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NASB | Philippians 1:23 But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Philippians 1:23 But I am hard-pressed between the two. I have the desire to leave [this world] and be with Christ, for that is far, far better; |
Bible Question:
1 Matt 11:28 "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. Matt 19:29 "And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name's sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life. Matt 22:39 "The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' Do not the above verses show that the Gospel appeals to self-interest, and that there is a place for self-interest? What's the difference between self-interest and selfishness? Was Paul's desire to be with the Lord out of selfishness or self-interest? Isn't saying Paul's desire was not in Christ the same as saying it was sinful? How can a desire that is out of Christ be right? And did Paul say that his service on earth for Christ was BETTER or necessary? Phil 1:24 yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. And if it's a matter of serving the Lord, can the Lord be served on earth only? And what is the place of altruism in the Christian life? Thanks charis and Hank for your answers and comments. I'm not trying to be mean or smart, but the selflessness in your answers sound more Kantian than Christian. But I'm grateful for your responses. This is a real question for me; I did not ask my question to engage in an intellectual exercise, although I do enjoy the give and take in our discussions. |
Bible Answer: I'd like to bite a piece off this discussion, if I may. I would like to take the last verse first. The "loving ourselves" is not the command. It is human nature to love ourselves. What is not automatic is loving others in the same way. This is altruistic in nature, and reflects much the same message as Philippians 2, where we are told to not look out merely for our own interests, but also the interests of others. Again, it is not a command to look after our own interests (that goes without saying); the command is to humble ourselves and serve others. John 3:16 makes a declarative statement about who will have eternal life. From my Calvinist perspective, this is not an enticement to follow Christ, since we are morally incapable of choosing that route without the Holy Spirit's regeneration. Therefore, this is merely a commentary on the eternal destiny of those who believe. Matthew 11:28 is right in the middle of a discourse which supports the Reformed position of divine election. In any case, this verse has to do with personal peace in knowing Him ("rest for your souls") and not a comfortable lifestyle, as Jesus makes it very clear throughout the Gospels that following him will bring hardship, suffering, and often death. In Matthew 19, Jesus is not making an offer to humanity, but rather declaring God's plan for those whom He has called. While there is without a doubt eternal reward for following Christ, eternal life hinges on what God has done for us. All of the verses you cited describe the final outsome of the elect, but Romans 3:10-18 makes it pretty clear that it is not a path we would ever choose on our own. Therefore, self-interest is the pattern that the unregenerate follow wholeheartedly, not those who are being saved. In Philippians, Paul desires to be with Christ. He longs for his eternal home, which for him is far better. Any Christian who would not rather be in Heaven than on earth really doesn't have a very good grasp of what Heaven will be like. However, as you say, Paul sees that God has more in store for him here on earth, and that his continued presence will be beneficial to the church in Philippi. Paul understands that to be with Christ is to be like Christ (i.e. glorified, with one's sin nature utterly destroyed forever) and to worship the Lord joyfully for all eternity. I long for that day as well, but I also realize that as long as the Lord leaves me on this planet, I have a part in God's redemptive purpose (2 Cor. 5:20, 1 Peter 2:9,10, Ephesians 2:10), which I also joyfully undertake, knowing that my sovereign God's plan is best and that the glory belongs to him. One more thing regarding Philippians. Take note that Paul was by no means in a state of misery. For him it wasn't a choice between Heaven or "Hell on earth." Despite the fact that he was in prison, he is joyful because of the ministry of the church, the preaching of the Gospel, and the opportunity to serve and be served by his brothers and sisters in Christ, all of which glorify God. Does this seem rambling to you? It was somewhat hard to be both brief (if indeed one could consider this brief!) and also cover most of the bases you brought up in your questions. Perhaps looking at just one or two aspects of the question at a time would be more beneficial. Anyhow, thanks for your patience in reading my reflections! --Joe! |