You may be familiar with the 1995 movie titled "Dead Man Walking." The movie is based upon the book (same title) by a Catholic Nun, Sister Helen PreJean. In the movie the figure of Matthew Poncelet is on death row for the brutal murders a teenage couple.
The character is based upon the life Robert Lee Willie.
Debbie Morris was one of the surviving victims of Robert Lee Willie and Joseph Vaccaro. She and her boyfriend were abducted and after being beaten and raped they killed Debbie’s boyfriend. At one point Debbie begged them to kill her and end her misery. They ended up releasing her. Robert Lee Willie and Joseph Vaccaro were captured, tried and convicted. Robert Lee was put to death by lethal injection, while Joseph Vaccaro continues to serves a life sentence in a prison in Colorado.
Debbie Miller has written a book titled, "Forgiving the Dead Man Walking" that tells of the process of forgiving Robert Lee Willie and Joseph Vaccaro for her brutal abduction and repeated raping at the age of 16.
On a radio program of Focus on the Family, James Dobson asked Debbie Morris, "Have you completely forgiven Robert Lee Wilie and Joseph Vaccaro?" To that Debbie Morris replied, "I have. I have completely forgiven Robert Lee Willie and Joseph Vaccaro for what they did to me. And as my daughters grow up I am sure I will have to forgive them in areas I am not aware of at the moment. But Jesus Christ makes the difference and I have and will be able to forgive" (not a direct quote … but several statements combined)
When I heard of Debbie Miller forgiving these men … my first thought was … "I can’t begin to understand what it would take to forgive in that capacity." But then I realized that outside of God I cannot understand forgiveness period. Be the offense big or small forgiveness is a process that only God can accomplish in us. Forgiveness is beyond us … it is the work of God in us.
It has been said that people pay attention to sermons on forgiveness more so than any other subject preached upon. Why is that? Perhaps because we recognize our need of forgiveness, as well our need to forgive.
Solomon in his God given wisdom speaks to the realm of forgiveness as he declares the beauty and honor of being able to forgive.
Proverbs 19:11 The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, And his glory is to overlook a transgression.
Overlooking a transgression is to look beyond the transgression.
As we forgive we bring glory to God ... for we never more like God than when we forgive.
I wanted to introduce the subject of forgiveness in the New Testament book of Philemon.
From this study we will look into the character, action and motivation of forgiveness.
But before we jump into the study of this small book I want us to look at the "Parts of Forgiveness" ... the Principle, the Parable and the Personal parts of forgiveness.
I) The Principle Part of Forgiveness
Principles do not change. Our situations may change but principles stay the same. They are constant, whereas our lives are forever changing. Throughout the Scriptures we are taught three basic principles of forgiveness. These principles are eternal and never changing. They are drawn from God’s Word and are at best simplistic, as where our circumstances to apply them are ever so difficult.
· Principle 1: Forgive those who sin against us.
Matthew 6:12 NLT and forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us.
Matthew 18:21 Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?"
· Principle 2: Forgive and be forgiven.
Matthew 6:14 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
Luke 6:37 Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
"We need not climb up into heaven to see whether our sins are forgiven. Let us look into our hearts and see if we can forgive others." - Thomas Watson
· Principle 3: Do not forgive and you will not be forgiven.
Matthew 6:15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Mark 11:25 But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.
As principle centered people … we are called upon again and again to forgive. The principles of forgiveness are given priority throughout the scriptures to be placed into practice.
II) The Parable Part of Forgiveness
Jesus reminds us of the practice of forgiveness through parables. In two parables Jesus points us to forgive like God and not like man. Someone has said, "We are never more like God than when we can forgive others."
1) Forgiving like God … The Prodigal Son
Luke 15:18-20 ’I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 "and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants."’ 20 "And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.
Jesus shows us the heart of the one who is willing to forgive … eager, not reluctant … he doesn’t even wait for the sinner to get home.
Jesus shows us the heart of the Father who forgives … eagerly, totally (not tolerance), and lavishly.
2) Unforgiving like Man … The Unforgiving Servant
Matthew 18:26-30 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ’Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 27 "Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. 28 "But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ’Pay me what you owe!’ 29 "So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ’Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 30 "And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.
Man nurses grudges … God eagerly forgives and restores.
Man keeps score … God totally and lavishly forgives and forgets.
Which parable reminds us of ourselves? Jesus puts our feet to the fire in these parables to force us to not just think about the principles of forgiveness … but to forgive.
III) The Personal Part of Forgiveness
Taking the principles and parables we come to the personal part of forgiveness. It is not enough to have some good rules and a nice story or two … forgiveness is personal.
To help us personalize forgiveness we turn to the book of Philemon. Here forgiveness is brought and fleshed out in the human realm. But then that is the purpose of the principles and parables … to be enacted in our personal life.
Philemon Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer, 2 to the beloved Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to 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, making mention of you always in my prayers, 5 hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, 6 that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. 7 For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother. 8 Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting, 9 yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you; being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ; 10 I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains, 11 who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me. 12 I am sending him back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, 13 whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel. 14 But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary. 15 For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, 16 no longer as a slave but more than a slave; a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. 17 If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me. 18 But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account. 19 I, Paul, am writing with my own hand. I will repay; not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides. 20 Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord. 21 Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. 22 But, meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, for I trust that through your prayers I shall be granted to you. 23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, 24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers. 25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
1) Philemon in Panorama (brief)
Philemon saved through the ministry of Paul.
Philemon a slave owner … common practice in Paul’s day.
Onesimus a slave of Philemon
Onesimus stole from Philemon and ran away to Rome. (vs.17)
Onesimus encounters Paul and is led to salvation. (vs.10)
Onesimus is sent back to Philemon with letter in hand. (vs.12)
2) Philemon in Purpose
Forgiveness seems to be the over arching purpose for personal application in the book of Philemon, though others can be viewed.
§ Purpose of the Nature of Christian Love … forgiveness is fleshed out by love.
§ Purpose of the Providential Care of God … forgiveness is one of the great acts of God’s care.
§ Purpose of the Principles for Christian Relations … forgiveness reconciles & restores relations.
3) Philemon in Personal
In the next three messages forgiveness is going to personalized in the way of …
§ Character of forgiveness … what is the character of one who forgives.
§ Action of forgiveness … what action is needed to forgive.
§ Motivation of forgiveness … what motivates a person to forgive.
As you can tell forgiveness is going to be brought to the forefront of our lives … with the hopes that we will become more like God and forgive.
Amen!
