Let's open our Bibles to the epistle of Paul to the Philippians, chapter one. Philippians one, we are going to read through verses 19 through 26. Philippians one, 19 through 26. Our title is to live is Christ and to die is gain. This is God's word. For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earners 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. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I live 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. And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith. That your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again. Thus far, the reading of God's word. Let's pray. Lord God, you know how much we need your word. We ask you that you speak to us and that you give us ears to hear and heart to understand. In Christ's name we pray, amen. Let me begin asking you this question. What is life for you? How do you see death? These are very important questions to ask in a world of dying people. And many will give different answers to these questions. But what would a Christian answer look like? And when we have a text like this, it's not difficult to imagine what the answer should be. Yet, let us look closely to how faith in the Lord Jesus Christ changes our view of life and death through the words of Paul to the Philippians. Let's look to the verses that we just read, verses 19 through 26. As we notice from, if you read the letter to the Philippians, you notice that Paul is constantly talking about his chains. It's clear that he is in prison. He's awaiting judgment in a Roman court, which means that either acquittal or death is possible. And to be in prison before a Roman court especially in that time, was a great shame. Paul will speak about people in Asia who left him ashamed of his chains. What if he is condemned and executed? What a great shame. So you can imagine how this whole situation caused unrest, both in Paul and in his friends. The Philippians, yet remarkably, we notice here in this text that that doesn't shake Paul. It doesn't shake him. He has a different concern. He even rejoices in this hard situation, as we can read in verse 18. That sounds strange. Doesn't it? How can Paul do this? How can he rejoice amid such turmoil? Does Paul enjoy suffering? What is it? Is he out of his mind? No. Paul's joy is said here in our text, verse 19. It is grounded in what Paul knows. As he writes, he not only encourages the Philippians, but he also opens his heart to them. He's going to talk about his convictions, his hope. This section is very personal. We can notice the personal tone here. Paul is going to speak about my hope. my expectation, and he's going to speak about his view of life and death as well. But even though Paul is going to talk about himself, we notice here in this word, in his words, that he's not self-centered. He's not bent inward as though life is all about himself. Paul is oriented to Christ. He's oriented to Christ. His view of life and death has been transformed by the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. And this is evident here in Paul's convictions, in his I know. It is evident in his confession as well. So if you are a note taker, We're going to have three points tonight. First, convictions, Paul's convictions. Second, Paul's confession. And third, Paul's concluding convictions. Let's look at his first conviction, his first I know in verse 19. So his joy is based in what he knows. I know that this, what is this? The trials, the opposition, the difficult situation, this will turn out for my deliverance. What does Paul mean by deliverance? I don't think he's speaking here about being set free from prison or even escaping death penalty. He knows that death is a possible outcome. Look at the end of verse 20. Life or death is possible. The word translated here as deliverance can mean salvation not only from temporal trouble, but from eternal condemnation. That's the way that Paul uses the same word in verse 28. He uses the word there as salvation, future salvation, salvation from condemnation. Well, in English, it's not the same word, but in the Greek, it's exactly the same word that we have for deliverance. You know, Paul sees himself here in a situation similar to Job. And why do we say that? Because the words are very similar to Job's in Job chapter 13. Remember that Job was suffering and he was not suffering because he was guilt of something. But Job said, I trust that this will turn out to my deliverance, same word, to my salvation. The hope of Job was that in the end, God would vindicate him, his justice. The hope of Job was that in his flesh, In his new flesh, he would see God. So Paul is here in a similar situation. He knows that God will vindicate him. Paul's hope here doesn't depend on whether he lives or he dies, as long as Christ is honored. Some commentators suggest here that there is an intentional ambiguity the word deliverance. Perhaps it doesn't talk only about eternal salvation. Notice in in verse 20 Paul explains, 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. to be tried and executed by Caesar was shameful. That did not shake Paul. His fear is that he might shame his Savior, the Lord Jesus. Paul has always stood firm, but now in face of death, he could be tempted to waver. and he wants deliverance from that. That would be a big shame for Paul in his view. His desire is to bear witness to Christ freely with all boldness, even before a Roman tribunal. But Paul also knows that that boldness is not natural to him. He does not trust his own power. He acknowledges that endurance and victory comes, verse 19, through prayer and the help of the Spirit. Remember Christ's words in Luke 11 to the disciples? He taught them to pray for the Spirit. Your Heavenly Father will give the Spirit to those who ask of Him. In the Gospel of John, Jesus says, if I do not go, the helper, the Holy Spirit, will not come. So Paul trusts the promise of the Spirit. But not only that, he acknowledges that Christians should pray