WEBVTT 00:00:01.000 --> 00:00:25.140 For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. 00:00:25.140 --> 00:00:31.080 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 00:00:32.439 --> 00:00:37.280 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor. 00:00:37.960 --> 00:00:46.820 Yet what I shall choose, I cannot tell, for I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. 00:00:47.519 --> 00:00:51.159 Nevertheless, to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. 00:00:51.159 --> 00:01:09.640 And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again. 00:01:10.780 --> 00:01:12.000 This is the word of the Lord. 00:01:13.799 --> 00:01:14.939 You may be seated. 00:01:14.939 --> 00:01:15.000 You may be seated. 00:01:17.079 --> 00:01:19.480 The grass withers, the flower fades. 00:01:20.200 --> 00:01:22.459 The word of the Lord endures forever. 00:01:27.599 --> 00:01:28.480 Let's pray. 00:01:28.480 --> 00:01:28.500 Let's pray. 00:01:28.500 --> 00:01:50.659 Oh, God, we ask that your Holy Spirit with your people will illumine your truth to us. 00:01:51.620 --> 00:01:55.879 Help us to receive your word and to eat it. 00:01:55.879 --> 00:02:03.979 Help us to see Christ more clearly today, to see our need for Christ even more strongly. 00:02:05.159 --> 00:02:13.259 And Lord, by faith, we ask for your help that we can see that shoreline where you will bring us in the life to come. 00:02:13.259 --> 00:02:24.259 And that all of this will give us confidence that our joy and our progress in the faith in Christ will be sustained and strengthened by your grace until the very end. 00:02:24.659 --> 00:02:26.379 We ask this for Christ's sake. 00:02:26.859 --> 00:02:27.280 Amen. 00:02:27.280 --> 00:02:27.419 Amen. 00:02:35.420 --> 00:02:39.120 Well, the Lord gave a brilliant mind to William Shakespeare. 00:02:40.719 --> 00:02:47.939 And Shakespeare put some insightful words into a troubled mind of Hamlet, one of his characters. 00:02:47.939 --> 00:02:55.280 And those words give us insight into the fallen mindset of mankind. 00:02:57.400 --> 00:03:02.099 In this tragedy, Hamlet was hard pressed between two bad options. 00:03:02.099 --> 00:03:05.900 To be or not to be is the famous line. 00:03:06.620 --> 00:03:07.560 That is the question. 00:03:07.680 --> 00:03:11.759 To live is to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. 00:03:11.979 --> 00:03:25.979 But to die is to enter the undiscovered country from whose born no traveler returns, puzzles the will and makes us rather bear those ills we have than fly to others that we know not of. 00:03:26.680 --> 00:03:29.799 Thus conscience makes us cowards of us all. 00:03:32.099 --> 00:03:35.060 Press between two bad options. 00:03:35.840 --> 00:03:39.379 Living for Hamlet with his troubled mind is a bad option. 00:03:39.500 --> 00:03:40.060 It's miserable. 00:03:40.519 --> 00:03:43.959 But that uncertainty of what comes after this life is even more scary. 00:03:47.079 --> 00:04:02.079 See, the Holy Spirit, by contrast, makes it very clear by the teaching of Scripture that if Hamlet only knew how bad it truly is for a soul outside of Christ, 00:04:02.099 --> 00:04:05.340 He would be even more troubled and disturbed. 00:04:05.340 --> 00:04:15.480 The Bible says that the souls of the wicked are cast into hell where they remain in torment and darkness and they're reserved to the judgment of the great day. 00:04:15.479 --> 00:04:17.480 You get misery in this life. 00:04:17.480 --> 00:04:19.180 You get misery in this life. 00:04:19.680 --> 00:04:22.219 And there's a scary unknown next. 00:04:22.220 --> 00:04:27.040 And He said that conscience makes cowards of us all. 00:04:27.140 --> 00:04:27.880 Well, how many? 00:04:28.560 --> 00:04:32.740 How many of those people we work with every day live in this? 00:04:33.500 --> 00:04:34.020 This. 00:04:35.400 --> 00:04:39.060 State of not even knowing how bad it's going to be after this life. 00:04:39.060 --> 00:04:44.019 And it may seem in Hamlet's mind like it's selfish cowardice. 00:04:44.420 --> 00:04:45.800 But they're in ignorance. 00:04:45.959 --> 00:04:46.579 They're in darkness. 00:04:47.459 --> 00:04:51.259 And these are immortal souls for all of eternity. 00:04:52.399 --> 00:04:59.019 Once they pass through the darkness of death, cast into even more misery. 00:04:59.540 --> 00:05:01.180 It's not an unknown land. 00:05:01.279 --> 00:05:02.819 The Scripture has made it very clear. 00:05:02.819 --> 00:05:12.199 This question of life and death, it's something that even children will innocently ask their parents about. 00:05:12.259 --> 00:05:15.959 And how many children don't know the truth of what they're headed to? 00:05:16.300 --> 00:05:19.560 And therefore, there's no good answer to what is the purpose of this life? 00:05:22.259 --> 00:05:28.360 Now, Paul's words here, they may sound similar, but they're the exact opposite. 00:05:28.360 --> 00:05:38.699 Paul was hard-pressed between a very good option, which is to stay alive, and a far better option, which is to be with Christ. 00:05:39.360 --> 00:05:40.600 Look at verse 23. 00:05:40.740 --> 00:05:47.160 He says, I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. 00:05:47.560 --> 00:05:50.939 But I'm so confident in the great gain that death will bring. 00:05:51.379 --> 00:05:57.740 Verse 25, he says, I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith. 00:05:57.740 --> 00:06:03.740 Verse 26, that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ. 00:06:05.379 --> 00:06:11.120 The Gospel brings this light of Scripture to all who will read it and who will understand God's purpose. 00:06:11.840 --> 00:06:18.060 To all whom the Holy Spirit will illumine, this is the meaning of life, and this is what comes after death. 00:06:19.720 --> 00:06:23.379 In Christ, joy abundant, even more gain. 00:06:23.379 --> 00:06:29.300 Outside of Christ, even more misery and eternal torment. 00:06:31.459 --> 00:06:34.399 So Paul is hard-pressed, but he makes it very clear. 