Sermon Tone Analysis

We all agree we are to obey God.

But, what is your motivation for obeying Him?

Is it because he demands it?

Is it because He has saved you and you owe it to him?

Why? Or, is it something else completely?

Intro

Obedience to God

Sanctification - a growing into Christ

Antinomianism - The law does not apply and we are free to live as we want

Legalism - Pharisees

Matt 23:

Brood of Vipers - twisting the truth to fit their agendas

Sermon on the mount

Matt

What is the motivation in either of these?

Autonomy: To have no God above us

We make the rules

Drama

Paul concludes by conveying his expectations of Philemon

A call to action

As Christians we are called to respond to every instruction we receive from God’s Word

Yet, often we respond wrongly or not at all

Paul expects Philemon to obey and receive Onisemus as a fellow brother in Christ

To forgive him his debt

To prepare for his visit

To hold fast to the hope that Christ will bring in the end

Doctrine

Paul has confidence in Philemon’s response

Pauls’ confidence includes an:

1. expectation of obedience (21)

Obedience to God

God uses Paul to send the message

Sanctification

There is an expectations that Xians will obey

John 3:

This ability comes from the Holy Spirit within us

Acts 5:29-3

Paul is confident because

once one becomes a Christian they are made alive to obey

obey Jesus Christ their Lord

2 Cor 10:4

App: Obedience to God and the teachings of Jesus is expected of every Christian.

It isn’t enough to believe and sit idle.

VI.

Although true believers be not under the law as a covenant of works, to be thereby justified or condemned; yet is it of great use to them, as well as to others; in that, as a rule of life, informing them of the will of God and their duty, it directs and binds them to walk accordingly;m discovering also the sinful pollutions of their nature, hearts, and lives; so as, examining themselves thereby, they may come to farther conviction of, humiliation for, and hatred against sin; together with a clearer sight of the need they have of Christ, and the perfection of his obedience.p

2. expectation of hope (22)

Paul, a prisoner, hopes to visit with Philemon to witness this reconciliation

Double meaning -

our motivation for living a holy life

1 jophn 3:3

We do not live a life of obedience because we are earning anything

Eph 2:8-10

We do not live a life of obedience out of fear or obligation

This is the mindset of Emmanuel Kant

We do good out of our duty to our fellow man

We obey because He is our Lord and our hope is in him

II.

These good works, done in obedience to God’s commandments, are the fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith: and by them believers manifest their thankfulness;d strengthen their assurance, edify their brethren,f adorn the profession of the gospel, stop the mouths of the adversaries,h and glorify God, whose workmanship they are, created in Christ Jesus thereunto;k that, having their fruit unto holiness, they may have the end eternal life.

We obey because we have been made alive to do so and have change within

III.

Their ability to do good works is not at all of themselves, but wholly from the Spirit of Christ.

And, that they may be enabled thereunto, besides the graces they have already received, there is required an actual influence of the same Holy Spirit to work in them to will and to do of his good pleasure:n yet are they not hereupon to grow negligent, as if they were not bound to perform any duty, unless upon a special motion of the Spirit; but they ought to be diligent in stirring up the grace of God that is in them.

Paul also here shows us what he believes concerning prayer

That it releases the blessings already established by God

Philemon’s prayers would allow God’s sovereignty to be witnessed through his release

App: You obey because of Christ’s indwelling Spirit and the hope you have in him

If your hope is in Christ, and his spirit gives you this faith within then this is your motivation to obey.

We obey out of the hope that our faith has saved us and that we are being sanctified, made new and prepared for glorification

Your obedience is a sign you are being prepared for glory, that Christ is working in you.

3. expectation of perseverance

Perseverance of the Saints

Paul’s final greeting conveys his hope in the future

No one makes plans for the future if they don’t expect to have one

He knows that even if he is not released that God’s work will continue

He believed that the church would persevere no matter what

THEY whom God hath accepted in his Beloved, effectually called and sanctified by his Spirit, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace; but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved.

Doxology

Our motivation for obedience should be seen as a gift from God

Our motivation is the love we have for him in our hearts

Jesus

To love God we must love Christ

We should seek to grow in Christ through obedience to Him

Q. 75.

What is sanctification?

A. Sanctification is a work of God’s grace, whereby they whom God hath before the foundation of the world, chosen to be holy, are in time, through the powerful operation of his Spirit applying the death and resurrection of Christ unto them,c renewed in their whole man after the image of God; having the seeds of repentance unto life, and all other saving graces, put into their hearts,e and those graces so stirred up, increased, and strengthened, as that they more and more die unto sin, and rise unto newness of life.g

Illus:

It’s what Paul expects of Philemon

Paul “stirred them up”

App: What of we encouraged and stirred one another up into love of God more?

Is your motivation for obeying God your love for him?