November 19, 2025 • 30 mins
Have you ever been in a good dilemma—one where both alternatives were good, and it was hard to say which one was best? That’s how Paul looked at living or dying! Most people would say that’s an easy call because living is good and dying is bad. But Paul said both are good to a Christian. Either way, the future is bright. The one thing that tips the scales is what is needed, not what we want. In this passage of Philippians, Paul teaches us again to think unselfishly.
Are you ready to die? It’s only when you can honestly say yes to that question that you can be ready to live. In this episode we’ll look at the only true philosophy of life and death, and our teacher will be a man who faced the danger of death on more than one occasion and finally departed from this life.
Read about this subject:
- Scriptures: Philippians 1:19-30
- “Living for Jesus”
Listen to more on this subject:
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Hi, I’m Kerry Duke, host of My Godand My Neighbor podcast from Tennessee
Bible College, where we see the Bibleas not just another book, but the Book.
Join us in a study of the inspiredWord to strengthen your faith and to
share what you've learned with others.
Paul was a prisoner in Rome.
He’s writing to Christiansin the city of Philippi.
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He told them not to bediscouraged about his troubles.
He said there was good that came outof the bad things that happened to him.
That’s what we looked at lasttime in Philippians chapter
one verses 12 through 18.
In the passage we’re about to lookat in Philippians chapter 1, Paul
talks about something that is inthe back of our minds all the time.
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Death.
How we look at death makes allthe difference in the world
as to how we feel about life.
The threat of death wasno stranger to Paul.
The Jews almost killed him inthe city of Lystra in Acts 14.
In fact, the brethren thought he was dead.
Later in Acts chapter 23, over40 Jews swore that they wouldn’t
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eat until they had killed Paul.
And now, after years of imprisonment andtrials before Roman judges, he’s still
a prisoner of the Roman government.
He knows they can put himto death or set him free.
So how did he feel about that?
Was he worried?
Was he afraid?
Let’s read beginning in verse 19.
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Paul says “this shall turn to mysalvation,” the King James Version says.
The New King James has “this will turnout for my deliverance.” That’s actually
the meaning here. He’s not talking abouthis salvation from sin in this verse.
He’s talking about his deliverance frombeing a prisoner of the Roman government.
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He said “this” – the troubles thathe just talked about in verses 12-18
turning out for good – will alsoturn into something even better for
him, and that is, being set free.
The prayers of the brethren and thesupply of the Spirit would combine
to make that happen, Paul said.
Then in verse 20 he says, “Accordingto my earnest expectation and hope,
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that in nothing I shall be ashamed,but with all boldness, as always, so
now also Christ shall be magnified inmy body, whether by life or death.”
Paul is confident he would be set free.
He had an earnest expectationand hope about this.
After being a prisoner for severalyears, he didn’t lose hope.
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He didn’t regret standing up for Christ.
If Paul had been like some, hemight have said to himself, “Maybe
I shouldn’t have been so outspoken.
Maybe I was too hard on people.
Maybe if I had used a softerapproach I’d still be out there
preaching.” But he didn’t.
All these troubles didn’t weaken Paul.
They made him stronger.
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He said he was as bold as ever.
He is determined not to be ashamed.
He said he was not going to be ashamedof anything, anything, that is,
involved in the service of His Lord.
Today there are a lot of peoplewho will try to make you feel
silly for believing the Bible.
Don’t be.
Paul wasn’t.
He said in Romans one verse 16 that hewas not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.
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Jesus said if we are ashamedof Him, He will be ashamed
of us [Mark eight verse 38].
Paul said regardless of what happens,he will be as bold as ever for Christ.
His courage and faith really comesout when he said Christ would
be magnified or glorified in hisbody whether by life or by death.
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When he says Christ would be glorifiedin his body, he doesn’t mean there
was anything special about his bodythat would give praise to the Lord.
Remember, Paul had a thorn in the flesh.
Some of the Corinthians criticizedhim because he looked weak physically
[Second Corinthians 10 verse 10].
When he says in Philippians one verse20 that Christ will be magnified
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in his body, the words “in my body”mean what he does with his body
and what happens to his body, inother words, his life or his death.
Paul says if he lives, Christ willbe magnified in his body because
he will use it to glorify Jesus.
And if his body reaches the pointof death, Christ will be magnified
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or glorified by his death.
These are the words of a manwho had lost his freedom, but he
was not afraid to lose his life.
Live or die – Paul said, eitherway he would glorify Jesus.
Then he spoke some of the mostmemorable words about his attitude
toward life and death in verse 21.
“For to me, to live is Christ,and to die is gain.” These are
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the only two possibilities.We’re either living or dead.
Sometimes we complain abouthow complicated life is.
But it’s really quite simple.
We live and then we die.
The Bible says in Hebrews 9 verse27 that it is appointed to men once
to die, but after this the judgment.
Our attitude toward life dependson our attitude toward death.
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And our attitude toward deathdepends on our attitude toward life.
why do we have to die?
To answer that question, we have to ask,“Why do we live? Why are we here?” The
Bible says in Acts 17 verse 27 that Godmade man and placed him on the earth for
this reason (05:24):
to seek the Lord, if perhaps they might feel after Him and find Him,
though He is not far from every one of us.
God put us here to seek Him,to find Him, and to serve Him.
That is what living is all about.
If a person has any other view of life, hewill never be truly satisfied and happy.
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He may tell himself that he’s happy, butdeep down he knows something’s missing.
There’s an emptiness insidehim that won’t go away.
But it’s just the opposite witha Christian who knows why he
is here or why she is here.
We understand that lifeis very, very short.
The Bible says in James chapter 4 verse 14that our life is like a vapor that appears
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for a little time and then vanishes away.
And we also know therewill be troubles in life.
That’s not a possibility.
That’s a guarantee.
Job said it well in Jobchapter 14 verse one.
He said man that is born of womanis of few days and full of trouble.
But Christians also understand thatbelieving God, trusting Him, and obeying
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Him is the only real life to live.
That’s what Jesus taught, and that’swhat Paul is teaching these Christians.