00:06:34.839 --> 00:06:38.019 It's my calling now to live for you. 00:06:38.019 --> 00:06:45.159 So, beloved congregation of the Lord Jesus Christ, I want to bring you this message today. 00:06:47.120 --> 00:06:52.539 And I pray that, even for a reason I don't know, that this is what the Lord has for you to hear today. 00:06:53.419 --> 00:06:54.419 And here it is. 00:06:55.839 --> 00:06:57.919 Your life is worth living. 00:06:57.920 --> 00:07:05.060 I want to open up from us in this passage several reasons for why your life is worth living. 00:07:06.580 --> 00:07:12.420 First, in this life, you get to enjoy the spiritual presence of Christ by faith. 00:07:13.400 --> 00:07:24.300 Your life is worth living because even right now in this life, you and I, we get to enjoy the spiritual presence of Jesus Christ by faith. 00:07:24.300 --> 00:07:28.500 In verse 18, Paul said, I will rejoice. 00:07:29.960 --> 00:07:34.300 In verse 20, he said, for Christ will be magnified in my body one way or the other. 00:07:34.879 --> 00:07:41.720 And now in verse 21, he says, for me to live Christ, to die gain. 00:07:43.060 --> 00:07:45.620 And that's exactly how it reads in the original language. 00:07:45.740 --> 00:07:46.600 There's no verb. 00:07:46.600 --> 00:07:52.300 It simply says, for me to live Christ. 00:07:54.120 --> 00:07:56.480 For me to die gain. 00:07:58.200 --> 00:08:01.860 Greek scholars have said it's the language is explosive. 00:08:02.680 --> 00:08:03.680 It hits your ear. 00:08:05.160 --> 00:08:08.720 He puts Christ at the forefront of your attention. 00:08:09.180 --> 00:08:10.379 That's what life is. 00:08:10.379 --> 00:08:20.600 Well, here's the veteran pastor, the one who anything that he's going to preach now, especially this is going to be a letter inspired by the spirit. 00:08:20.699 --> 00:08:24.600 We should all be sitting around with 40 pages of legal pad ready to take notes. 00:08:24.959 --> 00:08:26.100 What is the meaning of life? 00:08:27.120 --> 00:08:29.579 You know, some of these Greeks in Philippi, we've read Seneca. 00:08:29.899 --> 00:08:31.139 We've read the Stoics. 00:08:31.300 --> 00:08:32.299 We've read Socrates. 00:08:32.720 --> 00:08:34.240 What is the meaning of life? 00:08:35.279 --> 00:08:37.039 This church is now 10 years old. 00:08:37.039 --> 00:08:39.339 And Paul says, I'll give it to you in one word. 00:08:39.480 --> 00:08:40.939 Life is Christ. 00:08:42.360 --> 00:08:43.699 And to die, gain. 00:08:44.599 --> 00:08:45.699 Two words say it all. 00:08:46.899 --> 00:08:50.839 He has that same language in 2 Corinthians 5.17. 00:08:51.779 --> 00:08:56.559 He wrote, therefore, if anyone is in Christ, new creation. 00:08:57.839 --> 00:08:59.159 Leaves the verb out of it. 00:09:00.579 --> 00:09:06.319 In Portuguese, the Greek is translated in John 1 to say in the beginning was the verb. 00:09:06.320 --> 00:09:10.280 See, there's no verb in this sentence. 00:09:10.640 --> 00:09:11.060 To live. 00:09:11.160 --> 00:09:11.540 Christ. 00:09:12.020 --> 00:09:13.180 Christ is the verb. 00:09:13.780 --> 00:09:16.240 He is the active power, the agent of life. 00:09:17.940 --> 00:09:23.820 A man named Maltby Babcock, the one who wrote, this is my father's world. 00:09:23.920 --> 00:09:28.860 He observed, quote, life is what we are alive to. 00:09:29.720 --> 00:09:30.320 Close quote. 00:09:30.960 --> 00:09:33.660 Life is what we are alive to. 00:09:33.659 --> 00:09:38.000 Different ones of us come alive to different things. 00:09:39.439 --> 00:09:42.919 One of my memories was walking through Walmart with my grandma. 00:09:43.339 --> 00:09:46.659 And when we got to the fabric aisle, she came alive. 00:09:47.679 --> 00:09:49.500 And I could not wait to get out of there. 00:09:49.719 --> 00:09:50.879 It did not do it for me. 00:09:52.480 --> 00:09:53.740 I'm different than my grandma. 00:09:53.959 --> 00:09:55.939 I can't fall asleep watching a soccer game. 00:09:56.299 --> 00:09:58.339 I just get worked up and excited. 00:09:58.340 --> 00:09:59.840 It doesn't even matter who's playing. 00:09:59.940 --> 00:10:03.500 I'm just I'm thinking through the tactics and that makes me come alive. 00:10:04.399 --> 00:10:06.379 Well, life is what we are alive to. 00:10:09.200 --> 00:10:12.500 Maybe we felt at times I live for comfort. 00:10:13.600 --> 00:10:16.700 For some of you, that's why you never will go camping. 00:10:17.259 --> 00:10:18.660 You live for comfort. 00:10:19.180 --> 00:10:21.759 And to die will be the greatest discomfort. 00:10:21.759 --> 00:10:25.879 Maybe you feel I live to optimize my health. 00:10:26.439 --> 00:10:31.120 I want to delay dying as long as I can because death is to lose health. 00:10:32.460 --> 00:10:35.019 For me to live is financial abundance. 00:10:35.679 --> 00:10:38.259 To die is to leave it all behind. 00:10:39.980 --> 00:10:42.220 Life is what we are alive to. 00:10:43.139 --> 00:10:45.319 For me to live is a good reputation. 00:10:45.960 --> 00:10:47.519 And to die is to be forgotten. 00:10:47.519 --> 00:10:51.439 For me to live is adrenaline, maybe. 00:10:52.259 --> 00:10:54.639 To die is to miss my body. 00:10:55.679 --> 00:10:57.519 For me to live is achievement. 00:10:58.559 --> 00:11:00.919 And to die means I am mounted to nothing. 00:11:01.840 --> 00:11:03.939 Life is what we come alive to. 00:11:07.699 --> 00:11:09.960 The point of verse 21 is this. 00:11:10.759 --> 00:11:14.340 If you and I are living for anything other than Christ. 00:11:14.340 --> 00:11:18.060 Then dying for you will be lost. 00:11:21.500 --> 00:11:32.080 One commentator observed that this concise, Christ-centered view of life and death was likely hammered out for Paul on the anvil of crisis. 00:11:32.080 --> 00:11:37.740 So picture Paul's life put on an anvil, an iron piece here. 00:11:38.340 --> 00:11:45.020 And the hammer of God's providence, refining him, sanctifying him, hammers this into Paul. 00:11:45.639 --> 00:11:49.580 Everything else is is knocked off and hammered away. 00:11:49.660 --> 00:11:51.379 But what is left is Christ. 00:11:52.980 --> 00:11:55.160 To live Christ. 