Sermons on Philippians 1:23
The various sermons below converge on the interpretation of Philippians 1:23 as expressing Paul’s profound tension between continuing his fruitful earthly ministry and the surpassing joy of being with Christ after death. They consistently emphasize that “being with Christ” is an immediate, conscious, and relational experience rather than a vague or unconscious state, rejecting notions like soul sleep or a passive intermediate existence. Several sermons highlight the Greek term “sarx” to clarify that Paul’s reference to “flesh” is about his embodied life as a whole—mind, body, and spirit—used for Christ’s purposes, not merely the sinful nature. Analogies such as being “squeezed” or “pressed” capture Paul’s internal conflict, while others use imagery of moving from a temporary tent to a permanent home or being admitted to a king’s palace to illustrate the transition from earthly life to heavenly fellowship. Theologically, these sermons affirm that hope in heaven does not lead to disengagement from earthly responsibilities but rather empowers present faithfulness, courage, and mission. They also articulate a layered eschatology where the intermediate state with Christ is “better by far” than earthly life but still anticipates the ultimate resurrection and new creation. The relational dimension of “being with Christ” is underscored as the primary Christian hope, with the physical resurrection and new creation as glorious but secondary realities.
Despite these shared emphases, the sermons diverge in their nuanced theological and pastoral emphases. Some sermons focus more on correcting misconceptions about the intermediate state, stressing that it is not a bodiless limbo but a joyful, conscious existence sustained by the Holy Spirit, while others carefully parse Paul’s emotional language to highlight the intensity of his longing for Christ’s presence even before resurrection. One approach critiques the popular maxim that being “so heavenly minded” leads to being “of no earthly good,” instead arguing that Paul’s hope fuels active discipleship. Another sermon uniquely prioritizes the relational over the spatial, cautioning against fixating on heaven as a place rather than on Christ himself. Meanwhile, a distinct interpretation situates Paul’s longing within a threefold state framework—living in the body, the intermediate disembodied state, and the resurrection body—emphasizing that even the intermediate state is “far better” and not a final hope. Pastoral applications vary as well, with some sermons addressing the encouragement of missionaries and those grieving, assuring them of the surpassing presence of Christ for the departed. These differences reveal a spectrum of theological focus, from eschatological layering and relational intimacy to embodied discipleship and pastoral consolation...
Philippians 1:23 Interpretation:
Immediate Joy: The Promise of Paradise for Believers (Open the Bible) interprets Philippians 1:23 by focusing on Paul's statement that to "depart and be with Christ" is "better by far." The sermon draws a sharp distinction between the idea of "soul sleep" and conscious presence with Christ, arguing that Paul could not have meant unconsciousness is better than the rich spiritual life he already enjoys. The preacher uses the analogy of the soul's experience after death being like that of angels—fully conscious, active, and engaged, even without a body. This analogy is used to help listeners imagine a vibrant, joyful existence with Christ immediately after death, rather than a passive or dormant state.
Facing Death: Hope and Confidence in Christ (Open the Bible) also interprets Philippians 1:23 with a focus on the phrase "better by far," arguing that Paul is not referring to unconsciousness but to the conscious enjoyment of Christ's presence. The sermon uses the analogy of the body as a tent and death as moving from a tent to a permanent home, and it draws on the experience of angels as spirits without bodies to help listeners conceptualize conscious, joyful life with Christ after death. The preacher also highlights that the "sleep" language in the Bible refers to the body, not the soul, and that the Holy Spirit's indwelling ensures believers' souls are alive and joyful with Christ immediately after death.
Embracing Heaven: A Journey of Relationship with Christ (Desiring God) interprets Philippians 1:23 by emphasizing the relational rather than spatial dimension of being "with Christ." The sermon argues that the New Testament's focus is not on the physical or spatial aspects of heaven, but on the surpassing value of being in the presence of Christ himself. The preacher uses a unique analogy, comparing the experience to being admitted to a king’s palace and being more amazed by the palace than by the king—suggesting that to focus on the “place” of heaven over the person of Christ is to miss the point. The sermon also notes that the Greek phrase "to depart and be with Christ" is used to highlight the immediacy and intimacy of post-mortem fellowship with Jesus, rather than a mere change of location. This perspective is distinguished by its insistence that the ultimate Christian hope is not a place, but a person—Christ himself.
