Chapter 4 - Magnifying Christ Through Pain and Death

Part of magnifying the cross of Christ in our life is living a life similar to what we see described by Paul the Apostle in 2 Corinthians 6:3-10 (ESV):

"We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything."

The life of a Christian is one that is costly, but one that is not without rewards. "When we embrace with joy the cost of following Christ, his worth will shine in the world. The cost itself will be a means of making Christ look great." (Page 63)

Pastor John spoke of a book entitled "The Cost Of Discipleship" by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a pastor who died young and was part of the Protestant resistance movement against the Nazis in Germany. Bonhoeffer is quoted as saying "The cross is not the terrible end to an otherwise God-fearing and happy life, but it meets us at the communion with Christ. When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die." And that is what Jesus has done with us who are Christians, he has called us, and told us to come and die for him, for "whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it." (Mark 8:35)

Philippians 1:20-26 (ESV)
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 by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh 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.

Piper continues this chapter breaking down Philippians 1:20-26, using the words of Paul to express what it means to magnify Christ through life and through death.

Paul's aim in verses 20-21 was to honor Christ, whether by life or by death. "Christ has called us to live by his glory and die by his glory. If we know how to die well, we'll know how to live well." The way to die well is to die serving Jesus Christ. "If you experience death as gain, you magnify Christ in death." In the above passage, Paul says that his "desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better." He said this because physical death for the believer brings us into a place of greater intimacy with Christ, and that intimacy with Christ is gain. "Experiencing Christ as gain in your dying magnifies Christ. It is 'far better' than living here." "Christ is magnified in my death, when I am satisfied with him in my dying - when I experience death as gain because I gain him."

Before Paul mentions dying as gain in verse 22, he writes "For to me to live is Christ." Paul goes on to explain that "to live in the flesh means fruitful labor" (verse 22) "to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your [the Philippian church's] account" (verse 24) "for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus" (verses 25 and 26) His life was devoted to producing fruit, increasing the faith of others, and helping them overflow with joy. This is what he means by saying "to live is Christ." His life magnified Christ in every way possible.

God's glory shines more brightly when he satisfies us in times of loss than when he provides for us in times of plenty. (Page 66)

Oftentimes God will use suffering to reveal Himself to us in new ways. "God designs that tribulations intensify our hope for the glory of God." Piper shared the story of John Bunyan, a preacher who was placed in prison and stayed there 12 years leaving his wife and children behind because he refused to stop preaching. This was a price Bunyan paid, suffering for the sake of the gospel.

2 Timothy 3:12
"All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted"

To sum this chapter up, as Christians we have been called to a life of suffering. We should count our suffering as joy because if we suffer for Christ's sake His Name is magnified. To live is Christ, because we are able to continue in the work of the gospel, bearing good fruit, increasing the faith of others, and helping them overflow with joy. To die is gain, because we will enter into greater intimacy with Christ for all eternity, where we will magnify Him forever.