00:11:55.860 --> 00:11:56.440 Die. 00:11:57.200 --> 00:11:57.460 Gain. 00:11:57.460 --> 00:12:03.840 The flow of this letter to the Philippians so far is Christ, isn't it? 00:12:04.180 --> 00:12:07.100 Because of Paul's chains, Christ was made known. 00:12:07.440 --> 00:12:08.080 Verse 13. 00:12:08.780 --> 00:12:12.080 Through Paul's rivals, Christ was nonetheless preached. 00:12:12.320 --> 00:12:13.000 Verse 18. 00:12:13.480 --> 00:12:17.320 As Paul's life were thinner and thinner, Christ was magnified. 00:12:17.420 --> 00:12:17.980 Verse 20. 00:12:18.680 --> 00:12:21.240 For Paul to live is to be alive to Christ. 00:12:21.340 --> 00:12:21.960 Verse 21. 00:12:22.440 --> 00:12:25.259 And for Paul to die is to be with Christ. 00:12:25.259 --> 00:12:26.660 Verse 23. 00:12:27.460 --> 00:12:31.280 For me to live is Christ. 00:12:32.500 --> 00:12:41.040 John Gill commented, what this means is that Christ is the efficient cause and the author of your spiritual life. 00:12:42.040 --> 00:12:44.139 Christ produced life in your soul. 00:12:44.820 --> 00:12:47.200 Christ is the matter and the object of your life. 00:12:47.700 --> 00:12:50.200 Christ is that on which your spirit lives. 00:12:50.200 --> 00:12:55.240 It's not so much you that you live anymore as Christ who lives in you. 00:12:55.240 --> 00:12:57.120 You live by faith in Christ. 00:12:57.560 --> 00:13:03.320 Your spiritual life is maintained and supported by feeding on Christ as the bread of your life. 00:13:03.700 --> 00:13:07.980 And Christ is what you aim at throughout the whole course of your life. 00:13:08.279 --> 00:13:10.220 To live is Christ. 00:13:10.220 --> 00:13:13.440 Your life is worth living. 00:13:14.040 --> 00:13:15.860 If that's true for you. 00:13:16.259 --> 00:13:17.860 To live is Christ. 00:13:18.340 --> 00:13:24.040 In this life, you get to enjoy the spiritual presence of Christ by faith. 00:13:24.800 --> 00:13:26.720 By faith you've apprehended Christ. 00:13:26.840 --> 00:13:27.360 He's yours. 00:13:28.500 --> 00:13:29.600 He energizes you. 00:13:29.820 --> 00:13:30.540 You have him. 00:13:31.040 --> 00:13:34.560 He is spiritually present, dwelling in us as Christians. 00:13:34.559 --> 00:13:38.119 And living in Christ makes this life worth living. 00:13:39.279 --> 00:13:42.779 Number two, this life prepares you for an even greater joy. 00:13:44.259 --> 00:13:47.079 The actual presence of Christ next. 00:13:48.319 --> 00:13:54.739 This life is worth living because this life is preparing you for the actual presence of Christ in the next life. 00:13:55.479 --> 00:13:58.959 He says in verse 21, to die is gain. 00:13:58.960 --> 00:14:01.160 And then he opens that up in verse 23. 00:14:01.400 --> 00:14:09.080 He says, I am heart pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and to be with Christ, which is far better. 00:14:09.700 --> 00:14:12.519 In verse 23, he says, I have this desire. 00:14:13.180 --> 00:14:15.060 That's a very strong longing. 00:14:15.580 --> 00:14:19.519 That's how badly he wants to be in the next life with Christ. 00:14:19.519 --> 00:14:25.699 And then he says, it's far better. 00:14:27.059 --> 00:14:32.439 The word for word translation would be very far better or much more better. 00:14:33.740 --> 00:14:35.439 Sometimes that's how little kids speak. 00:14:35.860 --> 00:14:37.379 I want this because it's much more better. 00:14:38.620 --> 00:14:41.100 Well, that's bad English, but it's good Greek. 00:14:41.399 --> 00:14:43.159 They wouldn't send you back to school if you say that. 00:14:43.220 --> 00:14:45.159 You can pile up three times. 00:14:45.159 --> 00:14:50.159 It's much more better to be with Christ. 00:14:51.199 --> 00:14:56.139 In verse 23, that word, he says, I have this strong longing, this desire to depart. 00:14:57.279 --> 00:15:02.000 And the word depart has interesting meanings as well as it's used in that world. 00:15:02.980 --> 00:15:06.959 Depart can mean to solve a problem like we're leaving this problem behind. 00:15:06.960 --> 00:15:14.480 It can be used in the naval, the military, you know, where the ship is about to depart. 00:15:14.800 --> 00:15:16.519 It means to hoist up the anchor. 00:15:18.340 --> 00:15:22.620 And then the third meaning, it can mean that you're departing a campsite. 00:15:24.340 --> 00:15:29.420 One historian explained how this Roman army, as it would penetrate and advance the kingdom, 00:15:29.560 --> 00:15:34.840 it would spend extra long setting up a tent and an encampment for the army. 00:15:34.840 --> 00:15:40.620 But they would do something different than other empires is they would not take it all back down and carry it with them. 00:15:41.060 --> 00:15:44.840 Everything they had gathered locally to build this small little encampment, 00:15:45.879 --> 00:15:50.180 they would leave it because they wanted everyone to see the Roman army has been here. 00:15:50.820 --> 00:15:56.100 So to depart would be to leave this tent that you had all dwelt in and lived in. 00:15:56.259 --> 00:15:58.560 You leave it there and you advance on. 00:15:58.639 --> 00:16:00.519 You progress to what's next. 00:16:00.780 --> 00:16:02.180 And that stays behind. 00:16:02.179 --> 00:16:10.159 When a Christian leaves the tent of this body behind and departs. 00:16:11.339 --> 00:16:12.339 It's far better. 00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:16.319 This body, we're so used to living it. 00:16:16.399 --> 00:16:19.039 Our souls are very comfortable in it because it's all we've known. 00:16:20.059 --> 00:16:22.399 But our souls are also united to Christ. 00:16:23.339 --> 00:16:26.979 And our union to Christ is pulling us to be with him. 00:16:26.980 --> 00:16:32.159 Even though our bodies are here, earthly, we know we're going to have to leave him behind. 00:16:32.720 --> 00:16:34.720 So there's mixed emotions about death. 00:16:36.300 --> 00:16:41.340 But for a Christian, as God's word gets into us and the Holy Spirit cleans up our thinking, 00:16:42.080 --> 00:16:45.759 we can agree with the title of Thomas Brooks' funeral sermon. 