“For me to live is Christ and to die is gain” Philippians 1:21(KJV)
Let us consider these three important words:
- Me
- Live
- Christ
“Me” and “Christ”, when combined produce “Life.” John 1:4 says: “In him was life, and the life was the light of all men.” Yet, some people replace “Christ” with pleasure and their text reads, “For to me, to live is pleasure.” Their life slogans are:
- “Enjoy life to the max”
- “If it feels good, do it”
- “Keep on walking”
Remember the pleasures of sin lasts for a short time!
Some say, “For to me, to live is money” (wealth). Remember, our money, property, and possessions will belong to someone else one day. Wealth has a way of rising up to mock us if it becomes an idol in our lives. While nothing is wrong with having money, we must recognize that it is God Who blesses us with all material gifts.
Others say “For me to live is fame.” So many have become famous, standing at the top of the ladder, but are still not satisfied or fulfilled. For them, life becomes boring, not worth living, they feel depressed and some even commit suicide. By contrast, the apostle Paul said, “For to me, to live is Christ….” This was the great secret to his success in life and it can be our experience too if we follow his example.
Consider the Substitutes
Let us consider the substitutes. While for some, to live is pleasure, wealth, fame, popularity, prestige, and power, to die is an unspeakable tragedy.
The Bible says, “For everything in the world, the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes, and the boasting of what he has and does comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever” (1 John 2:16-17).
Without Christ death will always be a matter of unutterable loss and tragedy. Unless we can say “For to me, to live is Christ,” we cannot say “to die is gain.”
Now, let’s examine precisely what Paul means by his statement, “For to me, to live is Christ.”
Christ Is The Author Of Life
He meant that Christ is the Author of this new spiritual eternal life. Paul was born again from above unto a new imperishable life, he was born again in Christ. What did Jesus say to Nicodemus? Emphatically, He told him, “You must be born again.” We must experience regeneration, renewal, new life that only the King of the Kingdom can give.
The Bible says, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life” (John 3:36).
“I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life” (John 5:24).
“…. Now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).
Remember, Christ came, suffered, died, and rose again that we might freely have eternal life. We receive it only by His marvelous grace. It is through, grace alone, by faith alone, in Christ alone.
Christ was the pattern of the new life that Paul lived
Our Lord Jesus Christ demonstrated what the new life is by the quality of His own life. The Bible says, “… Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example you should follow” (1 Peter 2:21).
Jesus is our example. He was shown us how to live, He has given us a pattern. Our great desire should be to study His word daily, and allow it to saturate our lives, and transform us into the image of Christ. Colossians 3:1 – 2 exhorts us to:
“… set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.”
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Set your affections on things of eternal value.
Actualize the Christ-Life
Power
Paul meant that we should actualize the Christ-Life. As Christ lives within our hearts, He gives us the power to live a life like His. Christ’s indwelling gives us enablement and empowerment to overcome temptation and sin and live a sober righteous and godly life. However, we cannot do this with our own efforts. We do this by the power of God, and so when we stand on the brink of eternity like Saint Paul, we can say, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13).
Passion and Heart Beat
Finally, the Apostle Paul meant by the expression, “For to me, to live is Christ,” that the passion and heartbeat of Christ were also his passion and heartbeat. Our Lord Jesus, “came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). Jesus came “to seek and save what was lost” (Luke 19:10).
The salvation of lost men and women was the great passion, concern, and mission of Christ, which Paul the Apostle modeled. The greatest joy in this life and after this life is derived from faithful Christian service, and for those who share the heartbeat and passion of Christ, as Paul did – to win souls for the Kingdom of God there are rich rewards.
The Bible says, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who win souls is wise” (Proverbs 11:30) and “Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins” (James 5:20).
Receive Christ Into Your Heart
Allow Christ to be the author, the pattern, the power, and the passion of your life so you can die with unspeakable gain. It is difficult to comprehend with our finite minds the immensity of eternity, eternal life, forever and ever and ever with the Lord Jesus. Though It boggles the mind, is very possible for all of us today.
Here’s how you can receive Christ:
1. Acknowledge you are a sinner – Romans 3:23
2. Believe in Him only as your Lord and Savior.
3. Confess Him before others.
Remember, do it now, tomorrow may be too late!
