Why Not Rather Be Wronged

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Why Not Rather Be Wronged

Philemon 17-19

July 14, 2024 • Anthony Delgado • 1 Corinthians 6:7, 1 Peter 3:8–9, Proverbs 19:11, Philemon 17–19

Philemon 17–19

"So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would me. And if he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it—not to mention to you that you owe me even your very self."

In his letter to Philemon, Paul addresses the wrongs between Philemon and Onesimus. Both men have sinned against each other with the potential of those sins spiraling and standing in the way of their restoration, becoming a potential issue for the church in Collasae.

Paul is most concerned with unity within the church of Collasae. He’s unconcerned about who owes who or making things fair. Paul wants the shortest, most generous, and gracious resolution to the problem - so much so that he offers to pay any debt owed. It's better to be wronged in order to remain unified as God's People.

3 Biblical Principals for Conflict in the Church:

1. Overlooking harm suffered by a brother/sister is better than creating division.

In principle, you should be humble enough to allow wrongdoing to be settled within the context of the local church or else overlook it.

2. Assume a position of sympathy, love, and humility towards wrongdoers.

This settles the issue and stops the cycle of wrongdoing/sin–so that there is healing and peace in the community, which benefits everyone.

3. Virtue reorients the people against the problem.

In the church, there will be conflict. But it's not him against her or this group against that group. It’s the church against the problem. This insight gives us the patience to step back and evaluate the situation, to deal with it in wisdom.

All Things for Good

July 7, 2024 • Anthony Delgado • Philemon 15–16, Genesis 50:20, Matthew 16:21–23, Romans 8:28

Does God take the failings of others and turn them into good for God’s people? Onesimus was separated from Philemon because he ran away. Paul thinks that maybe God separated Onesimus and Philemon, not to create division, but to create a deeper bond in Christ. Paul is ascribing a higher reason. God wants to take things that are broken in the world and restore them into something that is good. However, this is not a promise to everyone. (Romans 8:28) The key in the Onesimus/Philemon story is that Onesimus found Paul and came to faith. The very first act of turning bad to good is to call you according to his purpose–to turn you around, from bad to good. For those called according to His purpose, God takes our circumstances and works them for good so that we may be conformed to His image. "We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters." Romans 8:28-29

The Fellowship of Faith

June 30, 2024 • Anthony Delgado • Philemon 6, Colossians 1:9–10, Hebrews 13:20–21

In Philemon 6, we’ll see there are binding agents that hold the church together: 1. Knowledge Binds Us in Fellowship 2. Goodness Binds Us in Fellowship 3. Glorifying Christ Binds Us in Fellowship Christians are bound together in fellowship in the local church so that the church is strengthened and we effectively make much of Christ. When our hearts and minds focus on the good things of Christ that bind us together, we will not have much room for the things of this world that seek to destroy Christ’s church and defame the name of Jesus Christ. When we pursue knowledge of every good thing for the glory of Christ, it elevates Christ as King. Only then are we bound together in fellowship as the people of God. Knowledge binds us together as God’s people. Goodness binds us. And our mutual pursuit of the glory of Christ bunds us as Christ’s people.

Christian Reconciliation

June 23, 2024 • Anthony Delgado • Philemon 8–16, Matthew 18:21–35

Philemon is a personal letter from Paul to his friend Philemon. Philemon illustrates how that relationship with God effects the way we live out our lives in the here and now. Paul wanted this letter to be shared so that others could understand the unique way the gospel affects the way that Christians live in relationship with one another. Philemon gives us one of the most practical looks at how sin isn’t just an abstract offense toward God, but destroys human relationships. Sin multiplies sin. The master/slave relationship between Philemon and Onesimus has led to both men sinning against each other. The theological conclusion of this situation is that sin multiplies. Sin multiplies sin because we justify our sins by the sins of others. One sin doesn’t justify another, one sin multiplies into more sin. Why do sins need to be forgiven? Because sin will never be done away with unless sins are forgiven. Not only can we stop the cycle of sin, but we can perpetuate grace. This is what Paul is trying to do in Philemon, facilitate Gospel reconciliation to stop the destructive pattern of sin. Not just to right a wrong, but to turn a cycle of destruction back towards a righteous trajectory. Paul wants restoration for Philemon and Onesimus. It seems Paul wanted Philemon, not just to forgive Onesimus, but to free him. He says, “no longer as a slave, but more than a slave–as a dearly loved brother.” When the grace of God comes into our lives, we are forgiven, stopping the cycle of sin in our lives. Grace changes our hearts so that we reach to each other and we are bound to each other in Christ’s church. We are no longer strangers in this world. We are dearly beloved brothers and sisters.