Main Text:
"But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again." Philippians 1:22-26
I. Paul's principle: to live is Christ, to die is gain.
A. Gal. 2:20, I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
B. "We must continue even to the end, with great confidence, having nothing before our eyes except for Christ's glory alone, whether we live or die." 1560 Geneva Bible note
II. Paul's first option: to continue in the flesh.
A. More fruitful labor.
B. More needful for the Philippian church.
C. I Cor. 15:58, Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
D. Heb. 12:28, Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
E. Acts 20:24, But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
F. "The labors of the ministry are fitly compared to the toil of men in harvest, to the labors of a woman in travail, and to the agonies of soldiers in the extremities of the battle." John Flavel
G. "By his 'labour,' Paul means his ministerial work and service; the ministry is a work, a good and honourable work, and a laborious one. Christ's faithful ministers are labourers; they labour in the word and doctrine, both in studying and preaching it; and such a labourer was the apostle, who by the grace of God laboured more abundantly than others; the 'fruit' of which was the conversion of many sinners, the edification, comfort, and establishment of the saints, their fruitfulness in grace and works, the spread of the Gospel far and near, the enlargement of the kingdom of Christ, and the weakening of Satan's kingdom, and the glorifying of Christ in His person, offices, and great salvation; all which was a strong and swaying argument with him, to desire to live longer in the body." John Gill
H. "God hath work to do in this world; and to desert it because of its difficulties in entanglements, is to cast off His authority. It is not enough that we be just, that we be righteous, and walk with God in holiness; but we must also serve our generation as David did before he fell asleep." John Owen
III. Paul's second option: to depart. At death a man leaves behind all that he has and takes with him all that he is.
A. To be with Christ.
B. Far better. Heb. 1:4; 7:19; 7:22; 8:6; 11:16; 11:3.
C. Ps. 116:15, Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.
D. II Tim. 4:6-8, For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day.
E. Question: What benefits do believers received from Christ at death? Answer: The souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness, and do immediately pass into glory, and their bodies, being still united to Christ, do rest in their graves till the resurrection. Westminster Shorter Catechism #37
F. "Shall I be afraid to die, when in death I commend my soul to such a sweet Lord, and go to my Husband and my King?" Richard Sibbes
G. "Death is but the funeral of all our sorrows." Thomas Watson
H. "The true attitude, then, for us is patient service till He withdraws us from the field. We do not count him a diligent servant who is always wearying for the hour of leaving off to strike. Be it ours to labour where He puts us, patiently waiting till 'death's mild curfew' sets us free from the long day’s work, and sends us home." Alexander Maclaren
IV. Paul's confidence: to abide here longer.
A. Furtherance of faith.
B. Furtherance of joy.
C. "Those who have most reason to desire to depart should be willing to continue in the world as long as God has any work for them to do." Matthew Henry
V. Paul's expected return to Philippi: abundant rejoicing at the arrival of a faithful minister.
A. Acts 9:15, But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.
B. Jer. 3:15, And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
C. Jer. 23:4, And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the Lord.
D. "This is an example of a true shepherd, who considers more how he may profit his sheep, than he considers any benefit of his own whatsoever." 1560 Geneva Bible note
E. "Let each one among you be upon his guard lest in some evil hour he should bring dishonour upon the cause he loves, upon the Christ by whom he lives. Many men do not read the Bible, but they read us; do let us give them a good version of the Scripture in our lives. They will not study our doctrinal opinions, but they will examine our practical examples; and if we are not what we ought to be we wound the Saviour afresh, stab at the heart of His gospel, and impede the progress of His kingdom." Charles Spurgeon
F. "The Christian ministry is the worst of all trades, but the best of all professions." John Newton
G. "Nothing is more needed among preachers today than that we should have the courage to shake ourselves free from the thousand and one trivialities in which we are asked to waste our time and strength, and resolutely return to the apostolic ideal which made necessary the office of the pastorate. We must resolve that we will continue steadfastly in prayer, and in the ministry of the Word." G. Campbell Morgan
H. "He who would be a faithful minister of the gospel must deny the pride of his heart, be emptied of ambition, and set himself wholly to seek the glory of God in his calling." William Perkins
Next Sunday’s Sermon Text: Philippians 1:27-30