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Well, please turn with me in 
your Bibles to the book of Philippians, Philippians chapter 1. As we work our way through Paul's 
letter to the church in Philippi, remember the historical context. 
Paul is in prison according to Acts chapter 28. He spends two 
years there in his first Roman imprisonment. That was the years 
A.D. 60. to 62. While he's there, he writes Ephesians, 
Philippians, Colossians, and the book of Philemon. And in 
many ways, we see in the section we're looking at tonight in verses 
21 to 26, an example or an illustration or application of what we saw 
in John's gospel this morning. where Jesus spoke concerning 
the joy, the lasting joy of the disciples, even in the midst 
of sorrow and in the midst of affliction and challenge and 
hardship and travail, they nevertheless had that joy because they had 
been saved by God through grace in Jesus Christ. Paul exemplifies 
that while he's in a Roman prison cell with the real possibility 
that he could die. So I wanna read beginning in 
verse 12, I'll read to verse 26, and then we'll focus on 21 
to 26. So beginning in Philippians 1 
at verse 12, but I want you to know brethren, that the things 
which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance 
of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace 
guard and to all the rest that my chains are in Christ. And 
most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my 
chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. 
Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some 
also from goodwill. The former preach Christ from 
selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to 
my chains, but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed 
for the defense of the gospel. What then? Only that in every 
way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached. And 
in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice. 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 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. 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. 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. Amen. Well, let us pray. Our Father, 
we thank You for the written Word of the living and true God. 
We thank You that it's given by inspiration of the Spirit. 
We pray that He would guide us and lead us now into this truth, 
cause us to see exemplified in the life and ministry of the 
Apostle Paul, the teaching of our Lord Jesus there in the Upper 
Room discourse. May you cause us to reflect upon 
that lasting joy that we possess in Christ, the reality that there 
is nothing that this world can do, nothing that the devil and 
his demons, nothing that our own remaining corruption can 
even undo, that reality that we are saved by your grace through 
faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. and that attendant joy that goes 
with that. We rejoice in it. We thank you 
for your goodness to us. As Paul says elsewhere, therefore, 
having been justified by faith, we have peace with God. Thank you for that peace. Thank 
you for the joy. Thank you for your mercies and 
your goodness to us. Draw out our hearts now in worship 
and praise and adoration to you, our great God, for giving us 
of all of our sins and the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. 
And we pray in his name, amen. Well, up to this point in the 
book of Philippians, in chapter 1, we have seen the introduction 
in verses 1 and 2, Paul's gratitude expressed in verses 3 to 8. Remember, 
he's in prison, and he's not whining, he's not moaning, he's 
not complaining, he's not calling lawyers. Rather, he is rejoicing 
in the goodness of God and expressing his gratitude for this church 
in particular in Philippi. Not that he wasn't affectionate 
toward all of the churches that he ministered to, but he seemed 
to have a real bond with the people of God in Philippi. He 
speaks very favorably of them in 2 Corinthians chapter 8. And 
as well, we see something of what appears to be sort of a 
farewell. If Paul does depart, it's kind 
of like his 11th hour address to those who are very close to 
him. As well, we see his intercessory 
prayer in verses 9 to 11, and then verses 12 to 18 are something 
of a commentary or a report on his present situation. So in 
verses 12 to 18, he starts off by saying, I want you to know, 
brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually 
turned out for the furtherance of the gospel. The things that 
have happened to him, obviously being arrested and being imprisoned 
and being in a Roman prison cell. He says that's turned out for 
good. It has been the means by which 
the palace guard has heard of the gospel of the Lord Jesus 
Christ. It has been the means by which the church of the Lord 
Jesus, those who fear the Lord, have been empowered. They have 
been bucked up. They have been helped along in 
terms of their espousing the truth as it is in Jesus. So he's 
commenting on his current situation. Then he turns his attention to 
the future prospect. He's either going to live or 
he's going to die. He's either going to stay in that Roman prison 
cell up until the point he's executed, or he's going to be 
released again to continue in gospel ministry. So we already 
looked at verses 19 and 20, the expectation of the apostle. 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 earnest expectation and 
hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed. Paul was able to 
maintain a clear conscience before God and men because he was a 
faithful man. He wasn't a sinless man. He wasn't 
a perfect man. He wasn't a blemish-free man. 
Rather, he was washed in the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, 
sanctified by the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit. 
and he maintained integrity and faithfulness to the very end. 
