TO LIVE IS CHRIST

Passage: Philippians 1:19-30

Key verse: 21

NIV

19 for I know that through your prayers(A) and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ(B) what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.[a](C) 20 I eagerly expect(D) and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage(E) so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body,(F) whether by life or by death.(G) 21 For to me, to live is Christ(H) and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart(I) and be with Christ,(J) which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.

Life Worthy of the Gospel

27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy(K) of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm(L) in the one Spirit,[b] striving together(M) as one for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to you(N) on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer(O) for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle(P) you saw(Q) I had, and now hear(R) that I still have.

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Footnotes
  1. Philippians 1:19 Or vindication; or salvation
  2. Philippians 1:27 Or in one spirit
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

19 for I know that (A)through your prayers and (B)the help of (C)the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20 as it is my eager expectation and hope (D)that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full (E)courage now as always Christ (F)will be honored in my body, (G)whether by life or by death. 21 For to me (H)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)I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is (J)to depart and (K)be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25 (L)Convinced of this, (M)I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your (N)progress and (O)joy in the faith, 26 so that in me (P)you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

27 Only (Q)let your manner of life be (R)worthy[a] of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you (S)that you are standing firm in one spirit, with (T)one mind (U)striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is (V)a clear sign to them of their destruction, but (W)of your salvation, and that from God. 29 For (X)it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also (Y)suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same (Z)conflict that (AA)you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

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Footnotes
  1. Philippians 1:27 Greek Only behave as citizens worthy
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. To live is Christ, to die is gain (18-26)

Paul was confident of his release-one way or another. Either he would be released by death to go to heaven, or he would be released alive to continue preaching the gospel. Paul was ready to live, and he was ready to die. He said, 'I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far.' But he still had work to do for Jesus, so he was confident that he would not die yet.

2. Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of Christ (27-3

)

No matter what happens, we must conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel. Paul encourages us to contend as one in the Spirit for the gospel. We should not be frightened in any way by those who oppose the gospel. For it has been granted to us, not only to believe the gospel and have life in Christ, but also to suffer for him.

Prayer: Lord, take away my fear of death. Help me to live for Christ, knowing that by dying I gain eternity.

One Word: To live is Christ, to die is gain!