Philemon - The Grace to Forgive

Join me in the NT Letter of Philemon (we conclude this short series with verses 19-25).

Philemon is about forgiving. Forgiving others because God has forgiven us. Do you remember the story? Paul had a friend named Philemon. Paul was prisoner in Rome; Philemon was a wealthy Christian in Colossae. Philemon had a slave named Onesimus.
Onesimus stole from Philemon and ran away. The slave made his way to Rome and ran into Paul and his fellow workers. Onesimus heard the gospel from Paul, trusted Jesus, and was born again.
Paul sent Onesimus back to Philemon. Philemon opened his door one morning to his slave and Paul's letter. Perhaps Paul's point can best be summed-up in v.17: "If then you regard me as a
partner, accept him as you would me." Philemon is about forgiving.

Paul concludes his appeal to forgive with three persuasive reminders:

1. The reminder of a warm friendship (vv.19-22).
2. The reminder of a good testimony (vv.23-24).
3. The reminder of all-sufficient grace (v.25).