He goes on to say in verse 20, But with all boldness, as always, 
so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or 
by death. As I've mentioned before, there 
is the potential or the possibility that Paul could die in this imprisonment. It seems to be the case, however, 
that he understands it may not be that he dies. In 2 Timothy, 
we know for a fact, and he knows for a fact, that he's gonna die. 
That's his second Roman imprisonment. So here it's a bit contingent. 
He's not sure as to what's going on. I've mentioned before that 
in AD 60 to 62, Nero was the emperor, but in AD 60 to 62, 
he wasn't as bad as he was gonna be in AD 63 and 64 and five. And even prior to that, Nero 
actually was a good emperor. Prior to kind of going nuts, 
he did a good job. He was faithful in terms of executing 
his position as the emperor of the Roman state. But as time 
went on, he got increasingly bad, such that Fox, in his famous 
Book of Martyrs, refers to him as a beast. I actually think 
he is the beast of revelation, but that's another topic for 
discussion. So Paul has this idea that he's 
either going to die or he's going to live. So notice then, in verses 
21 to 23, we see the conviction of the apostle, and then in verses 
24 to 26, we see the anticipation of the apostle. So if you're 
taking notes, this section 23 19 to 26, you've got the expectation 
of the apostle, verses 19 and 20, conviction of the apostle, 
21 to 23, and then the anticipation of the apostle in verses 24 to 
26. Note first his declaration in 
terms of conviction. Verse 21, a very famous statement. We just sang it in the first 
hymn. I think we sing it as well in just about every hymn. This 
expression that Paul gives is, very excellent in terms of a 
summation of the Christian's commitment to our Lord Jesus, 
the conviction that we possess. For to me to live is Christ and 
to die is gain. And I think what he's highlighting 
there is his union with Christ as a man alive, physically in 
the body, union with Christ, for to me to live is Christ. 
And then he underscores his glory with Christ and to die is gain. So let's look first at the apostles' 
union with Christ in that first part in 21a. For to me, to live 
is Christ. Now to live here means life lived 
in the body, the physical body that you and I possess. Paul 
had one too. He wasn't a disembodied spirit. 
He didn't sort of float around in the Roman empire and just 
sort of drop gospel bombs as he went. He was a real man. He 
was a flesh and blood being. He had everything in common with 
us. And so the apostle says, for to me to live is Christ. And this is something that I 
think is commonplace for us to do. Baseball is living. Fishing is the life. Whatever 
your particular hobby or whatever your particular pursuit or whatever 
your particular thing is, you seem to equate it with life itself. Now, of course, none of us believe 
that baseball really is life. None of us really believe that 
living is fishing. It's a common parlance just to 
underscore how important that particular thing is in your life. And that's the convention that 
Paul is using here. For to me to live is Christ. And I think this is an amazing 
statement for the Apostle in light of what we know about him. In Acts chapter 9, he previously 
wanted to destroy the people of Christ. He couldn't get to 
Christ, so the next best thing was to destroy his people. Remember, 
he gets his marching orders to go to to Syria, to go to Damascus. And there he's going to apprehend 
believers, both men and women. He's going to drag them back 
to Jerusalem so that they could undergo judicial process and 
be punished for the blasphemy of confessing faith in our Lord 
Jesus Christ. Now he loved Christ and he loved 
his people. In fact, as you look at just 
this first chapter in the book of Philippians, he expresses 
that love. He wears his heart on the sleeve, 
as it were. As well, he previously trusted 
in his own works to commend him to God. Notice in Philippians 
chapter three, specifically at verse one, finally, my brethren 
rejoice in the Lord for me to write the same things to you 
is not tedious, but for you it is safe. Beware of dogs, beware 
of evil workers, beware of the mutilation, for we are the circumcision. Worship God in the spirit, rejoice 
in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh, though I also might 
have confidence in the flesh. He's not underscoring this to 
show what a great guy he was prior to conversion. He's showing 
what a great guy religiously he was prior to conversion, and 
how all of that was dung in comparison to the knowledge of Christ Jesus, 
his Lord. Verse 4b, if anyone else thinks 
he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so, circumcise 
the aid they of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, 
a Hebrew of the Hebrews, concerning the law, a Pharisee, concerning 
zeal, persecuting the church, concerning the righteousness, 
which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gained to 
me? They were gained because he saw 
them as works necessary in order to enter into heaven. These things 
were gained. This was in the asset column 
in terms of his ledger. As far as he was concerned, this 
is all that he needed to do in order to enter into heaven. Torah, 
law-keeping, faithful obedience. He's living in that Old Covenant 
mindset. Fidelity to Yahweh in order to 
be accepted by Yahweh. But he says, what things were 
gained to me, these I have counted lost for Christ. So everything 
that was in that asset column he now sees as a liability. In 
verse 8 he says, not having my own righteousness, 
all those things I just told you I had prior to my conversion, 
all those things that I was resting upon in terms of acceptance with 
God, all those things have become to me like that which you throw 
to the dogs. He says, I count them as rubbish that I may gain 
Christ and be found in him, not having my own righteousness, 
which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, 
the righteousness which is from God by faith. So for the apostle, 
he previously trusted in his works for salvation, and he despised 
the notion of justification by faith alone that these Christians 
were preaching in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. As well, 
he previously lived a life in the flesh, like all of us do. 
