Win-Win Situation Series

This verse is a tough one to translate. It’s hard to figure out what Paul is getting at – because he always uses this word for salvation to refer to eternal salvation.

I don’t believe that Paul is saying in this verse that expects to be set free from prison, although he does say that later.

Paul sees salvation as a process, not as a one-time walk-down-the-aisle event.

(This is something we’ll see throughout this study of Philippians)

And while salvation is a free gift from God, it is also something we have a chance to participate in.

We don’t earn our salvation, but there is a sense in which we can participate in the process of salvation.

I think Paul is saying that, by their prayers and God’s Spirit, this experience – regardless of the outcome – is an aspect of Paul’s participation in the process of his salvation.

[This may be a different way of thinking about things, so don’t worry if that seems a bit hard to grasp at this point. This is a theme that runs throughout Philippians, so maybe by the time we finish it’ll all make sense.]

Paul goes on in verse 20, to say:

20My deep desire and hope is that I shall never fail in my duty [or, more literally, that I shall not be ashamed], but that at all times, and especially right now, I shall be full of courage, so that with my whole being I shall bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die.

Paul is saying, “I just want to give Christ glory.

All I want out of my life is for people to know and worship the Lord Jesus Christ.

If the best way to do that is to be a martyr, that’s fine – because then I will actually stand in the presence of the Lord I love and long to see.

But if the best way to do it is to live and keep on preaching, that’s fine, too.

But throughout this whole trial, I want to be faithful and I want people to hear the truth of the gospel”

And then comes one of this book’s “greatest hits,” one of the most powerful verses in all of Scripture: “For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

It’s a win-win situation for me! If I die, I’m with Jesus, whom I love more than life itself! I’m in heaven! No more prisons; no more beatings; no more tears; no more death. Eternal, abundant life with Jesus. It’s no wonder Paul sees death as being the better option.

Paul is caught between his two greatest desires: to know Christ and to make Him known

If he dies, he can know Christ in a way he never has

But if he lives, he can continue to advance the gospel

Paul doesn’t have a “death wish” – he just wants to know Christ and make Him known and he doesn’t care what price he has to pay for that to happen.

He just loves Jesus – and he is longing to see Him face to face.

So, Paul is convinced that he will be released for the sake of the Philippians, and no doubt, for the sake of others to whom he will minister.

The Result of Paul’s Release

Paul tells the Philippians the purpose of his release is that he might “add to your progress and joy in the faith.” [v 25]

The word for “progress” is only used 3 times in the whole NT: two of those times are in this passage.