THE LITTLE BOOK WITH AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE
FORGIVENESS
THE BOOK OF PHILEMON 1:1-7
PART 1: THE CHARACTER OF ONE WHO FORGIVES
PHILEMON 1:1-7 PAUL, A PRISONER FOR CHRIST JESUS, AND TIMOTHY OUR BROTHER, TO PHILEMON OUR BELOVED FELLOW WORKER 2 AND APPHIA OUR SISTER AND ARCHIPPUS OUR FELLOW SOLDIER, AND THE CHURCH IN YOUR HOUSE: 3 GRACE TO YOU AND PEACE FROM GOD OUR FATHER AND THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. 4 I THANK MY GOD ALWAYS WHEN I REMEMBER YOU IN MY PRAYERS, 5 BECAUSE I HEAR OF YOUR LOVE AND OF THE FAITH THAT YOU HAVE TOWARD THE LORD JESUS AND FOR ALL THE SAINTS, 6 AND I PRAY THAT THE SHARING OF YOUR FAITH MAY BECOME EFFECTIVE FOR THE FULL KNOWLEDGE OF EVERY GOOD THING THAT IS IN US FOR THE SAKE OF CHRIST. 7 FOR I HAVE DERIVED MUCH JOY AND COMFORT FROM YOUR LOVE, MY BROTHER, BECAUSE THE HEARTS OF THE SAINTS HAVE BEEN REFRESHED THROUGH YOU.
PROPOSITION: CHRISTIANS NEED TO UNDERSTAND AND APPLY BIBLICAL FORGIVENESS.
INTRODUCTION: JOHN MACARTHUR WRITES, “WE LIVE IN AN EGO-CENTERED, SELFISH SOCIETY THAT KNOWS AND CARES LITTLE ABOUT FORGIVENESS. WE HAVE BECOME SO DECADENT AND NON-CHRISTIAN AS TO SEE FORGIVING PEOPLE AS WEAK, AND UNFORGIVING ONES AS STRONG. OUR CULTURE CELEBRATES AND EXALTS THOSE TV AND MOVIE HEROES WHO TAKE VENGEANCE ON OTHERS. POP PSYCHOLOGISTS WRITE BOOKS EXTOLLING THE VIRTUES OF BLAMESHIFTING, UNFORGIVENESS, AND MAKING THOSE WHO OFFEND US PAY. THE RESULT IS A SOCIETY FILLED WITH BITTERNESS, VENGEANCE, ANGER, HATE, AND HOSTILITY. RETALIATORY CRIMES AND LAWSUITS ARE RAMPANTLY COMMONPLACE AS PEOPLE SEEK VENGEANCE EITHER OUTSIDE OR INSIDE THE BOUNDS OF THE LAW. FURTHER, LACK OF FORGIVENESS IS PERHAPS THE LEADING CAUSE OF THE BREAKUPS IN FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS.”
WE ARE SURROUNDED BY AN ENVIRONMENT THAT MINIMIZES FORGIVENESS. YET FORGIVENESS IS SO ESSENTIAL TO THE FOLLOWER OF JESUS CHRIST. WE ARE TO SEEK FORGIVENESS. WE ARE TO OFFER FORGIVENESS. IN SHORT, WE ARE TO BE A FORGIVING PEOPLE.
TRANSITION: PAUL, IN HIS LETTER TO PHILEMON DISCUSSES FORGIVENESS IN SUCH A WAY, THAT WITHOUT USING THE WORD, BRINGS PHILEMON, AND HOPEFULLY US, TO THE PLACE WHERE WE WILL EMBRACE FORGIVENESS AND ACT FORGIVING.
BEFORE WE CAN EVEN BEGIN TO DEVELOP OUR TEACHING ON FORGIVENESS AND WHAT THE CHARACTER OF ONE WHO WILL FORGIVE LOOKS LIKE, WE NEED TO FIRST SEE THE RESULT OF NOT FORGIVING
I. THE RESULTS OF NOT FORGIVING
a. TO NOT FORGIVE PUTS US AT ODDS WITH THE GOD WE SAY WE LOVE AND SERVE
i. IT IS AN OPEN ACT OF DISOBEDIENCE
ii. IT IS AN OPEN ACT OF DEFIANCE
EPHESIANS 4:32 BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER, TENDERHEARTED, FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER, AS GOD IN CHRIST FORGAVE YOU.
