Alive in Christ

This week we will explore what Paul means by the words found in Philippians 1:21

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

William Barclay helps us to understand this profound statement in this way. “For Paul, Christ had been the beginning of life, for on that day on the Damascus road it was as if he had begun life all over again. Christ had been the continuing of life; there had never been a day when Paul had not lived in his presence, and in the frightening moments Christ had been there to bid him be of good cheer. Christ was the end of life, for it was towards his eternal presence that life ever led. Christ was the inspiration of life; he was the dynamic of life. To Paul, Christ had given the task of life, for it was he who had made him an apostle and sent him out as the evangelist of the Gentiles. To him Christ had given the strength for life, for it was Christ's all-sufficient grace that was made perfect in Paul's weakness. For him Christ was the reward of life, for to Paul the only worthwhile reward was closer fellowship with his Lord. If Christ were to be taken out of life, for Paul there would be nothing left.

"For me," said Paul, "death is gain". Death was entrance into Christ's nearer presence.”

For many of us, the first phrase is one upon which we would focus but what of the second phrase, different matter altogether. George Washington Bethune ( 1805-1862), a Dutch Reformed Minister wrote of this text in his hymn “O Jesus, when I think of thee.” In spite of being offered such prestigious appointments of chaplaincy of the U.S. Military Academy, the chancellorship of New York University, and the provostship of the University of Pennsylvania, but turned them all down to concentrate on his gospel preaching.

Notice that this was an Easter Hymn that takes the whole life of Christ from birth through the Cross and Resurrection to his glorious Ascension.

1 O Jesus, when I think of thee,

thy manger, cross, and throne,

my spirit trusts exultingly

in thee, and thee alone.

2 I see thee in thy weakness first;

then, glorious from thy shame,

I see thee death's strong fetters burst 

and reach heav'n's mightiest name.

3 O let me share thy holy birth,

thy faith, thy death to sin,

and, strong amidst the toils of earth,

my heav'nly life begin.

4 Then shall I know what means the strain

triumphant of Saint Paul,

“To live is Christ, to die is gain:

Christ is my All in all!”