For Me to Live is Christ

August 1, 2010

Lesson: Philippians 1:12–21

Key Verse: Philippians 1:21

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Introduction

Paul writes to the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi; including his concern for his fellow servant Timothy. Philippi was named after Philip of Macedon, who seized the city in 359 B.C. Philip was the father of Alexander the Great. Philippi was made a Roman colony by Augustus Caesar. It was a major city on the great trade route which ran East and West. The Philippian congregation was the first to be organized on European soil during Paul’s second missionary journey. The main thought of Philippians is the all-sufficiency of Christ: “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

Paul introduces his epistle to the church at Philippi with a blessing, followed by his prayer for these saints. The benediction or blessing is that they may have grace and peace—which are given to them from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace is that unmerited favor and lovingkindness which can only come from God our Father through the Son, Christ Jesus. He was given as the propitiation for our sins; whereby we have found forgiveness and reconciliation. Peace is that rest or refreshment we receive from our Father and Savior, which delivers us from the strife of sin. Peace is that state of redemption whereby we have been delivered, by the tender mercy of God, from the effects of sin upon our lives.

Paul’s prayer is a major part of his ministry toward the saints at Philippi. His prayers are filled with joy for their “fellowship in the gospel,” that their “love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment.” He is confident in the work of the Savior, who has “begun a good work” in them. His heart’s desire is that they may “approve things that are excellent.” They are to be sincere until the day of Christ, “being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.” Our prayers should contain such desires and hopes for the fellowship of believers. It would be good to consider praying in this manner for the fellowship in which God has placed each one of us.

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The Gospel in Chains—Philippians 1:12–14

The content of the Gospel is Christ. For me to live is Christ! He is the content both of our lives, and of the gospel which we have been called to preach. Paul speaks of his life, of those things which had happened to him, as coming upon him, for “the furtherance of the gospel.” These “bonds in Christ” have been manifested in all the places where he walked, even “in all the palace.” The chains of Rome were made to be seen as that belonging to Christ and not to those who placed Paul in prison. If we are to consider the afflictions of this world as belonging to the world, then we will be seen as weak before the world. However, if our chains are declared to belong to Christ, that he is the Sovereign who binds us to himself in all circumstances, then we will be strong before the world, and the gospel of our Savior will surely be manifested to his glory.

Paul’s chains are also an encouragement to others of the “brethren in the Lord.” For it makes them “bold to speak the word without fear.” This boldness to speak the truth of the gospel may not prevent the enemy from doing their worst to the people of God; but it takes away the fear that they will be able to anything that is contrary to the will of our Lord, to his glory and honor. Calvin wrote: “When, however, we see at the same time the hand of the Lord, which makes his people unconquerable, under the infirmity of the Cross, and causes them to triumph, relying upon this, we ought to venture farther than we had been accustomed, having now a pledge of our victory in the persons of our brethren. The knowledge of this ought to overcome our fears, that we may speak boldly in the midst of dangers.”

Discussion: How do the chains of Paul encourage us in the Gospel?

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The Gospel in Preaching—Philippians 1:15–18a

The motivation to preach the Gospel is Christ. Paul wrote that “the preaching of the cross is to them that perish, foolishness; but unto us which are saved, it is the power of God. …we preach Christ crucified, …Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Cor. 1:18–25). The authority and wisdom of God are wrapped up in Christ, the good news of our preaching.

There are those who preach the gospel, mouthing words that stimulate the heart of their hearers, for the purpose of greed and power. Their motivation is self and not Christ. It is also today’s commentary on many of our TV preachers that “Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife, …of contention, not sincerely.” False preachers make it more difficult for those ministers of the Word who are faithful in the preaching of the Gospel. Calvin wrote that “ambition is blind, nay, it is a furious beast. Hence it is not to be wondered if false brethren snatch a weapon from the gospel for harassing good and pious pastors.” Paul knows that the false preachers add affliction to his bonds. But with others, they preach in love, knowing that his heart is set “for defense of the gospel.”

However, Christ is preached! We must rejoice in this as did Paul; for “notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretense, or in truth, Christ is preached.” We must never let the false heart of another drown our joy in the preaching of the Gospel. True Gospel preaching does not fall or rise upon the unfaithful or inaccurate preaching of others. “For God sometimes accomplishes an admirable work by means of wicked and depraved instruments” (Calvin). In the Gospel, we look for the advancement of the Kingdom of Christ Jesus. It is an everlasting Gospel that is preached to “every nation, tribe, tongue, and people” (Rev. 14:6).

Discussion: What is our motivation to be faithful in the preaching of the Gospel?

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The Gospel in Christ—Philippians 1:18b–21

The strength of the Gospel in our lives is Christ. The joy that welled up in the heart of Paul came from the truth that Christ is preached. Since Christ is the content of the Gospel and the object of our faith, he is ‘salvation of the Lord’ to all those whom the Father has called and given to him. He is the object of the preacher’s message. Paul said that the preaching of Christ, “whether in pretense, or in truth,” shall change to his salvation through the prayers of the saints, “and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.” Paul speaks of his salvation—of his deliverance by God—in his everyday experience in the preaching of the Gospel of Christ. To the Church of Rome he wrote, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose” (8:28). This deliverance is revealed through the prayers of the saints, and the abundant supply of the Spirit of Christ. The Spirit of Christ in all of us excites us to pray, especially for those who are called to preach the Gospel.

In the Spirit of Christ, and acknowledgment of the prayers of God’s people, Paul’s earnest expectation and hope is this, “that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ, shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.” Christ is to be amplified and honored in the body, in both life and death. For, as with Paul, “to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” To live, to be alive, speaks of both the physical and spiritual life. Christ is presented as alive in its fullest sense when John hears these words of his Savior, “Fear not; I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forevermore” (Rev. 1:18). John writes to the church of Smyrna, “These things saith the first and the last, who was dead, and is alive” (2:8). This life is Paul’s. He writes, “I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life I live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and himself for me” (Gal. 2:20). To die the natural death means to gain life, being redeemed, by Christ, and regenerated by the Spirit. We are to see ourselves dead to sin, “but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 6:11); for it is Christ who has died, once and for all, that we may have life in him. Therefore to die the natural death, and especially the death to sin, we have everything to gain, even eternal life.

Discussion: What does it mean to live is Christ?

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Lessons are based on the International Sunday School Lessons for Christian Teaching, copyright © 2010 by the Committee on the Uniform Series.