Forgiven = Forgiving (Philemon)

Intro

Good Morning everyone! I am honored to be with you this morning! For those of you who don’t know me. My name is Matt Coby, and I am the Pastor of Students here at Gilliam Springs. I am so thankful that you have chosen to worship with us this morning!

This Morning we are going to be in the book of Philemon. Philemon is a small book in the new testament wedged between the books of Titus and Hebrews. Many of us have probably spent little to no time in this book unintentionally due to it being partially camouflaged among the larger books of the new testament. However, I encourage you not to allow the brevity of this book to discount the large and powerful truth that’s being taught in this book.

I love movies! My wife says that she has a hard time understanding how I can watch the same movies over and over and over again. She’s absolutely right, but as years have gone by, I have found myself enjoying the set up portion of the movie as much, and in some cases more, as I do the big climax. There’s something about seeing a situation from different angles that naturally draws us in. What is she thinking? Why would he do that?

Set the scene

With that being said let’s set the scene. This is a letter to Philemon from Paul in the year 61 ad. Paul was currently in prison when he wrote this letter. Philemon is an influential man not only in the community, but also in the church at Colossae. We read in Colossians that this letter was delivered at the same time that the letter to the Colossians was delivered.

Scripture

Philemon 8–22 ESV

8 Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, 9 yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus— 10 I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment. 11 (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.) 12 I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart. 13 I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel, 14 but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord. 15 For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, 16 no longer as a bondservant but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. 17 So if you consider me your partner, receive him as you would receive me. 18 If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. 19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it—to say nothing of your owing me even your own self. 20 Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ. 21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. 22 At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping that through your prayers I will be graciously given to you.

Body

This could be a great back story for a movie right?!

Man breaks someone’s trust and runs away Finds themselves far away and trying to figure out life Comes across a wise mentor who helps him make sense of everything The mentor helps him see that its time for him to return and reconcile his past When we’re studying this text it’s important to see that there are three different perspectives in play

Someone with a Need Someone with an Opportunity Someone who bridges the Gap

Someone with a Need

From what we know about Onesimus, He had a past, He had made mistakes, He had a debt that had to be paid, and like most people, he was probably very good at deflecting the blame for his situation on others. He had spent some time running from all of those things, and found himself at rock bottom, somehow coming into the company of a group of criminals and prisoners. The future seemed dim for Onesimus, He had destroyed all of his relationships, had no resources, and was coming to the realization that he could not claw his way out of the hole that he had dug for himself alone. We find a man who is in desperate need of Forgiveness

Someone with an Opportunity

Let’s move our attention to Philemon for a second. Here we see the other side of the coin. Philemon is being asked to forgive a man that had not only run away, not only caused him a ton of grief, but forgive a man in whom he had every right by the culture of the day to not only hold him accountable to his debt, but even to end his life. Philemon not only had all of these personal feelings and financial stakes involved in this situation. He was also thinking about how other people would receive his decision…

Would the other slaves do the same thing? Will the other people in his community think that he was weak? Philemon must have felt so conflicted! He was standing at a crossroads. The paths of each decision couldn’t be more different. One was safe, but one was right. Here we find a man who has the opportunity to Forgive

Someone who bridges the Gap

Finally, We come to the most important person in our text. First - We see the Lord orchestrate a Devine meeting between the fugitive onesimus and the apostle Paul

10 I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment. Second - we see the Lord save onesimus through a relationship with Paul

11 (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.) Third - we see the Lord’s influence in the payment of onesimus’s debt and reconciliation of his past.

18 If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. 19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it—to say nothing of your owing me even your own self.

Are you still running? Are you holding onto your past? You need forgiveness, and Jesus is waiting to give it!

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 Jn 1:9). Are you holding something against someone? Granting forgiveness will set you free

25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.(Mk 11:25)

The reality is that we all fall into both categories. We all need forgiveness!! And we all need to forgive!! It’s the Gift that only Jesus can give, and it’s our job to regift it each and everyday!