Doing What Is Right

Goal of the Message: That the hearers respond in faith to God’s Good News in Christ, giving up personal gain in Spirit-empowered, spontaneous acts of kindness to others.

Malady: Our old nature, selfish and greedy, motivates us to either seek reward for doing good, or escape from painful pressures to do what is right in God’s sight, avoiding repentance and trust in his mercy in Christ.

Means: God the Father’s Son, Jesus, assumed our guilt and paid the price for our indifference to God’s Word and rebellion against his ways. By the power of the Spirit at work in Word and Sacrament, Christ frees us, as he did the apostle Paul and his friend, Philemon, to serve God unselfishly and to become advocates for and support to others, even those who abuse our trust.

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In June 1997 Federal Communications Commission director Reed Hundt announced that he was resigning from his post for personal reasons. He explained that he wanted to spend more time with his family. Returning home one evening he was confronted by his eight-year-old daughter, Sara. “Are you really quitting your job to spend more, time with me, like you said?” she probed. A little shocked by the question, her dad said it was true; he would be spending more time at home. Sara, a true Washington, D.C., skeptic, said, “We’ll see if you do” (Kansas City Star).

We are gathered here in the house of God as the people of God. Christ is present to nurture us through his Spirit at work in the Word. We know what Jesus said: “Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after Me, cannot be my disciple” (). And so this evening we are going to look at this cross-bearing through the lens of St. Paul’s letter to Philemon. For the most part, we know what it means and how much its costs to be disciples of Jesus. Strengthened by his forgiveness and strength, we seek his refreshing grace to do his will.

I. Philemon and Us.

A. We struggle with our dilemmas, just as Paul struggled in resolving a delicate situation involving a runaway slave. Paul would have liked to have kept Onesimus for his own purposes and convenience (vv 11, 12). “I just can’t get along with out it,” we say of a creature comfort or a financial advantage.

B. We struggle with doing what God calls us to do, just as Philemon must have struggled to do what was pleasing to God when he received Paul’s letter about Onesimus.

C. We manufacture: fake reasons for not doing what is right. “My boss (wife, parents, neighbor) won’t like it.” “You can’t put me on a guilt trip.” “There’s nothing in it for me.” “I won’t be pressured.” “I can’t afford it.” “Nobody does that anymore.” “I would be too embarrassed.” “I won’t get promoted.”

D. The truth is that we are still selfish and greedy in our old nature. We minimize or ignore the cost of following Jesus (). We are lost sheep, straying from the proper understanding of God and his ways for us. God calls us to acknowledge with the psalmist (119:169–176) that only the divine Shepherd, our Lord Jesus Christ, can rescue and restore us in the power of his promises.

II. Jesus Doing the Father’s will.

A. Christ was obedient to the heavenly Father. He lived the perfect life that we cannot live because of our fallen, sinful nature. Christ shouldered the sins of the world; he took our debt and made it his own. From Calvary’s cross Christ forgave and freed us from the consequences of sin so that we might live in a restored relationship with God and with one another.

B. Paul became for Philemon and Onesimus the living example of what their Lord Jesus had done for each of them (vv 17–19). Philemon had the authority and right to punish the slave Onesimus for running away. Onesimus deserved the full punishment of Roman law for his criminal behavior: Yet both men were redeemed by the one Savior.

C. Paul became an advocate for Onesimus to Philemon, mirroring Christ Jesus, the saving Mediator between God and all people (). Jesus is the only one who can speak successfully in our defense because he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins .

1 Timothy 2:5–7 NASB95

For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time. For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

1 John 2:1–2 NET

(My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin.) But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous One,and he himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for our sins but also for the whole world.

1 John 2 NASB95

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world. By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked. Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which you have heard. On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true Light is already shining. The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes. I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name’s sake. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father. I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one. Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever. Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us. But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth. Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also. As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. This is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life. These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you. As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him. Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming. If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him.

1 Timothy 2:5–7 NASB95

For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time. For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

John 2:1–2 NASB95

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding.

1 John 2 NASB95

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world. By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked. Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which you have heard. On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true Light is already shining. The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes. I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name’s sake. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father. I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one. Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever. Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us. But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth. Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also. As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. This is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life. These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you. As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him. Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming. If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him.

D. We, too, are judged guilty by God for our sins of selfishness and greed. Yet, in his love God charges our sins against Christ Jesus. By his crucial act of pardon he buries our sin in the depths of his love. Now, through faith in his work for us we are not condemned (, ) in our new relationship with God. Through trust in Christ’s reconciling compassion we are empowered to love him and to forgive those who: sin against us, even those who violate our trust.

III. Christ Set Us Free to Do!

Jesus assumed our guilt and paid the price for our indifference to God’s Word and rebellion against his ways. By the power of the Spirit at work in Word and Sacrament, Christ frees us, as he did the apostle Paul and his friend, Philemon, to serve God unselfishly and to become advocates for and support to others, even those who abuse our trust.

A. Paul’s wordplay in v 4 on the name, Onesimus, which means “useful,” typifies his friendly tone throughout the letter to Philemon. It’s as if he were saying, “Okay, my; brother in Christ, we, have the, grace to do what God wants! We have Jesus’ strength to do what is pleasing to him and good for one another. Spontaneously, without any pressure from me or anyone else, show Onesimus the grace God has given you in Christ, your Savior. Receive your slave back again for good as a brother in the Lord.”

B. Whom will we receive in our Lord today? To whom will we be sent in our Lord today? A brother or sister in Christ from whom we have been alienated? A neighbor or friend who does not yet know the goodness of God in Christ? A person who is sick or injured or addicted? A child who has torn clothing, little food, and no place to stay? Someone imprisoned at home by frailties? Are we moved by the Spirit of Christ to care about them, show love for them in practical ways, encourage and support them? We have the grace to do it!

“Random acts of kindness” animate communities across the world. Personal sacrifices bolster families. Churches, businesses, and institutions are revived by heroic, individual moments of honesty, integrity and moral courage. Are our neighbors watching us Christians, waiting for us show Christ’s love in our words and actions?

The communities in which we Christians live, work, and witness to our Lord are populated by skeptics. Speaking to one another here in church as God’s people in Christ Jesus we say, “As our Lord gives us the eyes to see and the hearts with which to express to others in concrete ways God’s forgiving love in Christ Jesus, energized by his grace, let’s do it!”

Illustration: Eric Palmer, business editor, Kansas City Star, (June 6, 1997), bemoans the fact that “business ethicists point to 20 years of front page business scandals.” Examples included securities manipulation, price fixing, bribe taking, and influence peddling. Palmer brashly identifies “what ails business—greed, selfishness and a lack of stewardship.”

He also cites a counteractive movement, voiced by Doug Hunter, vice-president of member services for the Atlanta-based Fellowship of Companies in Christ. “It was a search for grace, not flight from guilt that led seven Atlanta businessmen to create the Fellowship . . . in 1979,” Hunter said. They had read Charles Sheldon’s book, In His Steps. They were intrigued to determine how Sheldon’s views would apply to business.

“I don’t just say I am a Christian and put ‘Jesus is Lord’ on my truck,” Hunter observed. “I must think about excellence of products and how I handle people and how I pay my bills.” Hunter believes that God is the one who defines success. He suggested that may mean that we do not achieve a huge bottom line of financial profits from our work.