The Mastering Passion of Knowing and Making Christ Known

I grew up going to Cardinal baseball games. I remember a time at a game in the early 2000’s in which the Cubs lasted a little bit longer into the season before they quietly faded off into the night as they usually do. It was a Cardinals Cubs game at Busch stadium. I had just purchased my gourmet priced hotdog from the concession stand and was turning to head back to my seat when it happened. I encountered passion; a man decked out in Cubs gear came strutting along saying things like, “Cubs are in the house. We are number one,” often times taking off his hat pointing at the “C” and saying, “First place! First place!” Obviously, I found this to be obnoxious—not to say that there aren’t Cardinal fans or fans of other times that do the same or similar things. It wasn’t obnoxious simply because the man was passionate, but the subject of his passion. The reason he came across as ridiculous was not because he was passionate, but because he was passionate about something so meaningless.

The world is not short on subjects upon which we can easily be passionate about. It is, however, short on subjects that we can be rightly passionate about. While one may have many things they are passionate about, we can only have one true passion—the mastering conviction of the heart. The central conviction that lies behind your motivations, thoughts, actions, and overflowing desires. What should be our mastering passion; our underlying motivation that drives our actions? It should be knowing Jesus Christ and making him known. It should be Jesus and his gospel. Why? Because there is no greater life altering truth than the gospel—that God the Son took on flesh, died for sin, rose from the dead so that by faith in him we can be freed from the power of sin and saved from the wrath that we deserve for our rebellion against God. It is through Jesus Christ that we are reconciled in relationship with our creator; that we can know the one for whom we were created to know and be in relationship with. When Jesus rose from the dead, everything changed. That is why knowing Jesus and making him known should rightly be our mastering passion, conviction, and pursuit. Eternal life is knowing God and Jesus Christ, and we know God and are
reconciled to him by Jesus and his cross.

The Apostle Paul had this same mindset, and it is revealed in our passage—and basically everything else he wrote in the New Testament. Paul wrote the letter to the church in Philippi, the first church he planted in Europe on his second missionary journey (Acts 16), in order to give them, among other things, an update on his circumstances. One of the reasons he did this was because they had partnered with him in his missionary endeavors to spread the gospel, both by praying for him and by supplying his needs. Most likely, he wrote the letter while imprisoned in Rome. Yet, even though he was imprisoned, his passion did not change. He still wanted to know Christ and make him known more than anything else. And that is exactly the same attitude and mindset we are called to have in this passage. Our passion should be know Christ and make Christ known. This is not something that is special just for Paul. We cannot look at him and say, “Well, he is an exception because he is an apostle.” The mastering passion of knowing Christ and making him known is not a quality reserved for church leaders, but all believers. Twice in this letter (3:17;4:9), and even in other letters, Paul calls those who are mature to follow his example. “Imitate me,” he says. “Behave like me.” Now, Paul doesn’t mean that we have to be like him in every sense (become itinerant missionaries), but certainly he means we are to imitate him in his faith and expression of that faith—which means we must be mastered by the same conviction—that there is nothing greater than knowing Jesus Christ and making him known.

It is easy, though, for me to say to you, “Make your ultimate passion knowing Jesus Christ and making him known!” How do we even know if we are doing that? What does that look like? How do we know we are living this way and growing in this way? I think Phil. 1:12-26 answers those questions for us. This passage shows us how Paul’s passion for Christ and his gospel trumped all other passions and desires. So, this passage shows us what submitting to this mastering passion is doing in us and will continue to do. In other words, if Christ is our passion, then these things will start happening with greater measure as you mature in faith. In this regard, I think we need to see three things in particular about this text.

First, when knowing and making Christ known is our mastering passion, then we will value the spread of the gospel above our own comfort (12-14).

In the first 11 verses of chapter one, Paul addresses the Philippians and gives thanks for them. In verse 12, he begins to give them an account of his circumstances. What does he say? “I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel…” Let’s pause for a moment right there. Paul has been imprisoned unjustly, that’s what he is referring to when he says, “what has happened to me.” While in Jerusalem the Jews made a false allegation against him. Due to these allegations, he was nearly killed by an angry mob, was then nearly flogged in a Roman prison, saved only by the fact that he was a Roman citizen. Although the truth was on his side, his entire case was beset with injustice after injustice. He was unable to get a hearing and was kept in prison, plots were laid out against his life, eventually he felt it necessary to appeal to Caesar in order to get out of imprisonment. Yet, in the face of all of this, he begins by telling the Philippians “What has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. Instead of lamenting his situation, he is celebrating the gospels advance!

