Hello
Friends!
Welcome
to an all-new Encouraging Concepts
Bible study series focused on the powerful
little “epistle” of Philemon written by the great “Apostle Paul” as a personal
plea to his “beloved” brother – “Faithful
Forgiveness!”
The Epistle to Philemon: Faithful Forgiveness! (Verses 1-7)
1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto
Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer, 2 And
to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in
thy house: 3 Grace
to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I
thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, 5 Hearing
of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all
saints; 6 That
the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of
every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. 7 For we have great joy and
consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by
thee, brother – Philemon 1-7
OPENING POINTS TO PONDER: This “epistle” lovingly “written”
unto “Philemon” is a very IMPORTANT book,
even though it may seem inconsequential on the surface. It is
only one
chapter in length and has been divided into twenty-five rather
short verses. And although it is very PERSONAL in nature, at first glance it doesn’t appear
to contain deep “doctrines” nor any firm confrontations
of significant theological “error”
as such. However, our “Lord”
has indeed INCLUDED this terrific text as an INSPIRED writing of the “Holy Spirit”
Himself – For OUR spiritual EDIFICATION!
Throughout
ALL of the “Scriptures”
themselves, we find they are REPLETE with dire directives that carefully COMMAND those
of “us” of whom BELONG to our “Lord Jesus
Christ” must fully “forgive”
the wrongs
suffered by other people. And NO
one is MORE like “God the Father”
Himself than when they “forgive”
from the “heart” completely. WHY? Because HE
is a “forgiving Father” as such…
And
forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine
is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will
also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their
trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses – Matthew 6:12–15
Then came
Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I
forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith
unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times
seven. Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto
a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which
owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had
not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and
all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant
therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me,
and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant
was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants,
which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the
throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his
fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience
with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but
went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry,
and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then
his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I
forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest
not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on
thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the
tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from
your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses – Matthew 18:21–35
And
on HIS cruel “cross”
of Calvary crux “Jesus
Christ” had Sovereignly
submitted unto His “Father” to
fully “forgive”
His maniacal MURDEROUS mob:
Then said Jesus,
Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do – Luke
23:34a
The
rich theological theme that deeply DOMINATES
this brief
but loving “letter” is the covenant “commandment“ of complete FORGIVENESS in which is a found throughout
the entire New Testament narrative. Here
are just a couple excellent examples from the “Apostle Paul”
in kind:
And be ye kind
one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's
sake hath forgiven you – Ephesians 4:32
Forbearing one
another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even
as Christ forgave you, so also do ye – Colossians 3:13
Similarly,
the “Apostle
Paul” provides further INSTRUCTION
penned to “Philemon” on the subject of
“forgiving” found here
within the shortest of all his “epistles”
regarding the Biblical definition of faithful FORGIVENESS itself – Without EVER
using the word!
An
Outline of Philemon:
- Greetings from Paul (1-3)
- Character of Forgiveness (4-7)
- Actions of Forgiveness (8-13)
- Service of Forgiveness (14-18)
- Motives of Forgiveness (19-22)
- Salutations from Paul (23-25)
BIBLICAL BACKGROUND: This man “Philemon”
is very privileged indeed! WHY?
Because of the FOURTEEN excellent “epistles”
sent by the “Apostle Paul” himself, only FOUR of them were “written”
unto INDIVIDUAL men:
TWO for “Timothy” as such…
ONE for “Titus” in kind…
ONE for “Philemon” himself…
And
this sweet “scripture” represents a very
personal
plea of which encapsulates a quite fascinating and compelling
narrative concerning faithful FORGIVENESS of the past. Therefore, we have a heartfelt
and beautifully
expressed “beseeching” of brother “Paul” unto “Philemon”
to fully FORGIVE his thoughtless thieving reticent runaway
and (originally) unbelieving slave named “Onesimus”
from the HEART of whom has – Greatly WRONGED him!
Great GREETINGS from Paul!
In the opening verses of this little “letter” known as a “Prison
Epistle” itself, the great “Apostle
Paul” humbly purports a PERSONAL
plea as an imprisoned “prisoner
of Jesus Christ” rather
than his typical authoritative “Apostle of Jesus Christ” on behalf of himself along with future
pastor “Timothy” unto their “dearly beloved” brother “Philemon” within the “faith”
family:
Paul, a
prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly
beloved, and fellowlabourer, And to our
beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house
– Philemon
1-2
CONTEXTUAL COMMENTS: Brother “Philemon”
himself was a prominent member of the “fellowship”
founded in “Colosse” of which “gathered” in his personal residential “house” proper. And this “epistle” was graciously “written” for “Philemon”
and his “beloved”
wife “Apphia”
and son “Archippus”
along with the greater “church”
body itself. In fact, “Archippus”
himself was a FAITHFULLY firm “fellowlabourer”
within the “ministry”
he had “received in the Lord”
to firmly “fulfil” as
Paul also makes mention of unto the “Colossian”
saints:
And say to
Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that
thou fulfil it – Colossians 4:17
Paul then expands upon his standard “greeting” unto his “beloved
brother” and FAITHFUL
friend “Philemon” as
such:
Grace to
you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ – Philemon 3
THEOLOIGICAL THOUGHTS: Incidentally, verse 2 found in the opening GREETINGS presented by the “Apostle Paul” via his other THREE penned “Prison
Epistles” are in fact IDENTICAL as such:
Grace be to you, and peace, from
God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ – Ephesians 1:2
Grace be unto you, and peace,
from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ – Philippians 1:2
Grace be unto you, and peace,
from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ – Colossians 1:2b
God’s
great “Grace” is the SOURCE of
our eternal “salvation” in Him and His “peace” is the REAL
result! And His free GIFT
of “Grace” comes from “God
our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” as EQUAL in Deity. This is the supernatural UNION of
“God the Father” and the “Lord Jesus Christ” identifying them BOTH as “God”
in kind. In fact, this Hypostatic Union
of the TWO within the Trinitarian
God-head would be blasphemous if our “Lord Jesus
Christ” Himself was nothing MORE than a mere – Man or angel!
