Grace To Live By
Philemon 1:1-25
Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer, 2And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house: 3Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, 5Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints; 6That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. 7For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother. 8Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient, 9Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. 10I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: 11Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me: 12Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels: 13Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel: 14But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly. 15For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever; 16Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord? 17If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself. 18If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account; 19I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides. 20Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.
21Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say. 22But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.
23There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus; 24Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.
25The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. [KJV]
Here is a picture for the plea of all mankind- for freedom, respect, forgiveness- in short a plea for merciful GRACE.
We often use the word GRACE, but we don’t often realize its meaning. We say that we are saved by GRACE, but we often don’t even think of its implications.
If I was to ask, "where does Grace come from?" how would you answer?
Some would say that it comes from God, others would say it is expressed in Salvation.
However here in Philemon, Paul asks Philemon for a Graceful reception of Onesimus.
You see, we too can be expressive of Grace.
If we are to be Christlike, should we not show the characteristic of Grace through in our lives? We say we need to love, pray, witness, live righteous, read God’s word, BUT all of this is void if we miss out on the Grace of God being made manifest in our lives. For without Grace, we have prejudices that will hinder our Christlikeness.
Let’s see the characteristics of Grace in the Bible
1. A Grace to get started on. (FREEDOM)
Galatians 5:13
For you have been called to live in freedom—not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love. [NLT]
Freedom cannot be substituted in this life!
Paul was not only asking for Onesimus’ freedom, but for his quality of life.
We too can hold others in bondage- grudges, hatred, prejudices, insincere Christianity, etc.
This must be broken to give life to the offended
2. A Grace to grow on. (FEEDING)
Romans 5:20-21
The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
[NASB-U]
Grace is the fuel for your Salvation AND Sanctification
God’s love presses through our imperfections to find us exactly where we are.
This is for Christians and for those who would be saved.- Through this type of Grace, we are able to learn from our mistakes and grow into a full life with Christ.
Often we lack this type of Grace in our personal relationships. This is where our lives begin to become irrelevent to the ministry. We come to find our minds in a constant state of judging and condemning others for not being just like us. That is when we propably need Grace ourselves.
4. A Grace to keep going. (FULLNESS)
2 Cor. 1:3-5
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. [NASB-U]
Comfort is one of the great blessings of life. - Without the comfort of Grace, there would be no "Peace in the Valley".
This scripture shows us that we are to be instruments of healing to those who are hurting.
We are an extension of Jesus’ hand in the world.
Attitudes must be helaing, thoughts must be healing, words must be healing,
CHURCH MUST BE A PLACE OF HEALING
This means that we are to love unconditional of the person’s differences, persuations, etc.
A sign said "catch ’em, He’ll clean ’em" often we say, "cleanup so you can catch God"
4. A Grace to take you home. (FINISH)
Acts 7:54-60
Now when they heard this, they were cut to the quick, and they began gnashing their teeth at him. 55But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; 56and he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." 57But they cried out with a loud voice, and covered their ears and rushed at him with one impulse. 58When they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" 60Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them!" Having said this, he fell asleep.
[NASB-U]
God gives you the security of this Grace when you are saved-
However this is where all aspects of God’s grace comes together to make death a beautiful thing- It is not so with the lost- no freedom, no feeding, no fullness, no glorious finish. - There is only the sting of death
This Finish is really the entry to a new beginning in heaven.
This leads us to the invitation-
If a Christian is living in grace they will reflect the beauty and Godliness of Grace
But if things are not right, they will be people of little mercy and Grace- condemning, wrathful, impatient, and sinful actions will proceed from such a person.
Maybe you are lost, you don’t fully understand Grace, but it sounds good, Jesus is waiting to save you and let you begin your walk with Him.
Paul is a poster-child of Grace
1. Writes this letter pleading for mercy and Grace
2. Acts 9 tells of His conversion
3. Acts 7 shows Paul as a murderer, legalist, sinful man.
What a trail from a terrible place to a humble place of service.
You may ask, "If God is so graceful, why will I go to hell?"
Isaiah 59:1-3
Behold, the Lord’s hand is not so short
That it cannot save;
Nor is His ear so dull
That it cannot hear.
2But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God,
And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.
3For your hands are defiled with blood
And your fingers with iniquity;
Your lips have spoken falsehood,
Your tongue mutters wickedness. [NASB-U]
Because your sins separate you from a Holy God and Salvation is His plan to reconcile you- without it you will certainly die without any Grace in your life!!!!
