For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, (20) according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or death. (21) For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. (22) But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. (23) For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. (24) Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you

The letter to the Philippians was written by the apostle Paul. He wrote this letter from prison after being arrested in Jerusalem for preaching the gospel. Paul was a Roman citizen and he appealed to Caesar for a trial as was his right – and he awaited his trial in Rome. Paul’s circumstance was not focused on his release from prison but on exalting Christ. He acknowledged that he may well be executed – his desire was to depart and be with Christ (to die is gain) but realized the Philippians and others needed his ministry (to live is Christ).

We think of death as a loss, not a gain, and avoid thinking or talking about death. But for Paul to live for Christ was to glorify God by everything he was and did. But a person is not ready to live unless he/she is ready to die. We must live purposefully always in view of the certainty of death and the uncertainty of when it will occur. At death a Christian goes immediately to be with Christ and this doctrine exposes the errors of soul sleep, annihilation, reincarnation and purgatory which contradict Scriptural teaching on the finished and acceptable work of Christ; of His sufficient atonement for sins and salvation by grace alone through faith alone.

What are we living for? The answer will determine the direction of our lives – if our purpose is wrong, our direction will be wrong. We have the ability to choose our attitude in any set of circumstances. Living for things of this earth which will perish is in vain. A Christian’s death frees him/her from earthly trials, labor and temptations. Paul viewed life as a progressive joy in Christ and death as an even greater joy because he would see Christ face to face. The Christian has the best of both worlds in Christ.

For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.(8) For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. (9) For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.

The letter to the Romans was written by the apostle Paul who writes in our verses that all believers are under the Lordship of Jesus Christ – as Lord of all He will be judge of all and to whom each of us will give an account. Paul is not condemning all judgment of others by the faithful but here is dealing with the subject of judging others on non essential matters where the Bible gives no commands – non essential areas do not affect one’s salvation.

There are scrupulous Christians whose conscience is weak and they are to be kindly received and not condemned particularly in matters not essential. Christian Liberty is not to be given up or denied – we are not to make sinful things which are in themselves indifferent. Our liberty is to be asserted but exercised in such a way for us not to injure others. No Christian considers himself as his/her own master, or at liberty to regulate his own conduct according to his own will or for his own ends but to live according to Christ’s will and for His glory; not live according to our own will or for our own pleasure. Some things are always wrong – fornication and adultery – but not the doubtful thing or morally indifferent things about which Scripture does not specifically speak. Paul is clear that we are not under the Mosaic Law as a system of relating to God and he counsels mutual forbearance. But on moral issues when the Bible gives clear commands, or in essential doctrinal truth we would be wrong NOT to judge others.

The truth in regard to nonessential matters is based on the the fact that the whole life of a Christian belongs not only to himself/herself but to the Lord. So, the all determining significance for Christian conduct is our relation to Christ. Again closing with c.s.Lewis: “Scruples are always a bad thing, if only because they usually distract us from real duties.”

Owe no one anything except to love another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. (9) For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “ You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (10) Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

The letter to the Romans was written by the apostle Paul. In our verses today the apostle is dealing mainly with our relationships to other Christians and then dealing with relationships to people who are outside of the church. Paul had just written of our obligations within the state progressing to the responsibilities to God which supersedes all other responsibilities. There is ordinarily no conflict but when there is we must obey God – and suffer the consequences. The obligation of love we always owe – it fulfills the law of Moses, the essentially legal character of it. The new law, the law of Christ, commands we love our neighbors as ourselves.

A biblical emphasis on love is the distinguishing mark of the Christian. One debt we will always have is the debt of love which includes ALL people and even to strangers in need. There are two great commandments; love God and love your neighbor. We all love ourselves quite well and Paul is saying we are to extend the same love to other faulty sinners that extended to ourselves as a faulty sinner. This debt of love requires self sacrifice and self denial – thought and effort. It involves not just our feelings but also our actions; a commitment, a sacrifice of ourselves to seek the higher good of the one loved. Paul cites 4 of 10 commandments to show what love does NOT do – they are all based on self love, not love of God or others.

We are responsible for the life we have lived – no one will stand for us, we stand alone. The responsibilities to God supersede all other responsibilities. There is ordinarily no conflict but when there is we must obey God. The Spirit rules in the church and the moral law rules in the world. Kingdoms come and kingdoms go but the kingdom of God will come and it is permanent. Today is the only day in which we have the opportunity to serve the Lord.

I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is a reasonable service. (2) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (3) For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

The letter to the Romans was written to the faithful in Rome by the apostle Paul. In our verses today, the doctrinal part of the epistle is over and Paul now gives practical lessons. The sum of all Paul has written is the doctrine of justification, sanctification and salvation of men; these results are not attributed in any way to human merit. The mercy of God delivered us from sin and misery. Mercy means the faithful are delivered from the condemnation we deserve and grace is blessings we do not deserve. In Christ’s sacrifice it is reasonable to consecrate ourselves to God; there must be a corresponding holiness of life. Our verses deal with the Christian’s most important relationship – our relationship to God which is foundational and governs all our conduct. God in His mercy redeemed men and they should devote themselves to Him.

In faith, in Christ, we are reborn – our hearts and minds have been changed from hostility to God to loving God. Renewal is change from within. We are not just to use God to get out of problems – “foxhole conversion” – but to live out of gratitude for God’s mercy which is a heartfelt desire to please God. Reference to this evil age is in contrast to the coming eternal age. We are not to be wrapped up in temporal things, to think within a frame of reference bounded by the limits of our life on earth but to think of our destiny as the redeemed and chosen children of God. All sin and all obedience begin in the mind. Commitment to God is an act of will and is progressive as living sacrifices have a way of crawling off the altar.

Pride is the root of every sin we commit. Humility comes from our recognition of our absolute dependence on our Creator – it is the root of all virtue. Humility is focussed on God, not self. As c.s.Lewis wrote “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.”