A Martyr's Heart III ~ To Magnify Christ: Philippians 1:12-20, especially vs. 20: "...as always, so now also, Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death."
Here is a true martyr's heart! In these words St. Paul manifests the attitude, conviction, and faith that have characterized every glorious soldier of Christ. Note: the distinguishing mark of the victorious in Christ is not so much fearlessness, but the conviction of efficacy, the firm belief that whatever the eventuality, God will be glorified. Beloved of the Lord, the Church calls us all to this conviction. Even at weddings we sing, "Ye holy martyrs, who fought the good fight and have received your crowns: entreat ye the Lord that He will have mercy on our souls." Let us examine this will to magnify Christ, "whether by life or by death," and discover its claim on our lives.
The conviction of efficacy has imbedded within it a profound certainty that no matter what befalls us, so long as we remain faithful, God will use the events "for the furtherance of the Gospel" (vs. 12). The truth is that the Passion and Resurrection of the Lord are the type of all our trials in this life. For the Faithful, all events are received "in Christ" (vs. 13), for in Him, God overcame the seeming defeat of the Cross and turned it to defeat for the powers of the enemy. "He hath trampled down death by death, and upon those in the tombs hath He bestowed life."
In light of the Passion and Resurrection, the Faithful choose to view all the struggles of their lives through the lens of the Lord's great victory. Hence, even though the Apostle was in chains, "it [had] become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ" (vs.13). Naturally, the brethren in Christ with St. Paul became "more bold to speak the word without fear" (vs. 14). Let us understand that the power of God is so absolute that even those who preach from selfish ambition can only further the proclamation of Christ (vs. 18).
Next, the basic conviction that "all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose" (Rom.8:28), brings with it assurance of salvation for the Faithful (Phil.1:19). St. Paul says without hesitation, "I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ" (vs. 19).
The Apostle had no illusions. He knew he would not be delivered with respect to the immediate situation of his trial in Rome. Notice that in the next verse, he says, "...Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death" (vs. 20). See, he is speaking of his own spiritual life. He determined to keep himself undefiled in relation to God while his case was being settled, and he begs the prayers of the Philippian Church to uphold him in this effort, as well as the help of the Holy Spirit in achieving this goal (vs. 19).
St. Paul's reference to the support of the Church and of the Holy Spirit (vs. 19), illustrates the third major facet of the will to magnify Christ "whether by life or by death" (vs. 20): a Christian's dependency on God. In all our trials, without the prayers of the Faithful and the supply of the Holy Spirit upholding us, we face the reality that we "shall be ashamed" (vs. 20). However, remember the cry of the Prophet David in extremity, "Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? Or who will stand up with me against the workers of iniquity?" (Ps. 93:16 LXX).
What was David's answer to these questions? "Unless the Lord had brought me help, my soul had well nigh sojourned in hades" (Ps. 93:17 LXX). The prayers of our faithful brethren imploring God for us, and the rich supply of gifts of the Holy Spirit poured into our souls in time of need, strengthen our conviction that our afflictions will be used of the Lord Jesus, and that our bearing them in faith will conclude in our salvation.
Help us; save us; have mercy on us; and keep us, O God, by Thy grace.