April 2007 chaplain's corner
The Chaplain's Corner is a monthly message for chaplains.
Chaplain’s Corner – April 27, 2007
Rev. Rich Hines
How To Live For Christ – Even In Jail or Prison
This message is primarily for those who call on the name of Jesus Christ as
their own Lord and Savior from sin, and serve as a Chaplain or gospel minister
in a jail, prison or a follow-up ministry such as a rescue mission – in the
United States.
All Scripture quotes are taken from the New King James Version (NKJV) of the
Bible, copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission.
All rights reserved. When quoting a text, any deviation from the NKJV text is
placed within parenthesis signs (). These usually occur as direct translations
from the original languages, or as notes from the original setting to help
apply the text to today’s culture.
ALL CAPITAL LETTERS are sometimes used to emphasize words in a text, or to make
a comment about a biblical text, or emphasize a statement.
Many years back I first responded to the grace of God, and became what the
Bible calls a “Christian,” one of the first things that followed my conversion
was obtaining a wood and brass plaque that read:
“Only one life ‘twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.”
Below that, the following Scripture verse address was inscribed – “Philippians
1:21” which of course reads -
“… to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
The man through whom those words originally came, was the Apostle Paul. He said
this while chained to different “shifts” of Roman Palace Guards (the Praetorian
Guards), as we would say today: “Twenty-Four, Seven, Three Sixty-Five.” Though
we often focus on the last phrase – TO DIE IS GAIN, the real emphasis that goes
with the overall theme of the God-breathed letter to the Philippians is: “TO
LIVE IS CHRIST.”
The overall theme of Philippians is: CHRISTIAN LIVING. Said another way, it's
all about how to live out your faith in Jesus Christ.
Paul lived for Christ, EVEN WHILE HE WAS IMPRISONED. Philippians is only one of
five inspired letters he wrote while in prison (the others of course being
Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon and 2 Timothy). His life and words while in
custody truly glorified Jesus Christ. Inmates can and should learn a lot from
this Apostle on HOW TO LIVE FOR CHRIST, EVEN IN JAIL OR PRISON.
There are MANY ELEMENTS of the Christian life that Paul’s prison experience
teaches. I want to speak to you about SIX of them this month, so that you in
turn, might teach them to inmates.
FIRST, an inmate must HAVE CHRIST. That seems so obvious, yet it is something
well meaning evangelical Chaplains might overlook. Just because an inmate comes
regularly to all your Bible Studies or “Faith-Based” programs and worship
services, IT DOESN’T MEAN HE REALLY HAS EMBRACED JESUS CHRIST WITH SAVING
FAITH.
No one can live the Christian life without first having Christ at the center
and core of their life. Paul did time, and it wasn’t easy time. Yet, in that
tough experience of life, he was able to say “I can do all things THROUGH HIM
(Christ) WHO STRENGTHENS ME!” (Phil.4:13). The Lord Jesus, who Paul (as Saul)
met in a life-changing encounter recorded in Acts 9, lived inside Paul -
through the indwelling Holy Spirit.
That’s the ONLY REASON Paul, or anybody else, experienced or will experience
God’s strengthening power in the ups and downs of their earthly life. So,
always evangelize inmates, even the ones that claim to be followers of Christ –
at least until you truly see the evidence of Jesus Christ in them.
This same Jesus said in John 17:3, “…this IS ETERNAL LIFE, that they may know
You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ who You have sent.”
