LIVING IN CHRIST
(Philippians 1:12-26; 2:1-13; 3:7-21; 4:4-19)
Part 1
LIVING IS CHRIST
Philippians 1:12-26
May 2006
Introduction
Last week, during our bible study I discussed with you the details on the series of messages that will be covered these months of May and June. I hope you have read and studied the sermon outlines I gave to you last week.
In these sermon series, we will study the books of Philippians and Colossians. There are seven (7) series of messages: 4 from Philippians (month of May) and 3 from Colossians (month of June)
These sermons series are focused on Jesus Christ. That is most appropriate since Jesus is the CENTER of our faith. It also noteworthy, because all of these messages are drawn from portion of the New Testament commonly called the Prison Epistles.
So for this month of May consist of four messages on LIVING IN CHRIST. We will discuss what it means to give Christ a position of primary importance in our lives and what it take on His mind, or attitude; how Christ can help us persevere in our struggles and how we can give us reason to rejoice- even in the darkest of circumstances.
Today’s message is entitled, “Living is Christ.”
Circumstances often throw and defeat people. The one thing that a believer must do is to learn to live above circumstances- to keep his witness for Christ strong and mature. Many people struggle with how to face the issue of death. This message will speak of that concern. It will encourage us to be Christ’s person in every situation and to seek to glorify Him, “whether it be by life, or by death.” (Philippians 1:20)
Verses 9-11 includes prayer for continued growth in love, knowledge, and judgment; in appreciation for what is best; in lifelong sincerity and purity; and in fruitfulness springing from the righteousness that comes through Christ Jesus.
The following verses (12-26), from which our text for today is taken, testify that Paul himself possessed the same qualities that he urged his friends in Philippi to demonstrate.
I. Progress of the Cause (1:12-18)
A. The Gospel advances (vv. 12, 13) Paul’s ministry had been somewhat limited since he was sized by the Jews in the temple are of Jerusalem (Acts 21:27-31). He faced dark circumstances: he was a prisoner in Rome. Paul was waiting to appear before the Supreme Court of Rome. However, he used his ark circumstances to spread the gospel. Paul did not see himself as a prisoner of Rome. He saw himself as a prisoner for Jesus Christ. He did not see himself a victim; he saw himself as a victor for Christ.
His enemies taught that having arrested Paul and putting him to prison would destroy him and his influence- in fact, they had hoped to murder him (Acts 23:12-15). However, these men succeeded only in broadening and making more permanent the apostle’s accomplishment.
Paul-his imprisonment and stand for Christ and the gospel which he preached- became the conversation throughout Rome, the conversation among all the social circles including the upper strata, the very palace of the emperor.
Acts 28;30,31 notes a period of two years during which Paul lived in his own “hired house” in Rome and received visitors whom he taught and counseled.
Persecution has often served to make the church more firm in his faith and its eagerness to spread the gospel. The persecutors fail to realize that, while they can hinder the movements of the messengers, they cannot suppress the power of the message!
B. Other Believers are Encouraged (v.14) Christians in Rome knew that Paul was physically restrained by being imprisoned. Rather than being intimidated by the fact, however, many of them had become encouraged by Paul’s example to speak the word plainly and to accept the consequences. No doubt some also responded to the need for faithful persons to pick up the work where Paul had been forced to lay it down.
Paul’s dynamic witness made a strong impact upon all those around him. His strong witness, despite his terrible circumstances, stirred many believers to become much more confident in their own witnessing.
Paul was providing evidences of the blessing one receives in the service of Christ, even under less than ideal conditions. He was also giving a powerful demonstration that the claims he had made in others letters about God’s presence during difficulties (as in Romans 8:28 and 2Corinthians 12:9-10) were more than mere words.
The lesson for us is that, we must never let circumstances get us down- never let them defeat our testimony and witness for Christ, no matter what they are.
Notes: “When the Communists were in control of the former Soviet Union and of Eastern Europe, they encountered numerous examples of this kind of evangelistic fervor. They put Christians in prison for preaching, and the Christian continued to preach, leading fellow prisoners and even some of their captors to faith. They were as dangerous to the Communists cause inside the prison as they had been outside. In some cases they were actually been outside. In some cases they were actually released early because their evangelistic success in prison embarrassed the government!” (A Dangerous Prisoner- by R.C.S.)
C. Minor Setbacks (vv.15-17) Most likely there are leaders among the Christians there in Rome before Paul arrived (Acts 28:13-15) Some of them apparently were envious…
• Of result he was having
• Of his influence in winning people to Christ
• Of the favorable attention and prestige he was gaining from the community
• Of the support and loyalty of the believers.
They were tempted to show that whatever Paul could do, they could do better.
On the other hand, many Christians in Rome knew that Paul’s highest priority was the advancement of the kingdom. There were genuine preachers who were ministers in an around the metropolis of Rome. Some were preaching out of love, and they were encouraging the members to show their love for Paul.
Love is a source of encouragement to any preacher- both love for the Lord and love for His messenger.
D. Yet Christ is Preached (v.18) The truth in Christ was never to be compromised (Galatians 1:8). Christ is to be declare in the glory of his person, in the fullness of his grace, in the suitableness of his offices and great salvation, in the Excellency of his righteousness, and the virtue of his blood, and the efficacy of his sacrifice.
The basis of Paul’s rejoicing was the spreading of the Gospel and the welfare of the Church. His own welfare was a minor concern.
We must always remember, we are all ministers and workers if we have been truly called by God. Each has his call, and no matter the call, the road is always difficult.
The Lord does not require big names and big followers from us all. What He requires is faithfulness in the ministry to which He has called us. Therefore let us be faithful.