That’s what he’s teachingyou and me right now.
That’s what life is all about.
And that’s what Paul means when hesays for to me to live is Christ.
It’s all about Him, not me.
You could say that this whole bookof Philippians from this point on
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unfolds and explains that one verse.
But what about dying?
If there’s one thing that people all overthe world have a fear of, it’s death.
Hebrews two verse 15 says that thefear of death can be like a prison.
A prison that is, until we aresaved through the blood of Jesus
Christ by obedience to His gospel.
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The fear of death nevercompletely goes away.
But knowing that we have a home inheaven makes it much easier to deal with.
It makes it much easier to faceit either when our loved ones
pass away or when we near death.
The word of God givesus courage and strength.
That’s why Paul, who had comeclose to dying a number of
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times, was not afraid to die.
And it’s when you’re not afraid todie that you’re truly ready to live.
Paul said as far as death isconcerned, to me, to die is gain.
Paul didn’t talk aboutdeath like so many of us do.
We talk about losing our life.
Paul talked about gaining, not losing.
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He was talking about gaining the reward.
He’s talking about going to a placeof perfect rest, peace and comfort.
He’s talking about going to that landwhere there is no sorrow or pain or sin.
How can that be a loss?
How do you look at living and dying?
If you live for yourself, you’ll beafraid to die because you’re thinking
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about the earthly things you’ll lose.
You’ll be anxious and you maynot even know why you’re anxious.
It’s because when we live forourselves, death is like a dark
cloud hanging over us, but we don’tsee it because we refuse to look up.
But when you admit that you’regoing to die, and submit your life
completely to God, there is a peaceand comfort that comes over you
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that nothing in the world can match.
Paul had that peace.
He had that confidence.
He was ready to die.
But we shouldn’t think that Paulgained that kind of resolve after he
had been in prison all those years.
He was ready to diebefore all this started.
He was arrested in thebook of Acts chapter 21.
From that point throughout therest of the book, he is a prisoner.
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But before any of thathappened, Paul counted the cost.
He had been in trouble with theauthorities many times before
this for preaching the gospel.
He knew he would be in dangerif he went to Jerusalem.
In Acts chapter 20, he told the eldersof the church at Ephesus, “And see, now
I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem,not knowing the things that will happen
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to me there, except that the HolySpirit testifies in every city, saying
that chains and tribulations awaitme” [verses 22 and 23]. How did Paul
feel about that? He said in verse 24,“But none of these things move me; nor
do I count my life dear to myself, sothat I may finish my race with joy,
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and the ministry which I receivedfrom the Lord of Jesus, to testify
to the gospel of the grace of God.”
In Acts 21 verses 10 and 11, a prophetnamed Agabus told Paul that if he
went to Jerusalem, the Jews wouldarrest him and hand him over to the
Gentiles which meant the Romans.
The Christians who were therepleaded with him not to go.
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But Paul said, “What do you meanby weeping and breaking my heart?
For I am ready not only to be bound,but also to die at Jerusalem for the
name of the Lord Jesus.” Think aboutPaul’s words: I am ready to die.
Are you?
You may be thinking aboutanother passage where Paul
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talked about being ready to die.
That's in Second Timothy chapter 4 versesix: "For I am already being poured out
as a drink offering, and the time ofmy departure is at hand.” Paul wasn't
talking about being set free from prison.
This is a few years after hewrote the book of Philippians.
He's in a different prison andhe knows he's going to die.
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He knows that death is near.
Tradition has it thathe was executed by Nero.
But this verse definitelyis about his death.
He’s talking about dyingand leaving this world.
And he said that time was near.
But in the book of Philippians,he’s not to that point yet.
But even when he wasn’t facing the dangeror the reality of death, he was ready.
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He was ready at all times to diebecause he knew what his life was about.
How many people today can say this?
Do they know why they're here?
Do they think about where they're going?
Paul understood themeaning of life and death.
He said in verse 22 and 23, “But if Ilive on in the flesh, this will mean fruit
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from my labor; yet what I shall choose, Icannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between
the two, having a desire to depart andbe with Christ, which is far better.”
Paul says, let's look at the alternatives.
If I live a few more years,what would that mean?
And I want you to noticewhat he did not say.
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He didn't talk about allthe troubles he would have.
He didn’t say anything aboutthe challenges of growing older.
He didn’t say, “I don’t want tolive in this kind of world anymore.
There’s too much meanness and evil.”That’s the way we think sometimes.
We look at the dark side.
But Paul kept his eye on whathe was doing for the Lord.
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Instead of being depressed over thestruggles of living in this world, he
focused on the good that he could do.
That's what he means when he says, “Butif I live on in the flesh, this will mean
fruit from my labor.” He could preachthe gospel and souls would be saved.
He could teach and build up the church.
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He could send preachers like Timothyand Titus to different places to preach.
He could write these inspired lettersto instruct and edify churches.
He could do all that andmuch more even as a prisoner.
Let's focus in a little more closelyon those words that he wrote.
He talked about the fruit of his labor.
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That means the results of his work.
He's talking about good results,not bad responses where people
rejected him and the gospel.
What I'm saying is that Paul hadconfidence that his labor would bring
forth good fruit or good results.
You don't find Paul saying here oranywhere else, “It won't do any good.”
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Oh, he knew that trying to teach somepeople the gospel wouldn't do any good.
But he was confident that if hecontinued to teach and preach the gospel,
his effort would bring forth fruit.
Sometimes preachers, teachers,and Christians in general reach a
point where they get discouraged.
We try and try to convert others.
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We teach church members to live right.
And sometimes it just seems thatour words are falling on deaf ears.
It seems that we're notmaking any progress.
This is one of the reasonspreachers quit preaching.
It's one of the reasons Christians stoptalking to other people about the Bible.
When you've put your heart and soulinto evangelism and it just seems like
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it's being thrown back in your face,it's hard to get excited about it.
It's easy to pull back and do nothing.
But think about Paul.
Think about the environment he lived in.
He didn't convert everybodythat he talked to.
Sometimes he couldn't getchurch members to listen.
