To Live Is Christ

Philippians 1:18-26 Rejoicing even from his current situation has now led to Paul rejoicing in the what’s to come. He is awaiting trial. He doesn’t know whether that trial will lead to life or death. But still, Paul rejoices. Why? Because whether by life or death, Paul is confident Christ will be exalted through him. Once again, we cannot help but see Paul’s Christ-centered joy reverberating through the text. He is a man who knows what he is living for. And Paul’s unshakable ambition forces two big questions into our laps—“What do you live for? What will you live for?” If we asked Paul, he would say—“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (21). From this text, it is obvious that Paul’s longing would be for us to see Jesus as the defining purpose of life and death. So if Paul were to ask you—“What do you live for?”—how would you answer him? Main Idea—A church bound together by the gospel rejoices to see Jesus as the defining purpose of life and death