Title: The Biblical Philosophy of Life 
Text: Phil 1:20-27

We saw last week we saw how Paul's words concerning his imprisonment illustrated how he was living above adverse circumstances. They were also an encouragement to other Christians to live the same way by trusting in Christ, using circumstances, good or bad, for the furtherance of the gospel and especially by seeking the glory and exaltation of Christ.

In verse 20 he wrote of his hope not to be put to shame, that he would have sufficient courage to live or die as a true Christian by continued reliance on faith. Body here is an expression of the whole person. His use of the phrase "in my body" emphasizes the present reality of life. We're here this morning in our bodies, some of our minds may be a million miles away, but our bodies are here. We are in the flesh as Paul says in verse 24.

For Paul, to exalt Christ in the body means that Jesus would be honored by every single thing about him, no matter what it took and no matter what it cost. Whether that meant he continued to live or whether it cost his life.

In verse 21 Paul gives us the biblical principal of life: "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain." (NAS) For Paul, and all Christians, the aim, the purpose, the sum of all life is Christ. But what does it mean to say the aim, the purpose and the sum of all life is Christ? Simply put it means that Christ is the center of our personal sphere of existence, or our universe. Just as the sun is the center of the solar system and everything revolves around and depends on the sun in the Christian life everything must revolve around and depend on Christ rather than self.

Dr. William Baker of the Moody Graduate School says two tendencies are prevalent when people have a self-centered philosophy of life that makes them the center of their world. They either think too highly of themselves or two little of themselves. The first tendency leads to pride, selfishness, oppression, and even war. The second leads to low self-esteem, depression and emotional turmoil.

The antidote for both is a life focused on Christ. This does two things, first it prevents us from thinking too highly of ourselves. It does this by giving us a true picture of humanity.

The biblical Christ centered philosophy of life assumes creationism; that man was the crowning achievement of God's intentional design for creation rather than the evolutionary results of random chance; that we were created in the image of God as moral beings with the freedom and ability to make choices.

This philosophy sees Jesus Christ, among other things, as the sin bearer. What we understand from that is the nature of sin and our relationship to the God who created us. While there are countless individual sins, the nature of sin itself is that I fail to live up to God's standard, not only because of my bad choices, but also because of the sin of Adam we are sinners by nature.

The psalmist wrote in Ps 143:2 ". . . for in Thy sight no man living is righteous. In Rom 3:9 the Bible says, " What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin;" Rom 3:10 ". . .There is none righteous, not even one." Rom 3:23 "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," (NAS)

When I see myself as a sinner in the presence of God the only conclusion is that of Isaiah in Isa 6:5 "Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts." (NAS) It is the perfect counterbalance for any self righteousness or pride that I might have.

On the other hand when I view Christ as the source and sustainer of Life rather than being discouraged because of my condition as a sinner in the presences of a righteous and holy God I see my true worth. I am not just an animal who evolved from some primeval slime to dominion over other animals that share my world. I was created and given dominion over all other creation, I was created to fellowship with my creator, I was created in His own image and given by him freedom, even the freedom to disobey. Yet when I disobeyed God continued to love me. He loved me so much that He made a way for me to be restored to fellowship with Him. He loved me so much that He gave His only begotten Son to take my place, to pay the price for my sin.

The biblical philosophy that to live is Christ means that because of His great love for me all of my life is given to Him, in service and in love as the only proper response to salvation. It means fruitful labor Paul says in verse 22, and it means that we are to live in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ verse 27.

The second part of the biblical philosophy of life is that death is gain. The humanistic philosophy of life stands in stark contrast to the biblical philosophy. The biblical view understands the depravity of man, his sinfulness, the humanistic view on the other hand believes man is essentially good by nature. I think the observation of children proves the fallacy of the humanistic view. It is the sinful side of humanity that exhibits itself naturally, it is the good that must be taught and learned.

