Philippians: Paul's "Stairway to Heaven"?

Thank you homwardbound for inspiring me to look into the lyrics of "Spirit in the Sky" and see if I can make any connections between that song and Philippians. I'll start with the opening chorus:

When I die and they lay me to rest
Gonna go to the place that's the best
When I lay me down to die
Goin' up to the spirit in the sky

When we as Christians die, we are going to the place that's the best - heaven:

Philippians 3:20-21

New King James Version

20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

We are citizens of heaven right now thanks to Christ Jesus, and we are ambassadors of heaven spreading Jesus' gospel in these "lowly" mortal bodies today. However, after death, we will be transformed from these lowly bodies to "...be conformed to His glorious body."

As Paul so beautifully described to the Corinthians:

1 Corinthians 15:53-54

New King James Version

53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

That which claims our frail, short mortal lives - death - will be "swallowed up in victory!" Death is the one who will ultimately die forever, and Death will no longer hold claim to us in heaven.

Here are the full lyrics to "Spirit in the Sky", and I'll see if I can continue to make connections between every stanza and some verses from Philippians. The theology of the song is shaky in areas, but I'll avoid the weeds and keep the focus on this stunning testament to Jesus and the gospel.

When I die and they lay me to rest
Gonna go to the place that's the best
When I lay me down to die
Goin' up to the spirit in the sky

Goin' up to the spirit in the sky (spirit in the sky)
That's where I'm gonna go when I die (when I die)
When I die and they lay me to rest
I'm gonna go to the place that's the best

Prepare yourself you know it's a must
Gotta have a friend in Jesus
So you know that when you die
He's gonna recommend you
To the spirit in the sky (spirit in the sky)

Oh he'll recommend you to the spirit in the sky
That's where you're gonna go when you die (when you die)
When you die and they lay you to rest
You're gonna go to the place that's the best

Never been a sinner, I never sinned
I got a friend in Jesus
So you know that when I die
He's gonna set me up
with the spirit in the sky

Oh set me up with the spirit in the sky (spirit in the sky)
That's where I'm gonna go when I die (when I die)
When I die and they lay me to rest
I'm gonna go to the place that's the best
Go to the place that's the best

Source: LyricFind

Touchy, these lyrics above, yet I know I have sinned over and over again not wanting to sin, have left many behind me as God reveals to me, it is not good for me to continue in. Over me saying Forgive me over and over again. Repent, repent repent or you are not in, human understanding, that traps people in sin. (Romans 7)
What??????????????, but I just!
I got to ask for more? I got to quit!

I agree, we all got to quit, yet none of us can, by not letting go ( not willing to be dead to the flesh nature daily (Romans 6), that God took care of on that cross over 2,000 years ago now all the nasty nines and dirty dozen for you gone from God's sight, not the flesh sight. Done once for us all on the cross in his one time willing death. (Hebrews 10:10) Otherwise, one stays stuck in sin over and over again, by trying, (Being aware) to not sin, causes sin. That focus to not sin is good to the first born flesh, not to God, as the flesh looks upon flesh and sees other's as better than you are, and you know it, by the sin you do behind closed doors. Guilty and hiding. Trying to be better (Luke 18:9-14) Or you do not believe God and are only playing Church. Gettin g rewards from people, not from God, each person knows in themselves, I have no reason to accuse or excuse anyone

Anyone's obedience perfect? None! Then how is anyone having any right to berate anyone else over the others sin (Luke 18:9-14) (Rom 2:1-4) Did God take all sin away on that cross in Son or not? All but "Unbelief" to he is now and forever risen to never die again (John 1:29)
(John 19:30) is the fulfillment of the Law and Propgets. It is not taking the Law and Prophets away, it is the fulfillment. (Matthew 5:17-18) to be fulfilled in you, you, me and all others in belief too, to the entire Cross of Son for you. It has not a thing to do with trying to do what is now done for us by Son for us. Be risen by God for you to rest in this amazing grace and sin will fall away over time in not quitting trusting God it is done for you too.
Time to believe in thanksgiving and praise, as the Song states, that no flesh nature can fathom. Only, In God's Spirit and truth it is done, (John 4:23-24) As Father waits for the next believer to enter in with God and Son for them to be new, getting, too busy doing what is right over all the troubles out in this world of people seeing it this or that way, or the highway, people say to one another, That is not the truth of God, I got to do right, try, try, try, try! How well are you going inn that method? I have been there only to see No flesh can please God but Son's that fit it all in on that cross once for us all. For us to be given new life in
Son's risen Life from God Father of Jesus
Those verses are true of Norman Greenbaum, that God revealed to him, has revealed now to me and am thankful, not proud, just thankful. Trusting fro all sin to leave as God reveals how to me. ?will y'all too, If one is sincere in belief too