Embracing Missions: Courage, Hope, and Divine Mercy (SermonIndex.net) offers a nuanced interpretation of Philippians 1:23 by situating it within Paul’s broader discussion of the intermediate state and resurrection. The sermon carefully distinguishes between three states: living in the body (“tent”), being “unclothed” (disembodied, intermediate state), and being “overclothed” (resurrection body). It highlights that while Paul does not prefer a bodiless existence, he still considers being “with Christ” after death as “far better” than earthly life, even if it is not the final hope. The preacher draws attention to Paul’s “piling up” of superlative language in Philippians 1:23 (“exceedingly above far better”), underscoring the intensity of Paul’s longing for Christ’s presence. This interpretation is unique in its careful parsing of Paul’s emotional and theological priorities, and in its insistence that the Christian’s love for Christ should be so great that even a temporary, bodiless existence with him is preferable to continued earthly life.
Philippians 1:23 Theological Themes:
Living with Joy and Hope Amidst Trials (Living Hope Church) introduces the theme that the certainty of heaven and being with Christ does not diminish present faithfulness but rather empowers it. The preacher argues that Paul's anticipation of heaven gives him courage and purpose in his current suffering, countering the stereotype that hope in heaven leads to disengagement from earthly life. The sermon also presents a nuanced view of embodiment, teaching that discipleship involves both soul and body, and that our physical existence is a gift to be used for Christ, not something to be despised or altered according to cultural trends.
Immediate Joy: The Promise of Paradise for Believers (Open the Bible) adds the theme of a "good, better, best" progression in the Christian life: to be in Christ now is good, to be with Christ after death is better by far, but the best is yet to come in the resurrection and new creation. This layered eschatology provides comfort and hope, emphasizing that even the intermediate state is not the final fulfillment of God's promises.
Facing Death: Hope and Confidence in Christ (Open the Bible) brings a fresh angle by stressing that God has been preparing believers for the moment of death throughout their entire lives, and that the Holy Spirit's presence guarantees conscious, joyful life with Christ after death. The sermon also highlights that the anticipation of resurrection means that even the "far better" state is not the ultimate best, fostering both hope and patient longing.
Embracing Heaven: A Journey of Relationship with Christ (Desiring God) introduces the distinct theological theme that the primary blessing of heaven is relational—being with Christ—while the resurrection body and new creation are secondary, albeit glorious, realities. This theme is developed with the assertion that to prioritize the spatial or material aspects of heaven over the relational is to misunderstand the heart of Christian hope. The sermon also explores the idea that God’s presence is not spatially confined, and that “being with Christ” transcends ordinary categories of space and time, which is a fresh angle on the passage.
Embracing Missions: Courage, Hope, and Divine Mercy (SermonIndex.net) adds a new facet by exploring the emotional and existential implications of Paul’s longing in Philippians 1:23. The sermon insists that the intermediate state—being with Christ but not yet resurrected—is not an inferior or sad condition, but is “far better” than earthly life. This is a corrective to any notion that the period between death and resurrection is a kind of limbo or loss. The preacher also applies this theme pastorally to missionaries and those who have lost loved ones, assuring them that their departed are not in an inferior state but are enjoying the surpassing presence of Christ.
Philippians 1:23 Historical and Contextual Insights:
Living with Joy and Hope Amidst Trials (Living Hope Church) provides historical context by discussing the cultural and political climate of Paul's time, particularly the Roman imprisonment and the rise of utopian ideologies. The preacher contrasts Paul's hope in heaven with contemporary and historical attempts to create "heaven on earth" through political means, noting that such efforts often lead to violence and exclusion, whereas Paul's hope is rooted in Christ and transcends earthly circumstances. The sermon also references the close relationship between Paul and the Philippian church, highlighting the personal and communal dimensions of his letter.
Facing Death: Hope and Confidence in Christ (Open the Bible) offers historical context by referencing Genesis 2:7 and the creation of Adam as a body-soul union, and by discussing ancient and modern views of death. The preacher uses the analogy of the "silver cord" from Ecclesiastes and the image of the body as a tent from 2 Corinthians, situating Paul's language within broader biblical and cultural understandings of life, death, and the afterlife.