COLOSSIANS 3:13 BEARING WITH ONE ANOTHER AND, IF ONE HAS A COMPLAINT AGAINST ANOTHER, FORGIVING EACH OTHER; AS THE LORD HAS FORGIVEN YOU, SO YOU ALSO MUST FORGIVE.
iii. TO BE LIKE CHRIST SHOULD BE THE GOAL OF EVERY FOLLOWER OF CHRIST
iv. NOTICE THAT FORGIVENESS IS A COMMAND
b. TO NOT FORGIVE IMPRISONS US IN OUR PAST
i. TO KEEPS OUR SORES OPEN
ii. IT DOES NOT ALLOW WOUNDS TO HEAL
iii. IT ROBS US OF THE JOY OF LIVING AS A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST
iv. FEEDS ANGER AND RESENTMENT
a. TO NOT FORGIVE PRODUCES BITTERNESS
i. HEBREWS 12:15 SEE TO IT THAT NO ONE FAILS TO OBTAIN THE GRACE OF GOD; THAT NO “ROOT OF BITTERNESS” SPRINGS UP AND CAUSES TROUBLE, AND BY IT MANY BECOME DEFILED;
ii. NOTICE THAT BITTERNESS IS A ROOT
iii. BITTERNESS ACTS LIKE AN INFECTION
iv. THE LONGER WE DWELL IN UNFORGIVENESS THE LONGER BITTERNESS GROWS IN OUR LIVES
v. LIKE A ROOT, ONCE IT GOES IN DEEP, WE STRUGGLE TO GET IT OUT
HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU REMOVED A DANDELION ONLY TO SEE IT RETURN THE FOLLOWING YEAR
d. TO NOT FORGIVE OPENS THE DOOR OF OUR LIVES TO SATAN
EPHESIANS 4:26-27 BE ANGRY AND DO NOT SIN; DO NOT LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON YOUR ANGER, 27 AND GIVE NO OPPORTUNITY TO THE DEVIL.
2 CORINTHIANS 2:10-11 ANYONE WHOM YOU FORGIVE, I ALSO FORGIVE. INDEED, WHAT I HAVE FORGIVEN, IF I HAVE FORGIVEN ANYTHING, HAS BEEN FOR YOUR SAKE IN THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST, 11 SO THAT WE WOULD NOT BE OUTWITTED BY SATAN; FOR WE ARE NOT IGNORANT OF HIS DESIGNS.
i. SATAN LOOKS FOR ANY OPPORTUNITY TO DISRUPT OUR CHRISTIAN WALK
ii. ONCE WE ARE OPEN IN ONE AREA, WE ARE WEAKENED IN OTHER AREAS.
e. TO NOT FORGIVE HINDERS MY FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD
MATTHEW 6:14-15
14 FOR IF YOU FORGIVE OTHERS THEIR TRESPASSES, YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER WILL ALSO FORGIVE YOU,
15 BUT IF YOU DO NOT FORGIVE OTHERS THEIR TRESPASSES, NEITHER WILL YOUR FATHER FORGIVE YOUR TRESPASSES.
i. NOT SPEAKING ABOUT REDEMPTIVE FORGIVENESS
ii. THE ISSUE IS RELATIONAL FORGIVENESS
iii. OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IS ALWAYS AFFECTED BY OUR SIN
1. OUR SIN DIRECTLY TOWARDS GOD
2. OUR SIN INDIRECTLY TOWARDS GOD
3. NOT FORGIVING SOMEONE ELSE IS A DIRECT SIN AGAINST THE ONE NEEDING OUR FORGIVENESS
4. NOT FORGIVING SOMEONE ELSE IS AN INDIRECT SIN AGAINST GOD
5. NOTICE – IT DOES NOT SAY IF THEY ASK FOR FORGIVENESS
6. FORGIVENESS IS MORE ABOUT ME AND MY RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THAN IT IS ABOUT MY RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHERS!
II. THE SPIRITUAL CHARACTER OF A FORGIVER, (LOOKING AT THE PERSON OF PHILEMON)
a. BACKGROUND INFO ABOUT PHILEMON AND PAUL
i. PHILEMON WAS A WEALTHY MEMBER OF THE COLOSSIAN CHURCH
ii. HE WAS MARRIED, APPHIA WAS HIS WIFE
iii. HE HAD AT LEAST ONE SON, ARCHIPPUS
iv. HE HAD THE CHURCH IN HIS HOUSE
v. HE WAS A FRIEND OF PAUL
1. PAUL WOULD APPEAL THROUGH FRIENDSHIP, NOT RANK OR AUTHORITY
2. ONLY EPISTLE WHERE PAUL DOES NOT SPEAK OF HIS APOSTLESHIP, RATHER CALLS HIMSELF A PRISONER FOR CHRIST JESUS
b. PHILEMON IS AN UPSTANDING MAN
i. PAUL SITES NOTHING NEGATIVE ABOUT HIM
ii. PHILEMON IS A BELIEVER, HE HAS TRUSTED IN THE LORD
1. CHRIST FORGAVE PHILEMON
2. PAUL APPEALS TO PHILEMON TO FORGIVE ONESIMUS BASED ON THE FORGIVENESS HE HIMSELF HAS RECEIVED.
ROMANS 3:10-16 AS IT IS WRITTEN: “NONE IS RIGHTEOUS, NO, NOT ONE; 11 NO ONE UNDERSTANDS; NO ONE SEEKS FOR GOD.