As I said, Paul wasn't perfect. Paul wasn't blemish-free. Paul 
acknowledges the fact that he, along with everybody else, was 
a child of wrath, even as the rest. Ephesians 2, verses 1 to 
3. He mentions with reference to his own soul state prior to 
his conversion in Romans chapter 7, I would not have known my 
own lust without that law saying, do not covet. And so with reference 
to his orientation, it has changed now. For to me to live is Christ, 
and to die is gain." So he highlights that union with Christ as a living 
being, but then he notices that glory with Christ if in fact 
he dies. And to die is gain. The meaning 
of the phrase bodily death translates to spiritual glory. And this 
is obvious throughout scripture. Turn back to the book of Luke, 
Luke chapter 23, that famous passage with the thief on the 
cross. Luke chapter 23, specifically at verse 39. Luke 23, 39. Then one of the criminals who 
were hanged blasphemed him saying, if you are the Christ, save yourself 
and us. The other answering rebuked him 
saying, do you not even fear God saying you are under the 
same condemnation? And we indeed justly for we received 
the due reward of our deeds. But this man has done nothing 
wrong. Then he said to Jesus, Lord, remember me when you come 
into your kingdom. Which is an amazing confession. 
Imagine the apostles. They saw Christ do mighty works. They saw Him multiply bread and 
fish. They saw Him raise the dead. 
They saw Him restore sight to the blind. They saw Him restore 
hearing to the deaf. This thief on the cross, as far 
as we know, saw none of that. What is he gazing upon when he 
looks beside him and sees Jesus hanging there? He sees a broken, 
bloodied, battered man hanging on a cross as a criminal of the 
Roman Empire. And he says, Lord, remember me 
when you come into your kingdom. Ryle says he only saw our Lord 
in agony and in weakness and suffering and in pain. He saw 
him undergoing dishonorable punishment, deserted, mocked, despised, blasphemed. He saw no scepter, no royal crown, 
no outward dominion, no glory, no power, no signs of might, 
and yet the dying thief believed and looked forward to Christ's 
kingdom. Now note how Jesus responds according to verse 43. And Jesus 
said to him, assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with 
me in paradise. This is Paul's meaning for to 
me to live is Christ and to die is gain. Notice in 2 Corinthians 
chapter five, 2 Corinthians chapter five, same emphasis there. 2 
Corinthians chapter five, specifically at verse six. So we are always confident knowing 
that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from 
the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. We are confident, 
yes, well-pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be 
present with the Lord. And then 1 Thessalonians chapter 
four, 1 Thessalonians chapter four, specifically at verse 17. 
1 Thessalonians 4, 17, then we 
who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them 
in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall 
always be with the Lord. This idea that Paul expresses 
in 21B, and to die is gain, expresses the reality that when the believer 
breathes his last with reference to his physical body, his soul 
departs and is present with the Lord. There's no doctrine of 
soul sleep. There's no doctrine of annihilationism. There's no doctrine that that 
person ceases. The soul, rather, goes to be 
with the Lord. We call that the intermediate 
state, looking forward to the general resurrection or the day 
of judgment when God will raise the body and reunite body and 
soul such that they can enjoy the glory of God forever and 
ever, world without end. Amen. But in that intermediate 
state, the soul is present with the Lord. And that's why Paul 
can say, and to die is gain. So I would suggest with reference 
to the apostle, the believer's knowledge of his transition from 
temporal life to a state of glory makes it impossible for the world 
to stop him. It makes it impossible for the 
world to hurt him. Remember this morning, John 16, 
you're gonna sorrow, but you're gonna rejoice. And that joy that 
you have, no one can take it away from you. Why? Because you 
are in Christ Jesus. He is your portion. He is your 
lot. He is your everything. He is 
your altogether lovely. He is your chief among 10,000. 
