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My God and My Neighbor is a “Bible talk show” that looks at religious issues, Christian living and world events in light of the Word of God to give hope. This podcast is a ministry of Tennessee Bible College. TBC offers a bachelor's in Bible studies, a master of theology, and a doctorate of theology in apologetics and Christian evidences. TBC also provides Christian books, audio recordings on the Bible, and free Bible courses in English and Spanish. Tune in to My God and My Neighbor to experience the educational content that TBC has been delivering for nearly five decades!
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Hi, I’m Kerry Duke, host of My God and My Neighbor podcast from Tennessee Bible College, where we see the Bible as not just another book, but the Book. Join us in a study of the inspired Word to strengthen your faith and to share what you've learned with others.
Paul was a prisoner in Rome. He’s writing to Christians in the city of Philippi. He told them not to be discouraged about his troubles. He said there was good that came out of the bad things that happened to him. That’s what we looked at last time in Philippians chapter one verses 12 through 18.
In the passage we’re about to look at in Philippians chapter 1, Paul talks about something that is in the back of our minds all the time. Death. How we look at death makes all the difference in the world as to how we feel about life. The threat of death was no stranger to Paul. The Jews almost killed him in the city of Lystra in Acts 14. In fact, the brethren thought he was dead. Later in Acts chapter 23, over 40 Jews swore that they wouldn’t eat until they had killed Paul. And now, after years of imprisonment and trials before Roman judges, he’s still a prisoner of the Roman government. He knows they can put him to 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. Paul says “this shall turn to my salvation,” the King James Version says. The New King James has “this will turn out for my deliverance.” That’s actually the meaning here. He’s not talking about his salvation from sin in this verse. He’s talking about his deliverance from being a prisoner of the Roman government. He said “this” – the troubles that he just talked about in verses 12-18 turning out for good – will also turn into something even better for him, and that is, being set free. The prayers of the brethren and the supply of the Spirit would combine to make that happen, Paul said.
Then in verse 20 he says, “According to my earnest expectation and hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether by life or death.”
Paul is confident he would be set free. He had an earnest expectation and hope about this. After being a prisoner for several years, he didn’t lose hope. He didn’t regret standing up for Christ. If Paul had been like some, he might 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 softer approach I’d still be out there preaching.” But he didn’t. All these troubles didn’t weaken Paul. They made him stronger. He said he was as bold as ever.
He is determined not to be ashamed. He said he was not going to be ashamed of anything, anything, that is, involved in the service of His Lord. Today there are a lot of people who 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 he was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. Jesus said if we are ashamed of 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 comes out when he said Christ would be magnified or glorified in his body whether by life or by death. When he says Christ would be glorified in his body, he doesn’t mean there was anything special about his body that would give praise to the Lord. Remember, Paul had a thorn in the flesh. Some of the Corinthians criticized him because he looked weak physically [Second Corinthians 10 verse 10]. When he says in Philippians one verse 20 that Christ will be magnified in his body, the words “in my body” mean what he does with his body and what happens to his body, in other words, his life or his death.
Paul says if he lives, Christ will be magnified in his body because he will use it to glorify Jesus. And if his body reaches the point of death, Christ will be magnified or glorified by his death. These are the words of a man who had lost his freedom, but he was not afraid to lose his life. Live or die – Paul said, either way he would glorify Jesus.
Then he spoke some of the most memorable 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 the only two possibilities. We’re either living or dead. Sometimes we complain about how complicated life is. But it’s really quite simple. We live and then we die. The Bible says in Hebrews 9 verse 27 that it is appointed to men once to die, but after this the judgment. Our attitude toward life depends on our attitude toward death. And our attitude toward death depends 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 God made man and placed him on the earth for this reason: 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, he will never be truly satisfied and happy. He may tell himself that he’s happy, but deep down he knows something’s missing. There’s an emptiness inside him that won’t go away.
But it’s just the opposite with a Christian who knows why he is here or why she is here. We understand that life is very, very short. The Bible says in James chapter 4 verse 14 that our life is like a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. And we also know there will be troubles in life. That’s not a possibility. That’s a guarantee. Job said it well in Job chapter 14 verse one. He said man that is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble.
