JOY IN LIVING AND DYING
PHILIPPIANS 1:21-26 FOR TO ME, TO LIVE IS CHRIST AND TO DIE IS GAIN. 22 BUT IF I AM TO LIVE ON IN THE FLESH, THIS WILL MEAN FRUITFUL LABOR FOR ME; AND I DO NOT KNOW WHICH TO CHOOSE. 23 BUT I AM HARD-PRESSED FROM BOTH DIRECTIONS, HAVING THE DESIRE TO DEPART AND BE WITH CHRIST, FOR THAT IS VERY MUCH BETTER;
24 YET TO REMAIN ON IN THE FLESH IS MORE NECESSARY FOR YOUR SAKE. 25 CONVINCED OF THIS, I KNOW THAT I WILL REMAIN AND CONTINUE WITH YOU ALL FOR YOUR PROGRESS AND JOY IN THE FAITH, 26 SO THAT YOUR PROUD CONFIDENCE IN ME MAY ABOUND IN CHRIST JESUS THROUGH MY COMING TO YOU AGAIN.
INTRODUCTION: CHAPTER 1 AND VERSE 21 IS A TREMENDOUS DECLARATION CONCERNING OUR WALK AS BELIEVERS. A WALK IN THIS WORLD WITH ETERNITY IN VIEW. THIS MORNING, I WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT THE JOY YOU AND I CAN HAVE AS BELIEVERS RIGHT NOW, AND THE REASON FOR JOY WHEN WE DIE.
NOW, THIS MESSAGE IS NOT AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO “MOVE LIFE ALONG A LITTLE QUICKER”, BUT AN OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERSTAND THAT JOY DOES NOT END HERE ON EARTH.
ILLUSTRATION: WILLIAM BARCLAY HAS WRITTEN, “WE ARE CHOSEN FOR JOY. HOWEVER HARD THE CHRISTIAN WAY, IT IS BOTH IN THE TRAVELING AND IN THE GOAL, THE WAY OF JOY. THERE IS ALWAYS A JOY IN DOING THE RIGHT THING. WHEN WE EVADE SOME DUTY OR SOME TASK, WHEN AT LAST WE SET OUR HAND TO IT, JOY COMES TO US. THE CHRISTIAN IS THE MAN OF JOY. THE CHRISTIAN IS THE LAUGHING CAVALIER OF CHRIST. A GLOOMY CHRISTIAN IS A CONTRADICTION IN TERMS, AND NOTHING IN ALL RELIGIOUS HISTORY HAS DONE CHRISTIANITY MORE HARM THAN ITS CONNECTION WITH BLACK CLOTHES AND LONG FACES.
I. LIVING IN CHRIST
GALATIANS 2:20 "I HAVE BEEN CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST; AND IT IS NO LONGER I WHO LIVE, BUT CHRIST LIVES IN ME; AND THE LIFE WHICH I NOW LIVE IN THE FLESH I LIVE BY FAITH IN THE SON OF GOD, WHO LOVED ME AND GAVE HIMSELF UP FOR ME.
LIVING IN CHRIST IS THE ESSENCE OF MY FAITH AND HAS THREE DIMENSIONS
a. LIVING IN CHRIST INVOLVES FAITH IN CHRIST
i. THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT WE CAN DO NOTHING ON EARTH TO SAVE OURSELVES
ii. AS PAUL WENT ON HIS MISSIONARY JOURNEYS, OTHER FOLLOWED BEHIND IN ORDER TO PROFIT FROM HIS WORK
iii. THOSE WHO FOLLOWED BEHIND PAUL TO THE GALATIAN CHURCH SOUGHT TO UNDO EVERYTHING PAUL HAD DONE
GALATIANS 1:6-9 I AM AMAZED THAT YOU ARE SO QUICKLY DESERTING HIM WHO CALLED YOU BY THE GRACE OF CHRIST, FOR A DIFFERENT GOSPEL; 7 WHICH IS REALLY NOT ANOTHER; ONLY THERE ARE SOME WHO ARE DISTURBING YOU AND WANT TO DISTORT THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. 8 BUT EVEN IF WE, OR AN ANGEL FROM HEAVEN, SHOULD PREACH TO YOU A GOSPEL CONTRARY TO WHAT WE HAVE PREACHED TO YOU, HE IS TO BE ACCURSED! 9 AS WE HAVE SAID BEFORE, SO I SAY AGAIN NOW, IF ANY MAN IS PREACHING TO YOU A GOSPEL CONTRARY TO WHAT YOU RECEIVED, HE IS TO BE ACCURSED!