00:16:47.240 --> 00:16:50.639 A Believer's Last Day, His Best Day. 00:16:50.639 --> 00:16:55.019 Scripture doesn't skirt around the topic of death. 00:16:56.179 --> 00:16:57.159 Listen to these verses. 00:16:58.199 --> 00:17:02.319 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. 00:17:02.960 --> 00:17:04.400 Psalm 116.15 00:17:04.400 --> 00:17:08.559 In Numbers, we read this cry. 00:17:09.379 --> 00:17:13.639 Let me die the death of the righteous and may my end be like theirs. 00:17:13.640 --> 00:17:18.560 This is a good desire to die like the righteous and have the same end as them. 00:17:19.780 --> 00:17:21.920 And Jesus pointed out in the New Testament, he said, 00:17:22.440 --> 00:17:24.360 See, God is the God of the living. 00:17:25.140 --> 00:17:27.380 Abraham is with God by faith. 00:17:27.460 --> 00:17:28.960 He's alive with God. 00:17:29.940 --> 00:17:31.259 You should want to be like that. 00:17:31.320 --> 00:17:33.460 You should want to die and be with God. 00:17:34.320 --> 00:17:36.940 As all the others have gone ahead of us in the faith. 00:17:38.860 --> 00:17:42.380 This life prepares you for an even greater joy. 00:17:42.380 --> 00:17:47.680 And it's the actual presence of Christ in the next life. 00:17:48.980 --> 00:17:52.480 Our confession of faith summarizes the teaching of the Bible this way. 00:17:53.780 --> 00:17:58.620 The bodies of men after death return to dust and see corruption. 00:18:00.800 --> 00:18:02.440 The Bible is explicit. 00:18:02.580 --> 00:18:03.380 They don't clean it up. 00:18:03.480 --> 00:18:05.720 But the Bible says worms will eat your body. 00:18:05.720 --> 00:18:08.980 Ecclesiastes 12.7 says, 00:18:09.120 --> 00:18:12.660 The dust returns to the earth as it was. 00:18:13.360 --> 00:18:14.740 See, your body is dust. 00:18:15.360 --> 00:18:18.519 And the spirit returns to God who gave it. 00:18:19.460 --> 00:18:22.100 Remember, God formed Adam and breathed life into Adam. 00:18:22.720 --> 00:18:23.960 God is the giver of life. 00:18:24.420 --> 00:18:27.160 You have a soul because God breathed it into you. 00:18:27.460 --> 00:18:30.360 And your soul in Christ returns to God. 00:18:30.359 --> 00:18:33.139 Our confession goes on to say, 00:18:33.319 --> 00:18:40.719 But their souls, which neither die nor sleep, having an immortal subsistence, immediately returned to God who gave them. 00:18:41.979 --> 00:18:43.500 Jesus told the criminal on the cross, 00:18:43.659 --> 00:18:47.359 Today, this day, you will be with me in paradise. 00:18:47.359 --> 00:18:52.639 There's no other options for a soul besides heaven or hell. 00:18:53.939 --> 00:18:59.979 Many have taught wrongly all these other alternatives, but there's no other option for a soul. 00:19:00.719 --> 00:19:02.039 There's no purgatory. 00:19:02.759 --> 00:19:04.500 There's no place where your soul waits. 00:19:04.719 --> 00:19:08.679 If you've only committed a certain type of sins and then other people can pray you into heaven. 00:19:08.680 --> 00:19:17.539 In the, what's the name of the, I forgot the name of, oh, Adventist. 00:19:17.860 --> 00:19:20.920 The Adventist, my understanding is they still teach about soul sleep. 00:19:21.700 --> 00:19:23.480 So your soul isn't with Christ. 00:19:23.660 --> 00:19:25.320 It's asleep until his resurrection. 00:19:25.779 --> 00:19:29.160 But Jesus said, this day, you will be with me in paradise. 00:19:31.259 --> 00:19:35.160 Another option that probably most people, when you talk to, it's annihilationism. 00:19:35.160 --> 00:19:37.080 That your soul simply stops existing. 00:19:38.680 --> 00:19:40.900 And that goes against what the Bible teaches. 00:19:41.620 --> 00:19:43.299 Our souls are immortal. 00:19:44.160 --> 00:19:45.600 You don't just stop existing. 00:19:45.720 --> 00:19:48.799 Your soul will spend eternity either in heaven or in hell. 00:19:50.759 --> 00:19:57.539 1 Corinthians 15.22 says that in Christ, believers shall all be made alive. 00:19:57.539 --> 00:20:01.100 You are alive now, but at your death, it will be gain. 00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:03.880 It will be gain when you die. 00:20:03.880 --> 00:20:10.160 Well, in what way can dying be gain for a believer? 00:20:11.720 --> 00:20:17.340 One old pastor, last name Stones, he pointed out four ways that were very helpful to me. 00:20:17.960 --> 00:20:22.580 Number one, your death will be gain in the knowledge of Christ. 00:20:22.579 --> 00:20:30.679 1 John 3.2 says, beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be. 00:20:30.779 --> 00:20:37.579 But we know that when he is revealed, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 00:20:38.399 --> 00:20:40.500 You know Christ now by faith. 00:20:40.599 --> 00:20:41.419 You know him truly. 00:20:42.359 --> 00:20:43.899 But at death, it will be gain. 00:20:44.240 --> 00:20:46.419 You will see him as he is. 00:20:46.740 --> 00:20:49.059 You will know Christ at death. 00:20:49.059 --> 00:20:58.319 John Flavel pointed out, to see God in his word and works is the happiness of the saints on earth. 00:20:59.200 --> 00:21:04.039 But to see him face to face will be the fullness of our blessedness in heaven. 00:21:04.639 --> 00:21:06.619 Death is the end of faith. 00:21:07.519 --> 00:21:11.119 A transforming, sanctifying vision of God. 00:21:11.480 --> 00:21:13.399 A state of perfect joy. 00:21:13.960 --> 00:21:15.339 Our highest delight. 00:21:15.339 --> 00:21:19.519 To die is gain in the knowledge of Christ. 00:21:20.619 --> 00:21:24.299 How else is our death gain if you are in Christ? 00:21:25.119 --> 00:21:28.899 Death will be gain in the holiness of Christ. 00:21:30.019 --> 00:21:31.459 Romans 7.24. 00:21:32.299 --> 00:21:33.899 Notice the tenses that Paul used. 00:21:34.039 --> 00:21:37.619 He says, oh, wretched man that I am. 00:21:38.139 --> 00:21:40.359 He doesn't say, oh, wretched man that I was. 00:21:41.699 --> 00:21:43.259 Who will deliver me? 00:21:43.679 --> 00:21:45.000 Not who did deliver me. 00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:49.579 He still needs further delivering from this body of death. 