Jesus claimed to be more than a dispenser of eternal life, He claimed to BE
ETERNAL LIFE itself! He also said “I am the way (i.e. to God), the TRUTH (i.e.
of God), and the life (i.e. of God – which is ETERNAL LIFE). No one comes unto
the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)
By God, the Holy Spirit the same Apostle John wrote,
“That which was from the beginning, which we (the Apostles) have heard, which
we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have
handled, (implying after His resurrection) concerning the Word of life – the
life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare unto you
THAT ETERNAL LIFE WHICH WAS WITH THE FATHER AND WAS MANIFESTED TO US – (1 John
1:1,2)
John was speaking about Jesus Christ. He called Him “eternal life …
manifested.” In closing his letter, John said:
“… we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that
(literally, in order that) we may know Him who is TRUE; and we are in (implied
- in a union with) Him who is true, IN HIS SON JESUS CHRIST. THIS IS THE TRUE
GOD AND ETERNAL LIFE.” (1 John 5:20).
Without a true union with Jesus Christ, no one is saved. Without Him, no one
has eternal life. 1 John 5:12,13 reads: ”He who has the Son (Jesus Christ) has
life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I
have written to you WHO BELIEVE in the name of the Son of God, (in order) that
you may KNOW THAT YOU HAVE ETERNAL LIFE, and that you may continue to believe
in the name of the Son of God."
Once an inmate, or any person truly has that union with Christ, eternal life
and salvation from sin can begin to manifest it’s reality through their earthly
life.
So turning our attention back to Philippians 1:21, let’s take a brief look this
month, at the greater context of that wonderful verse, which describes the sum
of the Christian life as “to live is Christ.” Here we’ll see FIVE OTHER
ELEMENTS of living for Christ in jail or prison.
Philippians 1:12-26
12 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have
actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel,
13 so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard and to all the rest,
that my chains are in Christ;
14 and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains,
are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
15 Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from
goodwill:
16 The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to
add affliction to my chains;
17 but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of
the gospel.
18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ
is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.
19 For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer
and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
20 according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be
ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified
in my body, whether by life or by death.
21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor: yet what
I shall choose I cannot tell.
23 For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with
Christ, which is far better.
24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.
25 And being confident of this, I know I shall remain and continue with you all
for your progress and joy of faith,
26 that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming
to you again.
We know the Apostle wrote these words from prison. His way of referencing his
incarceration was to constantly refer to it by the words “my chains,” or as in
Acts 26:29, “these chains.”
Some Bible scholars see this Epistle to the Philippians as even a more personal
and self descriptive by the human writer than 2 Corinthians! He certainly
described his feelings while doing time, and the key word he used in
Philippians of his personal response to his experience while incarcerated was
JOY!
Ten years before he wrote Philippians from a jail cell, he had been beaten and
thrown into the most secure spot the Philippian jail had. Then, he was put into
tortuous stocks that stretched the limbs. There in that condition, Acts 16:25
records he and Silas sang praises to God so loud, that he other prisoners heard
them. Paul had JOY even in jail.
The SECOND ELEMENT of living for Christ while imprisoned is: PROCLAIM HIM, note
it in Philippians 1:12,13 –
12 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have
actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel,
13 so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard and to all the rest,
that my chains are in Christ;
How did Christ become “EVIDENT” to the “Praetorium" (NKJV margin),” the
palace guards? Through Paul’s proclamation of Him to them! In Phil. 4:21-23, as
he signed off, Paul spoke of Christian believers, even “brethren” and “saints”
who were there in his place of incarceration with him, AND WERE THEMSELVES PART
OF “CAESAR’S HOUSEHOLD.” The palace guards were considered part of Caesar’s own
family or household. Some of them became true Christians because God used THE
PROCLAMATION ABOUT CHRIST from Paul to convert them from idolatry to the true
God!
In turn, as they were sent off as part of the Roman army to all the far flung
reaches of the Empire, they took the gospel with them. That’s how things
actually turned out for the FURTERANCE OF THE GOSPEL (verse 12), which really
means the blazing of new trails for God’s true message of salvation from sin.
Saved inmates live the saved life as they proclaim Christ to other inmates, who
in turn God may save!
The THRD ELEMENT comes in verses 14-18 -
14 and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains,
are much more bold TO SPEAK THE WORD without fear.