Amen. The line, "Never been a sinner, I never sinned" does not align with Christian doctrine. I suppose the closest I can come to explaining this to support the poetry from the song is how Christ takes all of our sins upon Him and through His sacrificial death, forgives them and provides grace and reconciliation:

2 Corinthians 5:21

New King James Version

21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

We are "righteous" in God's eyes through Jesus who washes away all of our sins as our Savior. But, "never been a sinner, I never sinned" certainly doesn't apply to me in the past, present, or future of this life. Wrestling with sin and giving into weakness and failing is part of being human, and repentance and asking for forgiveness is an ongoing state in my relationship with God.

1 John 1:8-10

New King James Version

8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

Purging sin out of our lives is a continual process that doesn't end until we die and receive that new, eternal life in Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit is hard at work in the innermost parts of our being, and we need to let Him do His work. As sin is identified, we need to "confess our sins" before the Mercy Seat to receive forgiveness and cleansing.

So, yes, "never been a sinner, I never sinned" is the most glaring error in the song as it relates to our Christian lives. I always have been a sinner, still am, will continue to sin as long as I'm in the flesh, but I will still keep up the fight against sin by the power of the Holy Spirit and ask my Father for forgiveness through Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior.

I like the way you expressed this, brother. Since God's love looks outward, we do not want our actions to disrespect Him or harm others. Love and repentance go hand-in-hand. We need God to change our hearts to be filled with more of His love.

Amen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you won't quit, Amen. So Don't
Here it goes, I do not want to sin and yet I sin and still do not want to sin!
Yet God from God's view sees it differently that humans do what they do and cannot be. perfect ever, of thier first born flesh ever Rom 8:3. Only God sees the inside, our belief as real and knows we are not perfect. Therefore now be revealed, why Son Jesus came here to earth to die, before new life could ever get given anyone, in his being risen. Man only sees from the outside view of actions and reactions of people, excusing themselves, making judgements accordingly. Is corrupted, and man has put man in charge as if are of God. And these do act as if are from God very well
2 Corinthians 11:14
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

Do you, we, the people honestly think God is at our world Churches, really?

Hebrews 8:1-4

King James Version



8 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;
2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
3 For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer.
4 For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:

Man creates his own law(s) and is in control of others, when we are called to freedom, the The tabernacle was destroyed in AD 70, first Harbinger, man rebuilds and makes his own Doctrine out of the true Doctrine

Galatians 5

King James Version

5 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing
The above is so much deeper that just about circumcision
Read Romans 14 is so much deeper that just about food

Amen brother, and we certainly don't want to turn grace into an excuse to live however we want and engage in sinful activities as Jude warned of in his epistle (v. 4). I like the verse you quoted above from Titus that describes grace as bringing salvation and teaches us to deny sin and "worldly lusts" to live sober, righteous, and godly lives in Christ Jesus.

Grace doesn't give us permission to sin at will, knowing God will forgive us. We will always be forgiven for confession and repentance of our lawbreaking, but why would we flirt with sin deliberately, which only brings sorrow, pain, and death to us and those around us.

I didn't realize how strong Paul's focus is on obedience in Philippians until we started talking about it in this forum. And, Paul doesn't pull any punches - the knockout blow comes right here on the life we are called to live:

Philippians 2:12-13

New King James Version

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

The gift of salvation God has blessed us with is serious business that requires work, not by our strength but by God who works in us to fulfill His will and gives us the strength to obey Christ. We have a part to play in this, and God wants us to work with Him to change who we are and be his willing partner and child.

Well said. It's hard to comprehend how much Jesus loves us and although we are His servants, He calls us friends (John 15:15) as the song expresses:

Prepare yourself you know it's a must
Gotta have a friend in Jesus
So you know that when you die
He's gonna recommend you
To the spirit in the sky (spirit in the sky)

How far does that friendship extend?

John 15:13

New King James Version

13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.