iv. YOU AND I ARE BELIEVERS BECAUSE WE
1. ADMITTED AND CONFESSED OUR SIN
2. BELIEVED THAT JESUS DIED ON THE CROSS AND IN DOING SO PAID THE PENALTY FOR OUR SIN
3. INVITED HIM INTO OUR LIVES, AND IN DOING SO, RECEIVED ETERNAL LIFE
v. SALVATION BY FAITH ALONE IS A DISTINCTIVE OF THE TRUE FOLLOWER OF CHRIST
1. OTHERS SOUGHT THEN AND SEEK NOW TO MAKE SALVATION SOMETHING ELSE OTHER THAN WHAT THE BIBLE DECLARES
1 CORINTHIANS 15:3-4 FOR I DELIVERED TO YOU AS OF FIRST IMPORTANCE WHAT I ALSO RECEIVED, THAT CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES, 4 AND THAT HE WAS BURIED, AND THAT HE WAS RAISED ON THE THIRD DAY ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES,
2. THE MOMENT ANYTHING IS ADDED TO FAITH IN ORDER TO KNOW CHRIST AS SAVIOR AND LORD, MAN WILL ALWAYS BE LACKING
a. WE CAN NEVER BE GOOD ENOUGH
b. WE CAN NEVER BE PERFECT
A YOUNG MAN NAMED SINNER ONCE RECEIVED FROM HIS FATHER A BEAUTIFUL, BRIGHT RED CONVERTIBLE. HE NAMED IT SALVATION – SPARKLING, NEW, CLEAN, MODERN, POWERFUL.
IT DELIGHTED THE YOUNG MAN SO MUCH, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE IT WAS A GIFT. HE COULD NEVER HAVE AFFORDED IT. SO DELIGHTED, THE BOY EVEN CHANGED HIS NAME FROM SINNER TO SAVED.
"HE POLISHED HIS CAR EVERY DAY. HE TOOK PICTURES OF IT TO SEND TO HIS FRIENDS AND RELATIVES. HE LOOKED IT OVER FROM FRONT TO BACK. HE EVEN CRAWLED UNDERNEATH TO ADMIRE ITS EXCELLENT WORKMANSHIP. HE NEVER TIRED OF TELLING THOSE WHO CAME ALONG. 'MY FATHER GAVE IT TO ME—IT WAS FREE!'
"SOME DAYS LATER THE YOUNG MAN WAS SEEN OUT ON THE HIGHWAY, PUSHING HIS BRIGHT RED CAR. A MAN CAME UP AND INTRODUCED HIMSELF AS MR. HELPER, AND ASKED IF HE MIGHT BE OF ASSISTANCE.
"'OH, THANK YOU,' THE YOUNG MAN SAID, PANTING A LITTLE. 'I'M DOING JUST FINE! I HAD A LITTLE TROUBLE AT FIRST BECAUSE THE BUMPER KEPT CUTTING INTO MY HANDS--ESPECIALLY ON THE HILLS. BUT THEN A MAN HELPED ME--A WONDERFUL MAN, A SPECIALIST ON CAR BODIES--HE SHOWED ME HOW YOU CAN MOUNT LITTLE RUBBER CUSHIONS RIGHT HERE ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE BUMPER--AND THEN YOU CAN PUSH FOR HOURS AND HOURS WITHOUT EVEN A BLISTER!'
"MR. HELPER NODDED. 'YES, I CAN SEE THAT THOSE RUBBER CUSHIONS WOULD BE A HELP.'