Paul is in prison but the first thing he wants the Philippians to know about him is that the gospel is advancing. He was not primarily concerned with the hardships he had faced, with the persecution against him, with the injustice done to him. No, instead Paulwas concerned with making Christ known. That was his major concern and we see this in two ways.

First, Paul took advantage of his situation to preach Christ. If you look at verse 13, you see that it has “become known throughout the whole imperial guard and too all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.” Here is an amazing thing about this statement. The imperial guard, at full strength, numbered around 9,000 people. How could this be possible? In Acts 28, we read that when Paul made it to Rome, he was allowed to stay by himself “with the soldier that guarded him” (Acts 28:16). This wasn’t the same soldier all the time. They would have shifts and would switch out. Apparently, Paul used this time wisely. It wasn’t that every single guard sat with Paul at some point. Rather, Paul shared the gospel with every one of them who was assigned to guard him. Perhaps he told them also about why he was imprisoned. The guards then shared this among themselves and word spread about Paul. Paul, instead of pleading his innocence, spent his time talking with his guards about a Jew named Jesus. Jesus, he told them, was more than just a man. He was the God-man. He lived a sinless life willingly went to his death, even death by crucifixion. But that is not all, he rose from the grave—and this resurrection wasn’t just a spiritual resurrection. Jesus rose from the grave bodily and met with his disciples and appeared to over 500 people. And not only will this Jesus return again to judge the living and the dead, the only hope of being reconciled to God and forgiven of sin is by faith in his name. So now all people are called to repent and trust in Jesus Christ for their salvation. It is only by faith in Jesus that one can be saved. This story is just as incredible and beautiful today was it was then, it was just as crazy sounding to the world as it is today. And as Paul shared this crazy sounding message with his guards, the guards in turn most likely shared it with those with whom they worked. In fact, Paul spoke of Jesus so much that it became clear to the guards that his imprisonment was due to the fact that he was so zealous, so passionate about advancing the gospel.

And the gospel spread throughout the whole guard.

Because Paul took advantage of his captive audience, stories about him and about Jesus were now circulating around the whole imperial guard. The discomfort of injustice, imprisonment, and always being around a guard did not deter Paul. Rather, he pursued the advance of the gospel despite his uncomfortable circumstances. It is all too easy to be blinded by our difficult circumstances. We focus on how we are pained, inconvenienced, or hurt, instead of focusing on how we can glorify God in the situation and make him known.

Shortly after I became a believer a church in my hometown had a conference. There I met a believer whose testimony is seared into my mind. His name was Brett. When he was in high school he met with other Christians before the day’s first class to pray for the other students. One day he was making his way to the prayer meeting, but unbeknownst to him, waiting around the corner was a freshman who, on an initiation dare from the football team, had to punch him in the face. As soon as Brett rounded the corner, this freshman punched him just over the corner of his left eye—the impact was so great that it actually collapsed his skull around his eye. After he was taken to the hospital and put in stable condition, one of the first people who came to see him was this freshman. He was absolutely terrified at what he had done. And what did Brett do? Did he rip into him about how he should be ashamed of himself? Of how irresponsible and foolish he was? No, he took the opportunity to share Christ with him and that freshman became a believer as well.

Brett has problems with seeing out of his left eye and some slight disfigurement, too. But when he shares the story of what happened to him, he doesn’t speak with regret. He doesn’t try to draw pity on himself because of his tough circumstance. Rather, he speaks with joy. What he is in effect saying is “What has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.” He didn’t care if he lost sight in his eye. A man came to know Jesus. The gospel advanced—that’s what really matters.

Are you letting difficult or uncomfortable circumstances blind you? Is your passion for comfort and ease so great that the moment it is taken away from you all you can think about and work for is getting that comfort back? How do your circumstances open up opportunities to advance the gospel and make Christ known? Are you even looking?How are you dealing with it?

The second way we see that making Christ known is Paul’s major concern is through the fact that he is thrilled that his imprisonment has spurred others to preach the Word. We see this in verse 14, “And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. This shows us that suffering is a great inspiration for others to preach Christ. Even as I just shared Brett’s example, are you not inspired by his boldness in the face of suffering to share the gospel? Does it not drive you to be a more faithful witness yourself?

But you do not have to go to your death or prison in order to suffer and inspire others to speak boldly for the truth of the gospel. When people see you stand faithfullyfor Christ during any kind of hardship or persecution, they too are emboldened and strengthened to be faithful. Cherishing Christ above our comfort shows him to be great and worthy. We must value the advance of the gospel above our own comfort. You may not be in the situation that is ideal by your standards, but God has brought you to this place for a purpose—to be a faithful witness. You may think, “God, I didn’t plan for it to be like this!” Yet, this is the place and situation in which he has called you to be a faithful witness—take advantage of what’s before you. Perhaps you are struggling in your marriage: Continue to be a faithful witness. Perhaps your work environment is difficult: Be a faithful witness. Treasure Christ and his glory over your own comfort. Instead of focusing on how hard it is, focus on the opportunity Christ has given you to love and honor him and to grow in faith.

