"Magnifying Christ"
An Article by Ronald Thompkins
Sunday, May 4, 2003

20 "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." [Phil 1:20, KJV]

The above passage comes from the book of Philippi during the Apostle Paul's imprisonment. As difficult as a time this could have been, Paul used this occasion to exhort the Christian community to continue the spread of the Gospel, and more important he used it as an opportunity to magnify and glorify Christ.

This was a defining moment in the history of the first century Church. The Christian community could have very well gone into hiding fearing if an Apostle can be placed into chains and made to suffer, what about just common everyday Christians?

In verse 12 Paul writes that even though he was being made to suffer at the hands of those who were arch enemies of the cross [as well as fellow Christians], good was coming out of this entire experience. He was able to spread the gospel to people in places the Christian community would not otherwise come in contact with or be allowed to go (e.g., the Praetorian guard, the emperor, the courtiers, the magistrates, etc.).

As he indicated in II Timothy 2:9 that although he was suffering as an evil-doer and he personally was confined, the gospel was not confined. Furthermore and more important, those who are mentioned above knew he was not an evil-doer, but one who was suffering on behalf of Christ.

Because of Paul's relationship with Christ, he was confident he would be delivered from this place, even if it meant death or freedom. Notice in verse 23 the word "depart" (analuo) in the Greek refers to the temporary sojourn we as Christians are to have in this life. The word reminds us that as Christians we should not pre-occupy ourselves simply with living in this life without purpose. Our purpose is to: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen". [Matt 28:19-20]

As we return to our thought of magnifying Christ, the way God in his infinite wisdom has arranged to accomplish this is that through Christians, Christ may magnified in their body. They present their bodies a living sacrifice (Rom 12:1), and they yield each of their members as instruments of righteousness unto God, Rom 6:13.

As Christ's glorious "living" church, let's be reminded the way we live or die, its our golden opportunity to magnify and glorify Christ.

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