To Live Is Christ

Dear class,

Today's readings are taken from Isa 54-57 and we begin in the book of Philippians, Chpt 1.

Just a quick note on Isa 55. Vs 8,9 are excellent memory verses. Certainly reminds us of the magnificence of our Father in heaven and how at times we tend to forget that, thinking we "know better" and go about establishing our own righteousness.

This is a similar theme arising form the book of Job as well as the previously mentioned passage in Rom 9.

Over to the New Testament. The book of Philippians is one of the so-called prison epistles, having been penned in the period of Paul's imprisonment in Rome.

And what a glorious epistle, none less a glowing recommendation to a faithful church!

In his commentary, bro David Lipscomb wrote:

No other church ever gave Paul more joy and satisfaction. In no other part of the empire were there Christians in whom he found such confort in visitin, or to whom he had more delight in writing. The Philippians had evidently noble qualities before they became Christians...They were not very easily impressed, but when they were once moved and won they were absolutely faithful - they stood like a Roman phalanx. From first to last they seem never to have given Paul an anxious thought. No wonder he called them "my joy and crown" (4:1) [Lipscomb 151,152]

Certainly, we all yearn for such an attitude as a church and such a commendation from the Lord! And thereabouts in the middle of the first chapter, Paul summarises the key to it all, exemplified by himself -  "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." (Phi 1:21)

What a glorious declaration! Indeed, if we were to be imitators of Paul as to Christ (1Co 11:1), this would be our very "mantra" to guide us. 

Paul reminded us previously in Eph 2:10 that we were "created in Christ Jesus for good works", in Rom 12:1 "to present [our] bodies a living sacrifice" and yea indeed for "[we] are Christ's" (1Co 3:23)!

We need to constantly remind ourselves of this great privilege and responsibility, being redeemed by the precious blood of Christ (1Pe 1:19).

How have we manifested Christ in our lives? How have we seasoned our speech? (Col 4:6) Shone as lights? (Mat 5:16) Done His good works? (Gal 6:9.10)

And at the end of the day, are we prepared to declare "to die is gain?" Do not be mistaken brethren. A Christian's life is not about "waiting it out". And obviously it is not about living our lives in reckless abandone! There's God's requirement clause stated clearly - fight the good fight, finish the course, keep the faith, THEN can we safely proclaim our ultimate gain in Christ! (2Ti 4:6-8)

Let us continue to encourage one another in our Christian race to live as Christ lived, as the apostles and faithful saints before us and be ever ready to meet the Lord and be accepted into His pleasure.

The Lord bless our day ahead.

in Him

Paul

-- 

But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. ~ Hebrews 3:13

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. ~ John 17:17
And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. ~ John 20:30,31

References Cited

Lipscomb, David. A Commentary on the New Testament Epistles – Vol. IV. Ed. J.W. Shepherd. Nashville, TN:Gospel Advocate Company, 1963.