And as I've said, probably ad nauseum, whenever commenting 
on this particular text, what do you do with a man like this? 
You come and visit him in the prison cell and you say, Paul, 
we're gonna kill you. Okay, that means I get more Christ. Paul, we're gonna release you. 
Okay, that means I get more Christ. You can't hurt a believer who 
operates according to this particular principle. And if the world rises 
up and the devil sends his minions and the remaining flesh is yearning, 
nevertheless, we have this reality for to me, to live is Christ 
and to die is gain. Now note in verses 22 and 23, 
Paul applies that principle to his specific situation. Notice in verse 22, he underscores 
the benefit of life in the body. Verse 22 and 23 sort of tease 
out what he says as a principle in verse 21. You've got the principle, 
you've got the application, you've got the conviction, you've got 
the illustration. So note what he says in verse 
22. He says, but if I live on in the flesh, this will mean 
fruit from my labor. Yet what I shall choose, I cannot 
tell. This refers to his release from 
prison. If I live on, if I continue on, 
if I keep breathing, if I am removed from this Roman prison 
cell, then I'm going to go and engage in gospel ministry. And 
this means fruit from his labor. Note that confidence. But if 
I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor. 
Paul's not arrogant. Paul's not boastful. Paul's not 
suggesting that somehow he has the capability or the ability 
to go out and change the hearts of sinners. He knows his place 
as an instrument. He knows his place as a servant. 
He knows his place as a bond slave of Jesus Christ, and that 
his task is to faithfully proclaim that word of Jesus Christ. And 
in that, he has confidence that there will be fruit. As I think 
I mentioned before, it's not necessarily only measured in 
conversion. When it comes to gospel preaching, 
God is glorified by gospel preaching. Turn back to the book of 2 Corinthians. 
2 Corinthians 2. 2 Corinthians 2 to see something 
of this, because I think we have a big problem in Christianity. When we go and preach, we don't 
see all these people getting saved. We don't see all these 
people raising their hand when every eye is closed and every 
head is bowed. We don't see people coming up 
forward to the altar call. We don't see people making these 
decisions. So we conclude that it wasn't 
really worth it. God is glorified in the proclamation 
and declaration of His Word. It's God who is sovereign in 
terms of salvation or reprobation. We're simply means. We're simply 
instruments. We are servants of the Most High. 
Notice in 2 Corinthians 2 12, Furthermore, when I came to Troas 
to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened to me by the 
Lord, I had no rest in my spirit because I did not find Titus 
my brother, but taking my leave of them, I departed for Macedonia. Now thanks be to God who always 
leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance 
of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance 
of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who 
are perishing." Notice that, and among those who are perishing. God is glorified in the proclamation. God is glorified in the declaration. God is glorified in salvation, 
but he's also glorified in reprobation. That is up to him. Paul says 
as much in Romans chapter nine, he fits some as vessels of mercy 
and he fits others as vessels of wrath. It's not up to us to 
determine who they are. It is simply up to us to go out 
and proclaim. So the apostle says, we are to 
God, the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved 
and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of 
death leading to death and to the other, the aroma of life 
leading to life. And who is sufficient for these 
things? So back to the prison cell in 
Philippians chapter one, when he says, this will mean fruit 
from my labor, he is not suggesting that he has the omnipotence to 
affect this. He knows that in faithful service, 
in the declaration and proclamation of the truth of the gospel, God's 
glorified in that. As Albert Martin says, it's almost 
a vision of God with nostrils, and he's breathing in this fragrance, 
that aroma, as the gospel is proclaimed, life unto life, but 
as well, death unto death, and God is glorified in that. So 
back to verse 22. But if I live on in the flesh, 
this will mean fruit for my labor, yet what I shall choose I cannot 
tell. Just to reiterate, Paul does 
not think he's a sovereign being. Paul does not think that in this 
prison cell in Rome, he has the ability to determine whether 
or not he's released or to determine whether or not he continues on. 
