“For me to live IS Christ”
To Die IS Gain”- {Phil 1:21.}
There is no “is” in the original. It reads, “For me to live Christ, gain to die.” Life is Christ! Christianity is Christ! Paul was emphatic, irrespective of anyone else, unfair circumstances, life for him was Christ!
“GAIN” is emphasized in the second part of the statement on dying. The word “gain” means “profit or advantage.” It was used for monetary profit, to make money. “Gain” was also used in the sense of “to win something.” Death was not the end for Paul but a win for Paul. To die was to be with Christ, to see Him and be with Him for eternity. Gain in dying! Winning in death is to be with Christ! Notice again there is no verb because “is” is italicized in “to die is gain.” This put great emphasis in the Greek on the word “gain.” Paul is shouting that death is gain for the follower of Christ for they will meet Jesus face to face, embraced by Him and be at Home with Him!
- Death is GAIN! Death is not defeat nor final. Death is WINNING!
- Death is as an Exit into the presence of Christ.
- Death was not an escape from difficult circumstances for him but a desire, delight to “…be with Christ.”- {1:23}
- Death will not be gain if Christ is not life!
- Death is profitable for the follower of Christ is to “…be with Christ, which was …“far, far better.” {emphasize in the original} – {1:23}.
“GAIN” for the follower of Christ is dying- we WIN!
Life is a Person. Death is being with that Person- Christ, the Lord. It is a win-win situation for Paul. Paul had come to the realization and his declaration was a result, “For me to live Christ, Gain to die!”
Perhaps you have heard of an athlete whom it says at the end of their career went out a “winner.” That may be true but is temporal, but every Christian goes out a winner into eternity!
Life was not about promoting or preserving Paul but in living to honor and proclaim Jesus Christ and knowing in death – WE WIN!