In Philippians 1:21 in the King James Version of the Bible, the Apostle Paul   
   states the following:   
      
   "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.'   
   Philippians 1:21, KJV   
      
   What does Paul mean by "to live is Christ"?   
      
   If we look at the verse that comes right before it, we receive a   
   clarification of exactly what Paul means. Verse twenty states:   
      
   According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be   
   ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be   
   magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.'   
   Philippians 1:20, KJV   
      
   In other words, just as I explain in such articles as "Are You A Burning   
   Ember For The Lord?" and "Are You Crucified With Christ?", Paul is saying   
   that through his life, and his dedicated service to the Lord, Jesus is being   
   magnified. Why? Because as Paul tells us in the aforementioned verse, he is   
   boldly preaching the Gospel to the lost. Consider these related verses:   
      
   "And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people   
   were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having   
   authority, and not as the scribes."   
   Matthew 7:28-29, KJV   
      
   "And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he   
   entered into the synagogue, and taught. And they were astonished at his   
   doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the   
   scribes."   
   Mark 1:21-22, KJV   
      
   "But, lo, he speaketh BOLDLY, and they say nothing unto him. Do the   
   rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ?"   
   John 7:26, KJV   
      
   "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any   
   twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and   
   spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the   
   thoughts and intents of the heart."   
   Hebrews 4:12, KJV   
      
   "Now when they saw the BOLDNESS of Peter and John, and perceived that   
   they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took   
   knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus . . . And now, Lord,   
   behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all   
   BOLDNESS they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to   
   heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy   
   child Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they   
   were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost,   
   and they spake the word of God with BOLDNESS."   
   Acts 4:13, 29-31, KJV   
      
   "Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey   
   God rather than men."   
   Acts 5:29, KJV   
      
   "But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared   
   unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken   
   to him, and how he had preached BOLDLY at Damascus in the name of   
   Jesus. And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. And   
   he spake BOLDLY in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the   
   Grecians: but they went about to slay him."   
   Acts 9:27-29, KJV   
      
   "Long time therefore abode they speaking BOLDLY in the Lord, which gave   
   testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to   
   be done by their hands."   
   Acts 14:3, KJV   
      
   "And he began to speak BOLDLY in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and   
   Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him   
   the way of God more perfectly."   
   Acts 18:26, KJV   
      
   "And he went into the synagogue, and spake BOLDLY for the space of   
   three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the   
   kingdom of God."   
   Acts 19:8, KJV   
      
   "Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more BOLDLY unto you in   
   some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given   
   to me of God,"   
   Romans 15:15, KJV   
      
   "And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my   
   mouth BOLDLY, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am   
   an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to   
   speak."   
   Ephesians 6:19-20, KJV   
      
   "According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I   
   shall be ashamed, but that with all BOLDNESS, as always, so now also   
   Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by   
   death."   
   Philippians 1:20, KJV   
      
   "For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily   
   presence is weak, and his speech contemptible."   
   2 Corinthians 10:10, KJV   
      
   "So that we may BOLDLY say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear   
   what man shall do unto me."   
   Hebrews 13:6, KJV   
      
   "He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season   
   to rejoice in his light."   
   John 5:35, KJV   
      
   "Quench not the Spirit."   
   1 Thessalonians 5:19, KJV   
      
   "Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this   
   adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be   
   ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy   
   angels."   
   Mark 8:38, KJV   
      
   So, as with the Apostle Paul, while it would indeed be personal gain for us   
   Christians to die at this very moment, the truth of the matter is that the   
   Lord needs us here and now on the Earth, in order that the Gospel of   
   Salvation might be preached to this increasingly lost generation.   
      
   Our Heavenly Rewards will indeed come in God's chosen time, but for now,   
   Lord help us all to remain faithful in whatever tasks He has given each of   
   us to do, so that when that Great Day of our Heavenly Graduation finally   
   arrives, we will hear the longed for:   
      
   "Well done, thou good and faithful servant . . . Enter thou into the joy of   
   thy Lord".   
   Matthew 25:21, KJV   
      
   Are you a burning ember for the Lord? Are you letting your light shine for   
   Jesus? Remember this:   
      
   "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and   
   glorify your Father which is in heaven.'   
   Matthew 5:16, KJV   
      
      
   Jeff Snyder, SysOp - Armageddon BBS  Visit us at endtimeprophecy.org port 23   
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