"'AND I'VE BEEN TRYING OUT SOMETHING NEW,' THE YOUNG MAN CONTINUED WITH SOME ENTHUSIASM. YOU PUT YOUR BACK AGAINST THE CAR, AND THEN LIFT AT A 45-DEGREE ANGLE. IT WORKS LIKE A CHARM, ESPECIALLY ON MUDDY ROADS.'
"'YES,' MR. HELPER AGREED, 'I CAN SEE HOW THAT WOULD HELP. HAVE YOU PUSHED THE CAR QUITE A WAYS?'
"'OH, YES, MORE THAN 200 MILES,' THE YOUNG MAN SAID PROUDLY.
"'IT'S A BEAUTIFUL CAR,' MR. HELPER ADMITTED.
"THE YOUNG MAN'S EYES LIT UP. 'IT WAS A GIFT, YOU KNOW. MY FATHER GAVE IT TO ME-A FREE GIFT.'
"MR. HELPER NODDED, WITHOUT SPEAKING. HE WALKED AROUND THE CAR AND AFTER A TIME HE SAID, 'IT MUST BE QUITE TIRING, PUSHING A BIG CAR LIKE THIS.'
"'YES, IT IS,' THE YOUNG MAN ADMITTED WITH A MANLY SIGH. 'BUT, THEN, IT'S A WONDERFUL THING TO GET TIRED FOR, ISN'T IT? A FREE GIFT FROM MY FATHER--THE LEAST I CAN DO IS PUSH IT!' SOME OF THE ENTHUSIASM DRAINED FROM HIS VOICE, BUT HE STILL MANAGED TO SMILE.
"MR. HELPER OPENED THE RIGHT DOOR OF THE BRIGHT RED CAR AND SAID, 'WON'T YOU GET IN AND SIT DOWN?' "THE YOUNG MAN DREW BACK UNCERTAINLY. IT SEEMED A LITTLE PRESUMPTUOUS FOR A PERSON TO GET INSIDE THE CAR. HE KNEW THAT THERE WAS AN INSIDE, BUT CERTAINLY YOU WOULD NEVER GET ANYWHERE IF YOU USED IT. YET, AFTER A MOMENT'S HESITATION, HE DECIDED THAT PERHAPS IT WOULD BE ALL RIGHT TO JUST SLIDE IN AND SIT DOWN.
"MR. HELPER WALKED AROUND, OPENED THE OTHER DOOR, AND SLID IN BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL. HE TOUCHED THE STARTER BUTTON, AND MOMENTS LATER THEY WERE SPEEDING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 50 MILES AN HOUR.
"THE YOUNG MAN WAS QUITE TAKEN ABACK. HE FOUND THE RIDE PLEASANT—EVEN A BIT EXCITING! BUT IT SEEMED UNORTHODOX, SOMEHOW. HE KNEW THAT YOU MUST HAVE A RED SALVATION SEDAN TO BE ADMITTED THROUGH THE GATE AT THE END OF THE HIGHWAY.
BUT SOMEHOW HE FELT GETTING THERE WAS HIS RESPONSIBILITY.
LIVING JOYFULLY IN LIFE IS LIVING WITH THE FULL CONFIDENCE THAT JESUS DID PAY IT ALL!
b. LIVING IN CHRIST INVOLVES FELLOWSHIP IN CHRIST
i. CHRISTIANITY IS MORE THAN SIMPLY BELIEVING IN CHRIST
ii. CHRISTIANITY INVOLVES FELLOWSHIPPING IN CHRIST
iii. TWO THINGS TO REMEMBER ABOUT FELLOWSHIP WITH CHRIST
1. IT IS NOT OPTIONAL
LUKE 10:41-42 BUT THE LORD ANSWERED AND SAID TO HER, "MARTHA, MARTHA, YOU ARE WORRIED AND BOTHERED ABOUT SO MANY THINGS; 42 BUT ONLY ONE THING IS NECESSARY, FOR MARY HAS CHOSEN THE GOOD PART, WHICH SHALL NOT BE TAKEN AWAY FROM HER."
