Preached by Pastor Mike Hess Sunday morning 06/27/2010.
The Price of Forgiveness
Philemon 1:17-25
1. Why is this true?
2. What difference is it making in my life?
3. What if it wasn’t true?
I. Restoration Means Reception (Philemon 1:17)
1 John 3:1-2
“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called the children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.”
2 Corinthians 5:17-18
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.
II. Forgiveness is costly. (Philemon 1:18-19)
2 Corinthians 5:21
“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Paul Tripp- “When you forgive someone, you also cancel a debt. But, more specifically, you make a conscious choice to absorb the cost yourself.
III. The Motivation of Forgiveness. (Philemon 1:20-25)
Benefits of Forgiveness:
1. We’re a blessing to others (v20).
3 John 4
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”
Philippians 2:2
“complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.”
2. Obedience to the Lord (vs 21).
3. Accountability (vs 22).
Application:
1. When we forgive others when they repent, we’re openly showing with our lives what we say we believe– the Gospel.
2. Those who do not know Christ seek revenge and to repay evil for evil. Those who know Christ should seek grace and reconciliation.
3. Nothing happens in your life on accident. Trust in God’s providence, sovereignty, and goodness during your conflicts.
Download Sermon - right click; choose "Save Target As..."
To listen to sermon left click play icon on player