In Philippians 1:21 in the King James Version of the Bible, the Apostle Paul states the following:

"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.'
Philippians 1:21, KJV

What does Paul mean by "to live is Christ"?

If we look at the verse that comes right before it, we receive a
clarification of exactly what Paul means. Verse twenty states:

According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.'
Philippians 1:20, KJV

In other words, just as I explain in such articles as "Are You A Burning
Ember For The Lord?" and "Are You Crucified With Christ?", Paul is saying
that through his life, and his dedicated service to the Lord, Jesus is being magnified. Why? Because as Paul tells us in the aforementioned verse, he is boldly preaching the Gospel to the lost. Consider these related verses:

"And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people
were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having
authority, and not as the scribes."
Matthew 7:28-29, KJV

"And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he
entered into the synagogue, and taught. And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes."
Mark 1:21-22, KJV

"But, lo, he speaketh BOLDLY, and they say nothing unto him. Do the
rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ?"
John 7:26, KJV

"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any
twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and
spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the
thoughts and intents of the heart."
Hebrews 4:12, KJV

"Now when they saw the BOLDNESS of Peter and John, and perceived that
they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took
knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus . . . And now, Lord,
behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all
BOLDNESS they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to
heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy
child Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they
were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost,
and they spake the word of God with BOLDNESS."
Acts 4:13, 29-31, KJV

"Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey
God rather than men."
Acts 5:29, KJV

"But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared
unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken
to him, and how he had preached BOLDLY at Damascus in the name of
Jesus. And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. And
he spake BOLDLY in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him."
Acts 9:27-29, KJV

"Long time therefore abode they speaking BOLDLY in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to
be done by their hands."
Acts 14:3, KJV

"And he began to speak BOLDLY in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and
Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him
the way of God more perfectly."
Acts 18:26, KJV

"And he went into the synagogue, and spake BOLDLY for the space of
three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the
kingdom of God."
Acts 19:8, KJV

"Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more BOLDLY unto you in
some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given
to me of God,"
Romans 15:15, KJV

"And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my
mouth BOLDLY, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am
an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to
speak."
Ephesians 6:19-20, KJV

"According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I
shall be ashamed, but that with all BOLDNESS, as always, so now also
Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by
death."
Philippians 1:20, KJV

"For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily
presence is weak, and his speech contemptible."
2 Corinthians 10:10, KJV

"So that we may BOLDLY say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear
what man shall do unto me."
Hebrews 13:6, KJV

"He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season
to rejoice in his light."
John 5:35, KJV

"Quench not the Spirit."
1 Thessalonians 5:19, KJV

"Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this
adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be
ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy
angels."
Mark 8:38, KJV

So, as with the Apostle Paul, while it would indeed be personal gain for us Christians to die at this very moment, the truth of the matter is that the
Lord needs us here and now on the Earth, in order that the Gospel of
Salvation might be preached to this increasingly lost generation.

Our Heavenly Rewards will indeed come in God's chosen time, but for now,
Lord help us all to remain faithful in whatever tasks He has given each of
us to do, so that when that Great Day of our Heavenly Graduation finally arrives, we will hear the longed for:

"Well done, thou good and faithful servant . . . Enter thou into the joy of
thy Lord".
Matthew 25:21, KJV

Are you a burning ember for the Lord? Are you letting your light shine for Jesus? Remember this:

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.'
Matthew 5:16, KJV


Jeff Snyder, SysOp - Armageddon BBS Visit us at endtimeprophecy.org port 23 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Your Download Center 4 Mac BBS Software & Christian Files. We Use Hermes II


--- Hermes Web Tosser 1.1
* Origin: Armageddon BBS -- Guam, Mariana Islands (1:345/3777.0)