00:21:49.700 --> 00:21:51.339 Not that body of death. 00:21:52.460 --> 00:21:54.579 Do you see this life for a Christian? 00:21:55.279 --> 00:21:57.279 You are declared holy by God. 00:21:57.359 --> 00:22:02.880 But there's an ongoing battle to your very last breath to grow in the holiness of God. 00:22:03.720 --> 00:22:10.460 And when you die, you will have gained holiness that's unrestricted by the flesh. 00:22:10.920 --> 00:22:12.859 That's a massive gain for us, isn't it? 00:22:12.859 --> 00:22:18.379 John Flavel again commented, death is the end of sin. 00:22:19.479 --> 00:22:21.879 You'll be finally free from your flesh. 00:22:21.880 --> 00:22:32.700 How much better will your state of perfect holiness and purity be then than this state of temptation and corruption now? 00:22:32.700 --> 00:22:42.319 How much better that state of rest and peace than than this of labor and sorrow now? 00:22:42.319 --> 00:22:47.899 Your death will bring you great gain in the holiness of Christ. 00:22:47.899 --> 00:22:51.399 How else will our death be gained? 00:22:51.400 --> 00:22:55.300 It will be gained in the fellowship of Christ. 00:22:56.980 --> 00:22:59.420 It will be gained in the fellowship of Christ. 00:22:59.420 --> 00:23:09.660 The souls of the righteous being then made perfect in holiness are received into paradise, says our confession, summarizing scripture, where they are with Christ. 00:23:09.660 --> 00:23:16.759 And behold the face of God in light and glory waiting for the full redemption of their bodies. 00:23:18.279 --> 00:23:22.900 This is putting to words what the Bible teaches in places like Philippians 321. 00:23:23.940 --> 00:23:33.060 God will transform our lowly bodies to be like his glorious body by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. 00:23:33.059 --> 00:23:44.419 In Ephesians 314, Paul prayed, I bow my knees to the father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named. 00:23:45.599 --> 00:23:54.000 See, these promises are true for every single believer, everyone for whom Christ died, who receives the grace of God by faith. 00:23:54.000 --> 00:24:02.720 All those souls of the righteous will be in the presence of God made perfect, beholding his face. 00:24:03.680 --> 00:24:07.539 This is the family of God that's in heaven and on earth. 00:24:08.880 --> 00:24:10.660 It's a vast multitude. 00:24:11.640 --> 00:24:13.140 God gave Abraham a picture of this. 00:24:13.200 --> 00:24:16.019 He said, look up at the stars and see how many you can count. 00:24:17.099 --> 00:24:22.319 This is what the seed of Christ will be like gathered around the throne of God. 00:24:22.319 --> 00:24:27.439 So at death, we will gain this great fellowship of Christ. 00:24:28.220 --> 00:24:29.799 Now we're lean and mean. 00:24:30.500 --> 00:24:31.859 Our numbers are few but mighty. 00:24:32.359 --> 00:24:35.319 But one day we'll be with the great host of the army of heaven. 00:24:36.740 --> 00:24:44.039 And the fourth way in which this is gain for today, at least, is it's a gain in our communion with Christ. 00:24:45.419 --> 00:24:48.919 It's a gain in our communion with Christ at death. 00:24:48.920 --> 00:24:53.980 Paul was so confident of this in Romans 8, 39. 00:24:54.160 --> 00:25:05.360 He wrote, neither height nor depth nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus, our Lord. 00:25:05.800 --> 00:25:07.039 Nothing can separate us. 00:25:07.140 --> 00:25:09.200 We will be with him. 00:25:10.019 --> 00:25:12.259 We are secured by his love. 00:25:12.700 --> 00:25:15.300 And our communion with now is by faith spiritually. 00:25:15.299 --> 00:25:21.700 But 1 Corinthians 13, 12 says that now we see only like through a glass, darkly. 00:25:22.379 --> 00:25:26.319 But then, after death, we will see him face to face. 00:25:28.139 --> 00:25:29.519 What would that be like? 00:25:30.139 --> 00:25:35.319 To pass through that valley, that dark, shadowy valley of death. 00:25:35.319 --> 00:25:41.439 And then see the light of his face and the glory washing over us on the other side. 00:25:43.500 --> 00:25:46.139 Talk of death as departing or passing through. 00:25:47.740 --> 00:25:50.919 And we've probably all driven on I-25 heading west. 00:25:51.960 --> 00:25:54.579 You know how on the mountains the weather does weird things. 00:25:54.579 --> 00:25:57.379 And you can be on this side of the Eisenhower Tunnel. 00:25:57.819 --> 00:25:59.199 And it's a blizzard. 00:25:59.379 --> 00:25:59.879 It's dark. 00:26:00.119 --> 00:26:00.799 It's scary. 00:26:00.919 --> 00:26:02.379 And you go into a very dark tunnel. 00:26:03.419 --> 00:26:06.399 Only to come out on the other side and you see the blue sky. 00:26:07.199 --> 00:26:07.779 The green. 00:26:08.799 --> 00:26:11.079 Just the beautiful scenery and Frisco Lake. 00:26:12.220 --> 00:26:13.119 What would that be like? 00:26:13.179 --> 00:26:15.399 To pass through and see the Lord. 00:26:16.659 --> 00:26:21.079 Our communion with him will be so much greater on the other side of death. 00:26:21.079 --> 00:26:27.879 Well, the third point from this text today is that your life is also worth living. 00:26:29.419 --> 00:26:33.259 To labor in the service of his people on earth. 00:26:34.819 --> 00:26:40.299 Your life is also worth living to labor in the service of his people on earth. 00:26:41.639 --> 00:26:45.259 In verse 22, this is what Paul resolves for himself. 00:26:46.359 --> 00:26:47.679 In verse 22, he writes, 00:26:47.680 --> 00:26:52.820 If I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor. 00:26:53.539 --> 00:26:55.560 Yet what I shall choose, I cannot tell. 00:26:56.200 --> 00:26:57.660 And then verse 24, he says, 00:26:58.100 --> 00:27:02.640 Nevertheless, to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. 00:27:03.820 --> 00:27:05.960 So to live is to labor. 00:27:07.000 --> 00:27:12.240 And it's to produce fruit that will last, that would be pleasing to the Lord by laboring. 