a. I AM SURE YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE STORY OF JESUS AND HIS ENCOUNTER WITH MARY AND MARTHA
b. MARTHA WAS BUSY COOKING FOR JESUS AND MARY WAS BUSY FELLOWSHIPPING WITH JESUS
c. MARTHA WAS UPSET ABOUT MARY’S LACK OF HELP, YET WHEN APPROACHING JESUS, SHE DID NT GET THE ANSWER SHE WANTED.
d. THE ANSWER OF CHRIST IS THAT YOU CANNOT REMOVE TIME WITH THE SAVIOR
2. IT NEEDS TO BE CULTIVATED
1 JOHN 1:3-4 WHAT WE HAVE SEEN AND HEARD WE PROCLAIM TO YOU ALSO, SO THAT YOU TOO MAY HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH US; AND INDEED OUR FELLOWSHIP IS WITH THE FATHER, AND WITH HIS SON JESUS CHRIST. 4 THESE THINGS WE WRITE, SO THAT OUR JOY MAY BE MADE COMPLETE.
a. NOTICE WHAT FELLOWSHIP PRODUCES – COMPLETE JOY
b. JOHN IS WRITING WHAT HE IS WRITING SO THAT THOSE READING MAY WORK ON THEIR FELLOWSHIP WITH CHRIST.
c. JOY COMES INTO A BODY OF BELIEVERS WHEN THAT BODY OF BELIEVERS GETS SERIOUS ABOUT IT RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST
i. NOT REDEMPTIVE RELATIONSHIP
d. HOW DO WE KNOW WE HAVE A FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM
i. FIRST WE HAVE JOY
NOW, IF YOU HAVE A HARD TIME FIGURING OUT IF YOUR HAVE JOY, THEN HERE ARE A COUPLE OF OTHER IDEAS
ii. YOU HAVE FRUITFUL LABOR
1. WORK THAT GOD BLESSES
2. FRUITFUL LABOR AND FELLOWSHIP INVOLVES GETTING SERIOUS ABOUT THE FRUIT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU
GALATIANS 5:22-23 BUT THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, 23 GENTLENESS, SELF-CONTROL; AGAINST SUCH THINGS THERE IS NO LAW.
a. WHEN YOU START SEEING THESE FRUITS COMING OUT IN YOUR LIFE, YOU ARE FELLOWSHIPPING WITH AND IN CHRIST.
3. FRUITFUL LABOR INVOLVES RIGHTEOUSNESS
PHILIPPIANS 1:11 HAVING BEEN FILLED WITH THE FRUIT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH COMES THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, TO THE GLORY AND PRAISE OF GOD.
a. WHEN WRONG HAS A GREATER EFFECT ON YOU, YOU ARE FELLOWSHIPPING WITH CHRIST.
4. HAVING A PART IN SEEING OTHERS COME TO CHRIST
ROMANS 1:13 I DO NOT WANT YOU TO BE UNAWARE, BRETHREN, THAT OFTEN I HAVE PLANNED TO COME TO YOU (AND HAVE BEEN PREVENTED SO FAR) SO THAT I MAY OBTAIN SOME FRUIT AMONG YOU ALSO, EVEN AS AMONG THE REST OF THE GENTILES.
a. IS THERE A SMALL PART OF YOU THAT WANTS TO SEE SOMEONE COME TO KNOW CHRIST
b. THAT MY FRIENDS IS FRUIT!
5. AGAIN, JUST LIKE REDEMPTION, AND FELLOWSHIP – FRUIT IS NOT AN OPTION.
6. WE WERE CREATED FOR FRUITFUL LABOR
COLOSSIANS 1:5-6 BECAUSE OF THE HOPE LAID UP FOR YOU IN HEAVEN, OF WHICH YOU PREVIOUSLY HEARD IN THE WORD OF TRUTH, THE GOSPEL 6 WHICH HAS COME TO YOU, JUST AS IN ALL THE WORLD ALSO IT IS CONSTANTLY BEARING FRUIT AND INCREASING, EVEN AS IT HAS BEEN DOING IN YOU ALSO SINCE THE DAY YOU HEARD OF IT AND UNDERSTOOD THE GRACE OF GOD IN TRUTH;
a. FRIENDS, IF YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR, YOU ARE TO BE A FRUIT MAKING MACHINE.
