WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.620 Children, we are ready for Children's Church at this time. You may make your way to the back. 00:00:06.520 --> 00:00:12.259 See Miss Savannah back there? It's always a joy to see all of those children making their way to the back. 00:00:12.339 --> 00:00:17.519 It just warms my heart. I'm so thankful for them. And we also get to celebrate one more child this week. 00:00:17.640 --> 00:00:23.300 Thank you, Sean, for leading us and stepping in this week. Clay was otherwise occupied. 00:00:23.300 --> 00:00:27.679 They had their baby this week. Little John David came into the world. 00:00:27.679 --> 00:00:33.259 And yes, we are so thankful for that. And mom and baby are doing well. 00:00:33.700 --> 00:00:36.859 Clay is quite the proud dad, as you can imagine. 00:00:37.159 --> 00:00:42.439 And we know that they're enjoying this special time together with little John David. 00:00:43.019 --> 00:00:46.179 And so continue to remember them in your prayers. 00:00:46.799 --> 00:00:49.260 I want to ask you a question this morning. 00:00:49.260 --> 00:00:56.420 Have you ever noticed how radical acts of forgiveness are things that catch the world by surprise? 00:00:56.420 --> 00:01:02.440 Radical acts of forgiveness are things that catch the world by surprise. 00:01:02.440 --> 00:01:10.180 Oftentimes, we see this played out on a large scale, on a national scale, where it makes headlines. 00:01:10.280 --> 00:01:17.620 For example, 10 years ago, when the family of the victims that were killed at Mother Emanuel Amy Church in Charleston, 00:01:17.620 --> 00:01:22.939 when this young man walked into a church service on a Wednesday night, killing nine, 00:01:23.420 --> 00:01:27.000 and they went on and said that they forgive him. 00:01:27.740 --> 00:01:31.820 That's something that captures the world by surprise. 00:01:31.820 --> 00:01:38.080 Or when Erica Kirk stood up at the memorial service for her husband, Charlie, just a couple of months ago, 00:01:38.079 --> 00:01:44.019 and let those listening know that she forgave the man that took the life of her husband. 00:01:45.060 --> 00:01:49.719 These acts of forgiveness are foreign to most in our world today, 00:01:49.780 --> 00:01:55.659 especially to those who haven't experienced the forgiveness that comes from Christ. 00:01:56.359 --> 00:02:02.840 To those who don't understand forgiveness that comes from Christ, this doesn't make sense to people. 00:02:02.840 --> 00:02:12.360 In our passage today, we see Paul asking Philemon to forgive a runaway slave that most likely stole from him. 00:02:13.240 --> 00:02:16.340 And in doing so, it would have been unheard of at this time. 00:02:16.719 --> 00:02:22.420 In fact, the only explanation would have been a life transformed by the gospel. 00:02:23.280 --> 00:02:27.280 And so this week, we're going to be finishing our study of the book of Philemon. 00:02:27.280 --> 00:02:33.020 And it's been a fascinating letter detailing the interaction between a runaway slave, a wealthy businessman, 00:02:33.219 --> 00:02:41.060 and a former Pharisee who at this point is probably the most effective missionary and church planner the world has ever seen. 00:02:41.240 --> 00:02:44.500 And we see how the gospel changes everything. 00:02:44.620 --> 00:02:48.159 In fact, that's been our theme throughout this whole study of the book of Philemon, 00:02:48.500 --> 00:02:50.879 is that the gospel changes everything. 00:02:51.520 --> 00:02:56.920 And that's going to continue to be our theme today as we look at these last few verses here. 00:02:56.919 --> 00:03:02.159 And so if you have a copy of God's Word, I want to encourage you to open with me to the book of Philemon. 00:03:02.239 --> 00:03:05.959 We're going to read verses 17 through 25 together. 00:03:06.039 --> 00:03:07.699 We're going to close out this story. 00:03:07.819 --> 00:03:11.639 And so if you could make your way for one more week to this short little book, 00:03:11.699 --> 00:03:14.659 we're going to finish reading this story. 00:03:14.759 --> 00:03:17.079 It says this, starting in verse 17. 00:03:18.279 --> 00:03:18.739 It says, 00:03:18.740 --> 00:03:43.100 Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. 00:03:43.099 --> 00:03:46.199 Refresh my heart in Christ. 00:03:46.919 --> 00:03:52.120 Confident of your obedience, I write to you knowing that you will do even more than I say. 00:03:52.780 --> 00:03:55.340 At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, 00:03:55.599 --> 00:04:00.039 for I am hoping that through your prayers I will be graciously given to you. 00:04:00.699 --> 00:04:04.659 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you. 00:04:04.659 --> 00:04:08.919 And so do Mark, Erisarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers. 00:04:09.180 --> 00:04:14.400 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. 00:04:15.099 --> 00:04:19.480 And so the gospel is illustrated in many different ways in this passage. 00:04:19.680 --> 00:04:21.040 We've seen it throughout. 00:04:21.459 --> 00:04:23.600 We've seen how the gospel changes everything. 00:04:23.920 --> 00:04:26.920 But this week we're going to specifically see some ways, 00:04:27.279 --> 00:04:30.920 and we're going to see the gospel illustrated in some very powerful ways 00:04:30.920 --> 00:04:34.080 as we look at these last few verses here. 00:04:34.580 --> 00:04:39.720 And to begin with, I want us to see several ways in which the gospel is displayed. 