And yet here he is, a prisonerof the Roman government, and
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how does he look at the future?
He's confident, not depressed.
He has an optimistic outlook abouthis work in teaching the gospel.
He said if I live on, there willbe good results from my work.
Whether you're a preacher or not, thisapplies to you if you're a Christian
and you're trying to do what's right.
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When you live a good life beforeothers, it will bring forth fruit—in
your lifetime and after you're dead.
You will never see all of it.
You may never even see most of it.
That's just the nature of thingsand it's the nature of people.
And you may think that people arenot listening, but sometimes they
listen more than you think they do.
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It takes years of experience in livingthe Christian life to understand
the power of the word of God.
Sometimes it takes people yearsbefore they act on something
they remember you saying.
This is where faith comes in.
You have to trust in the word of God.
That's where the power is anyway.
It's not in you.
It's not in your wisdom.
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The power to convert and preservesouls is in the word of God.
So this means that a Christian should lookat the future in the same way Paul did.
We should say, "I don't know how longI have left on the earth, but I do know
that I can work for the Lord and dogood, however much or however little.
But Paul was human, and even in hishuman side we see the best of this man.
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He said in verse 22, “What I shallchoose I cannot tell.” What kind
of choice is he talking about?
Living or dying.
Life or death.
Paul is saying if he had to choosebetween the two, he couldn't say.
He had mixed feelings about it.
He said he was hard pressedbetween these two alternatives.
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Of course, he's speakingsomewhat hypothetically.
He's not saying he wasthinking about taking his life.
He's talking about how he felt aboutliving and how he felt about dying.
If he could go or stay,which one would he choose?
That's the dilemma Paul was talking about.
He said that would put himbetween a rock and a hard place.
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He looked on the one hand at death.
And when he did, the thought ofdying was very appealing to him.
It appeal to him because he knew whatwas waiting on the other side for him.
He knew there was a placeof rest, a place of peace.
The Bible says in Revelation 14 verse13, “Blessed are the dead who die in the
Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit,that they may rest from their labors, and
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their works follow them.” He knew he had abetter home waiting for him when he died.
Paul knew that because he was a Christian.
He was aware of what theBible taught about this.
He knew it because hewas an inspired apostle.
But he also knew it becauseof personal experience.
Do you remember what Paul said inSecond Corinthians 12 verse four?
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He said that he was "caught up intoparadise and heard inexpressible words,
which it is not lawful for a man toutter.” it's interesting that Paul
doesn't talk about what he saw. Hetalks about what he heard. Whatever
he heard, it was so beautiful and soprofound that he couldn’t put it into
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words we as humans can understand.
He called that place the “third heaven.”That’s in the book of Second Corinthians
which was written a few years beforehe wrote the book of Philippians.
So Paul in a real sensealready had a taste of heaven.
That’s why he was somewhat conflictedon the inside about going or staying.
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He admitted that he had “a desire todepart”—to die—and “to be with Christ.”
That’s a natural feeling for Christians.
We don’t feel it all the time.
We feel it more at sometimes than at others.
We feel it especially when lifeis hard and very painful on us.
That doesn't mean that we'reselfish anymore than it
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means that Paul was selfish.
It just means we're human like Paul was.
It's quite natural for Christians tohave a longing to leave this world.
After all, the Bible says that weare strangers and pilgrims on the
earth [Hebrews chapter 11 verse 13].
The Bible says the more we suffer on earththe more we will appreciate and enjoy our
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reward waiting for us on the other side.
In Second Corinthians chapter 4, verses16 and 17, Paul said, “Therefore we do
not lose heart. Even though our outwardman is perishing, yet the inward man
is being renewed day by day. For ourlight affliction, which is, but for a
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moment, is working for us a far moreexceeding and eternal weight of glory.”
Paul wrote that and Paul believed that.
So it's only fitting that hewould say in Philippians chapter
one verse 23 that he had a desireto depart and to be with Christ.
He said that is "far better." Farbetter, that is, than this world.
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He doesn't say that it's just better.
He doesn't say it's a littlebetter or somewhat better.
He says it is far better thananything this world can give.
So think about thatparadise being incomparable.
Nothing in this world can compare toit in terms of joy and peace and glory.
Oh, there are things that give ushappiness and peace in this life.
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But that land of rest will be farbetter than anything we've ever had.
But there's another way that nothing cancompare to paradise beyond the grave.
If you take all of the bad thingsin life and compare them to all the
good things in glory after we die asChristians, there is no comparison.
The sorrow and pain pale incomparison to the reward.
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God has waiting for His people.
That's what Paul teaches in Romanseight verse 18: “For I consider that
the sufferings of this present timeare not worthy to be compared with the
glory which shall be revealed in us.”
Paul is saying to these PhilippianChristians that as far as he is
concerned, in regard to his owndesires, he would rather depart
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and go to this sweet land of rest.
But then he looked at theother side of the coin.
He said in verse 24, “Nevertheless toremain in the flesh is more needful
for you." Paul was thinking about them.
He was thinking abouthow much they needed him.
If he had only been thinking abouthimself, he would've just said
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I'd like to depart from this lifebecause it will be far better.
But he was too conscientious justto say that and drop the matter.
He was concerned about these Christians.
He loved them and wanted todo everything he could for as
long as he could to help them.
He looked at what he wanted, butthen he looked at what was needed.
That's a daily challenge we face.
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Our wants and our needs.
Sometimes we get the two out of order.
We say "I need to do this" or “Ineed to get that.” Many times what
we really mean is "I want to dothis" or “I want to get that.”
Paul spent a lot of his life thinkingabout others and serving others.
That's what he's doing herein Philippians chapter 1.
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That's why he was so happy.
That's why he had so much peace inside.
That's why he was so confident andoptimistic in his outlook on life.
Now watch what happens after hetalked about going or staying.
He told these Christians that hebelieved he would be set free.
That's what we read in verses 25 and 26.
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"And being confident of this, I know thatI shall remain and continue with you all
for your progress and joy of faith, thatyour rejoicing for me may be more abundant
in Christ Jesus by my coming to youagain." So Paul expected to be released.