He's simply illustrating what he has said in terms of the benefit 
of Christ in terms of life going forward. Now, that's the benefit 
of life in the body, and he's going to draw that out, and we'll 
see that in just a few moments. But notice the benefit of the 
death of the body. Verse 23, For I am hard pressed 
between the two. So I've got life, which is Christ, 
death, which is Christ. For to me to live is Christ, 
and to die is gain. So he's illustrated why it is 
for him to live is Christ. Because if I release from here, 
there will be fruit from gospel preaching. But I'm gonna also 
illustrate why death is gain. And that's what he's doing in 
verse 23. For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire 
to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Now, he's highlighting the two 
options available, not as if he's the sovereign determiner 
of his fate, but to underscore what he has said principally 
in verse 21. For to me to live is Christ. 
I go free, I preach the gospel. To die is gain, more Christ. Well, what does that mean, Paul? 
Well, to be absent from the body means to be present with the 
Lord. And that's much better, far better, much more excellent 
is what he's saying. He's basically heaping up words 
as a comparative to show the exceedingness of the goodness 
of being with Jesus Christ. It really is a wonderful statement 
in terms of how he's operating here. He's encouraging as well 
the church. If he loves the Philippians and 
the Philippians love him, and they get wind that Nero is going 
to have him executed, he's calming them. He's assuring them, much 
as I think any of us would in that 11th hour. We have that 
peace with God through faith in Jesus Christ. We have that 
joy and that contentedness and that blessedness that we're gonna 
depart and be with the Lord. What would we do with our children 
and grandchildren? We would say, don't fret, don't 
fear, don't be upset. If anything, you should be jealous. 
If anything, you should be, well, not envious, because envy means 
you don't want me to have it, and that's not good. But jealousy 
is okay in that particular regard, so far as you don't try to hasten 
your own demise. That's obviously condemned in 
Scripture. But we would do that, wouldn't we? We'd want to calm 
our people. We'd want to say, you know, have peace with God. 
I believe that when I breathe my last, I'm going to go be in 
the presence of Christ. That's what he's doing here with 
the Philippians. for to me to live is Christ and to die is 
Cain." In other words, Philippians, don't worry about me. Don't worry 
about me. I love you. I know that you love 
me. We've had plenty of good opportunities 
to fellowship one with another, but don't fret. If God in his 
infinite goodness Christ and His glorious power, the Spirit 
and dwelling in me. If it is determined by that living 
and true God that I'm to breathe my last and have my head chopped 
off by Nero, who's nuts, don't worry about that. I'm gonna be 
with Jesus. I'm gonna go with Christ. And 
I think this is an ongoing encouragement to every believer. Bodily death 
is presence with Christ. Now, again, we don't hasten our 
death. We don't jump out in front of 
a bus so that we can gain the much better. But we're not terrified 
at the prospect. We may be a little concerned 
about the way, the manner, the means by which we exit the world. I'm certain you probably have 
thought through your head, you know, I've got a top five list 
of how I not like to exit this world. You might have a top five 
list how, you know, I'd prefer to go this way. I don't actually 
think through it quite that detailed. I don't have a document or anything, 
but we may be concerned about the manner in which we exit, 
but the fact that we're going to exit as the blood-bought children 
of God ought not to be a fear to us. It ought to be a welcome 
blessing. We're going to hear the master 
say, well done, good and faithful, serve it. We're going to see 
Emmanuel in his land. We're going to eyeball the glory 
of the Lord Jesus Christ, the one who loved us and gave himself 
for us. This is the prospect of all of 
us here that are looking to Jesus Christ in faith. And if you're 
not looking to Jesus Christ in faith, may I encourage you to 
look to Jesus Christ in faith, because this is everything. Paul summarizes the principle 
well in verse 21, for to me to live is Christ and to die is 
gain. How are you going to deal with 
a gulag? How are you going to deal with deprivation? How are 
you going to deal with oppression and persecution? For to me to 
