(...the stumbling block “away from the truth.” John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.)
Agreed here about what Epi said about decreasing: "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." Philippians 1:21. And dead to the old man...gotta always remember that
Considering the “I must decrease and He increase” and what you shared "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."
Philippians 4:12-13 I know both how
to be abased, and
I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am
instructed both to be full and to be hungry,
both to abound and to suffer need. [13] I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
“To be abased”...it is the flesh which is abased...who does the abasing? Surely God in He said He could abased(bring low) pride of the flesh, lust of the eyes...brought low. as John said “I must decrease”
...instructed both
His increase...”to abound.” 2 Corinthians 1:5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." could also read ...for me, to abound is Christ and to be abased is gain. Both as one decreases the other increases built up in Christ. Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
God trains up His children in the way they should go ....and when mature they will not depart from the way of the Lord.