He said in Philippians chapter 2 verse24 that he expected to be released soon.
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Remember that Paul wrote four books whilehe was under house arrest: Ephesians,
Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.
And in the letter to Philemon, Paul toldhim to prepare a guest room for him.
And here in Philippians chapter 1 verses25 and 26, he said one of the benefits
of being set free was that it wouldgive greater joy to these Christians.
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He said their rejoicing would be evengreater by his coming to see them again.
But here's the point I wantyou to notice in verse 27.
Paul said whether that happens or not,that is, whether they let me go or
keep me as a prisoner, you, PhilippianChristians need to keep doing what
you're doing—living the Christian life.
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He said, “Only let your conduct beworthy of the gospel of Christ, so
that whether I come and see you or amabsent, I may hear of your affairs, that
you stand fast in one spirit, with onemind striving together for the faith
of the gospel.” Paul told them notjust to live right when he was there.
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He said you live the same way when I'mnot with you as you do when I'm with you.
Sometimes Christians act oneway around a preacher and a
different way with other people.
Paul is teaching us that it shouldn'tmake any difference whether we are
around a preacher, an elder, a Bibleclass teacher or if we're by ourselves.
We serve God, not any man or woman.
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Our loyalty is to Jesus Christfirst and foremost, and He sees us
and knows what we're doing whereverwe are no matter who we're with.
Just a few verses later in chapter2, verse 12, Paul reiterates this:
"Therefore, my beloved, as you have alwaysobeyed, not as in my presence only, but
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now much more in my absence, work out yourown salvation with fear and trembling.”
These Christians neededPaul in their lives.
They needed his strength.
They needed his leadership.
But they also needed tolearn to stand on their own.
Paul gave them courage by his example,but they needed to encourage themselves.
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Why is he saying this?
Because he won't always be there.
He just talked about dying.
And eventually he did.
These churches had to learnto get along without Paul.
Sure, there was a big void when he died.
There was always a huge, empty placein the hearts of God's people when
someone important died (25:10):
Moses, John the Baptist, and more than anybody, Jesus.
In one way you could say that Philippiansone verse 27 had the side benefit of
preparing these Christians to stand ontheir own when Paul left this world.
He said, while he was living thatthey should stand fast for the Lord.
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That would be even more trueand more needed when he died.
But there's anotherreason why Paul said this.
The Christian life is a battle.
We've already talked about what happenswhen a high ranking military leader that
soldiers look up to and depend on dies.
Paul is telling these Christiansin verse 27 to stand together
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and fight this battle.
Did you notice that he said theywere to “stand fast in one spirit,
with one mind striving togetherfor the faith of the gospel”?
He said you need to beunited, not divided.
It's hard for any nation tofight a war when they're fighting
each other on the inside.
It's hard for any church tofight sin on the outside when
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they're fighting on the inside.
He said to stand togetherand strive together.
He didn't say to striveand fight with each other.
He said to strive togetherfor the faith of the gospel.
That's what they had been doing.
He said in chapter 1 verseseven that they stood with him
in the defense of the gospel.
Paul said that God had placed himto defend the gospel in verse 17.
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Now he tells all of them, thatwhether he is there with them or
not, they should get along witheach other and fight the real enemy.
But fighting a war takes courage.
That's why Paul is encouraging them.
He said in verse 28 (26:53):
Don't be afraid of your enemies.
He wrote, “And not in any wayterrified by your adversaries, which
is to them a proof of perdition, butto you of salvation, and that from
God." Paul said when your enemiespersecute you, it proves two things.
First of all, it is a proofof their perdition, that is,
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it proves that they are lost.
It proves their damnation.
Second, it proves that you are saved.
When they persecute you,it proves your salvation.
It shows as we sometimes say thatyou're doing something right or
else they wouldn't bother you.
They see Jesus living in you.
That's why they persecute you.
Then Paul reminded these Christiansof something that Christians
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today need to be reminded of.
He said it's your dutyto suffer for Jesus.
It's your duty to be persecuted.
It's your duty to put up withpeople talking bad about you and
giving you the cold shoulder.
That happened to the prophetsin the Old Testament.
It happened to John the Baptist.
It happened to Jesus for sure.
It happened to the apostles, andit will happen to any Christian.
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In his last inspired letter, Paul saidin Second Timothy chapter 3 verse 12,
“Yes, and all who desire to live godlyin Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”
And here in Philippians chapter 1 verse29, Paul said, “For to you it has been
granted on behalf of Christ, not only tobelieve in Him, but also to suffer for
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His sake.” It's not enough just to say, "Ibelieve in God; I believe in Jesus.” The
Bible says we must also suffer for him.
Now here's what Paul says about all this.
In the last verse of this chapter, hesaid, "Having the same conflict which you
saw in me and now hear is in me.” Paulsaid you know what I have been through.
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You saw what happened to me when Iwas beaten and thrown into prison
in your own city of Philippi.
You know what I'm going throughright now as a prisoner.
And now, Paul said, you're goingthrough the same kind of persecution.
He said you have the "sameconflict” that I have.
And, if I can do it, you can do it.
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If I can endure what I have beenthrough and what I'm going through,
you can get through these hardships.
You can endure this persecution.
So, he tells them not to be afraid.
Instead, he keeps tellingthem to be happy, to rejoice!
Do you see what a valuable lessonhe's teaching them and teaching us?
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Sometimes it's a fearfulthing to be a Christian.
But that doesn't have to rule you.
It doesn't have to take away your joy.
And if you put into practice, whatPaul says in this book, it won’t.
Thank you for listeningto My God and My Neighbor.
Stay connected with our podcast on ourwebsite and on Apple, Spotify, YouTube,
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or wherever fine podcasts are distributed.
Tennessee Bible College, providingChristian education since 1975
in Cookeville, Tennessee, offersundergraduate and graduate programs.
Study at your level.
Aim higher and get in touch with us today.
Hi, I’m Kerry Duke, host of My Godand My Neighbor podcast from Tennessee
Bible College, where we see the Bibleas not just another book, but the Book.
