host of God save me. May Christ shield me today. Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit, Christ when I stand, Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me. Amen.

That’s a Christ-centered prayer, and that would be a Christ-centered life. Is that your ambition?

The Christian’s Vision: Being with Christ

Philippians 1:22-26

Paul continues to open up his heart to the Philippians, allowing them to hear how he’s processing his situation. It’s truly a win-win situation. To live means honoring Christ with fruitful labor, and to die means possessing Christ in the fullest sense. He found a love greater than life itself, and this vision of being with Christ inspired him to endure. Let’s consider it in three parts.

Paul’s Dilemma (1:22-23a)

Paul is torn between the options. Paul’s rhetorical question demonstrates the value of both. This is why he is “torn” or “pressured.” This is an interesting term. It’s used in a variety of ways to convey strong feelings, like the pressure of crowds, the controlling power of a fever, or fear (Luke 8:45; 4:38; 8:37), and being compelled by love (2 Cor 5:14). The Christian shares in this dilemma. We know that life is about fruitful, meaningful, and joyful labor. But we know that death is better. That’s why it’s a win-win situation. It’s like saying, “Would you like a filet or a rib eye?”

Paul’s Desire (1:23b)

Paul states his ultimate preference. Why did he prefer dying? It meant being with Christ, and that was better. Paul doesn’t mention desire for reward, but for Christ Himself, who is the ultimate reward. Dying means more of Christ—a more complete, close, and intimate relationship with Him.

When I (Francis) go out of town—even if it’s to Hawaii—without my wife, Lisa, I will feel like something is missing. Hawaii isn’t my home. And I am always ready to come home to be with her. That’s the way you feel when you’re in love. Paul couldn’t wait to see Jesus. I often hear people talk about heaven without mentioning Christ. That’s not what Paul envisions. When he thought about death, he thought about being in the presence of Christ (cf. 2 Cor 5:8). Some people never desire heaven because they’ve built a pretty comfortable life right here.

The Greek word for “depart” used here was a nautical term in Greek literature, used to describe a ship setting loose its mooring. Death is not an enemy for the Christian. Death is like a boat; it takes you where you want to go. This past year my wife (Kimberly) and I (Tony) went on a cruise to celebrate our 10-year anniversary. It was my first cruise, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. One of my favorite memories relates to this idea of departing. As we set off from Ft. Lauderdale you could see the lights in the distance, slowly fading away. Then we were in the dark, and soon we would go to bed. The next morning, however, was stunning. We had a room with a window, and I looked out and saw the amazing blue waters of the Caribbean and this beautiful island.

Death is kind of like that. The person dying sees the light slowly fading away, and then it’s gone. But the best is yet to come because when Christians die, they awake to see something more glorious than the Caribbean: they see the Galilean, Jesus! They experience the glory of God in a way that they have never experienced it. Paul knew death was better, but not just better—better by far! It’s far better in every way: from your new body to the new heavens and the new earth, and most of all because we will dwell with the Savior. Do you want to be with Him?

There’s a relationship that supersedes all of your relationships, a love like no other. And if you know Christ personally, then you can look at death and say that it is better than life because it means being with Christ. Do you long for this? Endure with hope, Christian. Soon the war will be over, and we will see Him. We will be with Him.

Paul’s Decision (1:24-26)

Even though Paul knew that Christ’s eternal presence was better, he resolved to live out his days for the sake of the church. Even though death is better, Paul decided that he should stay for the benefit of the body of Christ. He doesn’t tell us why he has this confidence. On a human level, perhaps he knew that Rome had no real reason to punish him (Melick, Philippians, 86). From a spiritual perspective, he believed God had more work for him to do. There was a necessary and unfinished task, and part of that involved laboring for the progress and joy of the Philippians (v. 25) and for their boasting in Christ (v. 26). He must do these things before going to be with Christ. With this in mind, let me ask you four questions aimed at believers, with the first three coming out of verses 24-26.

