Philippians 1:21 "For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain."

“For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain” (Philippians 1:21).

Question:

What does the phrase “living is Christ” mean?

Comment:

Taken alone, this verse seems contrary to common sense. If Paul had written “living is gain and dying is Christ” that might make more sense. The purpose of living is to learn spiritual lessons from our life experiences, and through dying we enter into the new consciousness that is the Christ. Paul goes on to explain what he means, however, and his perceptions are important for us today.

Paul often seems to express the character we have come to associate with Jewish mothers: loving, giving and long-suffering, careful to be sure their sacrifices are recognized by those around them. I don’t think “Oy, vey!” can literally be found in Paul’s letters, but the energy of it certainly can. So what Paul is saying here, writing from prison (Philippians 1:7, 13, 14), is “It’s okay. I’m enduring this for your sake!” “Living is Christ” means “the challenges and pains I endure are part of my spiritual purpose.” “Dying is gain” means “I would really rather end this human life experience and move on to higher spiritual dimensions.” 

For us today, this reversal is really an important spiritual awareness. It’s easy to fall into old attitudes in which all the spiritual “good” lies in a realm called heaven on the other side of death. Everything we experience in our lives—especially every setback, disappoint and challenge—can seem like punishment holding us back from the spiritual “victory” of death and heavenly reward. This is never the teaching of Jesus, and even from the shame and discomfort of a prison cell, Paul is also aware that his spiritual purpose lies precisely in moving through negative energies in such a way that every choice he makes brings more of his true Christ nature into expression. So “living is Christ” means that our spiritual purpose lies not in getting to some other dimension, but in truly being the Christ in every challenge, and at every opportunity.

Blessings!

Rev. Ed