Join us in a study of the inspiredWord to strengthen your faith and to
share what you've learned with others.
Paul was a prisoner in Rome.
He’s writing to Christiansin the city of Philippi.
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He told them not to bediscouraged about his troubles.
He said there was good that came outof the bad things that happened to him.
That’s what we looked at lasttime in Philippians chapter
one verses 12 through 18.
In the passage we’re about to lookat in Philippians chapter 1, Paul
talks about something that is inthe back of our minds all the time.
(00:42):
Death.
How we look at death makes allthe difference in the world
as to how we feel about life.
The threat of death wasno stranger to Paul.
The Jews almost killed him inthe city of Lystra in Acts 14.
In fact, the brethren thought he was dead.
Later in Acts chapter 23, over40 Jews swore that they wouldn’t
(01:04):
eat until they had killed Paul.
And now, after years of imprisonment andtrials before Roman judges, he’s still
a prisoner of the Roman government.
He knows they can put himto death or set him free.
So how did he feel about that?
Was he worried?
Was he afraid?
Let’s read beginning in verse 19.
(01:25):
Paul says “this shall turn to mysalvation,” the King James Version says.
The New King James has “this will turnout for my deliverance.” That’s actually
the meaning here. He’s not talking abouthis salvation from sin in this verse.
He’s talking about his deliverance frombeing a prisoner of the Roman government.
(01:46):
He said “this” – the troubles thathe just talked about in verses 12-18
turning out for good – will alsoturn into something even better for
him, and that is, being set free.
The prayers of the brethren and thesupply of the Spirit would combine
to make that happen, Paul said.
Then in verse 20 he says, “Accordingto my earnest expectation and hope,
(02:09):
that in nothing I shall be ashamed,but with all boldness, as always, so
now also Christ shall be magnified inmy body, whether by life or death.”
Paul is confident he would be set free.
He had an earnest expectationand hope about this.
After being a prisoner for severalyears, he didn’t lose hope.
(02:31):
He didn’t regret standing up for Christ.
If Paul had been like some, hemight have said to himself, “Maybe
I shouldn’t have been so outspoken.
Maybe I was too hard on people.
Maybe if I had used a softerapproach I’d still be out there
preaching.” But he didn’t.
All these troubles didn’t weaken Paul.
They made him stronger.
(02:51):
He said he was as bold as ever.
He is determined not to be ashamed.
He said he was not going to be ashamedof anything, anything, that is,
involved in the service of His Lord.
Today there are a lot of peoplewho will try to make you feel
silly for believing the Bible.
Don’t be.
Paul wasn’t.
He said in Romans one verse 16 that hewas not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.
(03:16):
Jesus said if we are ashamedof Him, He will be ashamed
of us [Mark eight verse 38].
Paul said regardless of what happens,he will be as bold as ever for Christ.
His courage and faith really comesout when he said Christ would
be magnified or glorified in hisbody whether by life or by death.
(03:36):
When he says Christ would be glorifiedin his body, he doesn’t mean there
was anything special about his bodythat would give praise to the Lord.
Remember, Paul had a thorn in the flesh.
Some of the Corinthians criticizedhim because he looked weak physically
[Second Corinthians 10 verse 10].
When he says in Philippians one verse20 that Christ will be magnified
(03:58):
in his body, the words “in my body”mean what he does with his body
and what happens to his body, inother words, his life or his death.
Paul says if he lives, Christ willbe magnified in his body because
he will use it to glorify Jesus.
And if his body reaches the pointof death, Christ will be magnified
(04:18):
or glorified by his death.
These are the words of a manwho had lost his freedom, but he
was not afraid to lose his life.
Live or die – Paul said, eitherway he would glorify Jesus.
Then he spoke some of the mostmemorable words about his attitude
toward life and death in verse 21.
“For to me, to live is Christ,and to die is gain.” These are
(04:43):
the only two possibilities.We’re either living or dead.
Sometimes we complain abouthow complicated life is.
But it’s really quite simple.
We live and then we die.
The Bible says in Hebrews 9 verse27 that it is appointed to men once
to die, but after this the judgment.
Our attitude toward life dependson our attitude toward death.
(05:05):
And our attitude toward deathdepends on our attitude toward life.
why do we have to die?
To answer that question, we have to ask,“Why do we live? Why are we here?” The
Bible says in Acts 17 verse 27 that Godmade man and placed him on the earth for
this reason (05:24):
to seek the Lord, if perhaps they might feel after Him and find Him,
though He is not far from every one of us.
God put us here to seek Him,to find Him, and to serve Him.
That is what living is all about.
If a person has any other view of life, hewill never be truly satisfied and happy.
(05:47):
He may tell himself that he’s happy, butdeep down he knows something’s missing.
There’s an emptiness insidehim that won’t go away.
But it’s just the opposite witha Christian who knows why he
is here or why she is here.
We understand that lifeis very, very short.
The Bible says in James chapter 4 verse 14that our life is like a vapor that appears
(06:09):
for a little time and then vanishes away.
And we also know therewill be troubles in life.
That’s not a possibility.
That’s a guarantee.
Job said it well in Jobchapter 14 verse one.
He said man that is born of womanis of few days and full of trouble.
But Christians also understand thatbelieving God, trusting Him, and obeying
(06:32):
Him is the only real life to live.
That’s what Jesus taught, and that’swhat Paul is teaching these Christians.
That’s what he’s teachingyou and me right now.
That’s what life is all about.
And that’s what Paul means when hesays for to me to live is Christ.
It’s all about Him, not me.
You could say that this whole bookof Philippians from this point on
(06:54):
unfolds and explains that one verse.
But what about dying?
If there’s one thing that people all overthe world have a fear of, it’s death.
Hebrews two verse 15 says that thefear of death can be like a prison.
A prison that is, until we aresaved through the blood of Jesus
Christ by obedience to His gospel.
(07:15):
The fear of death nevercompletely goes away.
But knowing that we have a home inheaven makes it much easier to deal with.
It makes it much easier to faceit either when our loved ones
pass away or when we near death.
