The Ostian Road        Lesson 5 Philippian Series       Pastor Rich Laksowski

In the 5th message in this series we focus on Paul's attitude about life and death and how close he sees the physical spiritual worlds.  When he write to the Philippians during his first imprisonment in Rome his attitude is that he does not have to survive - "To live is Christ to die is gain", he says.  Paul is released from prison but a a few years later he is rearrested and put back in prison in Rome.  This time things are much worse in Rome for Christians.  Crazy Nero was on a rampage blaming Christians for the fire that burned half of Rome.  Paul is sentenced to death and is awaiting execution when he writes his very last letter, 2nd Timothy.

In this letter he expresses the same attitude as he did a few years before when he wrote to the Pilippians - he sees leaving this world as desirable because he prefers to be with Christ.  They take Paul to the Ostian Road to execute him, but Paul sees this place as place of departure from an inferior life and world.  His work is done - he has fought a good fight, finished the course and kept the faith.  Now he was ready to stand before Christ.  Are we?  My hope is that this message will help us all to consider that question and be drawn closer to Christ.


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