Second, when knowing and making Christ known is our mastering passion, then we will value his name and image above our own (15-18a).

Paul does recognize hardship in his situation. In verse 15, Paul admits that some of those emboldened to preach because of his imprisonment preach from envy and rivalry. But what does this mean? Who are these guys? Well, it is important to point out that they are not heretics. They are not preaching another Christ or another gospel. We know this because whenever someone does preach a different Christ or a false gospel, Paul does not stand for it. We see this in Galatians 1:8-9. Here Paul says that if anyone preaches a gospel different than the true gospel, then he is cursed. Paul expresses similar feelings in 2nd Corinthians 11, as well as in Philippians 3. So, Paul shows himself in other places to be very clear that he only accepts the true gospel and the true Jesus.

These men preaching Christ from envy and rivalry are not heretics, or Paul would have exposed them. Rather, these men are most likely men who propound the true gospel, but do so from mixed motives. They probably think that Paul had done damage to the Christian cause by getting arrested, and while putting him down build up their own ministries. They probably view his arrest as detrimental to the Christian witness and thus see themselves as superior. They view Paul as a rival even though they preach the same gospel. Thus, the more they speak the more their ministries look good while Paul is made to look foolish.

Yet, how does Paul respond to this? He rejoices. This is because whether by
preachers like this or by preachers who align themselves with Paul, the gospel is still getting out—and the preaching of the gospel is far more important then his reputation. The gospel being preached is far more important then his name being respected. Paul rejoices because he values the fame of Christ above his own.

Can you imagine? We naturally want people to think well of us. We want to be honored and respected—for people to think highly of us. But Paul doesn’t care if his name is reviled as long as Christ’s name is exulted.

And isn’t this the risk we take when we share the gospel? When we share Christ with someone, usually we face two possible results. First, they see Christ for who he is and themselves for who they really are and they repent of their sin and turn to Christ. Or second, they see the message as false and possibly think less of you for believing it. Whenever we choose to share our faith we are making the same conclusion as Paul; We don’t care if people think poorly of us, what matters is what people think about Jesus. What matter’s is thinking highly of him and sharing the gospel.

By working for the advancement of the gospel, you may become known as the fool who believes that Jesus actually died for your sins and rose again for your vindication. But what does it matter what people think of you as long as you are working for the advancement of the gospel and the glory of God?

When you have an opportunity to share the gospel, do you shrink back because you think that the person you share with may think less of you? Remember the gospel. Because of Jesus Christ, you are in right relationship with God. Do not fear what man may think of you. Rather, be propelled by the fact that God is for you because of Jesus Christ.

Third, when knowing and making Christ known is our mastering passion, we will eluate our life in terms of knowing him and making him known (18b-26)

After announcing that he is rejoicing at the preaching of the gospel, Paul goes on to say again in the second half of verse 18 that he will rejoice. Why? Look with me at verse 19, “for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this (the situation he is in) will turn out for my deliverance.” By “deliverance,” Paul does not mean release from prison and mortal danger, but rather final vindication. He is rejoicing because he knows that by the prayers of the Philippians and the power of the Spirit, he will be equipped to handle whatever comes his way—either release from prison or death by execution. That is what he means in verse 20, “as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or death.” Paul wants to do nothing now that will result in his being ashamed on the last day and he is rejoicing because he knows that by the prayers of the Philippians and the Spirit of Christ he will not do anything shameful but will hold firm to Christ even when he goes to trial. Make sure you see this: Paul is not asking for prayer that he will have a quick and easy release from jail. He is not asking that he would have a quick and painless death if he must die. Rather, Paul desires courage so that, as verse 20 states, “Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.” His ultimate goal is not to stay alive or avoid a terrible death. Rather, his goal is to honor Christ in life or death—that’s what he wants the Philippians to pray for. Verse 21 is a summary of Paul’s values in this situation, “for to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Many of you have heard this verse many times, so let it sink in. “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” What does he mean?

By “to live is Christ,” Paul means that if he continues living then he plans to continue ministering and preaching the gospel. Living equals gospel centered, Christ focused ministry to Paul; we see this in the first part of verse 22. Death would certainly mean an end to that ministry, but still Paul only views that as gain—because now Paul gets to be with Christ in a more intimate way than ever before.