But Christians also understand that believing God, trusting Him, and obeying Him is the only real life to live. That’s what Jesus taught, and that’s what Paul is teaching these Christians. That’s what he’s teaching you and me right now. That’s what life is all about. And that’s what Paul means when he says for to me to live is Christ. It’s all about Him, not me. You could say that this whole book of Philippians from this point on unfolds and explains that one verse.
But what about dying? If there’s one thing that people all over the world have a fear of, it’s death. Hebrews two verse 15 says that the fear of death can be like a prison. A prison that is, until we are saved through the blood of Jesus Christ by obedience to His gospel. The fear of death never completely goes away. But knowing that we have a home in heaven makes it much easier to deal with. It makes it much easier to face it either when our loved ones pass away or when we near death. The word of God gives us courage and strength. That’s why Paul, who had come close to dying a number of times, was not afraid to die. And it’s when you’re not afraid to die that you’re truly ready to live. Paul said as far as death is concerned, to me, to die is gain.
Paul didn’t talk about death like so many of us do. We talk about losing our life. Paul talked about gaining, not losing. He was talking about gaining the reward. He’s talking about going to a place of perfect rest, peace and comfort. He’s talking about going to that land where 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 be afraid to die because you’re thinking about the earthly things you’ll lose. You’ll be anxious and you may not even know why you’re anxious. It’s because when we live for ourselves, death is like a dark cloud hanging over us, but we don’t see it because we refuse to look up. But when you admit that you’re going to die, and submit your life completely to God, there is a peace and comfort that comes over you 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 Paul gained that kind of resolve after he had been in prison all those years. He was ready to die before all this started. He was arrested in the book of Acts chapter 21. From that point throughout the rest of the book, he is a prisoner. But before any of that happened, Paul counted the cost. He had been in trouble with the authorities many times before this for preaching the gospel. He knew he would be in danger if he went to Jerusalem. In Acts chapter 20, he told the elders of the church at Ephesus, “And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me” [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, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord of Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”
In Acts 21 verses 10 and 11, a prophet named Agabus told Paul that if he went to Jerusalem, the Jews would arrest him and hand him over to the Gentiles which meant the Romans. The Christians who were there pleaded with him not to go. But Paul said, “What do you mean by 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 about Paul’s words: I am ready to die. Are you?
You may be thinking about another passage where Paul talked about being ready to die. That's in Second Timothy chapter 4 verse six: "For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.” Paul wasn't talking about being set free from prison. This is a few years after he wrote the book of Philippians. He's in a different prison and he knows he's going to die. He knows that death is near. Tradition has it that he was executed by Nero. But this verse definitely is about his death. He’s talking about dying and 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 danger or the reality of death, he was ready. He was ready at all times to die because 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 the meaning of life and death. He said in verse 22 and 23, “But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose, I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be 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 notice what he did not say. He didn't talk about all the troubles he would have. He didn’t say anything about the challenges of growing older. He didn’t say, “I don’t want to live 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 what he was doing for the Lord. Instead of being depressed over the struggles of living in this world, he focused on the good that he could do. That's what he means when he says, “But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor.” He could preach the gospel and souls would be saved. He could teach and build up the church. He could send preachers like Timothy and Titus to different places to preach. He could write these inspired letters to instruct and edify churches. He could do all that and much more even as a prisoner.
Let's focus in a little more closely on those words that he wrote. He talked about the fruit of his labor. 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 had confidence that his labor would bring forth good fruit or good results. You don't find Paul saying here or anywhere else, “It won't do any good.” Oh, he knew that trying to teach some people the gospel wouldn't do any good. But he was confident that if he continued 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. We teach church members to live right. And sometimes it just seems that our words are falling on deaf ears. It seems that we're not making any progress. This is one of the reasons preachers quit preaching. It's one of the reasons Christians stop talking to other people about the Bible. When you've put your heart and soul into evangelism and it just seems like 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 everybody that he talked to. Sometimes he couldn't get church members to listen. And yet here he is, a prisoner of the Roman government, and how does he look at the future? He's confident, not depressed. He has an optimistic outlook about his work in teaching the gospel. He said if I live on, there will be good results from my work. Whether you're a preacher or not, this applies to you if you're a Christian and you're trying to do what's right. When you live a good life before others, 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 things and it's the nature of people. And you may think that people are not listening, but sometimes they listen more than you think they do. It takes years of experience in living the Christian life to understand the power of the word of God. Sometimes it takes people years before 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. The power to convert and preserve souls is in the word of God. So this means that a Christian should look at the future in the same way Paul did. We should say, "I don't know how long I have left on the earth, but I do know that I can work for the Lord and do good, however much or however little.