live is Christ and to die is gain. So you can't hurt this 
man, you can't stop this man, you can't thwart this man, you 
can't cancel this man. He is uncancellable. He is blessed of God with that 
contentment in Christ and he recognizes that whether he continues 
on in the flesh or rather he breathes his last, it all means 
Christ as far as he is concerned. That's his conviction. Let us 
look finally at his anticipation in verses 24-26. He's looking at the options, 
seems to me that he favors, or at least as far as he can tell, 
he's looking at things, he's surveying the empire, he knows 
the movements in the Roman Empire. I think we forget this at times, 
Paul is a real man. It really struck me when we were 
walking in Ephesus, I had the blessed privilege to walk where 
Paul walked, to go to that amphitheater where they were crying out, great 
is Diana of the Ephesians, and where they wanted to tear Paul 
apart if he walked into that amphitheater, and his disciples 
pleaded with him, no, no, no, don't go in there. There's a 
roadway that you walk down. It's quite populated with lots 
of visitors and people there. And the guide said, you know, 
that was a house of prostitution. We walked past. You know, there's 
businesses. And as best as archaeologists 
and persons in the know can reconstruct things, you can see where the 
restaurants. But there was, he said, this was a house of prostitution. And as we continued down the 
road, he said, this is the first, as far as we know, and this guy 
was pretty smart, maybe he was pulling my leg, I don't know, 
but he said, this is the first advertisement that we know of 
in terms of something concrete, no pun intended, it was in the 
road there, and it was for that house, a prostitution. And it 
occurred to me, and I'm sure it's occurred to you before, 
that Paul walked right past that. He lived in a real world. with 
real sin and real sinners. He understood politics. I'm not suggesting that he was, 
you know, Mr. Political, but he invoked his 
Roman citizenship when it was advantageous to him, according 
to the book of Acts. You're beating a Roman citizen 
without jurisprudence? What did they do? We didn't know 
you were a Roman citizen. He understood the days in which 
he lived. So he could survey the Roman 
state. He could survey the machinations 
of the emperor and the Senate and all the things that were 
going on at the time in the empire. So it seems that the scale is 
tipped as far as he's concerned that most likely he's going to 
be released. The possibility is real. It's 
a real probability that he could be executed by the civil state, 
but he seems to think that he's going to be released. And that's 
where the tip of the scale is in verses 24 to 26. Nevertheless, 
to remain in the flesh is more needful for you, which is really 
excellent. This is a blessed statement. 
He surveys that it would be better for him to be with Christ in 
glory, but it would be better for them, for him to be released 
from prison. We call that others-mindedness. We call that selflessness. In fact, that's going to be one 
of the emphases that Paul brings out to this church in Philippi. 
Notice in chapter 2, specifically in verses 1 to 4. Therefore, 
if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, 
if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy. And 
when he says it like that, he's not saying if, perhaps, there 
might possibly be. It could also be a sense, since 
these things are present. Fulfill my joy by being like-minded, 
having the same love, being of one accord, having the same, 
I'm sorry, being of one accord, of one mind. Now, I've often 
said that I think this epistle is pretty much devoid of polemics. 
I mean, there is Psalm 3, 1 to 11. It's devoid of a lot of internal 
strife, like you see in 1 Corinthians, though you've got the Sintke 
and Iodia thing in chapter 4. And just because he's addressing 
things here doesn't, well, they must have had a horrible problem 
there. No, not necessarily. When I encourage from Scripture, 
I'm not always implying that we have a horrible problem here. 
Brethren love one another. What's he saying, we hate each 
other? No, no, that's not what I'm saying. But we can always 
stand in need of exhortation and encouragement. So back to 
the text, notice in verse three, let nothing be done through selfish 
ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind, let each esteem others 
better than himself. Let each of you look out not 
only for his own interest, but also for the interests of others. 