That's exactly what Jesus did for us - lay down His life for us because we are His friends. Through humility and obedience, Jesus suffered and died an agonizing death on the cross because He loves us:

Philippians 2:8

New King James Version

8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

Jesus laid down His life for us, and we should be willing to do the same for Him, our friends, and all humanity if it's God's will for our lives.

So you know that when you die
He's gonna recommend you
To the spirit in the sky (spirit in the sky)

Well, not exactly. No recommendation is necessary because heaven has been made available to us through the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ to the right hand of the Father where He intercedes for us as our current High Priest!

Amen brother

people talk about the “ gospel of grace “ when Paul says that he’s just saying the gospel and pointing out its full of the grace of God like this adulterous woman the law says she must surely be put to death

“She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”
‭‭John‬ ‭8:11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Jesus however doesn’t condemn her for her sin he forgives her and then instructs her to repent

This very much is the structure of Paul’s writings he introduces us to the amazing grace of God that forgives us because of our faith in Christ Jesus when we hear the message of the gospel . He tells us how now our sins have been remitted in Christ and God is well pleased with us teaches us we in him are the hiers of God his children.

abut then Paul also always taught about repentance and obedience to the gospel

“For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭15:18‬ ‭

If you look there at what Paul wrote to Titus but first this

“And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”
‭‭John‬ ‭1:16-17‬ ‭

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭16:15-16‬ ‭

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,


teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.”
‭‭Titus‬ ‭2:11-15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

That’s what Jesus taught to repent of doing sinful things and start living others in action as well as word while we wait for his return from heaven. He’s saying “ the gospel that saves has appeared to all men it teaches us to repent and live upright lives in his Will in this life while we wait for his return from heaven “

this is what the gospel teaches Jesus came to call sinners to repentance and give them eternal life who believe in him. We arent perfect so we have a doctrine full of grace and mercy because he knows we’ll still fail at times so we have doctrine

“If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭1:6-10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Not long ago , well I guess it’s been awhile now but there’s a young man at my church bout 40 or so told me one day what a great example I was for him and how he looked up to guys like me ect . I was sort of puzzled because I have often spoken to him but only within the isles of functions of church. And not extremely extensively.


So I was thinking wow that’s a nice thing to hear . But if he knew me every day of the week he may not see me the same way.

Bout two weeks passed and I had by this time really thought “ I must be a great example of a Christian for him to say that bout me “ I mean I was really delusional about it for a minute lol anyways two weeks passed

and this feller cut me off in traffic as I was headed to church and I just started yelling out of nowhere having a bit of a grumpy painful arthritic morning and just let er rip . even let an old time phrase that’s terribly vulgar (well the f word )you bleeping idiot why don’t you learn how to drive or get off the road “ da;&$ed dummy !”

layed on my horn just the whole entire show. The car had about four or five people on it and so I passed by real fast speeding in a rush just acting a complete fool

i get to church parking lot about five or six blocks down the way there and pull in and park just as I’m getting out and walking towards the door the car passes by me and parks the next row down.

As it passes , I notice the young man who had told me what a great Christian example I was and how mature and “”””steady “ I always presented myself ect was in the passenger seat . I was really just totally embarrassed and overcome with shame and just a terrible feeling of hypocracy.


So I began the walk over pondering what I possibly could say in this situation, looking down I glanced up as I approached and there was an elderly woman standing with him. I’m positive from the heat on my cheeks my face was completely bRight red.


And just as I began to speak he begins to chuckle and the elderly woman probably my age or so also is snickering hiding her from with her hand up to her face.

i didnt really know what to think so he says “ rough mornin zz?” Nd they both just burst into laughter . I couldnt help but to also begin laughing along and said “ yeah . Yeah it hasn’t been the best morning so far . And then I sort of lost control laughing also

he then says “ I wanted to bring my mom to meet some of the folks here , I was telling her how friendly and what a good example you and some of the others here were for us “ lol so then I totally lost it we’re all cackling like Kamala Harris at this point

but my point is there was grace for me that morning and they all genuinely overlooked my moment and actually he looked and found a way to save me lot of grief and guilt

He could have been like some would and began gossip at church telling people “ oh this guys so fake ect “ or found some way to criticize and make me hurt over what I’d done in some way , but instead he wiped it right out and now it’s just a funny story I tell people sometimes ( we’ll I think it’s hilarious still but lol I’m cooky ..so )

grace is enough but we still have to treat the lord like he’s our lord