00:27:12.240 --> 00:27:19.599 To remain in the flesh and laboring this way is needful to God's people. 00:27:21.160 --> 00:27:27.140 God doesn't need you or me or Paul to do his work in his people. 00:27:27.720 --> 00:27:33.799 But God chooses to labor through his people to produce this fruit for his glory. 00:27:34.079 --> 00:27:36.839 He chooses to invite us into what he's doing. 00:27:36.839 --> 00:27:40.039 He's the one who does anything extraordinary. 00:27:40.399 --> 00:27:43.480 But he, just as Christ humbled himself like a servant, 00:27:43.939 --> 00:27:48.720 He chooses to do his extraordinary work through such ordinary ministry. 00:27:49.259 --> 00:27:51.279 And ordinary work within his body. 00:27:53.139 --> 00:27:56.899 You know, every time we come a little bit early and I'm looking around the room, 00:27:56.980 --> 00:27:59.059 So many of you serve here in every single way. 00:27:59.619 --> 00:28:00.959 You're serving one another. 00:28:01.500 --> 00:28:02.859 You're doing this for God's glory. 00:28:02.859 --> 00:28:05.519 This is fruit that is pleasing to him. 00:28:06.839 --> 00:28:11.079 And you're doing it because he's given you another day to be alive and to breathe. 00:28:11.679 --> 00:28:15.679 And he's choosing to bring about the fruit that will last for all eternity. 00:28:15.839 --> 00:28:20.379 That effect that you're having on other believers within a church in the ways he's ordained. 00:28:20.799 --> 00:28:23.079 He's doing it that way because it's pleasing to him. 00:28:23.319 --> 00:28:24.639 It brings glory to him. 00:28:24.899 --> 00:28:25.919 And it's for our good. 00:28:25.920 --> 00:28:30.320 In Mark 8, 35, Jesus preached, 00:28:30.580 --> 00:28:33.240 Whoever would save his life will lose it. 00:28:33.600 --> 00:28:38.580 But whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's sake will save it. 00:28:40.080 --> 00:28:42.880 So here's Paul following this teaching from Christ. 00:28:43.480 --> 00:28:46.160 I'll lose my life for the sake of Christ. 00:28:47.220 --> 00:28:49.080 2 Corinthians 5, 15. 00:28:49.240 --> 00:28:50.279 Paul preached to the church, 00:28:50.279 --> 00:29:07.839 See, you died with Christ so that the life of Christ in you serves his purpose, advances his kingdom on earth. 00:29:07.839 --> 00:29:14.639 I've mentioned 2 Timothy as a counterpoint to the book of Philippians. 00:29:14.740 --> 00:29:15.799 It's also from the prison. 00:29:16.679 --> 00:29:20.799 And it gives us some more insights into how Paul was viewing these churches and praying for them 00:29:20.799 --> 00:29:26.559 and how he was laboring in the service of the churches, even from prison, those final two years of his life. 00:29:27.519 --> 00:29:29.980 And in 2 Timothy 4, 6, Paul wrote, 00:29:29.980 --> 00:29:33.659 I am already being poured out as a drink offering. 00:29:34.119 --> 00:29:37.019 And the time of my departure has come. 00:29:37.839 --> 00:29:40.299 That same word for departure he uses again. 00:29:41.659 --> 00:29:45.319 And it's like you can see through a glass how many drops are left. 00:29:45.399 --> 00:29:47.980 And Paul's saying, I've already been poured out. 00:29:48.500 --> 00:29:50.500 It's down to the very last little bits. 00:29:51.199 --> 00:29:52.959 And now it's time for my departure. 00:29:54.179 --> 00:30:00.199 But what was it that the Lord used Paul to deliver to his churches, to bless them? 00:30:01.319 --> 00:30:04.740 See, in Philippians, he's saying, I still have work that I can do. 00:30:04.819 --> 00:30:05.759 I hope to go be with you. 00:30:05.759 --> 00:30:07.779 But in the meantime, I'm praying for you. 00:30:07.779 --> 00:30:11.079 And here's a letter by the inspiration of the Spirit for you. 00:30:12.039 --> 00:30:17.720 Well, after this letter to the Philippians, the Holy Spirit continued to breathe out Scripture for the church. 00:30:18.000 --> 00:30:19.859 The church is at the time and for us today. 00:30:21.140 --> 00:30:28.000 See, this labor, this fruitful labor that was needful for you, it included the letter to the Colossians. 00:30:28.000 --> 00:30:35.180 It included 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, and Hebrews. 00:30:36.019 --> 00:30:40.279 Even from prison, the Lord has more fruitful labor for Paul. 00:30:40.279 --> 00:30:51.819 And maybe the labor that God has for each one of us, maybe in assisted living, maybe with a broken body, maybe in much harder times than what we feel right now. 00:30:52.240 --> 00:30:55.960 Only God will know all the ways in which he'll bless that labor. 00:30:55.960 --> 00:31:03.240 But he's kept us alive for his purpose and service to his people on earth until our very last day. 00:31:03.240 --> 00:31:11.779 I've shared with you, I think, in the past how the example of John Bunyan is so encouraging. 00:31:12.620 --> 00:31:15.920 You know, John Bunyan was imprisoned and he missed his family. 00:31:16.019 --> 00:31:22.259 And he wrote especially he felt he felt that conviction that he wasn't able to care for one of his daughters who was blind. 00:31:22.880 --> 00:31:24.019 She needed extra help. 00:31:24.660 --> 00:31:25.700 And so he was torn. 00:31:25.700 --> 00:31:30.279 Here he is in prison feeling like he's not able to be a pastor and do what God called him to do. 00:31:30.600 --> 00:31:33.940 He can't even care for his own daughter who desperately needs him. 00:31:34.759 --> 00:31:43.860 But from prison, those long days, he wrote The Pilgrim's Progress, which next to the Bible is one of the longest standing bestsellers. 00:31:44.620 --> 00:31:52.980 See, God squeezed out of John Bunyan what was needful for his church to continue strengthening and blessing, even though it's not on the same level of Scripture. 00:31:52.980 --> 00:32:00.019 Maybe for us, it's a letter or a note of encouragement to another brother or sister, a grandchild. 00:32:00.900 --> 00:32:06.360 Maybe it's a relationship God's going to bring into your life to disciple and be part of disciple making. 