Sovereign Grace Church

I.       THE TRIUMPHANT PROCLAMATION

A.       LIVING FOR ME IS CHRIST
Philippians 1:21a “For to me, to live is Christ.”
1.       Testimony of a Life Surrendered to Christ
2.       Contrasted to Testimony of Unsaved (also Luke 12:15)

B.       HAVING DIED IS GAIN
Philippians 1:21b “and having died is profit.”
1.       Reality, not Hamlet’s Dream (also Galatians 2:20)
2.       Reckoning
3.       Replacing (also Heb 2:15, Isaiah 30:15)

II.      THE TROUBLING PARADOX

A.       CONTINUING TO LIVE IN THIS BODY
Philippians 1:22, 24 “But if I live on in this body, this means fruit from my labor: and I don’t know what I shall choose. . . Yet to remain in this body is more necessary for you.”
1.       Desire to live for his friends in Philippi(1:22)
2.       Desire for more Fruit from Labor (1:22)
3.       Needful to Remain, (1:24)
4.       Needful to Continue, (1:24)

B.       DESIRING TO DEPART IN THE SPIRIT
Philippians 1:23 “For I’m hard-pressed between the two, having this desire to depart and be with Christ; which is more advantageous”
1.       Dying Truly IS Gain
2.       Paul’s psychological ordeal over departing this Life for Heaven (also II Cor 5:1)
3.       It is strong to say, but one must say that Paul WANTED to die.

III.     THE TRANSCENDING PREFERENCE

A.       WALKING WITH JESUS NOW
Philippians 1:25 “And being persuaded in this, I know that I will remain and continue with you, for your progress and joy of faith”
1.       Hard Choice for Paul (Series of parallels between the alternatives of life and death)
21a – “For to me to live: Christ               (Life)
21b – “to die: gain                                  (Death)
22 – ‘if I am to live on in the flesh”           (Life)
23 – “to depart and be with Christ”          (Death)
24 – “to remain in the flesh”                    (Life)
2.       Look Ahead to Greater Reward (also Phil 4:13; 2:5-11; 3:1; 4:4; I Cor. 15:58)

B.       WALKING WITH JESUS THEN
Philippians 1:26 “. . that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my presence with you again.”
1.       Triple Comparative in (1:23)
2.       Victories now and Reward to Come

Conclusion: Simple choices today. What is YOUR PREFERENCE?

Fill in the blank – For to me, to live is ________
Money; Fame; Retirement; Power; Good grades; Grandkids; Job; Sports; Sex; Family; Friends; Garden; Good works; Savings Account; Automobile; Clothes; Travel; Coming to Church
ONLY Answer – To die is LOSS