This is why by life or death Christ will be honored. If Paul lives, then he will
spend all of his energy and focus on advancing the gospel. Why? Because Christ is glorious! Christ is his passion! Paul’s passion is to revel in that glory and to make it known. He will continue to pour out his entire life so that Christ can be known for who he truly is and others can value and love him as the treasure that he is. And if Paul dies, he will go to his death peaceful and rejoicing. Why? Because he is about to know his Lord in a way that he has only dreamed about until this point. And when people die like that, Christ is honored because everyone watching is awestruck. The whole world fears death, but if we walk toward death with peace and even joy it will only testify to the glorious God that we serve. And if Christ is our passion then we can walk toward death like that because we know it is not the end but merely the beginning of knowing Christ in a deeper way than we ever have before.

Jesus is Paul’s single passion. He wants to know him, love him, serve him, please him, and be with him. When God is our single passion in life, he is magnified. And he is magnified in our death when we long after him so much that we would consider death to be gain. When Christ is your passion, death is longer seen as loss. Death has no sting. Now death is gain because we will know and have Jesus as never before!

But I am getting a little ahead of myself. We will come back to this.

Even though Paul was prepared to live passionately for Christ through ministry or to die for the sake of the gospel, his fate was not up to him. It wasn’t up for him to choose life or death, but even if it was, Paul was not sure which he would choose. He says as much in the second half of verses 22-23. What is interesting is the reasoning he uses to come to the conclusion that he thinks God will spare his life. His reasoning is revealed in verses 24-26, “to remain in the flesh (that is, be released from prison and continue to live) is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.”

Although he is not sure, Paul thinks that he will be released from prison and allowed to continue his ministry. Why does he think this? Because it is what the church needs. His reasoning is based on the well being of believers, not on his own preferences. As verse 25 says, Paul is convinced he will remain for the sake of the Philippian’s progress and joy in the faith.

Do you see how Paul’s passion for Jesus and the gospel take precedence over hisown preferences? Because of the gospel, Paul has no fear of death. It can only mean gain for him because he treasures Christ supremely and is reconciled to God by the truth of the gospel. Because of the gospel, Paul views life not as something meant for him to seek his own gain but to seek to magnify Christ by serving the church. Thinking from a completely personal view, Paul knows that being with Christ is far better than anything. Yet, thinking of others he knows that the church will be better off if he remains. If we are keeping the gospel central in our view of life and death, if knowing Jesus and making him known is our passion, then we should put the needs of the church, the needs of other believers before ourselves when we are making major decisions—just as Paul does. Paul’s hopes for his future are based on what is best for the church. As we live, keeping the gospel central in our view of life demands that we imitate Paul, just as he is imitating Christ. So, when we are thinking through major questions such as, “Where should I live? What should I do? We should not make those decisions based on personal preferences. “I like this area. I want to be close to family, etc.” Rather, we should ask the question, “What does the church need?" We should not only be concerned with theadvance of the gospel toward those who have never heard it. We should also be concerned about the progress of the gospel in the hearts of believers. We should constantly be asking ourselves, “What can I do for the church? How may I serve the church? How can I work in such a way that the gospel works deeper into the hearts of my brothers and sisters?"

As we pursue Jesus as our passion, we will love more and more what Jesus himself loves. And how Jesus loves his lost sheep! So preach the gospel! How Jesus loves his bride! She seek to love, serve, and nourish the church! That’s what it means to live as Christ! To do and pursue what Christ himself would do and pursue.

But we cannot live as Christ until we count Christ as everything—as our mastering passion. To live as Christ also requires that we count death as a gain. If Christ does not mean everything to us, then we will struggle to consistently serve the church before we serve ourselves. How do we know if Christ is our everything?

When you imagine coming to your death and saying goodbye to what you love and hold dear, does the reality of being with Christ seem like a consolation or the prize? Do you think of being with Christ as, “Well, I’m dying but I guess at least I can console myself with the fact that I will be with Christ. That makes this a little better.” Or, “Though I die and the world sees me as losing all, I know that I am truly gaining everything!” Is being with Christ consolation of losing what you truly love or is being with Christ the ultimate prize?

To what do you aspire?
For what do you long?
What is your ultimate goal?

O! That our passion would be knowing Jesus and making him known! That you would see him and pursue him and show him to others as the ultimate prize! But I’m not going to pretend that this is easy. Paul didn’t and we shouldn’t either. This is the sort of thing that we must work out with fear and trembling. Yet, it is also something we should rejoice in. Paul says he “will rejoice” in verse 18 because he knows that through prayer and the help of the Spirit of Jesus, he will be delivered. He will be vindicated before God. He will stand strong in his faith. He will remain mastered by his passion for Jesus Christ. His confidence for standing firm and honoring Christ in life or death is found in the fact that he knows God will supply his need. Our confidence should rest there as well. God will supply your need. May that only cause your passion for him to grow.

Amen.