TO LIVE...SOMETIMES, IS NOT EASY!

Philippians 1:18-26
Bob Bonner
March 2, 2008

Presently, I have a dear friend, a faithful pastor who is facing certain death as a result of cancer, which was only diagnosed eight weeks ago. If the Lord chooses to, my friend could be home with the Lord before the end of this year. However, if his chemotherapy works or should God decide to divinely enter in and supernaturally heal him, he would be able to remain and take care of his very ill wife, and continue to reach out to his daughter who, just a month after he was diagnosed with cancer told him she was going to marrying an atheist. To say the least, he has had a very disappointing past 60 days.

He is torn. Who will care for his wife if he should precede him? She has no other family members besides himself and their daughter? Who will care for and continue to reach out to his wayward daughter, should he be taken home to be with the Lord? He hopes to win the battle. At the same time, due to his present physical pain and with it his emotional pain that accompanies his humiliation of being out of work, broke, and not formally in the ministry for a long time, when his whole heart throbs to shepherd people for Christ, is almost too much for him to bear. Hence, death could be a good thing. He is torn. “Do I really want to go on living, or do I really just want to die? How does he face the next hour, let alone the next day?

That’s reality, folks. Life at times is harsh and unfair. It certainly doesn’t turn out how we dreamed it would be. So how do we live through such disappointing times? This morning, we have before us, a model of a very courageous, hopeful person, who was faced with just as challenging of a life, if not more so than we. There are a few nuggets of wisdom and instruction we can glean from this gold mine in God’s word, Philippian 1:18-26.

As you turn there in your Bibles, allow me to set the stage for our study. In 1:12-18, Paul spoke of his present condition and declared that his being in prison for the cause of Christ has worked out well for the good news of Jesus Christ being spread throughout Rome and even into Caesar’s household.  In addition, he is delighted to report that because of his imprisonment and bold declaration of Christ from within prison, more Christians in Rome are becoming bolder in their personal speaking up to others about Jesus.  All of this gives reason for Paul to rejoice, because Jesus is being lifted up for all to see.

In our passage of study for this morning, beginning with verse 19 - 26, the Apostle Paul shares his optimistic thoughts about his future: On the one hand, he may remain in prison until executed and thus, never see his friends in Philippi again this side of heaven; or, on the other hand, he will be released to further serve Christ here and to continue to enjoy their fellowship. Either way, in these verses, he points to his future as a cause for him to rejoice and he explains why. As we will see, without a special revelation from God, he fully expects to be vindicated of all charges against him and set free to return to his ministry outside of prison, including finding his way back to Philippi. Yet, at the moment, he has no guarantee of his release. He could still find himself executed. As we read his words, we will see how he faced his uncertain future, with hope and joy.

Our passage falls into three parts, each flowing naturally one out of the other and held together by the common thread of reflection of “what’s next” regarding his imprisonment. Verses 19-21 offer the reason for his continuing to rejoice...whether his release jail comes by death or by his acquittal. Because of the mention of “whether by life or by death” in verse 20, and because of his declaration in verse 21 “for me to live is Christ and to die is again”, Paul is lead in verse 22-24 to ponder those two options, knowing full well that he has no real choice in the matter. Either way, whether through exoneration or execution, his focus is on living for and honoring Jesus Christ, and allowing Jesus to make the call concerning his future.  Then the final part of our passage, verse 25-26 offer his optimistic speculation that he will be being given “life” and released from prison to see them and to continue on for awhile in the ministry. 

All told, this is one of the apostle’s finer moments, a passage to which God’s people have turned over and again to find strength and encouragement in times of difficulty. We are the richer for it.

Let’s begin with reading the entire passage, and then looking more closely at each of its three parts: “What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard-pressed from both directions, [idiomatically: I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place, unable to choose which would be the best outcome] having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith, so that your proud confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again.”

The apostle knows one way or another, he will not spend the rest of his life in prison. The word he uses for “know” in verse 19 points not to some objective revelation from God, but rather to something that comes from a deep, subjective inner persuasion that sometimes may even be the prompting of the Holy Spirit. He doesn’t tell us that this knowledge comes from the Holy Spirit and he certainly doesn’t feel like his freedom from jail is guaranteed at this point. But somehow, maybe from some knowledge about his present circumstances that we don’t know about, he feels there is a good chance that he will be released.  Not until verse 25, does he really show us his hand that he is convinced that he will be freed. Yet, because Paul has not had a word from God that he will be released, he is prepared to be released either through execution or exoneration.  