Embracing Heaven: A Journey of Relationship with Christ (Desiring God) provides historical and cultural context by explaining ancient Jewish and early Christian understandings of God’s presence. The sermon references Solomon’s prayer in 1 Kings 8:27 and the Jewish conception that even the “highest heaven” cannot contain God, emphasizing that God is not spatially limited. It also discusses the Greco-Roman and Jewish background of the term “heaven” as God’s dwelling, clarifying that such language is metaphorical for God’s relational presence rather than a literal address.
Embracing Missions: Courage, Hope, and Divine Mercy (SermonIndex.net) offers contextual insight into Paul’s use of the “tent” metaphor, explaining that in the ancient world, tents were associated with transience and vulnerability, not permanence. The sermon also references the cultural reality of early Christian martyrdom (e.g., Adoniram Judson, John and Betty Stam) to illustrate the fragility of life and the hope of resurrection, situating Paul’s words within the lived experience of suffering and loss in the early church.
Philippians 1:23 Cross-References in the Bible:
Living with Joy and Hope Amidst Trials (Living Hope Church) references several passages to expand on Philippians 1:23: John 15 (the vine and branches, fruitfulness in Christ), 1 Corinthians 13:12 (seeing Christ face to face), 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 (living with Christ whether awake or asleep), 2 Corinthians 5:8 (preference to be away from the body and at home with the Lord), Revelation 21 (the reality of heaven), Psalm 119:74 (being an encouragement to other believers), and 2 Timothy 4:6-8 (Paul's anticipation of his own death and reward). Each reference is used to reinforce the themes of fruitful labor, the certainty of heaven, encouragement to others, and the ultimate reward for faithfulness.
Immediate Joy: The Promise of Paradise for Believers (Open the Bible) draws on Luke 23:43 (Jesus' promise to the thief on the cross), 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 (to be away from the body is to be at home with the Lord), 1 Corinthians 15:51 (not all will sleep, but all will be changed), Revelation 6:9-10 (souls of martyrs in heaven, conscious and active), Hebrews 1:14 (angels as ministering spirits), Luke 24:39 (spirits without flesh and bones), and Revelation 7:15 (serving God day and night). These passages are used to support the argument that believers are immediately, consciously, and actively with Christ after death, and that their experience is analogous to that of angels.
Facing Death: Hope and Confidence in Christ (Open the Bible) references Genesis 2:7 (creation of Adam), Ecclesiastes (the silver cord analogy), John 11 (Lazarus' death as sleep), 2 Corinthians 5:1-8 (body as tent, home with the Lord), Philippians 1:23 (desire to depart and be with Christ), Revelation 6:9-10 (souls of martyrs in heaven), and 1 Peter 1:12 (angels longing to look into salvation). These references are used to explain the nature of death, the intermediate state, and the conscious enjoyment of Christ's presence, as well as the anticipation of resurrection.
Embracing Heaven: A Journey of Relationship with Christ (Desiring God) cross-references several passages to reinforce the relational focus of heaven: Colossians 3:3 (“your life is hidden with Christ in God”), 2 Corinthians 5:8 (“away from the body and at home with the Lord”), John 17:24 (Jesus’ prayer that his followers may “be with me where I am”), and 1 Thessalonians 4:17 (“so we will always be with the Lord”). Each of these is used to show that the New Testament consistently describes the believer’s hope as being “with Christ” rather than in a particular place.
Exploring the Biblical Validity of Purgatory (Desiring God) references Philippians 1:23 and 2 Corinthians 5:6-9 to argue against the doctrine of purgatory, emphasizing the immediacy of being “with Christ” after death. The sermon also cites 1 Corinthians 15 (the resurrection “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye”) and Luke 5:13 (Jesus’ instantaneous cleansing of the leper) to illustrate the biblical pattern of immediate transformation at death or resurrection, rather than a prolonged process of purification.
Embracing Missions: Courage, Hope, and Divine Mercy (SermonIndex.net) cross-references Philippians 1:23 directly, using it to interpret 2 Corinthians 5:8 and to support the claim that being “away from the body and at home with the Lord” is “far better.” The sermon also references Romans 8:11 (the Spirit as the guarantee of resurrection), Philippians 3:21 (our bodies will be made like Christ’s), and 1 Corinthians 3:6, 12-15 (rewards and losses at the judgment seat of Christ) to expand on the themes of resurrection, reward, and the intermediate state.
