A Life Set in Christ

​Philippians 1:21-24 ~ “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.”
 
Many Christians are familiar with the text that we read today, especially the first statement, “for to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” But how many know the great comfort that this text delivers to the heart of a believer? This declaration of Paul is the heart of the Christian’s life. We are brought into Christ through the gospel, receiving from the Savior the full mercy and pardon for all of our transgressions because of His substitutionary sacrifice. But who understands that being brough into Christ is to be forever placed in Christ? To be saved is to have a life that is set in Christ, and Christ alone.
 
We see in the first phrase of our text today the two conditions that all mankind will experience—to live or to die. That’s it, there is no other reality for which we must concern ourselves. And for Paul, the first condition is singular in purpose: “For to me to live is Christ.” How clarifying it becomes when all of life takes on such value. He would take every aspect of his life and eradicate all things that does not conform to this clear and absolute resolution. We can read this same desire in Acts 20:24, “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” Oh, that every Christian would take such a view of their lives! How precious it would be when our homes are illuminated with Christ or when our employment is set to do only one thing and that is to bring glory to the Savior. Let us strive to say with the Apostle Paul that for us, to live is Christ and Christ alone.
 
And then, he sets up the great dilemma for many with the statement: “and to die is gain.” Our world has a great reason to fear death, for it is the loss of all things precious to the world. Health, prosperity, friends, family and a host of many other temporary treasures of life will be left when we depart this life. And for those who do not know Christ Jesus as Savior, it will be the loss of all things precious to them. The world must fear death for something far greater—the loss of the soul. Death for those who do not know Christ as Savior and LORD is filled with the greatest terrors imaginable, for it is ultimate separation from God. But not for the saved! The Christian holds onto death as a treasured promise from the LORD that the best is yet to come. Death, for those who are in Christ, is the greatest gain. Paul tells us why in our text today, “My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.” Do you hold to this as well, dear ones? Does your heart long to be with Christ, to see Him face to face and hear His voice? You may have gone through trials in this life, but hear the words of Romans 8:18, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” We have a glory awaiting, reserved in Heaven where Christ is seated at the right hand of the Majesty on High. He has prepared a place for all who belong to Him.
 
Beloved, we do not live to ourselves—and, surely, we do not die to ourselves. Romans 14:8 declares, “For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.” And that, my friends, is the summation of the Christian life. We are the LORD’s. And, knowing that you who read this right now are still in this world, you then still have a fruitful labor to pursue. For, as our text states, “If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me.” Do you hold this view of your life? Are you set in Christ so that all aspects of your experience in this world is to be fruitful labor for Christ? Paul understood the necessity of his life was to be poured out for the faith of those to whom God had sent him. Until that task was done, he was determined to give his life for that task.
 
Let us do no less, dear Christian. There are tasks laid before you as you walk in Christ. Until that day comes when you depart to be with Him, seek to live in such a way that it bears fruit for the glory of our Savior.
 
In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

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