Attributes Of A Forgiving Person Series

A. Philemon 4-7 (READ)

1. We live in a SOCIETY that KNOWS little about FORGIVENESS. We live in a SOCIETY that CARES

little about FORGIVENESS.

a. In fact, I would think that one of the major CONTRIBUTORS—if not the major contributor—to the

DESTRUCTION of RELATIONSHIPS in our culture is the ABSENCE of FORGIVENESS.

b. Our culture PUSHES us to be UNFORGIVING. It CELEBRATES and EXALTS people who are

not willing to FORGIVE.

COMMENT:

We make HEROES out of POLITICIANS who mercilessly BOMBAST everyone who doesn’t AGREE with THEM . . . and US. We CHEER on the MOB MENTALITY of those who hit the STREETS with SIGNS promoting our VIEWS and spewing hateful CATCHPHRASES against those

that we DETEST.

We LAUGH when POLICEMEN have WATER poured on them. We JOIN IN when RACIAL SLURS and DISGUSTING NAMES are used to DESCRIBE those who are DIFFERENT from ourselves. We go along with the DECEPTIVE LIES told about others because it PROMOTES our

AGENDA.

c. As a result of the sinfulness, the wickedness, and the lack of any kind SOCIAL RESTRAINT in our CULTURE, we have a society filled with BITTERNESS, filled with VENGEANCE, filled with ANGER, filled with HATE, filled with HOSTILITY toward others.

2. Even HUMANISTIC PHYCOLOGY tells us that it’s not HEALTHY to FORGIVE.

a. There is a book written by Susan Forward entitled “TOXIC PARENTS” that contains a chapter

with the title: “You Don’t Have To Forgive.” (THAT’S NOT WHAT GOD SAYS!)

b. It’s all about SHIFTING the BLAME for your PROBLEMS and the POOR DECISIONS that you make, onto your PARENTS. Since it’s their FAULT, you don’t have to take RESPONSIBILITY for your LIFE.

3. Now, for a Christian, the REFUSAL to FORGIVE is UNTHINKABLE.

a. I don’t care what the ISSUE is or what the OFFENSE is, a REFUSAL to FORGIVE is a blatant, open

act of DISOBEDIENCE.

b. When Paul wrote to the Colossian church (the same church that met in Philemon’s house), he commanded them to . . . “Bear with each other and forgive WHATEVER grievances you may

have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you”- Colossians 3:13.

COMMENT:

Now, if there was anyone who had a reason to be UNFORGIVING, it would be Paul. Because of His FAITH in Christ and BOLD TEACHING of God’s Word, he had people to ruthlessly ATTACK him both physically and verbally from ALL SIDES—Jews, Gentiles, and even some so-called Christians. And, yet, he writes: “…forgive whatever grievances you may have against another.”

B. This brings us to the LETTER that Paul wrote Philemon.

1. Remember, Philemon was a Christian SLAVE-OWNER who lived in the small town of Colossae.

a. He had a slave named Onesimus who apparently STOLE MONEY from him and RAN AWAY to Rome where, it just so happens, he comes in contact with Paul who is under HOUSE ARREST.

b. Paul takes this opportunity to SHARE with Onesimus the GOSPEL, and he ACCEPTS Christ as His

Lord and Savior. (Sometimes it takes someone on the outside to bring our loved ones to Christ.)

2. Paul, realizing how IMPORTANT it is for Onesimus to RECONCILE with Philemon, urges him to

RETURN to his Master’s house in Colossae.

a. Paul writes this personal letter to Philemon (which Onesimus is going to hand-deliver), urging “him to FORGIVE Onesimus and ACCEPT him back into his home not as a SLAVE, but as a

BROTHER in Christ”- vv. 15-16.

b. Paul is confident that Philemon will FORGIVE and ACCEPT Onesimus, because of two GODLY

ATTRIBUTES that the Apostle sees in him, and is found in every FORGIVING PERSON.

MESSAGE:

I. PHILEMON WAS A FAITHFUL FOLLOWER OF JESUS CHRIST- v. 5

A. We read in v. 19 that “Paul was the one who brought Philemon to Christ.”

1. Philemon wasn’t a Christian by NAME only. He was a man of God who faithfully served his Lord.

a. Paul described him as a “fellow worker”- v. 1.

ILLUSTRATION:

Have you ever been asked to write a CHARACTER REFERENCE for someone that you didn’t know all that well? As a PREACHER, I am asked often. And when asked, I’m going to be truthful: “I see him at church about twice a year, and . . . he seems friendly. Yours Truly.”

COMMENT:

Paul worked ALONGSIDE Philemon in his MINISTRY. He knew him PERSONALLY. He knew his CHARACTER and what kind of MAN he was. And Paul had such an ADMIRATION for Philemon, that he said, “I always thank God as I remember you in my prayers…”- v. 4.

b. “The church met in his home”- v. 2.

COMMENT:

There were no CHURCH BUILDINGS during this time, so Christians would gather in a central location—usually in one or more of the members’ homes. Apparently, Philemon had a

home large enough for the Colossian church to meet.