15 Some indeed PREACH CHRIST even from envy and strife, and some also from
goodwill:
16 The former PREACH CHRIST from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to
add affliction to my chains;
17 but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of
the gospel.
18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, CHRIST
IS PREACHED; AND IN THIS I REJOICE, YES, AND WILL REJOICE.
In these verses, Paul was speaking about OTHERS besides himself, who were
preaching Christ’s gospel. And, from whatever motive they were doing it,
whether the wrong ones like - envy, strife, selfish ambition, insincerity and
pretense OR the right ones: goodwill, love and truth – THE FACT THAT OTHERS
PROCLAIMED CHRIST’S MESSAGE CAUSED HIM TO CONTINUALLY REJOICE!
Not only should Christian inmates proclaim Jesus Christ themselves, they should
REJOICE THAT OTHERS PROCLAIM HIM.
For Christ to be evident through them to other inmates, those others must see
the true believers MORE JOYOUS OVER THE THINGS OF CHRIST than even the mundane
things that happen. Even more than other good things – like a good letter from
a friend or a family member, or a good visit, or good news about their case, or
even their favorite team winning a championship.
The next, or the FOURTH ELEMENT is in verses 20,21.
20 according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be
ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also CHRIST WILL BE MAGNIFIED
IN MY BODY, whether by life or by death.
21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Teach believing inmates they must MAGNIFY CHRIST through their very life.
That’s really at the heart of true Christian living – even in jail! The word
”magnify,” in verse 20, really means TO MAKE LARGE. It suggests making the Son
of God, Jesus Christ, look to others as He really is – GREAT!
This was Paul’s “earnest expectation,” which means his constant ardent desire,
his very reason for being – to make Christ great to others. Paul lived to be a
good testimony for Christ. By THE SAME Holy Spirit, who dwells in every true
believing inmate IN THE SAME AMOUNT AS HE DID IN PAUL, they can and should
likewise magnify Jesus Christ.
But there’s something else in verses 20 and 21. This FIFTH ELEMENT of living
for Christ isn’t popular in modern American Christianity – but IT’S AN
IMPORTANT PART OF BIBLICAL CHRISTIANITY. It is to BE WILLING TO SUFFER FOR HIM.
20 according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be
ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified
in my body, WHETHER BY LIFE OR BY DEATH.
21 For to me, to live is Christ, and TO DIE IS GAIN.
The Spirit through the Apostle also speaks on this gift of suffering for Christ
in verse 29.
29 For to you (meaning true believers, Christians) it has been granted (or
“given” – BY GOD is implied) on behalf of Christ (like in His place), not ONLY
to believe in Him, BUT ALSO TO SUFFER FOR HIS SAKE,
Verse 30 goes on to say the suffering, both external and internal, will be
similar to what Paul had to suffer. In another prison letter Paul wrote “”Yes,
and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus WILL SUFFER PERSECUTION.” (2
Timothy 3:12).
The SIXTH and final ELEMENT of living for Christ while incarcerated is
suggested in verses 25,26. It is to BE INVOLVED IN THE SPIRITUAL PROGRESS OF
OTHERS. This would suggest having a ministry of helping other believers grow
and mature in their faith. This will include prayer for them, encouraging them
to attend Bible-based functions, and in some cases like Paul, even teaching
them from the Bible.
25 And being confident of this (the fact that according to verses 19, 22-23, at
the present time he would not die, but would be released) I know I shall remain
and continue with you all FOR YOUR PROGRESS AND JOY OF FAITH,
26 that YOUR REJOICING for me MAY BE MORE ABUNDANT IN JESUS CHRIST by my coming
to you again.
In closing we’ve seen an inmate can live for Christ if:
1. They make sure they’re a true Christian – in a forever union with the Risen
Savior, Jesus Christ.
2. They proclaim Him.
3. They rejoice that He is proclaimed.
4. They magnify Him through their life.
5. They are willing to suffer for Him.
6. They are involved in the spiritual progress of others.
Rich Hines -