Paul gives us a clue as to why he thinks he will not be executed, when in verse 19, he speaks of his “deliverance.” That term is translated in some Bibles as “deliverance” or “vindication” or even “salvation.”  However, the primary meaning of this term used in scripture and in other Greek literature refers to the deliverance from impending physical death due wrongful accusal, hence, probably the better word to be used here would be “vindicated.” 

Although the Apostle Paul does indeed use this term for “salvation” regularly referring to the saving work of Christ, it is wrong to say he must always use this word in that sense. In fact, the evidence that Paul really has his own vindication and release from prison in mind, is that right here he is verbatim, quoting Job, from the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament. He is quoting Job 13:16, which contains one of the more poignant of Job’s speeches, where he formally rejects the accusations of his “comforters,” who insist that his present situation is the result of his “hidden sin.” Job knows better, that there is no hidden sin in his life, and therefore pleads his case to God. God, Who knows Job is innocent, indeed vindicates Job and silences Job’s accusers.

Similar to Job’s vindication by God, Paul has Christian accusers in Rome, those jealous Christian preachers and Jewish religious leaders in Jerusalem who have falsely accused him. And like Job, Paul knows he is innocent and feels deep within that he will be vindicated by God, as well. Hence, his statement in these verses.

Either way, whether he is vindicated or does indeed get executed for his faith, it still leaves us asking how and why is Paul able to rejoice when he faces such an uncertain future? He answers the how and why questions in the rest of verse 19 - 20. Let’s look first at the how: In verse 19, Paul tells us that it will happen by the joint efforts of his friends, the Philippians’ prayers on his behalf, plus the working of the Holy Spirit.

Please note that by Paul stating that if he gets released it won’t happen simply because Jesus wants him released. He says that his release will come as a result of the joint effort of both their prayers working in conjunction with the spirit of Jesus Christ. Paul is demonstrating that even he, the great Apostle cannot live his Christian life successfully in isolation from the Christian community. Paul was not a Christian who simply showed up on church on Sunday and didn’t invest himself in the lives of others during the week. Neither was he the spiritual lone ranger who didn’t need others to speak into his life and to encourage him from time to time. Paul took seriously he’s need for fellowship with others. Even in jail, he realized his need for his brothers and sisters in Christ.

Here’s something else to note: Some Christians have questioned whether they should or need to pray for anything, since God, being sovereign, has already determined what He will do. When others think this way, it reveals a lack of understanding that God’s program of taking back His creation has always included God and human beings being co-laborers. God has always chosen to work in concert with human instruments. We are His family and He chooses to work with and through us together. The prayers of saints and the provision of God are two complementary sides of the same divine-human activity.

Here’s another facet, in verse 20, of how it is that Paul can rejoice even thinking that his release will come about. Early in verse 20, when Paul says that he earnestly expects his release, he uses a word for “expectation” that describes a spectator sitting on the edge of his seat and stretching out his neck to see the outcome of an athletic event. Today, it would be like standing behind the ropes on the 18^th green waiting for Tiger Woods to sink a three foot putt to win a championship. Everybody is watching closely, but there is very little doubt as to the outcome.

In Paul’s illustration, the outcome was pretty much expected by Paul that he would be exonerated. We are not given any details of why he felt so strongly that he would not be executed, but one commentator suggests, “It’s quite possible that news of his imminent release could have filtered down through friends in Caesar’s household whom he had led to Christ and who had also had influence upon whether he would be released or not.” But even with friends on the inside, friends in high places, the race isn’t over until it’s over. In other words, he still stands a chance of getting executed. 

Paul’s confidence in his possible release is also seen in his statement of assurance that he would not be put to “shame.” That term “shame” as it is used here would be better translated “disappointment” as it is translated elsewhere in the New Testament. Being “ashamed” carries with it in our language, a tinge of embarrassment. Although on occasion, our disappointments in life are accompanied with shame, that is not what this Greek word stresses, nor is it what Paul feels. It is stressing more of a disappointment or let down because something didn’t work out. 

