Christ Now. Christ Forever.

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

If you have been around Christianity for any length of time, it is likely you have heard this verse: To live is Christ and to die is gain. It can become so familiar, it’s true meaning escapes us. What does it mean?

…to live is Christ…
The Apostle Paul, imprisoned during the period in which he wrote this letter to the church in Philippi, is communicating a simple fact: Christ is my life. If we were to paraphrase Paul further, he might say: “Jesus is not just part of my life or even most of my life; He is the entire substance and being of my very existence. Every part of it.” In the Christian life, Christ is not a a simple addition–He is the very foundation. His love, His grace, His truth, it’s all built on Him. It isn’t life + Christ. It’s life IS Christ.

…to die is gain.
Paul’s life was full of persecution and hardship, and yet, throughout his letter to the Philippians, his tone is joyful, calm, ...