To Die Is Gain

Background Scripture: Philippians 1:12-30; 2 Corinthians 5
Lesson Scripture: Philippians 1:20-24; 2 Corinthians 5:1-9

Introduction

According to the reasoning of man, today’s lesson is the ultimate contradiction. For humans to understand the truth of how dying is gain will require nothing less than a heavenly vision. It will mean that things of time are viewed as God sees them. Only then will this world and its interests be seen as temporal and held as fleeting. Such a value system places the true Christian in contrast with the general society.

This lesson should strengthen our resolve to not get adjusted to this world. When times are favorable for Christian communities, the natural tendency is to become at ease in Zion, but therein lie the seeds of feeling more and more at home in this world. Only something radical will break that spell. Elizabeth P. Prentiss’s (1818-1878) words of song allude to this: “Let sorrow do its work, send grief and pain; Sweet are Thy messengers, sweet their refrain, When they can sing with me: more love, O Christ, to Thee.” 1 Spiritual vision, often aided by adversity, causes saints to understand there is gain in death.

Key Verse

Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection (Luke 20:36).

Lesson Scripture

Studying the Lesson

Philippi was a principal city of Macedonia, a region of Greece, on the continent of Europe. On his second missionary journey, while at Troas in Asia Minor, Paul received the vision of a Macedonian man beckoning him to come to help them (Acts 16:9). Setting sail from Troas, Paul and his companions—Silas, Timothy, and Luke—landed at the Macedonian port of Neapolis. Philippi was eight to ten miles inland from there and was a chief city of that part of Macedonia and a Roman colony.

It is interesting to note that Paul’s efforts here resulted in a largely, if not exclusively, gentile congregation. In Asia Minor, his custom had been to first go to the Jewish synagogues and preach. In Philippi, there apparently was not a sufficient Jewish population to maintain a synagogue, but there was a group of gentile women worshipers of God who gathered by a river for prayers, among whom was Lydia. God opened her heart to Paul’s preaching, and she became the first European convert, followed by the Philippian jailer’s conversion and baptism.

It appears that Paul and his party remained at Philippi for enough time to lay the foundation of a viable congregation. Some speculate that their time there spanned only several months, but judging by Paul’s expressions of gratitude and love toward them in this epistle, there obviously had developed a special bond between the apostle and the new believers (especially note chapter 4).

Some scholars believe Paul wrote Philippians while in Ephesus in AD 54. Others maintain it was written at a later date while he was in prison at Rome (AD 61-63). One of the purposes of the letter was to thank the Philippian Christians for their gift of material provisions for him. When Paul was forced to leave Philippi after the uproar his opponents raised, he went to Thessalonica. While there, the Philippian converts sent provisions to help him. When he was a prisoner in Rome, they responded in like manner and sent their provisions by Epaphroditus. In this epistle, Paul gives a picture of the opposition he had suffered for the sake of the gospel. It is in this context that he reveals his frame of mind: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

The second epistle to the Corinthians was written during Paul’s third missionary journey, probably in AD 56 from somewhere in Macedonia. In his first letter to the church at Corinth, the Apostle had been direct in reproving sin among them and giving direction for many problems that had surfaced. Afterward, without doubt, he was anxious to know how the congregation had followed though. He was aware that some brethren even questioned his apostolic authority. He was greatly relieved when Titus brought a favorable report (2 Cor. 2:13; 7:6, 13). With his spirit now lightened, he wrote his second letter to commend them for their obedience.

In this epistle, Paul makes a strong defense of the gospel and the true Christian liberty. He also again recounts some of his troubles: “For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life” (2 Cor. 1:8). He wrote, “For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh” (4:11).

This is the background for the verses of our lesson text found in 2 Corinthians 5. Paul’s opening words seem sublime.

Practical Truths for Today

In the general sense, no one wants to die. By instinct and basic human nature, we draw back from the thought of death. In this, the “feeling” part of man plays a big part. However, in pondering the real import of this lesson, there are factors that will help bring balance to a Christian’s meditations about staying in or leaving this world. Foremost, the Christian has a lively hope of life after this earthly sojourn ends (1 Pet. 1:3).

