Paul's life is defined by Christ, making both living and dying gain, as he expresses a desire to be with Christ but recognizes the need to remain for the furtherance of the Philippian believers' faith. He confidently anticipates continuing with them for their spiritual growth and joy, even amidst potential suffering for the gospel. The sermon emphasizes that living worthy of the gospel involves unity, striving together for its faith, and not being terrified by adversaries, as opposition is a sign of salvation. Ultimately, the core message is the gospel itself: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again, and salvation comes through believing this truth and confessing Jesus as Lord.
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Beloved friends, we greet you once again in the name that is above every name, the exalted name of the Lord Jesus Christ, as we welcome you to the study of the Word of God, the best book in the Bible, the best book in the world, and the best place to put it, my friend, is in your heart, and for the best purpose that you might not sin against God. We continue our study in the chapter of Philippians, chapter one, Today, beginning at verse twenty-one, and reading through verse twenty-six, may I read the words of Paul as he has written? If you follow me in your own Bible, or if you listen to my words, Paul has written to say, For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labor. Yet what I shall choose, I know not. For I am in a straight betwixt two, having a desire to be pardoned, 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 by my coming to you again. May the Lord bless to us the reading of this section from his word.
Please let us note in verse twenty one the dominating principle and purpose of Paul's life, the key verse of the chapter. It mattered not if he was not preaching or teaching the word of God among the nations. or whether he was a prisoner, as he was at that time, bound by the Roman chains? His business was Christ, only Christ. Christ was all in Paul's life. Again, for to me to live is Christ, Paul says. My radio friend, may I ask once again, take this statement, apply the words to your own heart, and may I do the same?
saying, For me to live is... Now what's the answer? Paul was such a Christian that if you asked what his business in life was, he would say, Christ. Can you and I say this, my friend? Christ not only lived in Paul, but Paul lived in Christ and for Christ. And he says, If death comes, well, better still. I'll only go to be with Christ, and that will be far better. My beloved friend, may I raise the question, do you have the same blessed assurance? Can you say when death comes for me, I will be with Christ in heaven above.
Then on the other hand, as Paul writes, he recognizes the need among the saints that caused him to make a decision desiring to be continuing upon the earth, no matter the sufferings that would be involved. He was anxious to meet the spiritual needs of the saints. And here in our letter through faith, it seems to have grasped that he was not in the hands of the Roman power, but in the hands of Christ. Verses twenty-five and twenty-six expressed the confidence that he would abide and he would be able to continue to help the saints.
Now it is absolutely true, as Second Timothy chapter four points out, and we know from history, Paul was executed later on by the wicked emperor Nero. But on this occasion of writing the Philippian epistles, he was confident that he would have another opportunity to be with them and minister to their need, which later on he undoubtedly did, before he was executed at a later imprisonment. Now the closing section of chapter one, verses twenty-seven through thirty, there are more exhortations for the saints encouraging God's beloved people to walk worthy of the gospel.
Let me emphasize as we go on the importance of walking worthy of the gospel which we have believed, my fellow believer. Note the earnest plea of Paul that we who know the Lord, our manner of life should be as it be cometh, the gospel of Christ. Oh, what a challenge this is. The blessed gospel of salvation that Paul loves so greatly. He desires that the lives of God's people prove they are worthy of it. He desired the Philippian saints to stand fast in one spirit with one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel.
Oh, beloved one, a blessed unity he desired. Standing together in one spirit, with one mind together, and striving together for the faith of the gospel. Oh, may I add, indeed, sadly, the comment, would to God we could see this today, but do we not see the opposite? But, oh, wherever there are believers, God grant, like in this local church at Philippi, wherever locally gathered believers might be, God grant that we should seek to be with one mind and one spirit together in Christ.
the blessed gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Did not Paul write long ago before to the saints in Rome, in chapter one and verse sixteen of that Roman epistle, I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believer, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Oh, my beloved listening friend, may I raise the question, have you believed the gospel? Have you believed the message of the gospel? Why does it have such power to save the soul?
What is the message? Is it not, according to First Corinthians fifteen, where Paul declares that gospel so plainly, is it not that Christ died for our sins according to the Scripture? and that he was buried and that he rose again the third day, according to the Scripture? This is the message of God's salvation. This is not a gospel, this is the gospel. The only message of salvation for the soul. Believe it, my friend. And when believing it, then with Paul, let us never be ashamed of it. Now when you're bringing Paul's exhortations, We're told that the saints would never be terrified by their adversaries, for there is no question of doubt.
There are many adversaries even today who would inject fear into the hearts and lives of believers who were seeking to preach the gospel. The very opposition by the adversaries of the gospel is but a plain indication they're not saved, and an indication of their judgment, and a clear proof of salvation for those who have believed, for the saints. How encouraging are these words to a Christian, one who loves the gospel. When I meet as a believer in the Lord Jesus, opposition to the true message of the gospel that I preach, and we do, is not that the evidence of the blessed truth of the gospel?
We're told in the Word of God that there would be opposition to it, and when we face it, let's rejoice. It's the evidence we have been saved. Yes, as Paul continues in verses twenty-nine and thirty, the Christian not only believes on Christ, but is privileged to suffer for him. And these Philippian believers knew very clearly that Paul himself was suffering. Why? For the sake of the gospel? My beloved Christian friend, let you and I ask the question, let us recognize. This is my privilege, a God-given privilege not only to belong to Christ but to suffer for Christ and for the sake of the gospel.
I cannot help think for a moment on many dear saints in some of these third world countries who are suffering and giving their lives. Some of them are for the sake of the gospel. But in my closing moments, may I not be permitted to present clearly to any unsaved listener God's gospel from First Corinthians chapter fifteen, verses three and four, which we have quoted, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.
And in First Corinthians, what is Paul saying? in this fifteen chapter. First, the gospel is a message about Christ, the blessed person of Christ, the Son of God. Leave him out of the message, and it's not the gospel. It's not God's gospel. Second, the message contains the truth that he died for our sins. One supreme fact above many others, his death. Not his life for our salvation, but his death. Then, my beloved, To be saved, you must believe that he died for your sins. And then third, you must believe that he was buried.
Yes, they had to bury a dead Savior. He actually physically died. He was buried. And yet, the message of the gospel contains the truth that he rose again the third day. It concerns his resurrection, his death, his burial. His resurrection, for He is not a dead Savior, He lives. And Paul said on this occasion when he wrote these words, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, by which also ye are saved. My friend, have you believed the gospel?
The only message of salvation which concerns Christ, not the church or any other personal thing. Christ, He alone, died for our sins. He alone is a risen Savior. Listen to the closing words of Paul in our closing moment of exhortation from Romans ten and nine. Paul writing to say, as he wrote to some that were trying to get saved some other way, if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Oh, my beloved, will you take your mouth and together with your heart confess, the Lord Jesus, God's dear son, died for me, for my sins, was buried in Rose again to save me.
And if you confess with your mouth, you receive him as your Savior, and believe in your heart, not your head, thou shalt be saved. Oh, blessed Father, we commend to thee thy precious word, asking that we thy people will indeed so live according to the great gospel, and praying for sinners to believe it today, in Jesus' name for their salvation. Amen.