II. Paul’s Testimony (1:19-26)
A. I Want to Exalt Christ (vv. 19, 20) At this point Paul turned to more personal-his own relationship with Christ during the present times of difficulties and the strength that this relationship supplied for what lay ahead. No matter what the circumstances he always preached Christ; and because he was faithful to his call, God was honoring his preaching.
Paul is sure of God’s help and deliverance because of two things:
• the prayer of his friends
• the supply of help from the Holy Spirit.
In this context salvation could describe the apostle’s release from prison or his ultimate deliverance into the glorious presence of Christ.
Note the words earnest expectation in verse 20. It means intense expectation. It means to gaze into the distance with the head erect and outstretched just like watchman to a tower. As one craning his neck to see who or what is coming. It is turning the eyes away from everything else and focusing upon one object and one object alone. Paul eagerly expected that he would remain firm in his courageous representation of Christ.
“These words are so placed as that they may refer both to what goes before and what follows after; and the sense be either that the apostle had earnest expectation and hope, even a strong confidence of his salvation, or deliverance from his confinement” (John Gill’s commentary)
Notice again in verse 20, Paul desired that Christ be magnified through the body in which he lived. Paul’s mind was not upon his terrible plight and circumstances; it was upon Christ. His physical body was the only available tool with which to serve his beloved Lord. His chief desire was that every thought, word, and act reflect the lordship of Jesus.
The possibility of an early death for Paul was very real. His enemies had plotted to destroy him. Yet, Paul stood for Christ. His one expectation and hope was for Christ to be exalted in his body. He wanted that Christ be honored both in his life and in his death.
That Christ shall be exalted: this was Paul’s ultimate motive. May it be ours as well.
B. To Be With Christ (vv.21-24) “To live is Christ.” Paul’s daily being was an expression of Christ. To be without Christ would mean spiritual and eternal death. He committed himself to work for love within all of society. He gave his life- every moment of it- to reach and minister to everyone.
To die is gain. Paul expressed this more fully in 2Corinthians 5:6-8: “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 I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”
To the Christian, physical death opens the way to the eternal fulfillment of his purposes for living. Until one can say with conviction, “To live is Christ,” he cannot say with confidence, “to die is gain
What does life mean to you brothers and sisters? Why are you living? What is your great purpose in life?
Nowadays everyone talk about the “bottom line.” For Christian the bottom line concerning death is that it is gain and never a loss. We all can accept this in our heads, but sometimes it is hard for us to accept it in our hearts. Paul however, was firmly convinced that he would never lose his life. He might give his life for the cause of Christ, but he never would have wanted anyone to speak of it as a loss. For Paul death was more like the return of an investment. He had invested hi life in the service of the Lord Jesus Christ, and after death he would receive the “full benefits’ from this investment.
(Verse 22).” If I am go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me, Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!”
While to die is gain, Paul realized that, if he should go on LIVING in his earthly body, it would provide a means of fruitful labor among the people around him.
Now if Paul had to choose immediately between living and dying, he wouldn’t know which way to cast his ballot.
Let us join with Paul in doing God’s will as we are able, and pray that He will be glorified in the result. Beyond that, it was not the prerogative of even the great apostle to know the time of his death.
(Verses 23-24) The natural mind wonders and questions how a person in his right mind could ever want to go ahead and die. However, to Apostle Paul between two alternatives, both of which are favorable.
An early death, with escape from present difficulties into everlasting presence of his beloved Lord (2Cor. 5:8), would be greatly to his own advantage.
On the other hand, if he were true to his own admonition in Philippians 2:3 and 1Corinthians 10:24, he would continue making himself helpfully available to his brethren as long as possible.
Promise after promise could be listed, and reason after reason could be given as to why the faithful believer sometimes aches to go on to be with the Lord. As Barclay says, “it will be a glorious day of union and reunion- a glorious day of union with the wonderful Lord and glorious days of reunion with all our loved ones who have gone on ahead of us.”
C. I Will Remain (vv.25-26) Paul’s conclusion brought him back to the theme of Joy that characterize this epistle. It was this joy that would come to the Philippi an Christian as they were blessed by his further ministry, especially through his COMING to see them again.
First Timothy 1:3 speaks of a visit by Paul to Macedonia, which evidently took place after his first imprisonment in Rome. The joyous reunion with the Philippi an Christians that most likely took place during this journey surely must have fulfilled Paul’s expectation that the Philippians’ JOY in CHRIST would be enhanced by being able to witness how the Philippians had grown in DEDICATION to Christ.
Apart from Jesus such JOY, is not possible.
Conclusion
In many of the conversations that involve family members or friends, the final words are, “We’ll be in touch.” There is a firm commitment to ongoing communication.
It was so, too, in Paul’s relationship with the Philippians. He had said that he expect to see them in Philippi, but he was not sure when. He had affirmed his commitment and his confidence with regards to LIVING in Christ for time and eternity. Of that he was very sure!
So, regardless when he will meet the Philippians again, he would stay in touch, expecting to hear that they had joined him in putting Christ above all else, in being STEADFAST in that commitment, and in SUFFERING with and for Christ without wavering.
Should not we, who also have received the message Paul wrote to the Philippians, accept the same responsibility? We’ll be in touch-with one another and especially with God’s word and God’s Son. In Him we live!
Reflections
• If we are living for Christ, we must know that God is in control of our lives.
• What does life mean to you?
• Why are you living?
• What is your great purpose in life?
• What do you do when you face the crises of life and then in the end come face to face with death?
Prayer: O Lord, our God, You have provided living space for us, temporarily in this earth of your creation and eternally in Jesus Christ, Your Son and our Lord. Help us to live in Him now, with all our being and all our belongings, that we may be prepared to live with Him eternally. In His name we ask. Amen.
