- Thread starter Chief
- Start date
Chief
Chief of Sinners.
Philippians 1:21 – “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
Core Theme: For the Christian, both life and death are opportunities to glorify Christ - life through faithful witness and unity, and death as a victorious gain through resurrection hope, all within the context of the great controversy.
Key Insights by Day:
Sunday: “Christ Will Be Magnified” (Philippians 1:19-20; 2 Corinthians 11:23-28)
Core Theme: For the Christian, both life and death are opportunities to glorify Christ - life through faithful witness and unity, and death as a victorious gain through resurrection hope, all within the context of the great controversy.
Key Insights by Day:
Sunday: “Christ Will Be Magnified” (Philippians 1:19-20; 2 Corinthians 11:23-28)
- Despite severe suffering and imprisonment, Paul’s primary concern was not his acquittal but that “Christ will be magnified” in his body, whether by life or death.
- Powerful Witness: His patience and cheerfulness in unjust suffering were a continual sermon, proving that a Christ-like life is the most powerful testimony.
- Selfless Focus: Paul’s deepest concern was for the churches, not his own comfort, modeling self-sacrificial love.
- In the great controversy, the Christian’s battle is spiritual, fought with the weapons of truth, love, and God’s Word, not with worldly methods like criticism or fear.
- Victorious Surrender: True victory comes through submission to God’s will, fighting for what is right, not for personal rights. Christ’s cross is the decisive victory.
- Paradox of Gain: Death is “gain” because it can be the ultimate witness for Christ, and because the believer’s ultimate hope lies beyond it.
- Paul views death not as an immediate ascension to heaven, but as a “departure”—a dreamless sleep from which one awakens to be “with Christ” at the Resurrection (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
- Biblical View of Death: The dead “know nothing” (Ecclesiastes 9:5); Lazarus was described as “sleeping.” The error of immediate heavenly reward leads to illogical conclusions.
- Torn Between Two Goods: Paul was “hard-pressed” between the desire to depart (rest) and the need to remain and labor for the Philippians’ progress and joy.
- Unity is foundational to the church’s mission and witness. Jesus’ final prayer emphasized that the world would believe when His followers are one (John 17:21).
- Citizens of Heaven: Living “as citizens” of heaven means embodying the kingdom values of the Sermon on the Mount: meekness, mercy, peacemaking, and love for enemies.
- Root of Disunity: Pride, worldly ambition, and cherishing the world’s gain are the primary destroyers of unity, driving out the Spirit of Christ.
- Unity (“striving together”) is a divine weapon against fear. A unified church, proclaiming the “everlasting gospel” in truth, fulfills its prophetic mission fearlessly.
- Satan’s Strategy: The devil seeks to divide and conquer. Our threefold key to success is unity, truth, and mission.
- Suffering Assured: Suffering for Christ’s sake is a Christian’s lot (2 Timothy 3:12), but it is purposeful and far better than suffering for worldly causes.
- Root Principle: Life in this fallen world involves inevitable suffering, but within the great controversy, suffering for Christ is a privilege and a powerful testimony.
- The Martyr’s Triumph: Through history, steadfast souls facing torment have declared their trust in Christ, proving He “is able to save to the uttermost.”
- Our Call:
- Live so that Christ is magnified in your body, whether in life or death.
- Fight spiritual battles with God’s weapons (His Word, love, and mercy) in complete submission to His will.
- Actively pursue and protect church unity through humility and adherence to truth, as it is essential for our end-time mission.
- Face suffering and death with the fearless hope of the resurrection, trusting in the victory of the cross.
rob
Moderator
Philippians 1:21 – “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
Php 1:22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour:
Paul is talking first about the "human powers in the flesh" the fruit of human powers, mean nothing to the Lord. Such powers must die.
Php 1:25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;
Now Paul switches to another way to live, through the joy of faith
Php 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
When you live by faith in Jesus, you also suffer for His sake, just as Jesus suffered for you sake, BECAUSE the Devil hates Faith in the Father,
Hence the Devil threaten you with death, so you cling to His faith of doing pious things using human powers, a Satanic faith that means nothing to the Lord.
Php 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Look what Jesus suffered when He had faith in His Father !!
Php 2:17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
Again Paul is talking about living in Jesus through faith.
Php 3:4 ¶ Though I might also have confidence in the flesh.
Living in the flesh in human power means nothing
Php 3:9 ¶ And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
Paul is talking about living in Jesus by faith
Php 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Shalom
Php 1:22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour:
Paul is talking first about the "human powers in the flesh" the fruit of human powers, mean nothing to the Lord. Such powers must die.
Php 1:25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;
Now Paul switches to another way to live, through the joy of faith
Php 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
When you live by faith in Jesus, you also suffer for His sake, just as Jesus suffered for you sake, BECAUSE the Devil hates Faith in the Father,
Hence the Devil threaten you with death, so you cling to His faith of doing pious things using human powers, a Satanic faith that means nothing to the Lord.
Php 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Look what Jesus suffered when He had faith in His Father !!
Php 2:17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
Again Paul is talking about living in Jesus through faith.
Php 3:4 ¶ Though I might also have confidence in the flesh.
Living in the flesh in human power means nothing
Php 3:9 ¶ And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
Paul is talking about living in Jesus by faith
Php 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Shalom
rob
Moderator
Greetings my friend
Paul is using the word "BUT if I live in the flesh" so you are right, Paul is not using His human powers in the flesh, but using the Divine Powers attained by faith in Jesus.
There are only two powers available to humans, human powers of self come by faith in the devil as a provider, or divine powers that flow into us by asking for the Lord Jesus to empower you daily.
Now how get my message not seem clear to you?
Paul is using the word "BUT if I live in the flesh" so you are right, Paul is not using His human powers in the flesh, but using the Divine Powers attained by faith in Jesus.
There are only two powers available to humans, human powers of self come by faith in the devil as a provider, or divine powers that flow into us by asking for the Lord Jesus to empower you daily.
Now how get my message not seem clear to you?