Philippians 1:19-30 Study Guide: To Live is Christ, to Die is Gain
Community Group Study Guide —To Live is Christ, to Die is Gain
Philippians 1:19-30
Study Information:
Movies and stories have conditioned us to expect a happy resolution and ending where almost everything resolves in the favor of the protagonist. Think of how many movies or books you’ve read that have ended with the bad guy winning, you could probably count those stories on one hand. Yet we know from the Bible and our own personal experiences that things often do not turn out the way we hope or expect. Can God use the adversity we experience for something better than we could imagine even if from an earthly perspective it was difficult? Our passage highlights Paul’s imprisonment and the uncertainty of the outcome of his trial, specifically whether it would end in his release or his execution. But Paul had a confident expectation that even if he “lost” he won because either outcome would allow for Christ to be honored in his body.
How we respond to trials and challenges can be a good gauge of the status of where our hope is. It is natural for many of us to struggle to trust and put our hope in Christ in hardship. If it came easily then the Bible would not speak to it as often as it does. Part of this challenge is related to being human and limited in a fallen world and likewise we have the challenge of not being able to see how things will turn out. In our last study guide we saw that “chains” could be an advantage to the gospel. In this study guide we learn that for followers of Jesus that even when we “lose” we win because in Christ we can expect either fruitful ministry or to depart and be with him.
Confident Hope
Philippians 1:18-20
One of the major themes of Philippians is the theme of joy in suffering. Paul previously described his joy that his imprisonment led to a spread of the gospel and in this passage he looked to the future saying “I will rejoice” at the outcome of his trial. <any of us would look at the uncertainty of his situation and be unsettled by what could come of the trial (Phil 1:18). Paul first expressed a confident assurance that he would be “delivered,” through the prayers of the Philippians and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. As we read on we can tell from the context that this deliverance was not necessarily a release from jail because Paul expressed that he may die. Instead this confidence was his certainty he’d be be vindicated or found faithful in the eyes of God from this trial. Look at Philippians 1:20, Paul doubled up on the idea of confidence when he wrote that it was his eager expectation and hope that he would not be put to shame. Shame in the ancient world was not embarrassment, like many of us think of shame today, it was being disgraced and in this context being ashamed would be a disgrace for failing to trust Christ. Instead Paul was full of courage that he would honor Christ in his body whether by life or by death.
This kind of thinking is counter to our human nature and modern culture. We are wired towards self preservation and comfort and the idea of seeing suffering as an opportunity to rejoice because it gave you an opportunity to honor God in your body is a sign of spiritual maturity and having a focus on eternity. For example, Philippians 1:29 tells us to expect suffering when Paul wrote it is “granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but suffer for his sake.” Suffering is not an interruption to the plan of God, but actually central to our hope being refined so that it is on Christ and not just a chance in circumstance. Many of us are not there yet, and that is ok, God is actively at work to grow our trust and deepen our dependance and that is why Paul elaborated so much in this passage on his thought process, value, and how we’re to look to his example and the example of Jesus.
Jesus similar faced a legal trial that turned out for his execution. From a human perspective it looked like the end, which is why the disciples ran and were despairing. However, the eternal perspective is that Jesus laid down his life for us and for our salvation. In Christ’s suffering we find redemption, forgiveness and hope knowing that death has been defeated and sin no longer reigns. That reality is why Paul could have confidence to make his most memorable statement in the book of Philippians, “to live is Christ, to die is gain!”
To Live is Christ, to Die is Gain
Philippians 1:21-26
Paul looked at the possible outcomes of his imprisonment and said “to live is Christ, to die is gain.” Paul wrote that even if he “lost” from a worldly perspective he still won. If he lived he would get to have fruitful ministry, if he died he’d get to be with Jesus (Philippians 1:22). It was a win-win scenario for Paul. Even if he stayed in prison the gospel would advance. Paul had a hope that you could not touch with suffering! Paul elaborated that his preference would have been to go and be with Christ, but he also saw the need to remain and be with the Philippians and the early church for their good. We should be careful to not read this as Paul longing for death. It is ok and right to desire to be in the presence of God and allow that to give us hope and certainty. However, we cannot forget that Paul called death an enemy to be defeated in 1 Corinthians 15:26 and that we should not long for death or view death as a “friend.” Yet we no longer have to fear death because for followers in Christ our union in Christ means that the worst thing that can happen to us brings us into the presence of Jesus (Hebrews 2:14). Paul wanted the Philippians and us to have a confident joy in times of trial because we can be confident that God is at work in our lives with fruitful ministry and the alternative is to be ushered into the presence of God.
The question for many of us is, have we fully surrendered our lives to Jesus? Jesus called his disciples to deny ourselves and take up our crosses daily and follow him (Luke 9:23-25). Likewise, Paul told us that we are to present our entire lives as a living sacrifice to God as worship (Romans 12:1-2). We do not belong to ourselves, we belong to God. The challenge is that so many times in our lives we try to make it “to live is Christ + something else” instead of fully surrendering our time, marriages, families, jobs, money and goals to Christ we try to pursue it on our own with the appearance that Jesus matters most to us. Prison adds some clarity to what one is really living for. Likely you are not reading this from prison, but imagine the hardest suffering you’ve been through and the level of clarity you had in those moments about what really mattered most. Did you have a desire for God to be honored regardless of the outcome of your cancer, job loss, bankruptcy, or deep conviction over hidden sin? Often during those seasons we can feel incredibly close to God and then when the crisis ends we slowly drift towards autopilot for our faith. Why do we do that? Paul’s admonition, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel (Phil 1:27). Let every day, every action, every moment of your life be a reflection of the gospel.
Maybe you’re in the midst of a trial right now, many of us know this deep down but struggle to trust that it is true because of our human finitude but take confidence that God can be glorified in your deliverance from suffering as well as the way you endure suffering, both things can give him glory. He can be honored in your body whether by life or by death, which means our suffering and trial is never purposeless and by the power of the Holy Spirit and the prayers of the saints we can move step by step towards joy and confidence (Phil 1:20).
At your community group:
Take 15-20 minutes to share about how God has been at work in your life, prayer concerns and pray for one another.
How did God speak to you through the scripture and the sermon this week?
Discussion Questions:
Read Philippians 1:19-30
Paul wrote “I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance?” How did God use the prayers of the church to lift up Paul? What do you think “deliverance” means in this passage?
Look at Philippians 1:20, What are some of the reasons Paul had a confident hope regardless of how his trial and imprisonment turned out?
We can often be surprised by suffering and adversity. Philippians 1:29 tells us that it is granted that we should not only believe in Christ but also suffer for his sake. How are suffering and challenging circumstances central to God’s plans and not an interruption?
How does this passage give you hope or encouragement for difficult circumstances?