b. DON’T SETTLE FOR LESS LIKE SAINT DID IN THE ILLUSTRATION EARLIER!
c. LIVING IN CHRIST INVOLVES FOLLOWING AFTER CHRIST
i. PAUL SAYS HE IS “HARD PRESSED”
1. MEANS TO WALK A NARROW GORGE
ii. FOLLOWING CHRIST IS LIKE WALKING WITH YOUR COMMANDER, NOT JUST OBEYING HIS ORDERS
iii. PROMISED TO NEVER LEAVE OR FORSAKE US
iv. WHEN THE DISCIPLES CHOSE TO FOLLOW THEY LEFT
1. THEIR NETS
2. THEIR FATHER
3. THEIR MONEY
v. WHEN WE CHOOSE TO FOLLOW WE LEAVE
1. OUR SIN
2. OUR ASPIRATIONS
vi. FOLLOWING IS NECESSARY FOR OUR SAKE
1. DISCIPLES FOLLOWED CHRIST AS ANY STUDENT WOULD FOLLOW THEIR TEACHER
2. TO A WEDDING, THROUGH ANGRY CROWDS, AND EVEN THROUGH THE EVENTS OF THE CROSS
vii. WHAT WE OFTEN FORGET IS WHAT THEY RECEIVED BY FOLLOWING
1. YES, THEY HAD SOME DARK DAYS, BUT
2. THEY SAW AND EMPTY TOMB, A RISEN SAVIOR, A GLORIFIED SAVIOR, AND RECEIVED A POWERFUL CONFIRMATION.
II. DYING IN CHRIST – THE BENEFITS
a. FREEDOM FROM EVIL
i. PAUL USES THE WORD DEPART – IT IS THE GREEK WORD THAT WE GET OUR WORD ANALYSIS
1. SOLVING A PROBLEM
2. SAILING A SHIP
3. BREAKING CAMP
ILLUSTRATION: WHENEVER A PARTY OF ROMAN SOLDIERS REACHED THE END OF A LONG DAY'S MARCH THEY MADE CAMP. THIS WAS NO ORDINARY CAMP CONSTRUCTED OUT OF A FEW TENTS AND SEVERAL FIRES. A ROMAN CAMP, EVEN WHEN THE LEGION WAS UNDER PRESSED MARCHES, WAS ALWAYS AN ELABORATE AFFAIR. FIRST A RECTANGLE WAS PACED OFF, LARGE ENOUGH TO HOLD THE CONTINGENT OF SOLDIERS. THE TROOPS OCCUPIED ASSIGNED PLACES WITHIN THE ENCAMPMENT. AFTER THE RECTANGLE WAS PACED OUT THE ENTIRE ENCAMPMENT WAS SECURED BY MOAT AND RAMPART, OFTEN TO A COMBINED HEIGHT OF TEN OR TWELVE FEET. THE TOP WAS REINFORCED AND THE CORNERS WERE STRENGTHENED. AFTER THIS THE SOLDIERS SETTLED DOWN FOR REST AND FOR THEIR EVENING MEAL. IN THE MORNING CAMP WAS STRUCK, AND THE SOLDIERS MOVED ON. BEHIND LAY THE CAMP WITH ALL ITS FORTIFICATIONS LIKE A DISCARDED CHRYSALIS, MUTE TESTIMONY TO THE FACT THAT THEY HAD BEEN THERE.
PAUL SUGGESTS THAT IN A SIMILAR WAY CHRISTIANS BREAK CAMP TO BE WITH JESUS. ALL THAT IS NOT USEFUL LIES BEHIND—ALL OF THE SIN, ALL OF THE PAIN, ALL OF THE CARE AND ANGUISH OF THIS WORLD. IN DEATH THERE IS GREAT FREEDOM.