Are you serving others (v. 24)? Paul says that it is “necessary” for the Philippians that he stay alive. Think about this. Is it necessary for you to stay at your church? If you left, would people really miss you? Please understand, Paul isn’t saying that the whole world will fall apart if he leaves, and the world wouldn’t fall apart if we left either. Jesus is Lord over His church, and we believe in the sovereignty of God. But I’m asking with the body in mind, which is often used regarding the church. If you take off my arm, I’m going to miss it! If you take my ear, I will miss it! Paul could say that the church needs him, and the church needs everyone in the body doing their part. The question is really, “Are you serving?” If you get a job transfer, would people in your group, your neighborhood, or your church say, “We really will miss you”? Sadly, some people give the church a bad name with their sin, and it would improve the church’s witness if they weren’t present anymore. Paul says, “I’m going to stay and serve. That’s why I’m living.” Can you say this?

Are you serving for the progress and joy of others (v. 25)? Hanson points out that the words progress and joy are united by the same preposition and are both modified by the phrase “in the faith” (Letter, 91). He adds, “Real progress in the faith will result in genuine joy in the faith” (ibid.). In other words, these two go together: progress in the faith and joy in the faith (cf. Rom 15:13). This is why Paul wants to stay on planet earth: so people can grow in their faith and grow in their joy. He says something similar to the Corinthians:

I do not mean that we have control of your faith, but we are workers with you for your joy, because you stand by faith. (2 Cor 1:24)

What a wonderful way to think about ministry: striving so that others may rejoice in all that is theirs in Christ. Can you identify with this mission? Do you think about living daily for the benefit of others’ progress and for the increase of their joy? This is another way we make much of Jesus.

Are you serving so that others may boast in Christ (v. 26)? The ultimate purpose of Paul’s reunion with the Philippians had to do with their growing in their confidence in Christ. Through his ministry, he wants them to make much of Jesus. Put this together. What’s life about? It’s about fruitful work. What does that mean? It means doing our part. It means helping people grow in their faith. It means helping people have more joy in Christ. It means ministering so that others glorify Jesus more and more. That’s why Paul wanted to stay around a little longer. He was willing to postpone ultimate joy for the joy of serving others.

How can you have this life? How can you have a life filled with meaning like this—honoring Christ by rejoicing in Christ, relying on Christ, and representing Christ? And how can you have a death like this—dying with the great joy of knowing you will forever be with Christ? How did Paul get this passion? He actually tells us in Philippians 3:

If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised the eighth day; of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; regarding the law, a Pharisee; regarding zeal, persecuting the church; regarding the righteousness that is in the law, blameless. But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ. More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of Him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them filth, so that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ—the righteousness from God based on faith. My goal is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead. (Phil 3:4-11)

Paul met Jesus and was changed. He was previously a religious person—an extremely religious person—but he didn’t know Christ. When he traded religion for the righteousness of Jesus and the new life that Jesus gives, he found life. Consequently, everything else was inferior to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ.

This is the good news. If you don’t have meaning in life, and if you don’t have this outlook on death, grace is available to you in the person of Jesus Christ, who came to us, as Philippians 2 says, and humbled Himself. He died the death we deserved, paying the penalty for sinners like us. Then He rose on our behalf, and He’s now reigning over all things. He says, “There is a righteousness that depends on faith not works—My righteousness. Turn away from your own efforts and trust Me alone; I will forgive you, give you My righteousness, and change your current passion and your eternal destiny.”

Everyone wants to live, and everyone will die. But there’s only one way to have a life worth living and a death worth dying, and that is to look to the One who conquered death, the One Paul desired to see above all things. If you see Him as He is, you, too, will say, “To be with Christ is far better.”

Reflect and Discuss

1. How do others fill in the blank: “Living is ___________”? What are you living for? Why does this matter for you today?
2. In verse 18 Paul says that he “will” rejoice in the future. How does this challenge you?
3. Do you allow your trials to cause you to pout or to pray? What trials can you take before God in prayer now?
4. How does the story of Job relate to Paul’s situation in prison? What encouragement can we take from both of their stories?
5. What does this passage teach us about the importance of intercessory prayer?
6. Paul had an unstoppable mentality. Can we share this perspective? If so, how would this outlook affect our daily lives?
7. Stop and pray St. Patrick’s prayer (p. 69).
8. How could Paul view death as “far better”? Do you view death this way? Explain.
9. For what purpose did Paul say he would remain on the earth?
10. How does this passage motivate you to serve others?