The word of God givesus courage and strength.
That’s why Paul, who had comeclose to dying a number of
(07:35):
times, was not afraid to die.
And it’s when you’re not afraid todie that you’re truly ready to live.
Paul said as far as death isconcerned, to me, to die is gain.
Paul didn’t talk aboutdeath like so many of us do.
We talk about losing our life.
Paul talked about gaining, not losing.
(07:57):
He was talking about gaining the reward.
He’s talking about going to a placeof perfect rest, peace and comfort.
He’s talking about going to that landwhere there is no sorrow or pain or sin.
How can that be a loss?
How do you look at living and dying?
If you live for yourself, you’ll beafraid to die because you’re thinking
(08:18):
about the earthly things you’ll lose.
You’ll be anxious and you maynot even know why you’re anxious.
It’s because when we live forourselves, death is like a dark
cloud hanging over us, but we don’tsee it because we refuse to look up.
But when you admit that you’regoing to die, and submit your life
completely to God, there is a peaceand comfort that comes over you
(08:41):
that nothing in the world can match.
Paul had that peace.
He had that confidence.
He was ready to die.
But we shouldn’t think that Paulgained that kind of resolve after he
had been in prison all those years.
He was ready to diebefore all this started.
He was arrested in thebook of Acts chapter 21.
From that point throughout therest of the book, he is a prisoner.
(09:05):
But before any of thathappened, Paul counted the cost.
He had been in trouble with theauthorities many times before
this for preaching the gospel.
He knew he would be in dangerif he went to Jerusalem.
In Acts chapter 20, he told the eldersof the church at Ephesus, “And see, now
I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem,not knowing the things that will happen
(09:27):
to me there, except that the HolySpirit testifies in every city, saying
that chains and tribulations awaitme” [verses 22 and 23]. How did Paul
feel about that? He said in verse 24,“But none of these things move me; nor
do I count my life dear to myself, sothat I may finish my race with joy,
(09:49):
and the ministry which I receivedfrom the Lord of Jesus, to testify
to the gospel of the grace of God.”
In Acts 21 verses 10 and 11, a prophetnamed Agabus told Paul that if he
went to Jerusalem, the Jews wouldarrest him and hand him over to the
Gentiles which meant the Romans.
The Christians who were therepleaded with him not to go.
(10:10):
But Paul said, “What do you meanby weeping and breaking my heart?
For I am ready not only to be bound,but also to die at Jerusalem for the
name of the Lord Jesus.” Think aboutPaul’s words: I am ready to die.
Are you?
You may be thinking aboutanother passage where Paul
(10:32):
talked about being ready to die.
That's in Second Timothy chapter 4 versesix: "For I am already being poured out
as a drink offering, and the time ofmy departure is at hand.” Paul wasn't
talking about being set free from prison.
This is a few years after hewrote the book of Philippians.
He's in a different prison andhe knows he's going to die.
(10:55):
He knows that death is near.
Tradition has it thathe was executed by Nero.
But this verse definitelyis about his death.
He’s talking about dyingand leaving this world.
And he said that time was near.
But in the book of Philippians,he’s not to that point yet.
But even when he wasn’t facing the dangeror the reality of death, he was ready.
(11:18):
He was ready at all times to diebecause he knew what his life was about.
How many people today can say this?
Do they know why they're here?
Do they think about where they're going?
Paul understood themeaning of life and death.
He said in verse 22 and 23, “But if Ilive on in the flesh, this will mean fruit
(11:39):
from my labor; yet what I shall choose, Icannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between
the two, having a desire to depart andbe with Christ, which is far better.”
Paul says, let's look at the alternatives.
If I live a few more years,what would that mean?
And I want you to noticewhat he did not say.
(12:00):
He didn't talk about allthe troubles he would have.
He didn’t say anything aboutthe challenges of growing older.
He didn’t say, “I don’t want tolive in this kind of world anymore.
There’s too much meanness and evil.”That’s the way we think sometimes.
We look at the dark side.
But Paul kept his eye on whathe was doing for the Lord.
(12:21):
Instead of being depressed over thestruggles of living in this world, he
focused on the good that he could do.
That's what he means when he says, “Butif I live on in the flesh, this will mean
fruit from my labor.” He could preachthe gospel and souls would be saved.
He could teach and build up the church.
(12:41):
He could send preachers like Timothyand Titus to different places to preach.
He could write these inspired lettersto instruct and edify churches.
He could do all that andmuch more even as a prisoner.
Let's focus in a little more closelyon those words that he wrote.
He talked about the fruit of his labor.
(13:02):
That means the results of his work.
He's talking about good results,not bad responses where people
rejected him and the gospel.
What I'm saying is that Paul hadconfidence that his labor would bring
forth good fruit or good results.
You don't find Paul saying here oranywhere else, “It won't do any good.”
(13:24):
Oh, he knew that trying to teach somepeople the gospel wouldn't do any good.
But he was confident that if hecontinued to teach and preach the gospel,
his effort would bring forth fruit.
Sometimes preachers, teachers,and Christians in general reach a
point where they get discouraged.
We try and try to convert others.
(13:46):
We teach church members to live right.
And sometimes it just seems thatour words are falling on deaf ears.
It seems that we're notmaking any progress.
This is one of the reasonspreachers quit preaching.
It's one of the reasons Christians stoptalking to other people about the Bible.
When you've put your heart and soulinto evangelism and it just seems like
(14:07):
it's being thrown back in your face,it's hard to get excited about it.
It's easy to pull back and do nothing.
But think about Paul.
Think about the environment he lived in.
He didn't convert everybodythat he talked to.
Sometimes he couldn't getchurch members to listen.
And yet here he is, a prisonerof the Roman government, and
(14:27):
how does he look at the future?
He's confident, not depressed.
He has an optimistic outlook abouthis work in teaching the gospel.
He said if I live on, there willbe good results from my work.
Whether you're a preacher or not, thisapplies to you if you're a Christian
and you're trying to do what's right.
(14:48):
When you live a good life beforeothers, it will bring forth fruit—in
your lifetime and after you're dead.
