To live is Christ and to die is gain gives a concise and complete account of the Christian life, in which to live is to live in and for Christ with the whole life centered upon him and bound up with him. Christ is the Author, source, and support of that spiritual life, his grace is its support, and his glory is the great object for which life and labor are given. The saying holds a depth of meaning that is the mystery of godliness, better experienced than explained.
Paul spoke it out of a revelation of Christ that turned him from persecutor to Christian, after he had pondered his call to be an apostle, given much study to the Scriptures, viewed the worldly wisdom he had formerly trusted in the light of the cross, and determined to know nothing except Jesus Christ crucified. Living meant Christ to him throughout his later ministry, years after his call, as he kept Christ continually before him as the unchanging Source of wisdom and strength and never lost sight of him. To live for Christ is to live for God's glory, to do Christ's works, and to spend one's energies in bringing people to him, treating every blessing as an opportunity to bless others. Such living is self-sacrificing love that brings nearness to Christ, revealing Christ to men by giving all and by living and laboring and sacrificing even unto death for the saving of humanity.
To live is Christ means belonging to him, so that whatever life, time, strength, and influence are possessed belong to him, and living means obeying his word. It means not making self a center or living for self, but crucifying self so that Christ is revealed in the believer with all the graces of the Holy Spirit, and the heart and character are transformed to represent Jesus through humility, meekness, patience, forbearance, courtesy, tenderness, quietness under contradiction, and unselfishness. Lived out, it removes independence, self-assertion, quick temper, and an impetuous and self-sufficient disposition that harms self and others. To live Christ every hour is to rejoice in his unsearchable riches and to need Jesus continually to make the life a savor of life unto life, a fragrant life full of perfume and holiness and grace.
This life yokes up and harmonizes with fellow laborers instead of leaving all harmonizing to them, counsels with them, confesses defects and confesses injury done to a brother, and walks humbly and safely before God with an undivided heart. Its grace bears any test and trial in the consciousness of Christ as Redeemer and sin-pardoning Saviour, labors for God in his way and not in one's own way, studies the Word patiently and humbly, lets less of self appear so Jesus is magnified, seeks the Lord without rash movements, becomes a vessel consecrated to the Master's use whose work is accepted, and stands where the Lord can use it. It is the commitment of Paul and of Christ's followers not to deny or betray the truth for worldly favor, honor, position, or reputation.
Dying is gain to Christ and for the truth, because death itself would make manifest the power of his grace and gather souls to him, so that Christ would be magnified in the body whether by life or by death. Death can therefore be welcomed as gain rather than faced with sadness or discouragement, with readiness for it to come sooner while leaving any further opportunity to speak to people in the Lord's hands. The verse is reflected in complete willingness to live or die after prayer, trusting the Lord and being content with either outcome.
To live is Christ and to die is gain gives a concise and complete account of the Christian life, in which to live is to live in and for Christ with the whole life centered upon him and bound up with him. Christ is the Author, source, and support of that spiritual life, his grace is its support, and his glory is the great object for which life and labor are given. The saying holds a depth of meaning that is the mystery of godliness, better experienced than explained.
Paul spoke it out of a revelation of Christ that turned him from persecutor to Christian, after he had pondered his call to be an apostle, given much study to the Scriptures, viewed the worldly wisdom he had formerly trusted in the light of the cross, and determined to know nothing except Jesus Christ crucified. Living meant Christ to him throughout his later ministry, years after his call, as he kept Christ continually before him as the unchanging Source of wisdom and strength and never lost sight of him. To live for Christ is to live for God's glory, to do Christ's works, and to spend one's energies in bringing people to him, treating every blessing as an opportunity to bless others. Such living is self-sacrificing love that brings nearness to Christ, revealing Christ to men by giving all and by living and laboring and sacrificing even unto death for the saving of humanity.
To live is Christ means belonging to him, so that whatever life, time, strength, and influence are possessed belong to him, and living means obeying his word. It means not making self a center or living for self, but crucifying self so that Christ is revealed in the believer with all the graces of the Holy Spirit, and the heart and character are transformed to represent Jesus through humility, meekness, patience, forbearance, courtesy, tenderness, quietness under contradiction, and unselfishness. Lived out, it removes independence, self-assertion, quick temper, and an impetuous and self-sufficient disposition that harms self and others. To live Christ every hour is to rejoice in his unsearchable riches and to need Jesus continually to make the life a savor of life unto life, a fragrant life full of perfume and holiness and grace.
This life yokes up and harmonizes with fellow laborers instead of leaving all harmonizing to them, counsels with them, confesses defects and confesses injury done to a brother, and walks humbly and safely before God with an undivided heart. Its grace bears any test and trial in the consciousness of Christ as Redeemer and sin-pardoning Saviour, labors for God in his way and not in one's own way, studies the Word patiently and humbly, lets less of self appear so Jesus is magnified, seeks the Lord without rash movements, becomes a vessel consecrated to the Master's use whose work is accepted, and stands where the Lord can use it. It is the commitment of Paul and of Christ's followers not to deny or betray the truth for worldly favor, honor, position, or reputation.
Dying is gain to Christ and for the truth, because death itself would make manifest the power of his grace and gather souls to him, so that Christ would be magnified in the body whether by life or by death. Death can therefore be welcomed as gain rather than faced with sadness or discouragement, with readiness for it to come sooner while leaving any further opportunity to speak to people in the Lord's hands. The verse is reflected in complete willingness to live or die after prayer, trusting the Lord and being content with either outcome.