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Forgive One Another
Philemon 1:8
“You are never more Christlike than when you forgive.”
The book of Philemon is one of Paul’s prison epistles, but this one was addressed to an individual — Philemon.
The book is probably the most needed book concerning church life.
The theme, the purpose, the reason for the book is most needed of humanity.
This world is a world of selfishness, decadence, blameshifting, offended, resentful, bitterness, vengeful, anger, hate, hostility, murder —
and unforgiveness.
The church lives among the world but we cannot be apart of that and the one thing that will bring all this infection in quickest is unforgiveness.
The background to the book is that Philemon had been led to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ by Paul several years earlier, probably at Ephesus.
Philemon became a prominent member in the church at Colossae.
He was apparently wealthy because he had a home large enough for the church to met in.
Paul called him a “friend and coworker” indicating that he was active in serving the cause of Christ.
Philemon owned at least one slave, a man named Onesimus.
Onesimus was not a Christian and ran away to Rome, no doubt to get lost in the multitudes in the imperial city.
While in Rome, Onesimus providentially met the apostle Paul, either through Epaphras, or possibly he sought him out himself.
Whatever the circumstances, it’s certain that his life was forever changed because he came to know the Lord Jesus Christ.
Onesimus endeared himself to Paul and Paul to Onesimus.
He lived up to his name — Onesimus — “useful.”
Paul was glad to have his help.
But there was a matter that needed to be settled — Onesimus was a runaway slave, a fugitive from the law.
In running away from his master he defrauded Philemon, and according to verse 18, may have stolen something valuable.
And Paul now wanted to settle this serious issue.
The seriousness of the issue was not slavery, but the need of forgiveness.
Philemon needed to forgive Onesimus, and Onesimus needed to be reconciled to Philemon.
This is one of the greatest personal issues in church life — forgiveness and reconciliation.
It mirrors our need before God.
And in this particular circumstance, there was great sacrifice to be made on all accounts.
If Onesimus returned to his master, it was great sacrifice for Paul since Onesimus was of great usefulness to Paul.
But it was also of great risk to Onesimus because Roman law imposed no limits to the power a master had over his slave.
Under Roman law a runaway slave and thief had no claim to forgiveness.
But the greatest risk was to the cause of Christ if Philemon did not forgive Onesimus and receive him not as a slave, but as a brother in Christ.
Paul sends Onesimus under the protection of Tychicus with a letter to Philemon.
In the letter he urges Philemon to forgive Onesimus and receive him as a brother in Christ.
More than that, Paul implores Philemon to treat Onesimus as Christ treated him.
Forgiveness is so important that the Holy Spirit devoted an entire book of the Bible to the subject — but not by teaching, or by parable, or by doctrinal principles.
This was brought powerfully by a real life situation involving two people dear to Paul.
And the implications of this real life situation are so enormous, so vital that the Apostle powerfully lays out:
3 Aspects of Forgiveness
The Godly Nature of One who forgives
The Godly Actions of One who forgives
The Godly Motives of One who forgives
Now I want you to imagine the scene.
Tychicus has come to the home of Philemon and when Philemon answers the door he see Tychicus and he also sees standing behind him — Onesimus.
Can you imagine the thoughts running through Philemon’s mind as he invites them both in and Onesimus shuffles past Philemon into his home.
After short greetings, Tychicus hands Philemon the letter from Paul.
Philemon’s hands probably shaking, his mind racing with questions — and he begins reading —
Philemon
I.
The Godly Nature of One who Forgives
Paul doesn’t look to flatter Philemon, but to praise him for the kind of person God has made him.
There are certain attributes and characteristics that reveal the Spiritual Nature of one who forgives.
The Godly Nature of one who forgives is first and foremost is committed to the Lord.
Verse 5 — “Because I hear of your love and faith toward the Lord.”
In looking to praise Philemon, notice that Paul thanks God.
We are who we are because of what God has done in us.
And who is Philemon?
— He is one who was committed to the Lord.
He desired to please God.
And the reason he desired to please God is the Lord forgave him!
And because the Lord forgave him, Philemon could forgive others.
And there’s something subtle to notice here, but it’s so important.
Look at verse 5, other versions, like ESV, KJV, and NASB, bring this out more clearly — “because I hear of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord...”
“because I hear of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord...”
You have — demonstrates the continuous nature of Philemon’s commitment to the Lord.
He is unwavering in his love and faith toward the Lord.
Christians forgive because God has forgiven them.
Christians forgive because God has reconciled them to Himself.
Unbelievers have no capacity to truly forgive in fullness because they have never been forgiven.
They have no spiritual nature to do so.
Believers forgive because they are committed to their Lord who forgave them.
The Godly Nature of one who forgives is secondly committed to loving fellow believers.
Verse 5 — “because I hear of your love and faith toward the Lord and for all the saints.”
This comes off of the same language toward God — is now for all the saints.
Because Philemon’s faith was real, it manifested itself in true biblical love to God and God’s people!
This is ἀγάπη — love that is of the will and choice, self-sacrificing and humble type of love.
It’s a love that is the fruit of the Spirit () and it’s a manifestation of saving faith.
Philemon’s commitment to the Lord and to God’s people gave him the capacity to forgive.
Are you loving others?
It’s manifested in whether you forgive.
The Godly Nature of one who forgives is committed to fellowship with those in the church.
Verse 6 — “I pray that your participation in the faith may become effective...”
This word participation describes real faith and love that is manifested in a commitment to fellowship with other believers.
There is no place in the Body of Christ for individualism.
Our identity is in Christ, each one of us, together, as the body of believers — who care for one another.
We care for one another because we are of one body — Christ’s body.
Notice this phrase — may become effective.
Paul is praying for this.
Effective is the word, ἐνεργής (energes) — and you can hear our word energy.
It is literally powerful.
The act of forgiveness sends a powerful message to the church about fellowship.
Forgiving a fellow believer, no matter what their offense, makes a strong statement of concern for fellowship — life together in the church.
Do you have a strong commitment to fellowship with believers?
The Godly Nature of one who forgives is committed to Godly knowledge.
Verse 6 — “Through knowing every good thing that is in us...”
Christian have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavens.
And they know it.
Not that they know about it, but that they know it — deeply, richly, full, experientially.
And so the command — Forgive One Another — is something we experience and therefore know personally because we live it out.
We walk in that obedience to God.
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