So verse 24 illustrates that in chapter one, nevertheless, 
to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. But also in 
chapter 2, verses 5 to 11, Christ illustrates that as well. And 
then in chapter 2, verses 19 to 24, Timothy illustrates that 
as well. And then in chapter 2, verses 
25 to 30, Epaphroditus illustrates that well. So for the church 
there, he wants them to have that mind for others that is 
in him, that is in Jesus, that is in Timothy, that is in Epaphroditus. Notice he then goes on in verses 
25 and 26 concerning the plan. And being confident of this, 
I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your 
progress and joy of faith." I don't think he's taking out the possibility 
that he could die. As I said, I think he tips the 
scales in favor of the fact that he's going to live. But when 
he says, in being confident of this, if in fact I do live, If 
in fact I am released, if in fact I am free to go from this 
Roman prison cell, it's in that that I'm confident I know that 
I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and 
joy of faith. He's going to benefit the church 
through preaching and teaching. And notice, with reference to 
this progress of faith, There is an anti-intellectualism that 
still survives in the professing church today. Well, we don't 
need all that doctrine. The hypostatic, what? Who cares? Consubstantial, who? Why? What 
does it matter? Notice that Paul connects joy 
with progress in faith. Notice that Paul sounds much 
like his savior when he prayed, sanctify them by thy truth, thy 
word is truth. You can't come away from reading 
the apostle Paul and think or conclude that theology doesn't 
matter. No, for Paul, theology matter. And you get this whole 
idea in the church today, well, either we're really smart theologically, 
but we're never practical in terms of the outflow, or we're 
over here super practical, but we don't really know much. It's 
always an either or. I've always advocated for a both 
and. Let's be theologically smart. Let's be able to rehearse the 
Nicene Creed. Let's have the basic nomenclature on how to 
describe the doctrine of the Trinity. And let's be kind, merciful, 
loving, and engage in good deeds to others. Why does it have to 
be either or? Well, I'm going to spend all 
my time studying theology. I don't care if I have to walk 
past 100 people that are suffering. On the other hand, I'm going 
to deal with everybody who's suffering, but I'm never going to pick up 
a theology book. Why is it either or? We treat it like the restaurant. Do you want the soup or salad? 
I want both. Can't I have both and? Christianity 
is not an either or. Christianity is doctrine that 
fuels the practice. Practice is the exemplification 
of the doctrine that we believe. Love rejoices in the truth, brethren. And for the apostle, he connects 
his ministry. Should it continue upon his release 
from prison, he knows that he shall remain and continue with 
you all for your progress and joy of faith. He wants the people 
of God to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. The progress and joy of faith 
is the fruit that he mentions in verse 22. I know that this 
will abound in more fruit, the fruit being within the Philippian 
church, that they are learning doctrine and they, by grace, 
are applying doctrine. And then notice what he goes 
on to say there at the end in verse 26, that your rejoicing 
for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to 
you again. The joy the church had in the 
apostle would increase upon his release from prison. He goes back to Philippi, there 
would be a love fest. They would be very delighted 
to see the apostle, this one who said, for to me to live is 
Christ and to die is gain. He says that if he gets out, 
he continues in ministry, there's gonna be fruit. That fruit will 
be seen in their progress in the faith with that attendant 
joy. And all the more, when Paul comes 
back to them, it's gonna abound, that rejoicing in Christ Jesus 
for the good gifts that he had given to the church in Philippi 
vis-a-vis the ministry of the apostle Paul, Everybody wins. So in conclusion, in terms of 
exposition, it's a very simple passage. The principle in verse 
21, the application in verses 22 and 23, and then Paul's anticipation 
in verses 24 to 26. And it's all about Christ. Every jot and tittle of this 
man's life was about Christ. And that's the three things I 
wanna close on briefly. The priority, first of all, for 
the apostle Paul. We saw that priority in his progress 
report in verses 12 to 18. Paul doesn't care if you don't 
like him, as long as you preach the gospel. That's amazing. We all kinda care that people 
like us, don't we? When you know someone doesn't 
like you, are you happy about that? I'm not. Just showing, 
I guess, my insecurities here. But I think I want to be liked. 
I do. Paul probably wanted to be liked 
too at a certain fundamental human level. No, I love to be 
hated. You know, I want my wanted poster 
all over town, horrible person. But remember in verse 15 in chapter 
one, some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and 
some also from goodwill. The former preached Christ from 
selfish ambition, not sincerely supposing to add affliction to 
my chains. They don't like me. They envy 
me. They perhaps put me down. What's he doing in prison? Doesn't 
he know that that's a bad witness and testimony for the Lord Jesus 
Christ? But look what he says. Verse 17, but the latter out 
of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel, 
what then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in 
truth, Christ is preached. And in this, I rejoice, yes, 
and will rejoice. Though their hearts may have 
been bad toward the apostle Paul, their doctrine was right. As 
far as Paul was concerned, I probably would guess he'd say, I want 
your heart right toward me and preach truth, but if it's one 
or the other, I'd rather you just preach the truth. So Paul's 
priority is in the gospel. Paul's priority in the current 
situation is that Christ is being preached and that causes joy 
to him. But as well, the reality of future 
ministry, it's all about Christ. I would suggest secondly, and 
when I say the priority for Paul, the commitment of Paul, and the 
contentment of Paul, Paul's a lens by which we appreciate the glory 
of Christ. That's what I mean. We're not 
supposed to celebrate Paul. We're not going to close tonight 
with a doxology of praise to Paul from whom all blessings 
flow. Paul would be horrified at the suggestion of that. Paul 
is a lens. Paul is a help. Paul is a tool. 