You will never see all of it.
You may never even see most of it.
That's just the nature of thingsand it's the nature of people.
And you may think that people arenot listening, but sometimes they
listen more than you think they do.
(15:08):
It takes years of experience in livingthe Christian life to understand
the power of the word of God.
Sometimes it takes people yearsbefore they act on something
they remember you saying.
This is where faith comes in.
You have to trust in the word of God.
That's where the power is anyway.
It's not in you.
It's not in your wisdom.
(15:29):
The power to convert and preservesouls is in the word of God.
So this means that a Christian should lookat the future in the same way Paul did.
We should say, "I don't know how longI have left on the earth, but I do know
that I can work for the Lord and dogood, however much or however little.
But Paul was human, and even in hishuman side we see the best of this man.
(15:54):
He said in verse 22, “What I shallchoose I cannot tell.” What kind
of choice is he talking about?
Living or dying.
Life or death.
Paul is saying if he had to choosebetween the two, he couldn't say.
He had mixed feelings about it.
He said he was hard pressedbetween these two alternatives.
(16:15):
Of course, he's speakingsomewhat hypothetically.
He's not saying he wasthinking about taking his life.
He's talking about how he felt aboutliving and how he felt about dying.
If he could go or stay,which one would he choose?
That's the dilemma Paul was talking about.
He said that would put himbetween a rock and a hard place.
(16:36):
He looked on the one hand at death.
And when he did, the thought ofdying was very appealing to him.
It appeal to him because he knew whatwas waiting on the other side for him.
He knew there was a placeof rest, a place of peace.
The Bible says in Revelation 14 verse13, “Blessed are the dead who die in the
Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit,that they may rest from their labors, and
(17:02):
their works follow them.” He knew he had abetter home waiting for him when he died.
Paul knew that because he was a Christian.
He was aware of what theBible taught about this.
He knew it because hewas an inspired apostle.
But he also knew it becauseof personal experience.
Do you remember what Paul said inSecond Corinthians 12 verse four?
(17:24):
He said that he was "caught up intoparadise and heard inexpressible words,
which it is not lawful for a man toutter.” it's interesting that Paul
doesn't talk about what he saw. Hetalks about what he heard. Whatever
he heard, it was so beautiful and soprofound that he couldn’t put it into
(17:45):
words we as humans can understand.
He called that place the “third heaven.”That’s in the book of Second Corinthians
which was written a few years beforehe wrote the book of Philippians.
So Paul in a real sensealready had a taste of heaven.
That’s why he was somewhat conflictedon the inside about going or staying.
(18:06):
He admitted that he had “a desire todepart”—to die—and “to be with Christ.”
That’s a natural feeling for Christians.
We don’t feel it all the time.
We feel it more at sometimes than at others.
We feel it especially when lifeis hard and very painful on us.
That doesn't mean that we'reselfish anymore than it
(18:26):
means that Paul was selfish.
It just means we're human like Paul was.
It's quite natural for Christians tohave a longing to leave this world.
After all, the Bible says that weare strangers and pilgrims on the
earth [Hebrews chapter 11 verse 13].
The Bible says the more we suffer on earththe more we will appreciate and enjoy our
(18:50):
reward waiting for us on the other side.
In Second Corinthians chapter 4, verses16 and 17, Paul said, “Therefore we do
not lose heart. Even though our outwardman is perishing, yet the inward man
is being renewed day by day. For ourlight affliction, which is, but for a
(19:11):
moment, is working for us a far moreexceeding and eternal weight of glory.”
Paul wrote that and Paul believed that.
So it's only fitting that hewould say in Philippians chapter
one verse 23 that he had a desireto depart and to be with Christ.
He said that is "far better." Farbetter, that is, than this world.
(19:35):
He doesn't say that it's just better.
He doesn't say it's a littlebetter or somewhat better.
He says it is far better thananything this world can give.
So think about thatparadise being incomparable.
Nothing in this world can compare toit in terms of joy and peace and glory.
Oh, there are things that give ushappiness and peace in this life.
(19:59):
But that land of rest will be farbetter than anything we've ever had.
But there's another way that nothing cancompare to paradise beyond the grave.
If you take all of the bad thingsin life and compare them to all the
good things in glory after we die asChristians, there is no comparison.
The sorrow and pain pale incomparison to the reward.
(20:22):
God has waiting for His people.
That's what Paul teaches in Romanseight verse 18: “For I consider that
the sufferings of this present timeare not worthy to be compared with the
glory which shall be revealed in us.”
Paul is saying to these PhilippianChristians that as far as he is
concerned, in regard to his owndesires, he would rather depart
(20:46):
and go to this sweet land of rest.
But then he looked at theother side of the coin.
He said in verse 24, “Nevertheless toremain in the flesh is more needful
for you." Paul was thinking about them.
He was thinking abouthow much they needed him.
If he had only been thinking abouthimself, he would've just said
(21:09):
I'd like to depart from this lifebecause it will be far better.
But he was too conscientious justto say that and drop the matter.
He was concerned about these Christians.
He loved them and wanted todo everything he could for as
long as he could to help them.
He looked at what he wanted, butthen he looked at what was needed.
That's a daily challenge we face.
(21:31):
Our wants and our needs.
Sometimes we get the two out of order.
We say "I need to do this" or “Ineed to get that.” Many times what
we really mean is "I want to dothis" or “I want to get that.”
Paul spent a lot of his life thinkingabout others and serving others.
That's what he's doing herein Philippians chapter 1.
(21:53):
That's why he was so happy.
That's why he had so much peace inside.
That's why he was so confident andoptimistic in his outlook on life.
Now watch what happens after hetalked about going or staying.
He told these Christians that hebelieved he would be set free.
That's what we read in verses 25 and 26.
(22:15):
"And being confident of this, I know thatI shall remain and continue with you all
for your progress and joy of faith, thatyour rejoicing for me may be more abundant
in Christ Jesus by my coming to youagain." So Paul expected to be released.
He said in Philippians chapter 2 verse24 that he expected to be released soon.
