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Christ is my life, and dying is my gain - Phil. 1:21

This sentence by the apostle Paul to the church in Philippi is multi-layered and in fact contains the secret of his life. If we are allowed to grasp and, above all, experience the deep spiritual meaning, we will be following exactly in the footsteps of the apostle, which will lead us directly to "heaven".

The Greek word for "gain" only appears three times in the New Testament - twice in Philippians. The second time in Phil. 3:7, Paul describes his false gain in his former life as a Pharisee, separated from Jesus Christ. In comparison to the knowledge of Jesus Christ, all his religious achievements seemed like "dung" to him - a complete loss (Phil. 3:5-10). In terms of eternity, i.e. God's eternal plans for mankind, there is only one true gain: to be in Jesus Christ - or to be found or discovered in Jesus Christ. For whatever has to do with our eternal calling takes place exclusively in and through Jesus Christ. And the only true way into Christ is by dying.

"Dying" can be understood and interpreted both spiritually and physiologically. In view of the apostle's many sufferings, it was only natural that he longed to be completely with his Lord and to lay down his body, which was so often mistreated and tortured (2 Cor. 5:1-9). And in a way, laying down the body is easier, especially when it happens abruptly. But this also ends our influence on this earth - as does, for example, the process of being changed into the image of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 3:18).

The spiritual death of our old self (nature), on the other hand, is much more painful, often lifelong and completely against our flesh. Whoever loves his soul will lose it, says the Lord Jesus Christ (John 12:25). But if the grain of wheat does not fall into the earth and dies, it remains alone and bears no fruit (John 12:24). Our spiritual destiny is simply to die to our old self (Rom. 6:6) so that the new man, Jesus Christ, can be revealed in us and through us (Eph. 2:15; 4:24). And so, we always carry the death of Jesus around in our bodies so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal (dying) flesh (2 Cor. 4:10-11).

The Holy Spirit's methods of dying are simple and effective: our daily challenges, the so-called "negative" circumstances, tense situations and suffering caused by our environment. Spiritually speaking, everything drives us to die. And why? So that Jesus Christ can become our life! It is always through dying that we come to life – both naturally and spiritually. Consequently, dying is always a gain for a spiritual person - because if our old, religious and "Christian" person were to survive, it would be a total loss!

The statement that Christ is our life could simply be understood as a philosophy of life - just as a job, children, nature, mountains, art, etc. could be the purpose and meaning of life. But we have to let go of all this at some point, at the latest when we die biologically. But for Paul, this goes infinitely deeper - or higher. For the Lord Jesus Christ does not want to be our purpose in life - no, He wants to be our life. The Lord Jesus Christ once said: Because I live, you shall live also (John 14:19). Or the apostle John wrote: He who has the Son has life (1 John 5:12). In Greek, the term "life" does not mean temporary, biological life, but the eternal, divine and perfect life of Jesus Christ himself!

Many Christians mistakenly believe that their destiny is to follow Jesus Christ with the utmost religious effort. No, and again no! Our destiny is that Jesus Christ is our life. This only happens in one way: Spiritual procreation by the Holy Spirit, whereby the life of Jesus Christ is actually placed in us - or we are placed in Jesus Christ, like the wild olive branch in the noble olive tree (Rom. 11:24). This practically leads to the disempowerment of our old self (nature) and the indwelling of Jesus Christ.

If the Lord Jesus Christ is then our life, we logically consist of Him - of His pure, holy, righteous and perfect life. We are of God (1 John 4:4). As long as we are and remain in Christ, He remains in us (John 15:4) and lives His life through us. From now on He reveals His love, His power, His holiness - and He even works His works through us (John 14:12). If the Lord Jesus Christ is present in us - because He is our life - then His death and His resurrection life have an effect in and through us. And that is nothing other than glory - "heaven" on earth - your destiny!

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