00:32:07.259 --> 00:32:13.140 Whatever that is, God has a purpose for you in service to his people on earth as long as you're alive. 00:32:13.140 --> 00:32:30.759 Number four, your life is further worth living to help others progress and rejoice in Christ. 00:32:31.600 --> 00:32:34.400 In verse 25 and 26, Paul writes, 00:32:34.400 --> 00:32:59.759 Not only is our life to be of service to others, it's to help others progress and rejoice. 00:32:59.759 --> 00:33:06.019 Paul was no longer having to live for himself. 00:33:06.960 --> 00:33:09.900 God had sanctified all of those motives out of him. 00:33:11.140 --> 00:33:14.759 In 2 Corinthians 5, 7 and 8, Paul says very bluntly, 00:33:15.960 --> 00:33:19.700 We would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 00:33:20.279 --> 00:33:20.859 But he says, 00:33:20.859 --> 00:33:45.879 See, your life might be to bring joy and rejoicing to a person who God has already saved, but who is lonely and who is downcast. 00:33:45.880 --> 00:33:53.700 How is it that a person very near to death can bring back joy to other believers? 00:33:53.700 --> 00:34:01.160 I think that it's because joy starts with God himself. 00:34:02.380 --> 00:34:09.579 And the closer you are to passing from life to death, and it would be great gain to be with God, the source of all joy, 00:34:10.099 --> 00:34:15.619 the closer you access that and you're so aware of it, that God is the fountain of all joy. 00:34:16.220 --> 00:34:18.139 And you're passing that back to others. 00:34:18.139 --> 00:34:23.139 Joy in life and death are rare. 00:34:24.379 --> 00:34:26.519 And the joy from God, it's limited. 00:34:28.199 --> 00:34:32.639 But the quality of the joy that flows from God is of the highest quality. 00:34:34.500 --> 00:34:38.359 The joy that flows from God is limited only to those who are in Christ. 00:34:38.360 --> 00:34:49.240 But if you are in Christ, the quality of the joy you share flowing from God himself is as infinite, John Flavio put, as the infinite God himself. 00:34:49.720 --> 00:34:53.900 Because it's the joy shared between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 00:34:54.300 --> 00:35:00.059 And through the person and work of Christ, that joy overflows to all who are united to Christ. 00:35:00.059 --> 00:35:09.039 And that's why Paul can say that for me to live is to help you progress closer and closer to the joy of the triune God. 00:35:12.119 --> 00:35:13.340 Paul had written to them, 00:35:13.460 --> 00:35:19.279 I have confidence that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. 00:35:20.380 --> 00:35:24.000 Jesus had that same view as he was very close to his death. 00:35:24.000 --> 00:35:26.880 In John 17, 17, he prayed, 00:35:27.059 --> 00:35:30.679 Father, sanctify them, my disciples, in the truth. 00:35:31.039 --> 00:35:32.599 Your word is truth. 00:35:33.099 --> 00:35:34.139 Prepare them for heaven. 00:35:34.780 --> 00:35:35.579 Sanctify them. 00:35:36.039 --> 00:35:36.699 Wash over them. 00:35:36.840 --> 00:35:37.420 Progress them. 00:35:37.760 --> 00:35:38.500 Pull them closer. 00:35:41.780 --> 00:35:44.639 Acts 20, 32 picks up on that same note. 00:35:44.639 --> 00:35:53.639 The word of his grace is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 00:35:54.000 --> 00:35:54.360 Uncified. 00:35:58.340 --> 00:36:05.260 Your life is further worth living to help others progress and rejoice in Christ. 00:36:07.239 --> 00:36:13.000 Paul had written, we saw this last week, that he longs with an eager expectation. 00:36:14.139 --> 00:36:19.460 There's an anticipation to be with God and to be with Christ and for all God's people to be with him. 00:36:19.460 --> 00:36:26.820 And I'm reminded of the contagious energy that a child has thinking about a family reunion. 00:36:27.559 --> 00:36:30.940 We're going to get to see our cousins, you know, something they get really excited by. 00:36:31.760 --> 00:36:33.260 And that just becomes contagious. 00:36:33.260 --> 00:36:37.280 And everyone who's picking up on that excitement, you start to feel it, too. 00:36:38.039 --> 00:36:39.360 Man, I'm excited, too. 00:36:39.400 --> 00:36:40.320 This is going to be wonderful. 00:36:40.699 --> 00:36:42.400 And that anticipation, it spreads. 00:36:42.400 --> 00:36:46.539 And it's the joy that is getting passed on for something really good. 00:36:47.039 --> 00:36:52.200 And this, whoever has the most faith and the most eyes set on that good thing that's about to come for all of us, 00:36:52.340 --> 00:36:55.500 you're actually pulling others into that excitement with you. 00:36:55.940 --> 00:36:57.500 And that anticipation builds. 00:36:58.619 --> 00:37:01.200 I believe that's Paul's prayer for the church. 00:37:01.579 --> 00:37:03.320 Church, get into God's word. 00:37:03.800 --> 00:37:05.019 Let God sanctify you. 00:37:05.300 --> 00:37:06.079 It's so close. 00:37:06.160 --> 00:37:07.000 It's around the corner. 00:37:07.680 --> 00:37:09.280 I can almost smell heaven. 00:37:10.080 --> 00:37:11.019 It's going to be so good. 00:37:11.080 --> 00:37:11.900 You want to be there, too. 00:37:14.640 --> 00:37:18.380 Well, the fifth and final encouragement I have for you today is this, 00:37:18.460 --> 00:37:24.820 that your life is so worth living because you get to share Christ's presence with others. 00:37:26.000 --> 00:37:28.400 Your life is so worth living. 00:37:30.200 --> 00:37:35.140 Because if you're in Christ, you get to share his presence with others. 00:37:35.880 --> 00:37:38.040 That's how Paul ends this little passage. 00:37:38.039 --> 00:37:39.300 Look at verse 26. 00:37:40.380 --> 00:37:45.820 Even though he'll never get out of this prison, he's looking forward to being with them in person. 00:37:45.940 --> 00:37:46.519 One more time. 00:37:47.300 --> 00:37:50.259 In verse 26, it's by my coming to you again. 00:37:51.019 --> 00:37:54.539 By me being physically present with you in the same room. 00:37:54.880 --> 00:37:55.960 Look at each other in the eye. 00:37:56.860 --> 00:37:58.000 Greeting you with a big hug. 00:37:58.000 --> 00:38:03.739 He wants Christ to be magnified in his body one way or the other. 