But Paul was human, and even in his human side we see the best of this man. He said in verse 22, “What I shall choose I cannot tell.” What kind of choice is he talking about? Living or dying. Life or death. Paul is saying if he had to choose between the two, he couldn't say. He had mixed feelings about it. He said he was hard pressed between these two alternatives. Of course, he's speaking somewhat hypothetically. He's not saying he was thinking about taking his life. He's talking about how he felt about living 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 him between a rock and a hard place.
He looked on the one hand at death. And when he did, the thought of dying was very appealing to him. It appeal to him because he knew what was waiting on the other side for him. He knew there was a place of rest, a place of peace. The Bible says in Revelation 14 verse 13, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.” He knew he had a better home waiting for him when he died. Paul knew that because he was a Christian. He was aware of what the Bible taught about this. He knew it because he was an inspired apostle. But he also knew it because of personal experience. Do you remember what Paul said in Second Corinthians 12 verse four? He said that he was "caught up into paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.” it's interesting that Paul doesn't talk about what he saw. He talks about what he heard. Whatever he heard, it was so beautiful and so profound that he couldn’t put it into 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 before he wrote the book of Philippians. So Paul in a real sense already had a taste of heaven.
That’s why he was somewhat conflicted on the inside about going or staying. He admitted that he had “a desire to depart”—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 some times than at others. We feel it especially when life is hard and very painful on us. That doesn't mean that we're selfish anymore than it means that Paul was selfish. It just means we're human like Paul was. It's quite natural for Christians to have a longing to leave this world. After all, the Bible says that we are strangers and pilgrims on the earth [Hebrews chapter 11 verse 13]. The Bible says the more we suffer on earth the more we will appreciate and enjoy our reward waiting for us on the other side. In Second Corinthians chapter 4, verses 16 and 17, Paul said, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is, but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” Paul wrote that and Paul believed that. So it's only fitting that he would say in Philippians chapter one verse 23 that he had a desire to depart and to be with Christ. He said that is "far better." Far better, that is, than this world. He doesn't say that it's just better. He doesn't say it's a little better or somewhat better. He says it is far better than anything this world can give.
So think about that paradise being incomparable. Nothing in this world can compare to it in terms of joy and peace and glory. Oh, there are things that give us happiness and peace in this life. But that land of rest will be far better than anything we've ever had. But there's another way that nothing can compare to paradise beyond the grave. If you take all of the bad things in life and compare them to all the good things in glory after we die as Christians, there is no comparison. The sorrow and pain pale in comparison to the reward. God has waiting for His people. That's what Paul teaches in Romans eight verse 18: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
Paul is saying to these Philippian Christians that as far as he is concerned, in regard to his own desires, he would rather depart and go to this sweet land of rest. But then he looked at the other side of the coin. He said in verse 24, “Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you." Paul was thinking about them. He was thinking about how much they needed him. If he had only been thinking about himself, he would've just said I'd like to depart from this life because it will be far better. But he was too conscientious just to say that and drop the matter. He was concerned about these Christians. He loved them and wanted to do everything he could for as long as he could to help them. He looked at what he wanted, but then he looked at what was needed. That's a daily challenge we face. Our wants and our needs. Sometimes we get the two out of order. We say "I need to do this" or “I need to get that.” Many times what we really mean is "I want to do this" or “I want to get that.”
Paul spent a lot of his life thinking about others and serving others. That's what he's doing here in Philippians chapter 1. That's why he was so happy. That's why he had so much peace inside. That's why he was so confident and optimistic in his outlook on life.