(22:39):
Remember that Paul wrote four books whilehe was under house arrest: Ephesians,
Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.
And in the letter to Philemon, Paul toldhim to prepare a guest room for him.
And here in Philippians chapter 1 verses25 and 26, he said one of the benefits
of being set free was that it wouldgive greater joy to these Christians.
(23:03):
He said their rejoicing would be evengreater by his coming to see them again.
But here's the point I wantyou to notice in verse 27.
Paul said whether that happens or not,that is, whether they let me go or
keep me as a prisoner, you, PhilippianChristians need to keep doing what
you're doing—living the Christian life.
(23:24):
He said, “Only let your conduct beworthy of the gospel of Christ, so
that whether I come and see you or amabsent, I may hear of your affairs, that
you stand fast in one spirit, with onemind striving together for the faith
of the gospel.” Paul told them notjust to live right when he was there.
(23:45):
He said you live the same way when I'mnot with you as you do when I'm with you.
Sometimes Christians act oneway around a preacher and a
different way with other people.
Paul is teaching us that it shouldn'tmake any difference whether we are
around a preacher, an elder, a Bibleclass teacher or if we're by ourselves.
We serve God, not any man or woman.
(24:08):
Our loyalty is to Jesus Christfirst and foremost, and He sees us
and knows what we're doing whereverwe are no matter who we're with.
Just a few verses later in chapter2, verse 12, Paul reiterates this:
"Therefore, my beloved, as you have alwaysobeyed, not as in my presence only, but
(24:30):
now much more in my absence, work out yourown salvation with fear and trembling.”
These Christians neededPaul in their lives.
They needed his strength.
They needed his leadership.
But they also needed tolearn to stand on their own.
Paul gave them courage by his example,but they needed to encourage themselves.
(24:51):
Why is he saying this?
Because he won't always be there.
He just talked about dying.
And eventually he did.
These churches had to learnto get along without Paul.
Sure, there was a big void when he died.
There was always a huge, empty placein the hearts of God's people when
someone important died (25:10):
Moses, John the Baptist, and more than anybody, Jesus.
In one way you could say that Philippiansone verse 27 had the side benefit of
preparing these Christians to stand ontheir own when Paul left this world.
He said, while he was living thatthey should stand fast for the Lord.
(25:33):
That would be even more trueand more needed when he died.
But there's anotherreason why Paul said this.
The Christian life is a battle.
We've already talked about what happenswhen a high ranking military leader that
soldiers look up to and depend on dies.
Paul is telling these Christiansin verse 27 to stand together
(25:53):
and fight this battle.
Did you notice that he said theywere to “stand fast in one spirit,
with one mind striving togetherfor the faith of the gospel”?
He said you need to beunited, not divided.
It's hard for any nation tofight a war when they're fighting
each other on the inside.
It's hard for any church tofight sin on the outside when
(26:16):
they're fighting on the inside.
He said to stand togetherand strive together.
He didn't say to striveand fight with each other.
He said to strive togetherfor the faith of the gospel.
That's what they had been doing.
He said in chapter 1 verseseven that they stood with him
in the defense of the gospel.
Paul said that God had placed himto defend the gospel in verse 17.
(26:40):
Now he tells all of them, thatwhether he is there with them or
not, they should get along witheach other and fight the real enemy.
But fighting a war takes courage.
That's why Paul is encouraging them.
He said in verse 28 (26:53):
Don't be afraid of your enemies.
He wrote, “And not in any wayterrified by your adversaries, which
is to them a proof of perdition, butto you of salvation, and that from
God." Paul said when your enemiespersecute you, it proves two things.
First of all, it is a proofof their perdition, that is,
(27:15):
it proves that they are lost.
It proves their damnation.
Second, it proves that you are saved.
When they persecute you,it proves your salvation.
It shows as we sometimes say thatyou're doing something right or
else they wouldn't bother you.
They see Jesus living in you.
That's why they persecute you.
Then Paul reminded these Christiansof something that Christians
(27:38):
today need to be reminded of.
He said it's your dutyto suffer for Jesus.
It's your duty to be persecuted.
It's your duty to put up withpeople talking bad about you and
giving you the cold shoulder.
That happened to the prophetsin the Old Testament.
It happened to John the Baptist.
It happened to Jesus for sure.
It happened to the apostles, andit will happen to any Christian.
(28:00):
In his last inspired letter, Paul saidin Second Timothy chapter 3 verse 12,
“Yes, and all who desire to live godlyin Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”
And here in Philippians chapter 1 verse29, Paul said, “For to you it has been
granted on behalf of Christ, not only tobelieve in Him, but also to suffer for
(28:25):
His sake.” It's not enough just to say, "Ibelieve in God; I believe in Jesus.” The
Bible says we must also suffer for him.
Now here's what Paul says about all this.
In the last verse of this chapter, hesaid, "Having the same conflict which you
saw in me and now hear is in me.” Paulsaid you know what I have been through.
(28:49):
You saw what happened to me when Iwas beaten and thrown into prison
in your own city of Philippi.
You know what I'm going throughright now as a prisoner.
And now, Paul said, you're goingthrough the same kind of persecution.
He said you have the "sameconflict” that I have.
And, if I can do it, you can do it.
(29:09):
If I can endure what I have beenthrough and what I'm going through,
you can get through these hardships.
You can endure this persecution.
So, he tells them not to be afraid.
Instead, he keeps tellingthem to be happy, to rejoice!
Do you see what a valuable lessonhe's teaching them and teaching us?
(29:29):
Sometimes it's a fearfulthing to be a Christian.
But that doesn't have to rule you.
It doesn't have to take away your joy.
And if you put into practice, whatPaul says in this book, it won’t.
Thank you for listeningto My God and My Neighbor.
Stay connected with our podcast on ourwebsite and on Apple, Spotify, YouTube,
(29:50):
or wherever fine podcasts are distributed.
Tennessee Bible College, providingChristian education since 1975
in Cookeville, Tennessee, offersundergraduate and graduate programs.
Study at your level.
Aim higher and get in touch with us today.
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