The amazing thing to me is that Paul rejoiced at both situations. Why? Because although he knew that God would judge their motives, he knew that the gospel was being proclaimed. Hebrews. 4:12, “the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” The Word is alive, and when it is quoted, it accomplishes its work - to bring faith to the hearer. Rom. 10:17, “So faith {comes} from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” There are evangelists who are dead or in jail from sin, those who have walked away from the faith, but when they preached Christ, people believed. Acts 2:47, “...the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.” For this, Paul was rejoicing…because the proclamation that Jesus is alive and well and He gives eternal life to all who believe in His resurrection. 1:19-21, To Live Is Christ, To Die Is Gain Paul knew that he was going to be delivered one way or another. Either he would be: Released from prison, or Put to death, thus releasing him also. Paul says, “…for me to die would be gain.” Paul had a healthy view of life and death. Every day that he lived, he would be consumed with Christ - living for God and learning more of Him, preaching the gospel and praying for others. And when death came, he would not be afraid, because he knew that death for the Christian is a promotion. The Bible says, 1Cor. 15:54-55, “But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?” The worst thing in the world's eyes is to die. But for the Christian, it
The amazing thing to me is that Paul rejoiced at both situations. Why? Because although he knew that God would judge their motives, he knew that the gospel was being proclaimed. Hebrews. 4:12, “the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” The Word is alive, and when it is quoted, it accomplishes its work - to bring faith to the hearer. Rom. 10:17, “So faith {comes} from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” There are evangelists who are dead or in jail from sin, those who have walked away from the faith, but when they preached Christ, people believed. Acts 2:47, “...the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.” For this, Paul was rejoicing…because the proclamation that Jesus is alive and well and He gives eternal life to all who believe in His resurrection. 1:19-21, To Live Is Christ, To Die Is Gain Paul knew that he was going to be delivered one way or another. Either he would be: Released from prison, or Put to death, thus releasing him also. Paul says, “…for me to die would be gain.” Paul had a healthy view of life and death. Every day that he lived, he would be consumed with Christ - living for God and learning more of Him, preaching the gospel and praying for others. And when death came, he would not be afraid, because he knew that death for the Christian is a promotion. The Bible says, 1Cor. 15:54-55, “But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?” The worst thing in the world's eyes is to die. But for the Christian, it