for the Spirit. We know Paul as a spiritual giant, a man of a remarkable faith, but he didn't see himself like that. He didn't see himself as self-sufficient, He depended entirely on the spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ, and here he confesses that he also depended on the prayer of the church. Throughout his letter, this letter to the Philippians, Paul acknowledges that Christians need one another. Christians need God, But in God's providence, we also need one another. Faith is individual. We are saved individually, but we are saved into a body. And if you pay attention as you read through the Philippians, you cannot read and understand if you don't look at the triangle, it's always Paul, Christ, and the church. Paul, Christ, and the church. So salvation involves believing in Christ, but becoming a body, a church coming together. There's no Lone Rangers in Christian life. You know, there are some people that say, I don't need to go to church. It's enough for me to have faith in Christ. It's me and my Christ. And Paul would not understand that. It's me, Christ, and His body. You cannot love Christ without loving Christ's body. It would be a strange love. You love the head, but you despise the body. If you love Christ, you love His people. Also, Paul teaches us that even men like him needed a church. needed to be encouraged. And we need one another's encouragement. You know, Christians are like charcoal. As we are together in God's providence, we are aflame. But that flame dies out as we are in isolation. We need to ask one another, how are you doing? We need to care for one another. We need to pray for one another. We need, and we need to learn how to practice this in our lives. There's no strong Christian without the Spirit, and there's no strong Christian that doesn't need prayer. And Paul is conscious of that. Moreover, As Paul witnessed Christ, as he hopes to witness Christ, to bear witness to Christ, he does not dare to say that he will magnify Christ. Notice here, he doesn't say, I will magnify Christ. Christ will be magnified. The verb here is passive. It is what we call divine passive. God is the subject. God is doing the action here in the person of his son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ will magnify himself in Paul through his life or death. And Paul simply desires the honor of being an instrument in God's hand. an instrument, a jar of clay through which Christ's light shines. And it is this complete identification with Christ that leads Paul to this famous confession. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Don't you think it's a very bold thing to say in a world of dying people? Especially when death is imminent. Paul is not saying these words in abstract. He could die at any moment. Nevertheless, This is his confession. To live is Christ. In the Greek, there's no verb to be here. It's to live Christ. To live Christ. And I think the absence of that verb here makes this statement deeply suggestive. If you ask Paul, Paul, what is life for you? In one word, what is life for you? The answer would be Christ. Life is Christ. It is that Christ sums up all that life is for Paul. Christ is everything. You see, Paul wants to live for himself, a Hebrew of Hebrews, a Pharisee. And today, when we hear the word Pharisee, we have a negative impression. But in Paul's day, it would be different. It would be a doctorate in theology, a PhD, a man who knows the law as no one else. But Paul now redefines everything in relation to Christ. He counts all loss for the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. But if we think that this is a call only for those we consider spiritual giants, we are wrong. To live for Christ entirely with all that we have is the call for every believer. To be a Christian necessarily means to die for oneself. The Lord Jesus himself said, if anyone desires to come to me, let him deny himself. Take up his cross and follow me. Whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for the sake of Christ will find it. To say that to live is Christ is more, it must be more than an empty confession. And it was indeed for Paul a true in his life, his life evidence, his confession. It was a life of service. Verse 22, fruit from my labor. If he remained living here, he would continue to proclaim Christ and to advance his kingdom. And allow me to ask this question, what is life for you? In a few words, what is life for you? You know, most people live for money, health, career, achievement, pleasure, but we are the ones who are called to live for Christ. Is Christ our life? If so, how is it evident in my life, in your life? The way we live affects the way we die. The way we live affects the way we die. For most people, death is the greatest fear of the living. It is the end? It brings us to the unknown? Well, if living for me is not Christ, if my life is not in Christ, then I do have reason to dread death. Death is dreadful. Some people are not afraid of death. They want death for the wrong reasons. In the Roman world where Paul lived, death was seen as escape from life's trouble. We can see some form of that in our society today. Think of euthanasia. Euthanasia is seen like escape from suffering. For many people who are in a terminal situation, is that what Paul has in view? Absolutely not. It is totally a different thing. Dying is gain because it means to be with Christ. Verse 23, to be with Christ, Paul's passion. For a believer, death is not the end of the line. It is not beginning of more suffering. It's neither our escape of life's troubles. It is the beginning of a new life, of deeper relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. So that we are able to say, that is far better. The more we identify ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, the more we live for him, the less we fear death. The more we identify ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, the more we live for Him, the less we fear death. Paul can say that death is