Philippians 1:19–30

Have you ever had someone identify you—or maybe you even identified yourself—by what you live for?

We hear it all the time:

• “I live for my kids.”
• “I live for my job.”
• “My family is my whole world.”

There’s nothing wrong with loving these things, but they aren’t meant to be the foundation of who we are. They aren’t the ultimate reason we’re here.

So let me ask you: how would you fill in this sentence?

For me to live is _________, and to die is ________.

That’s the question Paul answers in Philippians 1:19–30. And the way he fills in the blanks is nothing short of life-changing.

Paul’s Bold Declaration

Here’s what Paul says:

“For I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:19–21, ESV)

Those words stop me in my tracks. To live is Christ. To die is gain.

Paul’s identification with Christ was inseparable from the rest of his life. He wasn’t just living for Christ in safe places. He wasn’t just identifying with Christ when surrounded by supportive Christian friends. He was declaring these words while sitting under house arrest in Rome, chained, awaiting trial. He knew persecution firsthand. He knew death was a real possibility.

And yet, he didn’t waver.

What Do We Live For?

If we’re honest, many of us live for things that don’t last. We live for approval. For success. For recognition. For comfort. For security.

But Paul challenges us: does our life reflect what we say we live for?

Do we only “live for Christ” when it’s comfortable—on Sunday mornings, in Bible study, or surrounded by friends who believe like us?

Or do we live for Christ when the crowd doesn’t agree? When our faith is questioned? When we’re mocked, misunderstood, or even rejected?

These are tough questions, but they matter. Because living for Christ means identifying with Him everywhere, not just in the safe spaces.

Paul’s Choice: To Stay or to Go

What amazes me in this passage is Paul’s perspective. He actually wrestles with whether it’s better to stay on this earth or to go and be with Christ:

“If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith.” (Philippians 1:22–25, ESV)

Paul basically says, “I’d rather be with Jesus—but if I stay here, it’s for your good, so you can keep growing and thriving in faith.”

Think about that. He chooses the harder path—for their sake. He chooses to keep fighting, keep enduring persecution, keep living with suffering—because it will encourage the Philippian believers.

Who does that?

If I knew I could lay my burdens down and be with Jesus, I’m not sure I’d choose to keep walking through suffering. And yet Paul says, “I’ll stay, because it’s better for you.”

That’s the kind of selfless love that only comes from being completely surrendered to Christ.

Fighting the Good Fight

Now, I’ll admit—I don’t fully understand this idea that Paul somehow had a choice in the matter. But maybe what he means is this: he could fight for life or he could give up. He could press on in faith or he could let despair win.

And Paul chose to fight.

That speaks to me. Because don’t we all have days when giving up feels easier? Days when the battle is exhausting? Days when the fight seems too hard?

Paul reminds us: Don’t give up. Stand firm. Fight the good fight.

Living for Christ doesn’t mean we’ll escape suffering. It means we’ll face it with purpose. It means we’ll carry a cross just like He did.

Beyond Sunday Morning

Here’s where it gets really practical. Paul says:

“Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents.” (Philippians 1:27–28, ESV)

Living a life worthy of the gospel isn’t about Sunday morning lip service. It’s not just singing the songs, listening to the sermon, and then going home unchanged.

It’s a lifestyle.

It’s imitation of Christ, reflection of His character, surrender to His purposes. It’s letting Him live His life through us—at work, at school, in our neighborhoods, in our homes, even online.

Paul doesn’t say, “Live worthy when it’s easy.” He says, “Stand firm, strive together, don’t be afraid.”

The Privilege of Suffering

Here’s the part we’d rather skip over. Paul writes:

“For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.” (Philippians 1:29–30, ESV)

Did you catch that?

Paul calls suffering a privilege.

That’s hard for us in the West to wrap our minds around. We love the grace of belief, but we shy away from the suffering that often comes with it. We want Christ’s blessings without Christ’s cross.

But the cross is where grace was purchased. And to follow Christ means to identify with Him not only in belief, but also in suffering.

That doesn’t mean we go looking for pain. It means when suffering comes, we don’t see it as evidence that God has abandoned us. Instead, we see it as evidence that we belong to Him.

Living Worthy Today

So what does it look like for us today to live a life worthy of the gospel?

• It means standing firm in faith when the world pressures us to compromise.
• It means showing love even when others show hate.
• It means holding to truth even when it’s unpopular.
• It means living for Christ outside the safe spaces—when it costs us something.

And yes, sometimes it will mean suffering. But remember: you don’t suffer alone. You stand firm with brothers and sisters in Christ. And you stand firm with Jesus Himself, who walks every step of the road with you.

Bringing It Home

Paul’s words challenge us to ask hard questions:

• What am I truly living for?
• Does my life reflect what I say I live for?
• Am I willing to stand firm, even when it’s costly?
• Am I ready to embrace both the grace and the suffering that come with following Christ?

And ultimately: Can I honestly say, with Paul, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain”?

Final Encouragement

Don’t settle for a halfway faith. Don’t live for lesser things. Don’t keep Christ in the safe corners of your life.

Instead, surrender fully. Stand firm. Live worthy of the gospel. And when the hard days come, remember Paul’s example: fight, don’t give up, and let Christ be exalted in you—whether by life or by death.

Because at the end of the day, the only sentence worth finishing is this:

For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (Philippians 1:21, ESV)

Are you ready to truly surrender? Are you ready to live for Him?

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👉 So how would you fill in the blanks today: For me to live is _________, and to die is ________.