When Living Your Life is Christ

When Living Your Life is Christ

Philippians 1:12-21

 

Illus. #thisisthelife

 

            As we turn again to Philippians chapter 1, we are going to get a status update from Paul, but as he shared his status and the conclusion he had come to regarding his situation, are surprising given his situation. The context of the text is Paul, writing from prison to a church that was concerned about him. At the time of Paul’s writing this letter, he had been imprisoned for nearly four years. His imprisonment began at the end of his third missionary journey when he arrived back in Jerusalem. He was imprisoned due to false accusations, and for two years in Jerusalem, Paul stood on trial before the government officials, and an earthly king. These trials ended up resulting in his appeal to Caesar in Rome after two years of imprisonment in Jerusalem. He was then put on a ship sailing for Rome and endured shipwreck, nearly losing his life, and when he finally made it to Rome, he was put on house arrest and was chained to two guards for most of his days and all of his nights.

            So the backstory is 4 years chained to guards, 4 years of waiting. As he wrote Philippians, he did not know how it would all turn out. Whether he would be set free and released from prison, or, given the death penalty and losing his life as a martyr for preaching the good news of Jesus Christ.  Paul did not know what was to come and the circumstances he was in were the type of circumstances that few would ever be able to find contentment or joy in. What we see however, is that Paul’s status update includes phrases like “greater good,” “in this I rejoice,” “I will rejoice,” “I will not be put to shame.”

            How could this be? It was all tied to what Paul wrote in verse 21,

 

Philippians 1:21, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

 

            From Paul’s status update to the church at Philippi I want to point us to three postures Paul takes that can inform your own status updates, three points you can always apply when living your life is Christ. The points center on your view (the way you look at things), your present position, and the choice you can always make.

             

1. You Can Keep the Good News in View

 

Philippians 1:12, Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel.

 

• In verse 12, there is something Paul wants them to know.

 

• They knew that Paul had been imprisoned, chained up for 4 years. They were concerned for Paul, they did not know what was going to happen to Paul.

 

• Paul points them to his view of it all, it was all working for the greater good of the gospel.

 

• The word “the gospel” is a word that literally means, “good news,” or “good message.”

 

Philippians 1:12, I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News.

 

• The word for “gospel,” or “good news” in its two most common forms occurs 130 times in the Bible.

 

• The was a word that was used in the world outside of the church in Paul’s day and would refer to a good announcement, just like the words “good news” are used in society in our day.

 

• When the word is used in the New Testament, however, it refers to the good news of Jesus the Savior. It is the good news concerning Jesus Christ and the way of Salvation.

 

John 3:16, God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

 

• It is good news because righteousness is not possible through one’s self-effort or works. Romans 3:23 tells us that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

 

• All fall short, but Jesus came to make the way, dying on the cross and fulfilling the righteous requirement. So that all who put their faith and trust in Him as Lord and Savior will not perish but have eternal life.

 

Romans 4:25, He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. (NIV)

 

1 Corinthians 15:3-4, For I handed down to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.

 

• Paul always kept the good news in view. He made it his mission to hand down what he had received from the Lord, Salvation in Christ. It was good news, it is good news, he always had that in view.

 

Romans 1:16, I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…

 

• Paul knew that the good news could be shared with everyone and for everyone who believed, they would receive the power of God for salvation.

 

• Paul says, to live is Christ, and just as Jesus Christ had changed Paul’s life, he knew that God could do the same in other people’s lives.

 

• Paul always had it in view. In this first chapter of Philippians alone Paul mentions it several times:

 

• Verse 5, “Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now.” (NLT)

 

• Verse 7, “You have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News.” (NLT)

 

• Verse 12, “I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News.” (NLT)

 

• Verse 16, “They know I have been appointed to defend the Good News.” (NLT)

 

• Verse 27, Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News. (NLT)

 

• In those verses Paul is looking at various situations and circumstances and he views it all through the lense of the gospel, the good news.

 

• In all situations a through line, good news, good news, good news; the gospel, the gospel, the gospel.

 

Romans 1:15, As much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.

 

• We looked last week at the theme throughout the book of Philippians, “joy.” 16 times in 4 chapters.

 

• We looked at the word “joy” in our English language is defined as an emotion of delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good.

 

• I noted that biblically, joy is applied differently. The definition carries similarities, “joy” here is a Greek word, “chara.” As defined it means joy, or gladness.

 

• While it carries a similar definition, the availability and application of joy in the life of a believer is not situational or based on circumstances.

 

• How could this be? It is because there is another situation and circumstance going on inside a believer, and it has to do with the good news attached to those whose life is Christ.

 

Illus. Good news?

 

Philippians 1:12-18(a), Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the praetorian guard and to everyone else, and that most of the brothers and sisters, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear. Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from goodwill; the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking that they are causing me distress in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice.

 

• In verse 12, Paul refers to the things that have happened to him. We can see through his story in the book of Acts the things that have happened to him: setbacks, many beatings, being stoned and left for dead, false accusations, accusations, more beatings, for false accusations, more imprisonment, shipwreck, bitten by a viper, more imprisonment.

 

• Yet he looks at it all, even while still in chains, knowing that for him, to live is Christ, and he points us to the fact that God had a purpose in it all.