gain because whatever the outcome of this trial, His ultimate salvation is secure. Even if Paul is condemned by a human tribunal, he knows he has been acquitted in a higher court, in God's court, because of Christ's death on the cross. And as I was preparing this sermon, I was thinking how What Paul teaches here is reflected in our first question and answer of Heidelberg Catechism. Have you ever stopped to think how profound this confession is in the first question and answer of Heidelberg? What is your only comfort in life and in death? that I am not my own, but belong body and soul, in life and in death, to my faithful Savior." You know, that's how Paul begins, opens the letter to the Philippians. Paul doesn't belong to himself. He's a bondservant of the Lord Jesus Christ. And the catechism continues, Jesus Christ, my faithful savior, Jesus Christ, he has fully paid for my sins with his precious blood, and he has set me free from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way. that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Heavenly Father. In fact, all things must work together for my salvation, for my deliverance, because I belong to Him. Christ, by His Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready for what? to live for Him. You see, Christ in life and in death. When to me, if to me, to live is Christ, to die becomes gain. But Paul's confession leads him to a dilemma here in verse 22. He says, what I shall choose I cannot tell. Verse 23, I am hard-pressed between the two, that is, between departing and being with Christ and remaining in the flesh, remaining here on earth. Of course, the outcome of his trial does not depend on Paul. It's not his decision, but he's thinking here hypothetically. If that was his choice, what would he choose? What would he pray for? He has no doubt of his preference. To be with Christ is far better. But you see, Paul's dilemma is not resolved by asking what's best for himself. but by asking what is best for the church. And this leads us to Paul's final conviction, concluding convictions. His second I know in verse 25. He says, I know. And this I know, as we notice from the beginning, the very beginning of the verse, It is a result of his conviction of the church's need of his continual ministry with them. This is what is meant by, I am confident of this. What is this? What is this that he is confident of? 24, to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. It's more needful for the Philippians. He knows that Jesus will seek what's best for the body, for the church, over the preferences of the individual. He desires, in verse 25, he says, the progress of your faith. That your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ, 26. The need of the church, the hope, the desire to be an instrument in God's hand for the progress of the faith of believers justifies for Paul remaining alive, remaining here. In Paul's view, the only thing that justify life here on earth is service to Christ. How do we do that? By proclaiming the gospel of the Lord Jesus, by witnessing to Christ, and by serving his people. That's it. bearing witness to Christ, and serving the church. That justifies our life in here. Otherwise, it's time to depart. And departing will not be terrifying, because it means to be with Christ, if we live for Christ. Paul says to the Corinthians, to be absent in the body, from the body, is to be present with the Lord. A Christian must be single-minded. We live for nothing else but for Christ. What justifies your life here on earth? What justifies my life here on earth? Only one thing. Live for Christ. To advance Christ's cause. Why do you pray for health? Do you want to live longer? Why do you want that? Is that just that you will fulfill your dreams, your projects? Well, I'm not saying that that's sinful, but you see, for Paul, that doesn't justify praying for a longer life. You can expect that God will answer that prayer only if your purpose aligns with his purpose, their witness to Christ and the good of the church. And the good of the church. What justifies my life here is that I will serve for the progress of the faith of my brothers and sisters in Christ. It is that I will work and serve for the progress of the faith of the person who is beside me, behind me. Christians here at Eastman View URC, my life justifies, I can expect that God will keep me here as long as I'm serving Him, as I'm working for the progress of my spouse's faith, my children's faith, as I'm serving gospel ministry. living to boldly witness Christ. But that, you know, Paul recognizes, and so should we, that that is done in total dependence on God. We need the Spirit of God to do God's work. Without the Spirit, we'll be ashamed of witnessing Christ in a world that despises the cross, won't we? You know, if you want to be a Christian with no trouble, with no opposition, just do not bear witness to Christ. Or if you bear witness, never say that He is the only way, because if you say that, you get into trouble. We have just seen that so evidently recently in the life of Charlie Kirk. If you are quiet, if you just say that Jesus is Some option out there, people will be fine with you. But as soon as you say that He is the only way, you probably get in trouble. But without the Spirit of Jesus Christ, we'll lack courage. We'll lack what we need to serve the Lord. So may God enable us to say by the Spirit with Paul, to me to live is Christ and to die is gain. And may the same Spirit make that confession evident in our lives. Let us pray. Lord Jesus, thank you because you teach us to stop living for self, to living for you, because you first lived for us and even died a shameful death on a Roman cross for our sins. And more than that, the scripture says that you are not ashamed of calling us sinners, you are not ashamed of calling us brothers. Oh Lord, embolden us by this spirit to witness you faithfully and to love our brothers and to be your instruments to advance their faith. In Christ we pray, amen.