00:38:04.480 --> 00:38:08.139 If he dies, Christ will be magnified because we know his soul is with the Lord. 00:38:08.500 --> 00:38:13.920 But if he lives, Christ will be magnified in his body because he can be physically present with his church. 00:38:16.920 --> 00:38:23.659 See, I don't see anywhere in Scripture a place for Christians to gather virtually or even multi-campus. 00:38:23.659 --> 00:38:27.960 I mean, we just get so far away from the actual presence of being with God's people. 00:38:28.239 --> 00:38:30.259 And that's what I see very clearly in Scripture. 00:38:31.839 --> 00:38:38.960 Jesus said, Matthew 18, 20, where two or three are gathered together in my name. 00:38:39.799 --> 00:38:41.539 There I am in the midst of them. 00:38:41.539 --> 00:38:49.119 Jesus is present in the midst of his people when they're gathered together in the name of Jesus. 00:38:50.860 --> 00:38:52.179 Hebrews 10, 25. 00:38:53.079 --> 00:39:00.159 Let's not forsake assembling together, but let's exhort one another in person together while we're meeting. 00:39:00.380 --> 00:39:03.219 So much more as you see the day approaching. 00:39:04.320 --> 00:39:11.019 The more that that great day of Jesus Christ is close to you, the more and more and more should we want to be with his people. 00:39:11.539 --> 00:39:12.380 That's the effect. 00:39:12.500 --> 00:39:14.000 That's the desire of Paul. 00:39:14.259 --> 00:39:16.679 And that's the effect it should have on us as well. 00:39:22.440 --> 00:39:31.400 I was so encouraged yesterday hearing this song by Andrew Peterson, thinking of that great day of the Lord and the effect it has on me. 00:39:32.699 --> 00:39:34.400 His lyrics go like this. 00:39:34.400 --> 00:40:04.400 00:40:04.400 --> 00:40:06.300 And you will rise up in the end. 00:40:06.300 --> 00:40:08.519 And you will rise up in the end. 00:40:08.940 --> 00:40:16.200 I know the night is cruel, but the day is coming soon when you will rise up in the end. 00:40:16.199 --> 00:40:20.159 See, I need that reminder. 00:40:24.159 --> 00:40:35.139 If Christ is what makes you come alive in this life, then you can have no doubt that death will gain compounded blessings for you. 00:40:35.139 --> 00:40:43.619 There was a former elder at a church in Wheaton, Illinois. 00:40:44.099 --> 00:40:46.579 The name of the church was College Church. 00:40:47.019 --> 00:40:50.519 The name of the elder was Dr. Andrew Chong. 00:40:50.519 --> 00:40:55.280 And he was a surgeon until he became very sick and he was hospitalized. 00:40:55.280 --> 00:41:01.500 And one of his fellow elders told the story later that on that deathbed. 00:41:03.740 --> 00:41:07.260 The pastor Chong wrote these words. 00:41:07.260 --> 00:41:14.540 And his brain had had suffered so much loss and injury that he couldn't write them horizontally like we would on a line. 00:41:14.900 --> 00:41:16.300 So he wrote them vertically. 00:41:17.660 --> 00:41:21.440 For me to live is Christ. 00:41:22.200 --> 00:41:24.700 To die is gain. 00:41:26.120 --> 00:41:30.380 And then he says he watched him and started looking at his watch. 00:41:30.380 --> 00:41:35.619 It took him a full minute, 60 seconds to very carefully write. 00:41:36.280 --> 00:41:36.920 Hallelujah. 00:41:39.180 --> 00:41:41.300 Then he was done writing and he said. 00:41:42.180 --> 00:41:44.019 Nothing has changed. 00:41:48.820 --> 00:41:51.300 Your life is so worth living. 00:41:51.880 --> 00:41:58.660 Because even in those final moments, you get to share Christ's presence with others. 00:41:58.659 --> 00:42:05.099 You get to share that assurance that you belong to him in life and in death. 00:42:07.579 --> 00:42:11.960 We can hold on to the promise of his word like 1 Thessalonians 5.23. 00:42:12.679 --> 00:42:17.279 Our God of peace himself will sanctify you entirely. 00:42:18.379 --> 00:42:22.719 He will keep your spirit and soul and body complete. 00:42:24.779 --> 00:42:26.579 You live in Christ. 00:42:26.579 --> 00:42:33.179 And he will keep you without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:42:34.259 --> 00:42:40.279 And when he comes, if you are in Christ, that will be your very much better gain. 00:42:41.279 --> 00:42:43.699 We long for that great day when he returns. 00:42:44.519 --> 00:42:47.440 Christ is worth living for, church. 00:42:47.440 --> 00:42:54.240 And you can know for certain, you will get even more of Christ in the next life. 00:42:54.519 --> 00:42:55.980 If you are alive in him now. 00:42:57.480 --> 00:42:58.240 Let's pray. 00:42:58.480 --> 00:43:01.599 Ask the Lord to minister this assurance to us once again today. 00:43:01.599 --> 00:43:01.719 thank you very much. 00:43:02.259 --> 00:43:03.139 Amen. 00:43:03.139 --> 00:43:03.380 Thank you very much. 00:43:05.199 --> 00:43:05.279 Amen. 00:43:05.480 --> 00:43:05.759 Thank you very much. 00:43:05.759 --> 00:43:06.199 Amen. 00:43:08.339 --> 00:43:08.779 Amen. 00:43:08.900 --> 00:43:10.420 Thank you very much. 00:43:10.420 --> 00:43:11.380 I am. 00:43:11.440 --> 00:43:12.539 It is also the only name of Christ. 00:43:12.539 --> 00:43:12.779 Amen. 00:43:13.360 --> 00:43:14.199 вот 00:43:14.199 --> 00:43:14.759 I am. 00:43:15.219 --> 00:43:15.779 Amen. 00:43:15.860 --> 00:43:16.360 Amen. 00:43:16.360 --> 00:43:17.199 Amen. 00:43:17.380 --> 00:43:19.139 Amen. 00:43:19.719 --> 00:43:20.599 Amen. 00:43:20.599 --> 00:43:21.380 Amen. 00:43:21.380 --> 00:43:21.839 Amen. 00:43:21.839 --> 00:43:22.239 Amen. 00:43:22.400 --> 00:43:22.739 Amen. 00:43:22.739 --> 00:43:23.339 Amen. 00:43:23.339 --> 00:43:23.619 Amen. 00:43:24.139 --> 00:43:24.400 Amen. 00:43:24.400 --> 00:43:24.799 Amen. 00:43:24.799 --> 00:43:25.819 Amen. 00:43:25.819 --> 00:43:26.360 Amen. 00:43:26.360 --> 00:43:26.839 Amen. 00:43:26.839 --> 00:43:27.779 Amen. 00:43:27.779 --> 00:43:28.400 Amen. 00:43:28.400 --> 00:43:28.699 Amen. 00:43:28.799 --> 00:43:29.440 Amen. 00:43:29.440 --> 00:43:29.880 Amen. 00:43:30.199 --> 00:43:30.759 Amen. 00:43:30.759 --> 00:43:31.559 Amen.