For Paul, the “disappointment” to which he refers is that of having been kept in jail and eventually executed, when he fully expects to be released. Hence, he would have been disappointed if he were not released because his present circumstances show evidence he would be released. 

And if he were wrong and he wasn’t releases from jail, Paul informs us that he still wouldn’t have been “disappointed”. How can I say that so confidently? Because Paul says as much more than three years later when he is in jail for a second time, and knows that he would not get out that time, but instead would be executed. On that occasion, he wrote in 2 Timothy 1:12, “For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed (disappointed); for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.” What had Paul entrusted to Jesus Christ that Jesus was protecting? Paul’s approval before God, and Paul’s guarantee that he would forever live with Christ.  In addition, as a Hebrew Pharisee, Paul also knew the following promise of God, recorded by Isaiah the prophet, and he banked his life on it. God declared, “Those who hopefully wait for Me will not be put to shame (or “be disappointed” —NIV) .” (Isaiah 49:23)

Another bit of cryptic evidence of Paul confidence of his imminent release is seen in the unique expression in verse 20 of “with all boldness.” Its basic meaning is “public outspokenness” or “plainness of speech” that conceals nothing and is confident of what one is saying is correct. It is “free, open, courageous and forthright speech.” It would be the kind of speech that an attorney, absolutely confident that he has won his case, would make when summing up the evidence of his case. I believe Paul uses this term in that manner as he looks forward to presenting his case to Caesar, knowing two things will happen when he does: First, Jesus Christ will be proclaimed; and secondly, once the evidence is heard, Paul will be released.

But still, there are no sure things in life. Just as Tiger can and has missed four foot putts; children, even though they have appeared to be okay during pregnancy are born with complications; business deals and homes fall out of escrow at the last moment without warning; job opportunities suddenly evaporate; one day you wake up, feeling great, the next you are diagnosed with a terminal illness; one day your retirement income is enough to live on comfortably, the next, you are broke. Hence, Paul says, “whether by life (meaning release from jail, a positive outcome) or by death (his execution, a somewhat negative outcome) Christ will be glorified.”

Then in verse 21, he drives home his emphatic explanation of why he can rejoice either way, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” He will go on to explain in detail what he means by this in the verses to follow, but for sure, in light of what he has just said, he is declaring that he rejoices because “making Christ known is what I live for, and if the best way I can make Christ known is through my staying alive or by being martyred, then praise God either way.” 

This statement of Paul’s in verse 21 was written by Paul in the last five years of his ministry. This next one, was written early in his ministry: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20. These two verses are matching bookends from the beginning to the end of Paul’s life. They summarize the living essence of Paul’s faith. When you put them together, you have a great expression of what was undoubtedly the heartthrob of Paul’s life. 

In other words, for Paul, life was not about having a successful business or providing well for one’s family; life was not about preparing for a cushy retirement, or living healthy or having one’s younger loved ones out live us. Paul models what should be primary for every Christian. He demonstrates that we ought to always keep in mind the most important, bigger picture: Life is about enjoying and exalting Jesus Christ!  That’s what drove Paul, and that’s what should drive every believer. 

But does it? Not if we are honest with ourselves. The late, Dr. James Boice, a great pastor, preacher and theologian, wrote, “How unfortunate for many believers that their fellowship with Christ is so somber, lacking joy, excitement and enthusiasm. There is little evidence that Christ is present in the middle of life for them. Sin, selfishness, pursuit of personal goals over Christ’s, arrogance, bitterness all rob us of this fellowship. Our following of Christ must lead to personal crucifixion (putting to death our wishes and living for His). Neither you nor I must linger in the pleasant places. We must be ready to cast these behind and follow Jesus.”

Another great American Bible expositor, Dr. Gordon Fee also speaks honestly about the heart of focus of Christians today when he writes: “Too often for us it’s ‘for me to live is Christ — plus work, leisure, accumulating wealth, relationships,” etc. And if the truth were known, all too often the “plus factor” has become our primary passion: “For me to live is my work,” etc. Both our “progress” and “joy” regarding the gospel are altogether contingent on whether or not Christ is our primary, singular passion. This is surely an infinitely greater option than the self-gratification which dominates the culture within which this commentary has been written.

