For to me, to live is Christ and to die is
gain.
(Philippians 1:21 NIV)
Some people really like diamonds. I’m sure they are mostly women. I know my wife is one. I, all the other hand, am less enthusiastic. I do think diamonds are beautiful, but while I admire their beauty I do think they are way overpriced.
I mean, think about it, diamonds are like really beautiful pieces of glass. But what good are they? All you can do is look at them. I always thought that a good Cubic Zirconium should be sufficient to satisfy all those who like to look at shiny rocks. In fact, I recently saw on the news that they are coming out with a diamond like product that can’t even fool jewelers. I can’t wait!
The truth is that while I may be willing to settle for something that looks like a diamond, my wife is not. And she knows the difference! She wants the real thing. So, I’ve got a feeling that even whenever this latest jeweler fooling imposter appears, it still doesn’t stand a chance.
It’s too bad the same isn’t true for Christianity. All too often what passes for Christianity is not true Christianity at all. It is an imposter. And the sad thing is that most people don’t know the difference. This is most obviously true in the media. All one has to do is turn on the television or go to a movie to see this. The Christianity that is portrayed is generally a shallow, rules-based religion. And the Christians portrayed are generally narrow minded, ignorant, judgmental, and prejudiced.
Of course, there are many reasons for this misunderstanding by those who are not Christians. And there may be some ulterior motives at work in the hearts of those who are no friends of Christianity. Perhaps an argument could even be made that it is not only understandable but also inevitable that irreligious people will misunderstand the true nature of Christianity.
The tragedy is that so many people have no understanding of the nature of true Christianity. In fact, there are perhaps millions of people sitting in houses of worship today who do not know the truth and are settling for a substitute. What about you? Do you have a clear understanding of the true nature of authentic Christianity? If I were to assign you an essay to be entitled, "What is Christianity," what would you write?
The text before us, written by the apostle Paul, is perhaps one of the greatest expressions of the essence of true Christianity. It reveals to us what Christianity is, and in so doing also reveals what Christianity is not. I’m not going to assign you that essay today but we are going to look at the nature of true Christianity. First, we want to look at some common misconceptions of Christianity and then we want to focus on the essence of authentic Christianity.
The place to begin is to look at what true Christianity is not. It is absolutely amazing how many wrong ideas there are concerning what it means to be a Christian. It would absolutely astound you, I hope, to hear what many people think makes them a Christian. Let’s look at a few things that some wrongly believe.
I am not a Christian because I was born in America. You might call this salvation by geography. Some believe that because they were born in the right place, that is enough. Although some believe that since they were born in a "Christian" nation they therefore must be a Christian, it is simply not true. Of course, an excellent argument can be made that America is not a Christian nation at all. Even so, Christianity has been the dominant religion in America. But that does not make you a Christian. Salvation by geography doesn’t work.
I am not a Christian because I had Christian parents. You might call this salvation by heredity. Some believe that Christianity is like the family business–– passed down from one generation to another. That is not true. Each person must make that decision individually. Unfortunately, parents cannot make that decision for their children. I wish they could, but they can’t. Salvation by heredity doesn’t work.
I am not a Christian because I don’t do really bad things. You might call this salvation by subtraction. Some believe that if you just stay away from the really big sins that you are all right. They think that because they have not committed murder or adultery or grand theft auto that God will have to let them in. I’m sure it is better to have not done those things, but not doing him will not get you into heaven. Salvation by subtraction doesn’t work.
I am not a Christian because I try to live a good life. You might call this salvation by morality. Some believe that trying to do your best is enough. They believe that if you are sincere and that if your intentions are good you will meet whatever standard God has. The problem with morality is that it is always relative. You may be more moral than someone else but then again there is always someone more moral than you. The problem is that your morality must be perfect. You must be without sin. Salvation by morality doesn’t work.
I am not a Christian because I do good works. You might call this salvation by addition. Some people believe that doing more good things than bad things is what makes the difference. Again, you run into that gnarly little problem of perfection. We are all sinners and those sins cannot be overlooked. The penalty for those sins must be paid either by you or by someone without sin. It is not enough to do a few good things to try to offset the bad. Salvation by addition doesn’t work.
I am not a Christian because I go to church. You might call this salvation by osmosis. Some believe that by sitting in a church service enough Christianity will penetrate their lives somehow. But sitting in a church doesn’t make you a Christian anymore than sitting in a garage makes you a car. Standing in the rain will make you wet but it won’t turn you into water. Salvation by osmosis doesn’t work.
I am not a Christian because I join a church. You might call this salvation by association. Some believe that making a commitment to the organization of Christianity is enough. Now I believe that true Christians ought to join a local church. But I do not believe, on the other hand, that joining a local church makes you a Christian. It’s similar to marriage. I believe in marriage. I believe that people who love one another and want to live together in an intimate relationship ought to get married. It is the expression of their commitment to one another. But the ceremony of marriage does not itself cause them to be committed and faithful. Rather, it should be the reflection of that commitment. Joining a church is the natural expression of our commitment to Christ. But without that commitment, it loses its meaning. Salvation by association doesn’t work.
I am not a Christian because I believe God exists. This is a tricky one. You might call this salvation by intellectual agreement or knowledge. You see, we are not talking about faith here. You can believe in the existence of God without making any life commitment to him. The demons believe in God in this way. Many people, when asked, would say they believe in God, but their life is not lived in accordance with anything resembling Christianity. They believe God exists but they do not believe that he really matters in any practical way. Salvation by knowledge doesn’t work.
