(Thomas Watson, “Body of Divinity“) LISTEN to Audio! Download Audio
Paul was a great admirer of Christ. He desired to know nothing but Christ, and Him crucified.
“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain!” Philippians 1:21
“For to me, to live is Christ.”
That is, “Christ is my life!”
Or thus, “My life is made up of Christ.”
As a wicked man’s life is made up of sin–so Paul’s life was made up of Christ; he was full of Christ.
That I may give you the sense of the text more fully, take it in these three particulars:
1. “For to me, to live is Christ!” That is, Christ is the PRINCIPLE of my life.
I fetch my spiritual life from Christ, as the branch fetches its sap from the root. “Christ lives in me.” Galatians 2:20. Jesus Christ sends forth life into me, to quicken me to every holy action. Thus, Christ is the principle of my life–from His fullness I live, as the branch lives from the root.
2. “For to me, to live is Christ!” That is, Christ is the END of my life. I live not for myself, but for Christ. All my living, is to do service to Christ. “Whether we live, we live unto the Lord.” Romans 14:8. We lay out ourselves wholly for Christ. The design of our life is to exalt Christ, and to make the crown upon His head flourish. In this sense, Christ is the end of my life–when my whole life is a living for Christ.
3. “For to me, to live is Christ!” That is, Christ is the JOY of my life. Psalm 43:4, “God my exceeding joy,” or the cream of my joy! A Christian can rejoice in Christ, when worldly joys are gone. When the tulip in a garden withers–a man still rejoices in his jewels which are locked up in the house. Just so, when worldly joys are gone–a saint can rejoice in Christ, the Pearl of Great Price. In this sense, Christ is the joy of my life–if Christ were gone, my life would be a death to me.
“For to me, to live is Christ!” Christ is . . .
the principle of my life,
the end of my life,
the joy of my life.
We may then comfortably conclude, “and to die is gain!”
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