To Live is Christ

To Live is Christ, To Die is Gain

Philippians – 1:20-24

Today’s scripture reading will be Philippians 1:20-24. So, let’s turn there and read.

                  v. 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.”

The word hope doesn’t mean wishful thinking like we use it today. For example, I hope I do well on my test or I hope I get to see all of my relatives over summer vacation. However, in the Bible the word hope has assurance. It means when you expect something to happen you also know it will happen. It’s also associated with the words "earnest expectation." The word earnest means with all seriousness or reality. (Webster, 1828) Therefore, you’re expecting something to happen in the future with all seriousness or reality that it will happen.

We also learn from verse 20 that Christ is magnified in our bodies whether we live or die.

                  v.21-24 “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in
                  the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I
                  cannot tell. For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to
                  depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in
                  the flesh is more needful for you.”

The Apostle Paul was torn between leaving the earth and being with the Lord, which as he says is far better, and staying longer to continue to teach the Philippians, the rest of the Body of Christ, as well as of course to continue to witness to those who were still unsaved.

What does the phrase “to live is Christ, to die is gain” mean? To die is gain means simply it is far better to be with the Lord. We read in 2 Cor. 5:8, “absent from the body and present with the Lord.” (2 Cor. 5:8-9) But what does the first part mean?  It simply means that Christ is the main reason for living. Christ was the main reason for Paul’s living and He is the main reason for our living too, or at least should be. He died on the cross for our sins.  It only seems reasonable then for us to make Christ our focus. To live is to focus our lives on Him. Also, to live is to have the very mind of Christ. To be likeminded. To be of the same mind, one mind, which is Christ’s mind.

So in conclusion, we have the earnest expectation and hope to know for sure that whether we live or die, our bodies will magnify the Lord Jesus Christ. And of course we also have the guarantee of someday going home to heaven to be with our Lord and Savior for all eternity! Praise the Lord!







Bibliography

"Earnest." American Dictionary of the English Language, Noah Webster, 1828. Webstersdictionary1828.com, http://webstersdictionary1828.com/Dictionary/earnest. Accessed 11 Sept. 2016.