Philippians 1:23 Christian References outside the Bible:
Living with Joy and Hope Amidst Trials (Living Hope Church) explicitly references Wilhelm Röpke, a German economist and devout Christian, quoting his statement: "Communism prospers more on empty souls than on empty stomachs." This is used to illustrate the futility of seeking utopia or heaven on earth through political means, contrasting it with the Christian hope of heaven with Christ.
Facing Death: Hope and Confidence in Christ (Open the Bible) references several Christian figures: A.A. Hodge, who defines death as the "suspension of the personal union between the soul and the body"; John Calvin, who clarifies that "sleep" in the Bible refers to the body, not the soul; Brian Stiller, who emphasizes the indwelling Holy Spirit as the guarantee of conscious life after death; Richard Baxter, who writes that the soul is received by Christ and enjoys his presence; and Steve Brady, a pastor and scholar who wrote a pastoral letter explaining the intermediate state to a dying believer, drawing on Revelation 6:9-10. The sermon also quotes Katherine Booth, who, on her deathbed, said, "The waters are rising but so am I. I am not going under, I am going over," as an illustration of Christian hope in the face of death.
Embracing Heaven: A Journey of Relationship with Christ (Desiring God) explicitly references Richard Bauckham’s book “The Blurred Cross” and Michael Mayne’s analogy of life as a “slowly ascending spiral.” Bauckham’s reflection, as quoted by the preacher, suggests that aging is not a linear or circular process but a spiral, with each stage containing the memory and substance of previous stages, all centered on God’s grace in Christ. This analogy is used to illustrate the continuity of personal identity and relationship with Christ, even as one approaches death and the hope of being “with Christ.”
Exploring the Biblical Validity of Purgatory (Desiring God) explicitly references C.S. Lewis and his book “Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer,” quoting Lewis’s imaginative depiction of purgatory as a “self-cleaning up” before entering God’s presence. The sermon critiques Lewis’s view, arguing that the biblical pattern is one of immediate cleansing and transformation at death, rather than a process of purgation.
Philippians 1:23 Illustrations from Secular Sources:
Living with Joy and Hope Amidst Trials (Living Hope Church) uses several detailed secular analogies and references. The preacher critiques contemporary political movements and campus protests, specifically referencing slogans like "from the river to the sea, Palestine must be free," and discusses the dangers of utopian ideologies that promise heaven on earth by eliminating certain groups. The sermon also references a social media post by a medical doctor celebrating student protests as "the old world order is dying," and uses the phrase "vomit emoji" to express disdain for such utopian rhetoric. Additionally, the preacher cites Wilhelm Röpke, a secular economist, to argue that "communism prospers more on empty souls than on empty stomachs," using this as a lens to interpret the spiritual emptiness behind political movements. The sermon also references the structure of the Roman Empire and the experience of being chained in prison as historical and cultural backdrops for Paul's letter.
Facing Death: Hope and Confidence in Christ (Open the Bible) uses the analogy of Soldiers Field, a well-known sports stadium in Chicago, to illustrate the relationship between the body and the soul. The preacher compares the body to a stadium and the soul to the fans: when the soul departs, the body is like an empty stadium—meant to be filled with life, but now silent and echoing. This vivid analogy helps listeners grasp the unnaturalness of death as the separation of body and soul, and the anticipation of resurrection as the reunion of the two.
Embracing Heaven: A Journey of Relationship with Christ (Desiring God) uses the secular analogy of a spiral to describe the experience of aging and approaching death. The preacher, quoting Michael Mayne via Richard Bauckham, describes life not as a circle or straight line, but as a “slowly ascending spiral,” where each new stage contains the essence of previous experiences. This metaphor is used to help listeners understand the continuity of personal identity and the deepening of gratitude as one nears the hope of being “with Christ.” The analogy is particularly vivid in its description of how an octogenarian can still feel the emotions of childhood, youth, and adulthood, all “spiraling around a center”—which, for the Christian, is Christ.