Setting feelings aside momentarily because they are so variable and fickle, believers can look to that which is solid for guidance in their thinking about life and the hereafter. In our lesson text, the apostle Paul speaks positively, “For we know . . .” He wrote to Timothy, “For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day” (2 Tim. 1:12). These quotes speak of truth revealed to Paul through the Spirit of God, and it is timeless and priceless. How do Christians today know with certainty like the apostle did? The same way that he did—by believing and following the Holy Spirit and loving the Word. Believing is the first action of faith; it is a function of the will and results in a decision.

God has given mankind clear and undeniable promises in nature but most of all in the Holy Bible. There is no question as to how to be saved; it is by the grace of God through Christ Jesus dying on the cross, offered to whosoever will believe. The way of salvation and the full assurance thereof are spelled out in the Scriptures. Where some believers commonly hesitate is on the question of whether they want to go to heaven immediately. Should that be a question? If it were announced that a train going to heaven would be leaving at a precise hour on a set day, would you get on it? Some might say they would want to set a few things in order first or fulfill a neglected duty. Others would have unsaved loved ones, and they would loath to leave them behind. According to the Scriptures, some would be enjoying such favorable and pleasant circumstances that they would rather stay here. All these scenarios give room for discussion, but possibly among professing Christians the greatest hesitation would be not knowing for sure whether they were qualified and ready to go. This should not be so.

It is imperative that believers settle the matter of assurance with God now. Some allow the imps of doubt to perch on their shoulder for a long time, but Peter says, “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall” (2 Pet. 1:10). Having forsaken sin and by faith believing in the merit of Christ’s sacrifice, we have the comfort of the Spirit. A spiritual brotherhood exercising spiritual care one for another will carefully prove the genuine quality of one’s faith. What a weighty responsibility rests upon us!

When the lights of home come into view and earthly things lose their appeal, one can say with Paul, “To die is gain.” Those lights once far off become brighter and brighter when one walks in discipleship. Jesus is the light. Christians who can sing, “More love, O Christ, to Thee” will also sing, “If that’s the lights of home it’s a welcome sight to me.” 2

Elderly people are sometimes distressed with the reality of diminishing bodily health and vigor. Here again, the positivity of Paul comes into focus: “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” As the apostle said, we “groan” while in this tabernacle of clay, and that is not out of order. Some of the most moving testimonies of grace come from the lips of those who are waiting for “the redemption of our body” (Rom. 8:23).

The challenge for those who are enjoying the vigor of life is to die to the self-life and know that only what is done for Christ is of lasting value. Blessed is the young person who catches the vision early in life that to die is gain. It would be safe to say that only inasmuch as the old life has been crucified will one be glad to put on the heavenly “building of God” that Paul mentions.

Illustration

A sincere, elderly brother nearing the close of life’s journey asked two evangelists what he should do with certain holdings. The Lord had been so good to him in the spiritual sense, and he didn’t want to meet the Lord with earthly wealth. His emotion was a moving testimony that he considered “to die is gain.” How keen the conscience is when one becomes unattached to the earthly realm at the end of the way!

On the other hand, a young married man in his prime was not faring well spiritually. Asked about the snare of his material ambitions, he said, “I want to get rich first, and then I will consider serving the Lord!” His life did not end well, obtaining neither riches nor salvation.

Questions

1. Can Christians experience the gain found in dying without sufferings of one nature or other?
2. Does God answer the prayer to “send grief and pain” to sanctify us?
3. Do we have enough of the sense of being “absent from the Lord”?
4. What does laboring for the meat that perishes indicate? (John 6:27).
5. 1 Elizabeth Prentiss, “More Love to Thee,” Christian Hymnal
6. 2 Dottie Rambo, “Is That The Lights of Home?” Lights of Home

Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).