To Live is Christ, Philippians 1:21-26

To live is Christ—past, present, and future—because He is our life, our purpose, and our eternity. Death is no loss but pure gain, for it strips away sin and sorrow, bringing us face to face with our King.

In Philippians 1:21-26, Paul writes:

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

Look at the second half of the phrase first. “To die is gain.” That only holds if “to live is Christ.” Only the Christian can say this without lying to himself.

For the unbeliever, death is loss. Utter, complete loss. He spends his life chasing the world, grasping at pleasure, comfort, wealth. He drinks deep of the present because that’s all he has. The word “secular” means “present.” That’s his whole world—right now, this moment. He lives by borrowed proverbs:

You only live once.
Live it up.

But death ruins it all. Death strips him bare. It reminds him he is powerless. It whispers of judgment. So, he hides from it. He pushes the old into nursing homes, where they won’t remind him of his own decay. He turns funerals into “celebrations of life,” with no body in the room. He paints death with bright colors, anything to dull the sting.

He fights aging. He buys makeup, supplements, workout plans, anything to cover up what creeps ever closer. He fills his mind with distractions—endless entertainment, constant noise—because silence is dangerous. Silence reminds him that time is passing. That death is coming.

But death doesn’t bargain. It takes.

For the Christian, though, to live is Christ. To die is gain.

Why?

Because life is not measured in years, but in eternity.

Past—We Were Dead

Not sick. Not struggling. Dead.

Ephesians 2: And you were dead in your trespasses and sins… but God, being rich in mercy, made us alive together with Christ.

Dead men don’t revive themselves. We were lost, condemned, bound for wrath. But God called us to life. New birth. A second birth.

The catechism puts it plainly: All mankind by their fall lost communion with God, are under His wrath and curse, and so made liable to all miseries in this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell forever.

That was our state—our sentence. But God intervened. He did not leave us there. He redeemed us, called us, raised us. This is the miracle of grace: that those who were once dead now live.

Present—Christ’s Life Grows in Us

His life wells up, like spring water rising to the surface.

John 4: Whoever drinks of the water I give will never thirst. It will become a well of water springing up to eternal life.

Life in Christ is not just a past event. It is a present reality. A tree draws from its roots, and so do we. Christ is the vine, we are the branches. His life surges in us, bears fruit.

Too many think only of conversion (past) and heaven (future). But what about now? What is God doing in you today?

Are you more like Christ than you were last year? Last month? Last week?

If not, why?

Sanctification is the proof of salvation. Where there is life, there is growth.

This is why Christ said, I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. Not just eternal life later, but abundant life now. Life that transforms. Life that overflows.

And life that works.

Paul tells the Philippians, Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

God is working in you. Are you working with Him?

Future—Eternal Life

John 3:16: For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Eternal. Unending. Real life, not shadows. A life without sin, sickness, or sorrow.

No crutches.
No chemo.
No wheelchairs.
No sleepless nights of regret.
No aching doubts or whispered accusations.

And best of all—Christ. We will see Him, stand before Him, worship Him face to face.

That is why death is gain.

If death is gain, why stay? Why not long for the grave?

Because we do not live for ourselves. We are not escapists. We are workers. We are servants.

Paul wrestled with this: I desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain is necessary for you.

As long as we breathe, we serve. We bear fruit. We love our neighbor. We build the kingdom.

This is where many older Christians go wrong. They built their lives around marriage, children, careers. Then their spouse dies. Their children move away. Their job ends. And they sit. Waiting. Wandering. Lost.

But the church remains. There is always work.

Young fathers need wisdom.
Young mothers need counsel.
The grieving need comfort.
The straying need rebuke.
The weak need strength.

There is always work in the church.

If you are alive, live.
If you breathe, build.
If your heart beats, it beats for Christ.

Don’t lose sight of the mission. If you do, you’ll grow rudderless. You’ll drift. And soon, you’ll wonder why you’re even here.

Paul was happy for heaven, but he labored for the King of heaven. So should we.

So, ask…

What kingdom are you building?

What is the source of your life?

Have you been born again?

Are you afraid to die?

Are you becoming more like Christ?

Are you eager for eternity?

Are you even alive?

Weigh these questions.