Love and faith an effect of Christ

Fellow saints

the Theme of this message is “Love and faith are the effect of Christ within a beleiver”

By show of hands how many of you have someone here in the church that you appreciate or encouraged by because of they do for the body?

How many of you have expressed that to them?

Demonstrate how the synagogue would be set up and why, tell what do you see.

so what does this mean when there is conflict with fellow believers?

Back ground of Philemon

turn with me to Philemon

Paul’s Bio

Paul’s life is a powerful message of forgiveness and grace that both humbled him and gave him the strength to work diligently for the LORD ().

Paul, the apostle who is also known as Saul of Tarsus but brought up in Jerusalem (). The city of Tarsus was a major population center in the province of Cilicia in the southeastern region of Asia Minor. Tarsus was a Hellenized city the extent to which this affected Paul’s education, and character is unknown. However, the facts that he was a Roman born citizen and given not only a Hebrew name Saul and a Roman name Paul. Also Paul’s ability to transition into the gentile culture and known as the “apostle to the Gentiles.” ()

Paul was known for his Family background, that he was “circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews” (). The last phrase distinguished himself from the Jews in the dispersion who adopted Hellenism. Paul was well known for being an educated man. Educated by a man named Gamaliel () who is represented in later rabbinic literature as a teacher who had an appreciation for Greek culture.

It was Paul’s education in Judaism and zeal for his ancestral traditions that lead Paul to persecute the early church (). He was present at the stoning of Stephen (), was responsible for arresting members of the church in Jerusalem (), and it was on his way to Damascus with orders from the high priest to persecute the church that Paul experienced the greatest of the LORD grace ().

The LORD’s grace for Paul was so great that many in the church still feared Paul. Paul himself counted himself as the least deserving and the least of all the Apostles. The LORD had chosen Paul to take the Gospel message far to the Gentiles (). Paul would make three missionary journeys and be imprisoned in Rome when He wrote the letter to

Audience of Philemon

Philemon is the primary addressee of the letter even though Apphia, Archippus and the church that meets in your house () “The fact that Paul mentions Philemon’s name first is very significant. However, more significant is the fact that all the second-person pronouns and verbal forms in vv. 4–22a and vv. 23–24 are singular. . . The body of the letter, then, focuses consistently on a single individual. Even the issue addressed (the purpose) of the letter was only between three individuals Paul, Philemon, and Onesimus. The opening to other members and the church shows how Christians are bound to one another in all their activities through their common faith.

Onesimus carried the letter to Philemon with Tychicus who carried the epistle to Colossae. Paul gives instructions for Tychicus to settle affairs for him and explain the situation with Onesimus. () Colossae is a city in the western part of modern-day Turkey. Philemon was a gentile believer referred to as beloved brother () by Paul and sets the tone of endearment that Paul has for Philemon.

Read Philemon

Slavery in Roman culture

The cultural significance of slavery in Philemon allows us to understand how dire of an issue Onesimus finds himself in. To understand and make an accurate interpretation in the book of Philemon it is dependent on knowing how slaves where treated, and the relationship between Christianity and slaves in the first century. Understanding these point will help us make correct interpretations of the timeless truths and what it means for our modern context.

In Roman society a large part of the population was slaves. Many slaves where from conquered people, but could also be born into slavery or be a consequence of what we would consider bankruptcy. Moreover, the education level of slaves could be as diverse as the population, from agricultural practices to doctors. Masters had complete authority over slaves classifying them more as material goods than people. Slaves could gain their freedom through various means by release from their master, a declaration by a political official; runaway was also a possibility but came with a risk of death if caught.

There was an interactive relationship between slaves in Christianity because one of every two Christians were slaves. The apostles often referred to themselves as “bond-slaves” of Christ (; ; ; and ; ). The term also carried with it a sense of honor. Teaching about slaves consist, of slaves submitting to their masters and masters to treat slaves fairly(; ; Tm 6:2; ). Paul also encouraged slaves to get their freedom if they could ().