12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE; TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME WORTHLESS; NO ONE DOES GOOD, NOT EVEN ONE.” 13 “THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE; THEY USE THEIR TONGUES TO DECEIVE.” “THE VENOM OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS.” 14 “THEIR MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSES AND BITTERNESS.” 15 “THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD; 16 IN THEIR PATHS ARE RUIN AND MISERY,
c. PHILEMON IS A LOVING MAN
i. THE WORD USED FOR LOVE HERE IS “AGAPE”
1. BIBLICAL LOVE
2. LOVE BEYOND THE LOVE PETER COULD HAVE FOR CHRIST
ii. BIBLICAL LOVE PERMITS FORGIVENESS
1. BIBLICAL LOVE PERMITTED GOD TO FORGIVE US FOR PUTTING JESUS ON THE CROSS
iii. IF PHILEMON REMAINS BITTER TOWARDS ONESIMUS, IT WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE TO FORGIVE
d. PHILEMON WAS A MAN CONCERNED FOR THE LOCAL BODY OF CHRIST
i. THE CHURCH WAS IN HIS HOUSE
ii. A SIMPLE TRUTH IS THAT FAITH AND LOVE COMBINED WILL RESULT IN CONCERN
iii. PAUL USES THE WORD SHARING IN VERSE 6 (THE KJV WORD IS COMMUNICATION)
1. IT IS THE GREEK WORD “KOINANIA” OR FELLOWSHIP
2. THIS WORD GOES FAR BEYOND SIMPLY SHARING A MEAL
3. IT MEANS TO SHARE A LIFE, TO BELONG
4. ACTIVE SYMPATHY AND CHARITY GROWING OUT OF YOUR FAITH
5. TAKING CARE OF THE NEEDS OF OTHERS
iv. THE NEED THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF IN THE LIFE OF ONESIMUS WAS FORGIVENESS.
e. PHILEMON WAS A MAN CONCERNED WITH KNOWLEDGE
i. THE WORD USED FOR KNOWLEDGE HERE IS EXPERIENTIAL KNOWLEDGE
ii. THE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT FORGIVENESS AND THE EFFECT IT HAS ON US AND ON OTHERS CANNOT BE OBTAINED IN A BOOK
iii. IT CAN ONLY BE OBTAINED WHEN WE FORGIVE
iv. EXPERIENTIAL KNOWLEDGE IS BEYOND THE BINDING OF LITERATURE.
f. PHILEMON WAS A MAN WHOSE GOAL WAS “FOR THE SAKE OF CHRIST”
i. IN OTHER WORDS DOING WHAT HE DID FOR GOD AND NOT HIMSELF
ii. FOR HIMSELF, ONESIMUS DESERVED PUNISHMENT OR DEATH
iii. FOR CHRIST, ONESIMUS DESERVED FORGIVENESS
THE BEST WAY WE CAN PREPARE TO BE A FORGIVING PERSON IS TO DEVELOP IN OUR LIVES THE CHARACTER OF PHILEMON
TO BE REDEEMED WITH NO NEGATIVE HANDLES
TO BE ONE WHO LOVES BIBLICALLY
TO BE ONE WHO IS CONCERNED FOR THE BODY OF CHRIST ABOVE HIMSELF
TO BE ONE WHO SEEKS TO LEARN BIBLICAL TRUTH BY EXPERIENCE, NOT JUST BY KNOWLEDGE
TO BE ONE WHO LIVES TO DO WHAT THEY DO FOR THE SAKE OF CHRIST, NOT THE SAKE OF SELF.
AND THE DANGER OF NOT BEING A FORGIVING PERSON
WE PUT OURSELVES AT ODDS WITH GOD
WE IMPRISON OURSELVES IN THE PAST ACTS WE HAVE NOT FORGIVEN
WE ALLOW BITTERNESS TO TAKE ROOT IN OUR LIVES AND POISON US
WE OPEN OUR LIVES TO THE INFLUENCE OF SATAN
WE HINDER AN PRESENT OR FUTURE FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD
SO, AS WE LOOK AT FORGIVENESS, LET US STRIVE TO BE FIRST, FORGIVING IN CHARACTER.
