Philippians 1:18b-26

“Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”

Jonathan Edwards “Resolved: To live with all my might, …while I do live.” “Resolved: Never to do anything which I would be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life.” “Resolved: To think much, on all occasions, about my own dying, and of the common things which are involved with and surround death.”

The Joy of Living and Dying in the Gospel

Philippians 1:18b-26: Yes, and I will rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 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 in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

I. The Purpose of Life and Death (1:18b-20) “Yes, and I will rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.”

Eleanor Roosevelt: “The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experiences.” Robert F. Kennedy: “The purpose of life is to contribute in some way to making things better.” Siri: “All evidence to date suggests it’s chocolate.”

vs. 20: “Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.”

1 Corinthians 6:19-20: “…you are not your own. For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.”

“Deliverance” = σωτηρία (soterian) = “Spiritual Salvation”

2 nd Timothy 4:18: “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever.”

Charles Studd: “Only one life, twill soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.”

II. The Gain of Death, But the Necessity of Life (1:21-24) “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.”

John 14:2: “mansions” KJV = “dwelling place” or “room”

vs. 22: “If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me.”

Vs. 23: “hard pressed between the two”

Ecclesiastes 9:10: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might”

III. The Resolution of Living Until Death (1:25-26) “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 in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.”

Protestant Reformers Soli Deo Gloria = “For God’s Glory Alone”

vs. 26: “so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.”

Applications: 1.) Rejoice in remembering that the true purpose of living and dying is that “Christ…be exalted…whether by life or by death” (1:20)

Applications: 2.) Look Forward to Death and Heaven for the Right Reasons

Applications: 3.) Live Life With the Objective of “Fruitful Labor”

Applications: 4.) Be Resolved to Bring Glory to God Alone in Life and in Death

“Yes, and I will rejoice”