About this Episode
If you were to complete this sentence, "For to me, to live is...", how would you finish it? For Paul, to live was Christ, and to die was gain. Christ was everything, and no amount of suffering compared to the joy of knowing Him.
In the modern Church, we see many Christians who simply attend church to indulge themselves in a sort of "Consumer-Christianity", where they come with the attitude that it's all about them. This couldn't be further from what true Christianity teaches.
There are many immature believers in our churches these days because many have ceased to preach and teach on how we are going to suffer if we are Christ's. They've replaced it with cheery, happy-go-lucky messages on being a champion, a winner, the most important thing since sliced bread. This is to the shame of Christianity.
In Philippians 1:19-30, the Apostle Paul discusses his own sufferings a little further; never complaining about them. Contrary to what many teach today, Paul viewed his own suffering as a blessing from God, sent to strengthen and grow him. He even held the attitude that his own life was simply meant to live for Christ. If he was to continue living, he knew it would be to live for Christ, and if he were to die, it would be to gain eternal life with Christ.
In this teaching from Pastor Ryan, we find that Paul's words are needed today, possibly more than ever.