BOICE EXPOSITIONAL COMMENTARY - AN EXPOSITIONAL COMMENTARY – PHILIPPIANS.
ii. IT CARRIES WITH IT THE IDEA OF PERMANENCY
iii. THE SCRIPTURE GOES TO GREAT LENGTH WHEN SPEAKING ABOUT THE DEATH OF A BELIEVER
1. MULTIPLE PLACES IN THE WORD OF GOD, DEATH IS REFERRED TO AS SLEEP
iv. THE BENEFIT OF DEATH IS THAT THE BELIEVER LEAVES THE EVIL OF THIS WORLD BEHIND. HE NEVER HAS TO DEAL WITH IT AGAIN!
b. FREEDOM TO BE LIKE CHRIST
1 JOHN 3:2 BELOVED, NOW WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD, AND IT HAS NOT APPEARED AS YET WHAT WE WILL BE. WE KNOW THAT WHEN HE APPEARS, WE WILL BE LIKE HIM, BECAUSE WE WILL SEE HIM JUST AS HE IS.
c. BEING LIKE CHRIST IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE STRIVING FOR
d. WE CALL IT PROGRESSIVE SANCTIFICATION
i. BECOME MORE AND MORE LIKE CHRIST
e. PROBLEM IS THE EVIL OF THIS WORLD AND THE TUG OF OUR DEFEATED SIN NATURE KEEP US FROM EVER GETTING THERE
i. EVEN THOSE WHO WALKED CLOSE TO GOD HAD ISSUES
1. ABRAHAM
2. DAVID
3. PETER
f. DEATH BRINGS US FULFILLED SANCTIFICATION
i. PAUL WOULD RIGHT TO TIMOTHY THAT DEATH BRINGS A CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
ii. WE FINALLY GET TO SEE THINGS FROM GOD’S PERSPECTIVE. THE SCRIPTURE TELLS US THAT WE WILL KNOW EVEN AS WE ARE KNOWN
g. FREEDOM TO BE WITH CHRIST
i. DEATH IS ALWAYS SEPARATION
1. WHEN WE DIE, OUR IMMATERIAL SELF IS SEPARATED FROM OUR MATERIAL SELF
2. WHEN MAN SINNED, HE DIED SPIRITUALLY AND WAS SEPARATED FROM GOD
a. ILLUSTRATED WITH ADAM AND EVE. THEY HAD TO LEAVE THE GARDEN
b. ILLUSTRATED IN THE TABERNACLE – HOLY OF HOLY WAS VEILED IN ITS CONSTRUCT AND HIDDEN IN ITS USE
3. SALVATION GAVE US ETERNAL LIFE – REALIZED IN ALL ITS GLORY WHEN WE DIE
a. ONLY IN SALVATION CAN DO WE EXPERIENCE A RELATIONSHIP WHERE WE CAN NEVER BE SEPARATED
4. DEATH ONLY BRINGS US CLOSER TO GOD – HEAVEN!
III. NEGOTIATING THE MIDDLE
a. SO WHAT DO WE DO NOW?
b. BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH?
c. WHILE WE ARE HERE?
1 CORINTHIANS 15:58 THEREFORE, MY BELOVED BRETHREN, BE STEADFAST, IMMOVABLE, ALWAYS ABOUNDING IN THE WORK OF THE LORD, KNOWING THAT YOUR TOIL IS NOT IN VAIN IN THE LORD.
i. WE REMAIN AS LONG AS THERE IS WORK FOR US TO DO
ii. WE ARE ALWAYS NEED BY GOD
iii. GOD HAS SOMETHING FOR US TO DO AND IT IS NOT BUSY WORK
SO, RIGHT NOW, JOY COMES FROM MY FAITH, FELLOWSHIP AND FOLLOWING OF CHRIST.
AFTERWARDS, MY JOY COMES FROM MY FREEDOM FROM EVIL, MY CHRISTLIKENESS AND MY LOCATION WITH CHRIST.
AND BETWEEN NOW AND THEN – GOD HAS SOMETHING FOR ME TO DO!
