To Live Is Christ: Philippians 1:12-26

Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.

Paul knew they were worried. Their apostle in chains. Their partner in prison. The news must have felt like defeat.

But what has happened to me. What had happened? Arrest. Transport. Trial pending. Execution possible. What looked like disaster.

Has actually served to advance the gospel. Actually. Not despite the chains but through them. Not in spite of imprisonment but by means of it.

As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.

The palace guard. The Praetorian guard—Rome's elite soldiers. Chained to Paul in rotating shifts. They had heard the gospel whether they wanted to or not. And they were talking.

In chains for Christ. Not for sedition. Not for theft. For Christ. The whole guard was discussing this strange prisoner and his stranger message.

And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.

Most of the brothers. The Roman Christians had been timid. But Paul's boldness in chains shamed their timidity. If Paul could preach while facing death, they could preach while facing nothing much at all.

Dare all the more. Paul's imprisonment produced courage in others. The gospel was advancing on multiple fronts.

It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.

Not everyone had pure motives. Some preached to compete with Paul. To build their own following. To show they didn't need the apostle. Envy and rivalry.

But so what? Paul continued.

The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.

Two groups. Those who loved Paul preached from love. Those who resented Paul preached from ambition, hoping his chains would give them opportunity.

But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

What does it matter? Extraordinary words. Paul's ego was so dead that he rejoiced when rivals preached Christ badly. The name was proclaimed—that was enough.

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and God's provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.

Your prayers. The Philippians were praying. Paul could feel it. Their partnership included intercession.

Deliverance. The word could mean release from prison or salvation at death. Paul wasn't sure which. But either way—deliverance.

I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

Eagerly expect. Hope. Not certainty about outcome, but certainty about purpose. Christ exalted. In my body—the same body in chains. Whether by life—if released—or by death—if executed.

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

The most compressed statement of Christian existence ever written.

To live is Christ. Not to live is to serve Christ or to follow Christ. To live is Christ. Living equals Christ. Christ equals living. The equation is total.

And to die is gain. Death isn't loss—it's gain. More of Christ. Face to face. The presence unmediated.

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!

The genuine dilemma. Living means fruitful labor. More churches planted. More believers strengthened.

What shall I choose? The question was rhetorical—the choice wasn't Paul's. But if it were...

I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.

Torn. Pulled in two directions. Depart and be with Christ—better by far. For Paul, death was promotion. But remaining—more necessary. For them, not for him.

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.

The conviction came. Not a prophecy, perhaps, but a settled sense. He would remain. Continue with them. Their progress. Their joy.

So that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.

Their boasting. When Paul returned to them, they would boast—not in Paul, but in Christ Jesus on account of Paul. Christ would be magnified. Joy would abound.

Paul set down his pen. The chains clinked as he moved.

To live is Christ. To die is gain.

Either way, he won.