Philippians 1:21-30

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

«To me to live is Christ.» If he lived, he lived to know more of Christ studying his person, and learning by his happy experience so that he increased in his knowledge of his Lord and Saviour. If he lived, he lived to imitate Christ more closely, becoming more and more conformed to his image. If he lived, he lived to make Christ more and more known to others, and to enjoy Christ more himself. In these four senses, he might well say, «For to me to live is Christ,» to know Christ more, to imitate Christ more, to preach Christ more, and to enjoy Christ more. «And to die is gain,» because death, he felt, would free him from all sin and from all doubts as to his state in the present and the future. It would be gain to him, for then he would no longer be tossed upon the stormy sea, but he would be safe upon the land whither he was bound. It would be gain to him, for then he would be free from all temptations both from within and from without. It would be gain to him, for then he would be delivered from all his enemies; there would be no cruel Nero, no blaspheming Jews, no false brethren then. It would be gain to him, for then he would be delivered from all suffering, there would be no more shipwrecks, no more being beaten with rods, or being stoned, for him then. Dying, too, would be gain for him, for he would then be free from all fear of death; and having once died, he would die no more for ever. It would be gain to him, for he would find in heaven better and more perfect friends than he would leave behind on earth; and he would find, above all, his Saviour, and be a partaker of his glory. This is a wide subject, and the more we think over it, the more sweetness shall we get out of it.

Philippians 1:22. But if I live in the flesh,

That is a very different thing from living to the flesh.

Philippians 1:22. This is the fruit of my labour;

He lived to work for Christ, and to see souls saved as the fruit of his labour.

Philippians 1:22. Yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

There were the two currents flowing in opposite directions. The apostle seemed to hear two voices speaking to him; one of them said, «Live, and you will gather the fruit of your labour, you will see sinners saved, churches established, and the kingdom of Christ extended in the earth.» The other said, «Die, and you will be with Christ;» so he knew not which to choose.

Philippians 1:24. Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. And having this confidence, I know that I shalt abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; that your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.

The apostle desired to die, yet he was willing to live. Death would have been gain to him, yet he would endure the loss of living if he might thereby benefit others. Let us also always prefer the welfare of others before our own, and care rather to serve others than to make ourselves never so happy. Now the apostle gives these saints at Philippi a loving exhortation:

Philippians 1:27. Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

The unity of the church is of the utmost importance. When there is pockets of brotherly love, the perfect bond is lost; and as a bundle of rods, when once the binding cord is cut, becomes merely a number of weak and single twigs, so is it with a divided church. May we always be kept in one holy bond of perfect union with each other!

Philippians 1:28. And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition,

«Away with them! Away with them!» cried the heathen; «those who are not ashamed to acknowledge the crucified Christ are only worthy of perdition.» But of what was their courage a token to themselves?

Philippians 1:28. But to you of salvation, and that of God.

For when saints can bear fierce persecution without flinching it is an evident sign that they are saved by the grace of God.

Philippians 1:29. For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him,

Which is a great gift.

Philippians 1:29. But also to suffer for his sake;

Which is a still greater gift.

Philippians 1:30. Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

«The same agony» it is in the Greek, as if every Christian must, in his measure, go through the same agony through which the apostle went, striving and wrestling against sin, groaning under its burden, agonizing to be delivered from it and labouring to bring others out of its power.

This exposition consisted of readings from Philippians 1:21; and Philippians 2:1