Paul is a servant for us to check our own hearts. Is my priority, 
Jesus? Can I say, for to me to live 
is Christ and to die is gain? I don't wanna get all third grade 
lecturey here, but it's probably not a bad question to present 
to ourselves. Can I say, for to me to live is Christ and to 
die is gain? It's not bad to reflect upon 
that once in a while. It's not bad to do a priority 
check. It's not bad to do a self-examination. If you only live in self-examination, 
that's bad. If you're only allowed introspection, 
that's bad. But if on occasion you do an 
internal inventory and you survey yourself and you ask the question, 
what's my priority? What is it that makes me tick? 
Can I say with judgment day honesty, for to me to live is Christ and 
to die is gain? Because I think that if we can 
say yes to that, it will affect the way that we live as individuals. 
We'll walk in holiness. Cry out to God for His grace 
and protection. It'll affect the way that we 
live in our families. We'll take Ephesians 5 seriously. Husbands, 
love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself 
for her. Wives, submit to your own husbands as to the Lord. 
We'll take seriously Ephesians 6. Children, obey your parents 
and the Lord. Honor your father and your mother. 
We'll take seriously the admonition in Ephesians 6, 4. Fathers, do 
not provoke your children. Do not exasperate them. Do not 
bring them to that point of wrath. See, when we say, for to me to 
live is Christ, it affects how we live. As well, it affects 
how we die. As I said, the manner and the 
means and the particulars about death may be a little bit uneasy 
for us. Meeting a bear in the forest 
without a gun? Yeah, not the way I want to go 
out, batted by that big paw right into my head. Not what I'd choose. But the death itself, knowing 
that I'm in union with Christ and to be absent from the body 
via bear paw means to be present with the Lord. So if we say, 
for to me to live is Christ and to die is gain, it'll affect 
us in those areas. It'll affect us in church life. 
Perhaps we've lost that spark that David speaks of in Psalm 
122. I was glad when they said unto 
me, let us go to the house of the Lord. The songs of Zion, 
those songs of ascents that you find in the book of Psalms. What are they doing as they're 
walking to Jerusalem? They're singing those songs of 
Zion as they ascend to the mountain, or as they ascend rather to the 
temple at the mountain, and they want to go and be with God. It'll 
affect us in terms of being a citizen. I mean, come on, we need to be 
subject to the governing authorities. There's no authority except from 
God and those which exist are established by God. We're not 
supposed to be lawbreakers. We're supposed to be faithful. 
For to meet it is Christ and to die is gain. Paul's priority, 
Paul's commitment, and then finally Paul's contentment. Trials of 
life did not deter him. The threat of death did not deter 
him. The confidence that faith in 
Christ, Christ the object of that faith, that's where the 
accent falls, would be glorified in his life or death, that's 
what sustained him. I think that Paul would have 
given hearty approval to Heidelberg Catechism number one. What is 
your only comfort in life and death? That I am not my own, 
but belong with body and soul, both in life and in death to 
my faithful savior, Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my 
sins with his precious blood, has set me free from all the 
power of the devil. He also preserves me in such 
a way that without the will of my heavenly father, not a hair 
can fall from my head. Indeed, all things must work 
together for my salvation. Therefore, by His Holy Spirit, 
He also assures me of eternal life and makes me heartily willing 
and ready from now on to live for Him. That is a good summation 
of Philippians 1.21. May God increase our faith in 
the Lord Jesus and cause us to prioritize life in Christ and 
to see death as not the threat that the world sees, but as that 
avenue by which we gain more Christ. Well, let us pray. Our 
Father in heaven, thank you for your word, and thank you very 
much for the example set forth here in Philippians chapter one 
of a godly man, a man that certainly lived in light of the reality 
of the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. We 
have that same blessed gospel, we have that same salvation, 
we have the same graces of faith and repentance, and most of all, 
we have the same God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. So Lord, 
help us to live likewise, to examine ourselves, and to come 
out on the end of confessing our love for Jesus, whether in 
life or in death. Go with us now, watch over us 
in the week to come, and conform us evermore to the image of your 
only begotten Son. And we pray in Jesus' name. Amen. We'll close with a brief time 
of meditation.