Forgiveness in the Church

Last week we saw the the gospel changes us and makes us like Christ

It gives us grace and peace

It make us effective for Him

It makes us bound to Him and his work

Today we want to look at forgiveness that this brings between Christians

forgiven people forgive people (Colossians 3:13)

Why do we forgive?

Because of the profit for the church (10-14)

He has been sent to be received as a brother

If he receives him as a slave then Paul sent him in vain

Paul consider the profit it would bring to Philemon and his church

forgive him and restore him for the church

Because of the providence of God (15-16)

God is always at work even in difficult situations

We need to be biblical thinkers and see the hand of God

Only when we are focused on self can we not forgive

God used Josephs brothers to bring salvation

Because of our personel debt (17-25)

Paul was willing to take the debt unto himself

Philemon should forgive because he needs others to forgive him

Jesus taught us of our personel debt

Paul was confident that Philemon would forgive (21)

Because of forgiveness Paul can come with Joy to visit the church and believers not with correction like in Corinth