The other key point of humanistic philosophy is that this life is all there is, to die is not gain it is simply to cease to exist. "Humanism is a philosophy for the here and now. Humanists regard human values as making sense only in the context of human life rather than in the promise of a supposed life after death." The key problem with that statement is the phrase human values, because unlike biblical values which are timeless human values ebb and flow. Do human values make sense? What of the human values of the Nazi party that rationalized the destruction of and devaluation of the lives of Jewish people as well as others that opposed their views. Which human values make sense? What of the human values that can rationalize the abortions of so many human babies. If there is nothing after death then anything can be justified if it supposedly has benefits in the here and now, whether those benefits are physical, or emotional, or perceived in any way.

Biblical values, however, are timeless and changeless. They are expressed in commands such as having dominion over the earth, but being good stewards of that dominion. In principles such as the "golden rule" treating others as we wish to be treated, loving God with all our being and loving our neighbors as ourselves, keeping our thoughts and minds pure by focusing on things above rather than things here, seeking first the kingdom of God, laying up treasures in heaven and so many others.

The biblical philosophy also says there is more than this present life, that which comes after this physical life has ended is life on a higher plane and is eternal life. The Bible presents two options for eternity either eternal life with Christ, or eternal damnation forever separated from God. For the Christian death is not something to be feared, but rather it is a portal into a reuniting. A complete restoration between the creator and His creation. The Bible describes it in the most beautiful ways possible for human comprehension. Something to be earnestly longed for and anticipated. It will bring the believer into an even greater fellowship with Jesus.

That creates somewhat of a dilemma in Paul's mind. Paul says in verse 22 if it were left up to him he would not know whether to chose life or death. If to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord as he wrote in 2 Cor 5:6, 8 and his desire is to be with Christ verse 23 then death would surely be so much better than being in jail and perhaps going through even more suffering.

This line of reasoning has been used often by cult groups to justify the mass suicide of their followers, perhaps the most well know was that of the Jim Jones and the members of the Peoples Temple in Guyana years ago, but there have also been many others, the Branch Dividians in Waco, the more recent ones in Europe.

But there is another dynamic at work which creates the dilemma for Paul. He has work to do. He is a servant of Christ who has a mission. Jesus demonstrated for us, by His obedience, that God's glory is to be the object of all our conduct. We are to seek His glory, whatever sufferings it may cost us. Paul said that for him to live was necessary for the sake of the Philippians, and not for them only but for countless others who would hear the gospel from Paul and also for those who would read his words as well. Paul's task was not complete, nor was the decision his to make, it was God's will that must be done not Paul's own. He was confident that his situations was in the Lord's hands and that whatever the outcome God would be glorified.

When I read this I think of my grandmother Annie Skelton. Grandmother Skelton lived a long hard life after her husband died. She raise eleven children on a farm, well almost all of them on the farm. It was a farm granddaddy bought with a handshake and paid for by sharecropping. Unfortunately after he died the handshake wasn't enough and the owner took the farm from grandmother and the 2 or 3 children that we still at home. Like most everyone there were lots of good times and bad times until she died of cancer at 92. But grandmother's life was beneficial to her children who saw her stand firm in her faith even in the face of such trials. It was also beneficial to her grandchildren. Especially to at least one, who watched how she faced life and death with what can only be described as grace.

Her influence is surly seen in her family where almost all of her children and grandchildren are Christians. Some are Sunday School teachers, some are musicians in church, at least one is married to a minister of music, another is married to a preacher, one is a preacher and a number of them are deacons, and a few have been and are involved in volunteer missions nationally and internationally.

Like Paul her death would have been gain, and eventually was, but through her life Jesus Christ was magnified and glorified and shared. She has touched the lives of everyone who has been touched and ministered to by those whom she influenced. And I might add that influence extended beyond her family as well.

For Paul and for all believers to die is gain, the greater challenge is that to live is Christ. We must give ourselves to Him totally and live for him completely. Striving as the hymn writer says to please Him in all that we do. Will you give your life totally to Him?

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