All these things really boil down to a person trying to achieve salvation by his or her own self-effort. It is what I do or don’t do that really matters. This is salvation by works. This is the essence of religion–– our attempt to please God. True salvation is never a matter of works. Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV): For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–– and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–– not by works, so that no one can boast.
We can’t save ourselves. There are no works we can do that will make us good enough to earn God’s favor. We are all corrupted by sin–– all of us. That is precisely why we need the grace of God. We need more than self-effort. We need a radical transformation of our very lives. So how does this happen? What does it look like? What difference doesn’t make in my life? What is the essence of true Christianity?
Let’s turn our attention to what true Christianity is. If we want to be a true Christian ourselves and live an authentic Christian life, it is imperative that we understand the essence of real Christianity and not be taken in by a caricature. Additionally, it is vital that the world see the real thing, not some pale substitute impersonating the genuine article.
Simply put, I am a Christian because Christ is my life. This is true Christianity. This is salvation by a Savior. This is what Paul was talking about when he said, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." Christ was Paul’s life. His whole life centered on Christ. Indeed, Christ was the power by which Paul lived.
This text really has a companion text. It is Galatians 2:20. Both are written by Paul and complement one another. One explains the other and both taken together reveal the essence of true Christianity. Let’s look for a moment and how Galatians 2:20 explains Philippians 1:21.
When I say that I am a Christian because Christ is my life I mean, firstly, that I have surrendered to him. You see, the beginning point for us is the call of Christ. Actually, that is not the beginning point for God, only for us. God began before the foundation of the world. And Jesus completed his work of paying the penalty for our sins when he died on the cross. But practically it begins for us when we heed the call of Christ and surrender our lives to him.
In Galatians 2:20, Paul expressed in this way: "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live...." He saw his response to the call of Christ as a laying down of his life. It wasn’t merely a commitment of a part of his life. It was a sacrifice of his life. It was a putting to death of Paul. This is the ultimate surrender we are called to make. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in his book, The Cost of Discipleship, wrote of the costly grace that God gives: "It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life." True Christianity begins in absolute surrender.
It doesn’t end there, however. For Christ to be my life means that I have received his life. There is an exchange. Bonhoeffer spoke of it in the quote we read you. We give our life to Christ and he gives us his life in return. Paul goes on to say in Galatians 2: 20: "... but Christ lives in me...." He had been crucified–– he was dead–– but yet he was alive. How could this be? Well, his old life had been exchanged for a new life. He gave God Paul and God gave Paul the life of Christ. Christ became his life.
Authentic Christianity is a living relationship whereby the living Lord lives in us and through us. Authentic Christianity is receiving the life of God and living by the power of that life. It is allowing God to take charge. It is surrendering to his control.
Now that I have received the life of Christ, I live by a new principle. I live by faith. Look again at Galatians 2:20: "The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." We no longer live based on merely human principles–– we now live by faith. Faith is the guiding principle of life for every believer. That’s why we are called a believer. We trust God. We stand on his promises. We believe his Word.
This is entirely different than a religion made up of rules and regulations. This is a living relationship with Christ. It depends on communion and communication with him. It is not a matter of amassing greater knowledge. It is a matter of getting to know him more and more. It is spending time with him. It is listening for his voice. It is depending on his power. It is resting in his love. It is about following Jesus.
What is the foundation for your life? Is Christ? If he is, then your life will be filled with joy and hope. Paul saw that there was no way he could lose. He said, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." Remember, he was in prison and there was a chance that he could be executed. But even that was a win. If he lived, he would live for Christ. If he died, he would gain so much more. He would gain heaven. He would go to be with Christ. He would receive his eternal reward. He couldn’t wait.
I use this text a lot in funerals. You see, for the Christian death is not a loss. It is a gain. If Christ is our life, then death is the entrance to eternal life and eternal joy. Of course, for the non-Christian, death is not a gain. It is a loss.
If for you to live is self, then death is a loss. If for you to live is money, then death is a loss. If for you to live is pleasure, then death is a loss. If for you to live is power, then death is a loss. If for you to live is family, then death is a loss. If for you to live is career, then death is a loss. If for you to live is anything but Christ, then death is a loss.
All the other hand, if for you to live is Christ, then death is gain. We gain so much. We gain a new home in heaven. It will be a mansion without a mortgage. We gain a new family even as we are reunited with those we have loved and lost for a little while. We gain a new body, as these old worn out bodies are transformed in an instant into glorious eternal bodies. There will be no more pain or suffering and we will be perfectly whole. We gain a new joy, as every tear is wiped from our eyes. And we can enjoy it forever. "When we’ve been there ten thousand years–– no, ten million years–– bright shining as the sun; we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise then when we first begun."
If for you to live is Christ, then to die is gain. This is the essence of true Christianity. True Christianity means that Christ is my life.
Copyright © 2001 J. David Hoke. This data file is the sole property of the copyright holder and may be copied only in its entirety for circulation freely without charge. All copies of this data file must contain the above copyright notice.
This data file may not be copied in part (except for small quotations used with citation of source), edited, revised, copied for resale or incorporated in any commercial publications, recordings, broadcasts, performances, displays or other products offered for sale, without the written permission of the copyright holder. Requests for permission should be made in writing and e-mailed to J. David Hoke, at David@JDavidHoke.com.