 

1. He Can Provide Purpose in Your Position

 

• Paul shared his view on the good news, and he tells the church that good things were happening with the good news, and he rejoiced in that.

 

• Paul spoke of his position, his circumstances and then details that through his circumstances, progress has come.

 

• The word used for progress means to advance something. It depicts forward movement despite obstacles or even danger.

 

• It is a word that was used to describe cutting a road in an impenetrable forest, or wood cutters who would precede and make a path for a coming army.

 

Philippians 1:13-14, My imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the praetorian guard and to everyone else, and that most of the brothers and sisters, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear.

 

• Paul notes that his imprisonment got the good news to Roman soldiers.

 

• The praetorian guards were the palace guards. These were the personal soldiers of the Caesar the emperor of Rome. There were around 10,000 of these soldiers in the Roman Empire.

 

• While Paul is not in the palace, the guards from the Palace were guarding him at all times. He did not eat without chains, sleep without chains, he was stuck in those chains.

 

• But it was not just Paul who was stuck in those chains, Paul was not just stuck with the soldiers, the soldiers were stuck with him.

 

• The Roman soldiers were required to be there. In 4 to 6 hour shifts. One would leave, another would come and sit. And as Paul shared the gospel that day, they would have heard what he had to say, all day, every day.

 

Acts 28:30-31, Now Paul stayed two full years in his own rented lodging and welcomed all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching things about the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered.

 

• As the book of Philippians ends, we read this:

 

Philippians 4:21-22, Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.

 

• Notice what he wrote, “I greet you in Christ, the brothers do too, saints also, and especially, those from Caesar’s household greet you.”

 

• Can you imagine this with me…as Paul is completing the book of Philippians, chained to Roman guards who have begun to realize the reality of life and salvation in Christ.

 

• As he is finishing the book… “The saints greet you, the brothers greet you…those from Caesars house greet you.”

 

• It seems to me that after listening to Paul, those chained to him began to understand the message of Christ coming from him and began to receive Christ into their lives.

 

• In Paul’s confinement, God had an assignment. God had a purpose in his position.

 

• Paul’s imprisonment did not just make progress with and become known to the palace guard; but also, “to everyone else.”

 

• From Acts 28 we understand that Paul was under house arrest. We know that though he was chained to Roman guards, he was able to have visitors. He could not leave the house, but people could come visit him.

 

• Despite Paul incarceration, Paul made an impact. Some have suggested that this is one of the, if not the, most impactful times of Paul’s ministry.

 

• He had the understanding that his conditions could not stop his mission, and the Lord had purpose even in his position.

 

• How could he make an impact at a time like that? Because to him, living life was Christ.

 

Philippians 1:14, And that most of the brothers and sisters, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear.

 

Illus. Who are you “stuck” next to?

 

2 Corinthians 5:20, We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us.

 

III.  You Can Always Make the Choice to Rejoice

 

• In verses 15 to 17, Paul makes mention that though many had been emboldened to preach the Gospel, some were preaching out of goodwill and others out of envy and rivalry.

 

• Those he is referring to are preaching the gospel, they have not changed the gospel message, but he was made aware that come were preaching with the wrong motives.

 

• Specifically, they were preaching with envy, wanting to surpass Paul in ministry and promote their own place.

 

• Due to their motives of envy and rivalry, they thought it would bring trouble to Paul while imprisoned. They had selfish motives. They didn’t want only to win, they wanted Paul to lose.

 

• Paul seems to go beyond all of that. He was more concerned with the message they were sharing, than their poor motives.

 

Acts 1:18(a), But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

 

• I want to make a quick note that some have used this text to suggest that the content of what a person preaches does not matter as long as they say the name of Jesus.

 

• That posture would not be an accurate depiction of the position being drawn here.

 

• Paul was very concerned about the content of the message, the gospel that was being preached. In fact, in Galatians 1:6-9, Paul wrote about those who were preaching a different gospel, and says regarding those preaching a false gospel, “let them be accursed.”

 

• Paul knew that if those preaching had wrong motives, God would work in them, but if they were preaching a false gospel he would have an issue with them.

 

• Paul wanted Christ to be preached, and he rejoiced in that.

 

Philippians 1:18(b)-20, But not only that, I also will rejoice, for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my eager expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

 

• The second half of verse 18 represents a shift. From what had happened to him in the past, was happening in his present, and he turned to the future.

 

• So he had looked at the past how he could rejoice in that, then the present what was happening and how he could rejoice in that, and in verses 18 to 20, he points to the future, and how he knew, he could rejoice even in that.

 

• Regarding his past, Paul said he was thankful, things had turned out for the greater good. Regarding the present, he rejoiced because the gospel was being preached, now he makes a declaration about his future, “I will rejoice.”

 

• The word he uses is chairo, to be glad, have joy, to be delighted, or to rejoice exceedingly.

 

Illus. Status update?

 

• In verse 19, he says he knows that what has happened to him will turn out for his deliverance. The word there is “salvation.”

 

Philippians 1:21, For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

 

• When living your life is Christ, you too can always and at all times make the choice to rejoice.

 

Illus. To live is _______?

 

John 11:25, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?