CHARACTER of Forgiveness!
Brother
“Philemon” was a very GODLY
master and OUTSTANDING man of “God” as the “Apostle
Paul” continues his opening encouragement and support
unto his “loving” and FAITHFUL friend:
I thank
my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord
Jesus, and toward all saints – Philemon 4-5
Here
“Paul” is quite MASTERFUL
in this poignant passage powered by personal “prayer”
as he reminds “Philemon” of his solid REPUTATION touted
“toward the Lord Jesus”
as well as “toward all
saints” and is DESCRIBED
as a gracious
and magnanimous
mighty “man of God” in kind…
For God is my witness, whom I serve
with my spirit inthe gospel of his Son, that without
ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers – Romans 1:9
Cease not to
give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers –
Ephesians 1:16
I thank God,
whom I serve from my forefathers
with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night
and day – 2 Timothy 1:3
Paul’s
“prayers” unto our great “God” actually hold “Philemon”
and ALL of “us” to a very HIGH standard found within a firm FORGIVING character! And perhaps Paul’s own personal
experiences along with those of pastor “Epaphras”
or possibly the man’s “beloved”
wife “Apphia”
and son “Archippus”
and maybe even the runaway renegade “Onesimus”
himself had TESTIFIED of the “love and faith”
that this magnificent “man of God”
named “Philemon” was well KNOWN for
within
his fine “fellowship” family – Marked by LOVE!
In
BELONGING to
the “body of Christ” our lives TOUCH the
lives of MANY other “believers”
abroad and such “fellowship” is a very POWERFUL part
of life, particularly in this OBEDIENT act of “Philemon”
in FORGIVING his
somber slave “Onesimus” in kind. And Paul
deeply desires that this fine act of FORGIVENESS is rightly “acknowledging
of every good thing” of which is “in
you” through “Christ Jesus”
Himself:
That the
communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every
good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus – Philemon 6
In
other words, Paul implores “Philemon”
to rightly realize that this “effectual”
effort is going to deeply ENHANCE the corporate “communication”
of the great GOSPEL message in “Christ Jesus” through
his resilient – REPUTATION in our Lord!
The
UNCONVERTED hard-hearted
spiritually “lost” people are DRIVEN by
vile vengeance,
heinous hate and belligerent bitterness abound.
Conversely, here is a “brother”
of whom has been RECONCILED unto our “God the Father”
through “faith” alone in the “Lord Jesus Christ” whose HEART has
been flooded with great – CARE for the saints!
For we
have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints
are refreshed by thee, brother – Philemon 7
Beloved,
wouldn’t it be WONDERFUL if someone wrote a “letter”
about US such as this… WOW!
Brother
“Philemon” was a very BLESSED man indeed! Paul was rightly “refreshed” by him and as we will “learn” in the comings weeks of this sweet
study, “Philemon” was a MAGNIFICENT man
of “God” in whom FORGIVES the serious “sinful”
wrongs of other people and possess great CHARACTER traits such as “faith”
and “love” and “joy”
through spiritual MATURITY and purposeful POWER of constant “consolation”
from – On High!
In
fact, there are NOT many “men”
mindfully mentioned within the New
Testament itself of whom has a more beautiful “commendation” bestowed upon him than “Philemon” himself... The Colossian congregation of “saints” sure did found their faithful “fellowship” in the – RIGHT brother’s house!
In
closing:
REAL
REFLECTIONS: Are you a “Christian” who fully FORGIVES
other folks? If you have a difficult time with this
clear COMMAND from the “Scriptures”
themselves…
And be ye kind
one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's
sake hath forgiven you – Ephesians 4:32
Ask
yourself these very CHALLENGING questions:
“If
someone were praying for me,
would they be thankful unto
our “Lord
and Savior” due to my Christ-like “love” and “affection” for the “brethren”
in Him?”
“Does “fellowship”
with me promote a powerful IMPACT and great spiritual GOOD
of which produces a
right KNOWLEDGE of “every good thing” found in Him?”
“Is my LIFE lived out unto
our “Lord
Jesus Christ” outwardly OBVIOUS to
the “saints”
in service to Him?”
Beloved,
these inquiries pertaining to “forgiving
one another” as our Great “God
for Christ's sake” has FULLY through Him “forgiven”
each of “us” in KIND
are indeed some – Very CONVICTING questions!
The
pinnacle
of full FORGIVENESS is the eternal example given by our “Lord Jesus Christ” Himself. And the greatest
act of TREACHERY done against anyone was by the HANDS of heinous humans against
Him. But, yet He “said” to His “Father” on THEIR behalf:
Then said
Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do… – Luke
23:34a
And
even though they were DOING what “God the Father”
Sovereignly wanted DONE unto Him, it did NOT lessen their – PERSONAL culpability!
We are not guaranteed tomorrow – tomorrow may be too late! If you haven't yet made that most important decision of your life, won't you make Jesus Christ your personal Lord and Savior today - before it's too late? Today is the day of Salvation!
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Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><
Encouraging Concepts
Truth for Today
"Living Life From a Biblical Worldview"