Whether in ministry or whether in business, whether in school, athletics or homemaking, we live with a continual tension as Christians: On the one hand our calling is to enjoy and exalt Jesus Christ all the while trying to get by or do our jobs well in the process. But sometimes we easily drift into doing our jobs well so as to impress others with our accomplishments, to make it big and ultimately, to exalt ourselves rather than Christ. It’s easy to fall into that lifestyle.

Even in ministry, I have wrestled at times with the tension of doing my best at certain things so as not to embarrass myself and win other’s approval and being reminded to focus on doing what’s necessary to bring Jesus Christ the most glory. And I don’t for one minute believe this tension is unique to me. Hence, I believe it would be worth your while to talk openly and honestly with one another, especially in your ReDi groups as to what degree are we practically demonstrating that His glory is what we seek first on a regular basis. It would be worth discussing this question regularly, say once a quarter, and evaluating, how well we are really doing at lifting up Christ and His purposes as the most important priority in our lives, versus our right to take vacations, preach, purchase things, take early retirement, share what we have or even to choose where we attend church.  Is it about our wishes or what would bring Christ the most glory?

Let’s face it: saying that it is one’s ultimate desire to glorify Christ is not as easy to live out as you stand by the grave side of a beloved; or in the face of a bitter disappointment like having to lock the door for the last time on a failed business, or to accept God’s temporary calling to live with excruciating physical pain. It’s never easy. But it is easier to live victoriously over those harsh realities of life, when you keep the Who as well as the what of God’s promises in mind, as Paul did up til the bitter, but glorious end of his life.

In verses 22-24, Paul makes it clear that he doesn’t get to choose how his life will end. However, if he did, and because of his love for his dear close friends and supporters at Philippi, whom he longs to see, he honestly tells them that it would be a real toss up for him as to whether he would choose to be released so as to go visit them and to be mutually built up in their faith, or to be executed and to experience his lifelong passion, to be instantly transported into Christ’s presence, seeing Him face to face, no longer having to deal with the hateful treatment of humankind (whether from fellow Christians or otherwise) and all of the other pressures one faces in this world. Both have meaning and purpose, but I believe, as a servant of Jesus Christ, if Paul had to choose what would be best, not which he would like, verse 24 tells us that he would choose to remain alive here on earth for the sake of his fellow believers at Philippi.

Having a deep inner conviction that with what information he is receiving about his possible release from prison, and thinking he knows what would be best to bring the most glory to Christ at the moment, the building up of the saints at Philippi, Paul gives them his best guess, in verse 25-26, as to how things will turn out. He concludes, “Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith, so that your proud confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again.”

Paul’s expression “for your progress and joy in the faith” stands in an emphatic position, pointing out that Paul realizes they are going to need his help to get beyond whatever it is that has brought up dissension among them, causing them to lose sight of what is most important and what in the past brought them the greatest joy and that was their mutual ministry of spreading the gospel.

It’s interesting to note that this long reflection of Paul’s began back at verse 12 on the note of the “progress of the gospel”; it ends here in verse 26, on a similar note, only here, the concern is more personal — it’s with the Philippians’ own “progress” regarding the faith.  

Hence, it is Paul’s aim from the beginning to the end of this letter to point the Philippians back to their shared joy founded upon their mutual ministry of spreading the good news about Christ to others. That this is his aim is shortly restated in verse 27, when he writes of their “contending as one person for the faith of the gospel.” But, if they are going to have such “progress regarding the faith” it will only happen, as Paul wrote previously in 1:10 and will later write again in 2:2-4, if their love for one another increases, as revealed by their humility toward one another, as they consider the needs of others ahead of their own, and as he adds in 2:14, as they “do all things without grumbling and complaining.”

As we close our study, what comes to mind is how can we encourage true love for one another to abound such that we encourage each other in our own walks with the Lord? How can we set the stage for mutual ministry as we fulfill our commission from Christ to together proclaim Him to our world? One way is to challenge you to think seriously about the following questions:

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