Now watch what happens after he talked about going or staying. He told these Christians that he believed he would be set free. That's what we read in verses 25 and 26. "And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Christ Jesus by my coming to you again." So Paul expected to be released. He said in Philippians chapter 2 verse 24 that he expected to be released soon. Remember that Paul wrote four books while he was under house arrest: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. And in the letter to Philemon, Paul told him to prepare a guest room for him. And here in Philippians chapter 1 verses 25 and 26, he said one of the benefits of being set free was that it would give greater joy to these Christians. He said their rejoicing would be even greater by his coming to see them again.
But here's the point I want you 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, Philippian Christians need to keep doing what you're doing—living the Christian life. He said, “Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.” Paul told them not just to live right when he was there. He said you live the same way when I'm not with you as you do when I'm with you. Sometimes Christians act one way around a preacher and a different way with other people. Paul is teaching us that it shouldn't make any difference whether we are around a preacher, an elder, a Bible class teacher or if we're by ourselves. We serve God, not any man or woman. Our loyalty is to Jesus Christ first and foremost, and He sees us and knows what we're doing wherever we are no matter who we're with. Just a few verses later in chapter 2, verse 12, Paul reiterates this: "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”
These Christians needed Paul in their lives. They needed his strength. They needed his leadership. But they also needed to learn to stand on their own. Paul gave them courage by his example, but they needed to encourage themselves. 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 learn to get along without Paul. Sure, there was a big void when he died. There was always a huge, empty place in the hearts of God's people when someone important died: Moses, John the Baptist, and more than anybody, Jesus. In one way you could say that Philippians one verse 27 had the side benefit of preparing these Christians to stand on their own when Paul left this world. He said, while he was living that they should stand fast for the Lord. That would be even more true and more needed when he died.
But there's another reason why Paul said this. The Christian life is a battle. We've already talked about what happens when a high ranking military leader that soldiers look up to and depend on dies. Paul is telling these Christians in verse 27 to stand together and fight this battle. Did you notice that he said they were to “stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel”? He said you need to be united, not divided. It's hard for any nation to fight a war when they're fighting each other on the inside. It's hard for any church to fight sin on the outside when they're fighting on the inside. He said to stand together and strive together. He didn't say to strive and fight with each other. He said to strive together for the faith of the gospel. That's what they had been doing. He said in chapter 1 verse seven that they stood with him in the defense of the gospel. Paul said that God had placed him to defend the gospel in verse 17. Now he tells all of them, that whether he is there with them or not, they should get along with each other and fight the real enemy.
But fighting a war takes courage. That's why Paul is encouraging them. He said in verse 28: Don't be afraid of your enemies. He wrote, “And not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God." Paul said when your enemies persecute you, it proves two things. First of all, it is a proof of their perdition, that is, 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 that you'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 Christians of something that Christians today need to be reminded of. He said it's your duty to suffer for Jesus. It's your duty to be persecuted. It's your duty to put up with people talking bad about you and giving you the cold shoulder. That happened to the prophets in the Old Testament. It happened to John the Baptist. It happened to Jesus for sure. It happened to the apostles, and it will happen to any Christian. In his last inspired letter, Paul said in Second Timothy chapter 3 verse 12, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” And here in Philippians chapter 1 verse 29, Paul said, “For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.” It's not enough just to say, "I believe 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, he said, "Having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.” Paul said you know what I have been through. You saw what happened to me when I was beaten and thrown into prison in your own city of Philippi. You know what I'm going through right now as a prisoner. And now, Paul said, you're going through the same kind of persecution. He said you have the "same conflict” that I have. And, if I can do it, you can do it. If I can endure what I have been through 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 telling them to be happy, to rejoice! Do you see what a valuable lesson he's teaching them and teaching us? Sometimes it's a fearful thing 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, what Paul says in this book, it won’t.
Thank you for listening to My God and My Neighbor. Stay connected with our podcast on our website and on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever fine podcasts are distributed. Tennessee Bible College, providing Christian education since 1975 in Cookeville, Tennessee, offers undergraduate and graduate programs. Study at your level. Aim higher and get in touch with us today.