Paul’s request of Philemon (not command) to receive Onesimus as a brother shows how no matter the social status of an individual they are made equal before the LORD. The significance of Roman culture influence how Paul handles the issue. Paul has no legal right by Roman law to dictate how Philemon should treat Onesimus but appeals to him through Christ.

the Principle Truths

There is a lot here but Today I want to just focus on the prayer formula in this epistle, lets take a closer look at

Thanksgiving is the result of witnessing good works

“I thank My God,” is Pauls main statement and “making mention of you” is how

there are two modifying terms that really set an example of how we give thanks to God for other

first is “always,” its kind of hard to think badly about someone if your to busy thinking about the good things they do. It also makes your personal experience more enjoyable.

so often we take the LORD’s name in-vain when something goes wrong, but when is the last time you said, “glory to God,” “God is good,” or “praise the LORD” because something good has happened to you or others.

Why don’t we strive to cultivate a behavior of stating the good?

second modifier is the phrase “In my prayers”

so often we only focus on the negatives in our prayers. those who are doing good works also need prayer, there work puts them up as a target for the enemy to come and knock down.

Privately is important and valuable but when you have a chance to genuinely thank the LORD in prayer for someone who is among us it truly builds them and as we will talk about later it refreshes their hearts.

as we move in to verse 5 we get why Paul has is thankful for Philemon which ties the first principle “thanks giving is the result of witnessing good works” to the second “Love and faith is action toward Christ and believers”

“Because I hear of your love and faith” The “Because” is a connective term joining this statement to the last telling the reader why Paul is thankful

“Love and the faith which you have Toward the Lord Jesus and Toward all the saints” the preposition “toward” implies an action you do in the direction of someone.

there are two towards with two someones but what is really unique is not the love which we most commonly think of and reference a behavior it is the “faith.” Yes faith in Christ is obvious to us but if you read to quickly and don’t pay attention we will miss it, the faith in other believers.

they idea of trusting and having faith in one another is something we often forget. the funny thing is when we extend that trust what usually happens is people start to feel more valued and welcomed, they behave with a higher level of integrity, and the group as a hole begins to flourish and grow.

So how do we develop trust for one another?

first recognize them as your brother or sister in Christ

disclaimer

on a side note those of you who went the share the light what is the simple question you can ask to gauge some bodies relationship to Christ

Who is Christ, to you? don’t be quick to be the judge

that it is the same Holy Spirit in you as them that gives last part of v6. “the knowledge of Every good thing which is in you for christ’s sake”

be thankful for their good works

let them know you are thankful

So “Love and faith is action toward believers and Christ”

The third Principle “Christ is the source of effective fellowship”

Define Fellowship - the giving of yourselves

v6 “I pray that the fellowship of your faith May become effective”

this statement is an assertion about fellowship of the church in Philemon how that we can draw out what we already know, that fellowship can be put on a scale.

the phrase “fellowship of your faith” is a unique one but when broken down grammatically means there is fellowship between all believers because of their common faith.

apologetic response to this phrase

ephesians

Ephesians 2:8–9 NASB95

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

as mentioned all ready our fellowship effective because of the knowledge of every good thing NOT BAD in you for who’s sake? oh yea Christ’s, because Christ is the source of effective fellowship.

4. Last principle The body is encouraged by love and faith in Christ and each other

v 7 “For I have come to have Much Joy and Comfort”

this is the encouragement that Paul has gained from Philemon

“because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you”

the word “because” again plays the same role of expressing why Paul has gained joy and comfort

as Philemon works with love and faith towards others it refreshes the heart of other believers this encouragement is essential to a healthy Christian life.

the amazing thing is as you work to encourage one it encourages others. Paul would have helped establish the Church in Colossea, his joy would have been like a parent when his kids are working together as a family what a joy.

with this last principle the body is encouraged by love and faith in Christ and each other we have come full circle. To are main theme or take away Love and faith are the effect of Christ within a believer.

now knowledge is good but it is meaningless if it causes no change in your life. so when you came in the youth handed you a note card. take this time to write at least one no more than three application statements from this message.

remember to use I, and action verb and time frame within a week. it is best to write statement that you initiate not one where you wait on something to happen first