Go! And Live with Christ as Your Gain - Philippians 1:21
Philippians 1:21(NLT): “For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.”
Introduction: Gripped by a Single Sentence
Imagine if your entire life, your faith, your mission, your hopes, and even your death could be summed up in a single sentence. That’s exactly what the Apostle Paul does in Philippians 1:21:
“For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.”
Here is a man in chains, awaiting a possible death sentence under Rome, yet his heart is filled not with fear but with faith. He declares: Christ is my life, and death is my gain.
Paul’s words confront us. They ask: What are you living for? What would dying mean for you?
1. Context of Philippians 1:21
Paul is writing from prison in Rome (around AD 61). He is chained, but his heart is free. The church in Philippi—founded during Paul’s second missionary journey (Acts 16)—was dear to him. This church had supported him faithfully, and he now writes back with joy, encouragement, and a Christ-centred perspective.
The Greek text here is powerful:
“To live” (??? – zen): not just existing, but purposeful, God-directed life.
“For Christ” (???st?? – Christos): not a cause, not a concept, but the living Lord Jesus.
“To die” (?p??a?e?? – apothanein): physical death.
“Gain” (???d?? – kerdos): profit, advantage, blessing.
For Paul, life is not about possessions, achievements, or even survival. Life is Christ. Death is not loss, but gain—because it means being with Christ.
2. Living for Christ: The Present Reality
Galatians 2:20 (NLT): “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Paul’s theology is consistent. The believer’s life is Christ’s life. The old self is dead, nailed to the cross. Now Christ indwells and empowers.
In the 21st-century, we are bombarded with competing identities: career, politics, sexuality, nationality. But for the Christian, identity is not defined by culture—it is Christ.
Think of a glove. On its own, it lies lifeless. But when a hand fills it, it moves with purpose. Without Christ, we are lifeless gloves. With Christ, His Spirit fills and moves us.
John Piper: “Christ is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.”
As Piper notes, true life is not in worldly satisfaction but in Christ Himself.
3. Dying is Gain: The Future Hope
2 Corinthians 5:8 (NLT): “Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.”
Paul viewed death not as a tragic ending, but as a homecoming. The Greek word “home” (??d?µ?? – endemeo) means to dwell in one’s true country. Death for the Christian is a departure from the tent of this body into the eternal dwelling of God’s presence.
Today, our culture either fears death or trivialises it. We distract ourselves with entertainment and technology. But Scripture teaches: death is inevitable, but for the believer it is not an enemy—it has been defeated by Christ.
A missionary once wrote, “Death is not leaving home; it’s going home.” For the Christian, the grave is not the end of the journey, it is the door into eternal joy with Jesus.
Charles Stanley: “Death for the believer is simply a change of address.”
And that is Paul’s conviction: to depart is to arrive with Christ.
4. Christ’s Death and Resurrection: Our Gospel Foundation
Romans 14:8–9 (NLT): “If we live, it’s to honour the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honour the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Christ died and rose again for this very purpose—to be Lord both of the living and of the dead.”
The Gospel declares that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again victorious over sin and death (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). His resurrection transforms our view of both life and death.
Without Christ, death is loss—eternal separation from God. With Christ, death is gain—eternal fellowship with Him. That is why repentance and faith in Jesus are essential.
Tim Keller: “The resurrection means that the worst thing is never the last thing.”
For the believer, suffering, pain, even death, are temporary. Christ has the final word.
5. Living with Eternal Perspective
Colossians 3:1–2 (NLT): “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honour at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.”
Paul calls us to live with a heavenly mindset. Earthly things fade; heavenly treasures remain.
Today, many live for the weekend, the holiday, or retirement. Paul urges us to live for eternity.
Max Lucado: “A man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the crowd.”
To live for Christ often means standing against cultural currents. It means saying no to sin, yes to holiness, and fixing our eyes on eternity.
6. A Passionate Call to Repentance and Faith
Friend, what are you living for? If you live for money, death will strip it away. If you live for fame, death will erase it. If you live for pleasure, death will end it.
But if you live for Christ, death will only give you more of Him.
The Gospel Invitation:
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came into the world.
He lived a perfect, sinless life.
He died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins.
He was buried, and on the third day, He rose again.
He now offers forgiveness, eternal life, and the promise that death is not the end but the beginning.
Repent and believe. Repentance means turning from sin and self to trust fully in Jesus as Lord and Saviour.
R.T. Kendall: “Faith is not believing in spite of evidence, it is obeying in spite of consequence.”
Following Jesus may cost you everything in this life, but it gains you everything in eternity.
Conclusion: Go! And Live with Christ as Your Gain
Paul’s words are not abstract theology; they are practical marching orders:
To live is Christ: every day, every breath, every decision for His glory.
To die is gain: fearless confidence, joyful hope, eternal reward.
So go—live boldly for Christ today. And if you do not yet know Him, come to Him now in repentance and faith.
Benediction:
May you live each day with Christ as your life,
May you face death with Christ as your gain,
And may the peace of God guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus,
Until the day you see Him face to face. Amen.