00:04:40.180 --> 00:04:44.680 I want us to see several ways the gospel is displayed in this passage. 00:04:45.460 --> 00:04:48.759 Oftentimes I will say that I'm not the biggest fan of the phrase, 00:04:48.960 --> 00:04:52.300 preach the gospel always and when necessary use words. 00:04:52.520 --> 00:04:55.720 It's not my favorite because a lot of times we think, 00:04:55.819 --> 00:04:58.720 well that's just an excuse for us not to share our faith. 00:04:58.720 --> 00:05:00.340 Not to share the gospel with words, 00:05:00.339 --> 00:05:02.500 but we'll just say we'll do it with our actions. 00:05:03.319 --> 00:05:06.199 And to understand the gospel, we need to share it. 00:05:06.239 --> 00:05:08.060 We need to verbalize it. 00:05:08.079 --> 00:05:12.239 You don't see people on the news who are standing up and just try to act out the news. 00:05:12.339 --> 00:05:14.019 No, they share the news with you. 00:05:14.079 --> 00:05:17.899 They speak the news because that's the clearest way of communicating it. 00:05:18.259 --> 00:05:20.659 And so oftentimes I'm not the biggest fan of this, 00:05:20.979 --> 00:05:25.219 but that being said, what Paul is asking Philemon to do here 00:05:25.219 --> 00:05:29.500 is to show a beautiful picture of the gospel in action. 00:05:29.500 --> 00:05:33.740 Of the gospel being displayed through action. 00:05:34.360 --> 00:05:40.060 And what we see is we see several doctrines of the gospel displayed in these verses. 00:05:40.220 --> 00:05:45.259 To begin with, we see the gospel doctrine of substitution displayed. 00:05:45.759 --> 00:05:49.420 The gospel doctrine of substitution displayed in verse 17. 00:05:49.420 --> 00:05:57.080 It says, so if you consider me your partner, receive him as you would receive me. 00:05:57.780 --> 00:06:01.819 Receive him as you would receive me. 00:06:02.620 --> 00:06:09.600 Now Paul has already spoken of sending back Onesimus as sending his own heart, his very heart. 00:06:10.060 --> 00:06:15.800 Now he asks Philemon that he should recognize this through the reception of Onesimus. 00:06:15.800 --> 00:06:21.699 Paul is hoping that Onesimus would be received in the same manner that he would receive Paul. 00:06:22.180 --> 00:06:25.100 What he's telling Philemon is when you look at Onesimus, 00:06:25.240 --> 00:06:29.660 don't see a former runaway slave who owes you a great debt. 00:06:30.060 --> 00:06:33.259 Instead, receive him as you would receive me. 00:06:33.360 --> 00:06:36.699 In other words, when you see him, see me. 00:06:37.439 --> 00:06:41.800 When you see him, don't see a runaway slave who owes you a great debt. 00:06:42.220 --> 00:06:44.600 See me when you see him. 00:06:44.600 --> 00:06:49.140 This is a beautiful illustration of what Christ has done for us. 00:06:50.000 --> 00:06:53.560 When we give our life to Christ, we're placing our sin on Jesus. 00:06:53.960 --> 00:06:57.460 And he is placing his righteousness on us. 00:06:57.820 --> 00:07:02.040 So when God sees us, he no longer sees our sin and our shame. 00:07:02.379 --> 00:07:08.200 But rather he sees his son's holy and perfect life that has been placed onto us. 00:07:09.160 --> 00:07:12.360 Warren Wiersbe, reflecting on this passage, said it beautifully this way. 00:07:12.360 --> 00:07:18.620 He says, this to me is an illustration of what Jesus Christ has done for us as believers. 00:07:19.620 --> 00:07:26.580 God's people are so identified with Jesus Christ that God receives them as he receives his son. 00:07:27.240 --> 00:07:31.319 We are accepted in the beloved and clothed in his righteousness. 00:07:31.319 --> 00:07:35.719 We certainly cannot approach God with any merit of our own. 00:07:35.719 --> 00:07:42.060 But God must receive us when we come to him in Jesus Christ. 00:07:42.779 --> 00:07:48.699 The word receive in verse 17 means to receive into one's family circle. 00:07:49.560 --> 00:07:53.360 Imagine a slave entering his master's family. 00:07:53.360 --> 00:07:56.080 Imagine the significance of that. 00:07:56.580 --> 00:08:02.600 But imagine a guilty sinner entering God's family. 00:08:03.139 --> 00:08:07.160 What a beautiful picture of substitution here. 00:08:07.639 --> 00:08:10.740 What a beautiful picture of the gospel on display here. 00:08:10.780 --> 00:08:13.639 But the next thing that we see, and we continue seeing this, 00:08:13.860 --> 00:08:19.439 the next doctrine that we see displayed is the gospel doctrine of satisfaction displayed. 00:08:19.439 --> 00:08:24.000 The gospel doctrine of satisfaction displayed in verses 18 and 19. 00:08:24.699 --> 00:08:30.660 If he has wronged you at all or owes you anything, charge that to my account. 00:08:31.379 --> 00:08:34.820 I, Paul, write this with my own hand. 00:08:35.179 --> 00:08:39.779 I will repay it to say nothing of you owing me even your own self. 00:08:40.460 --> 00:08:43.659 Paul yet again is giving us an illustration of the gospel. 00:08:43.659 --> 00:08:49.539 Yet again, he's showing us a beautiful picture of the doctrine of satisfaction. 00:08:50.419 --> 00:08:55.959 What he's saying here, Paul tells Philemon to put Onesimus' debt on his account. 00:08:56.879 --> 00:08:59.559 Whatever he owes, he says, charge it to me. 00:09:00.159 --> 00:09:02.659 Make it so that Onesimus doesn't owe a thing. 00:09:03.100 --> 00:09:06.120 To make it very clear, Paul emphasizes how serious he is. 00:09:06.179 --> 00:09:10.240 He says, I, Paul, write this with my own hand. 00:09:10.459 --> 00:09:12.299 I will repay it. 00:09:12.299 --> 00:09:20.039 You know, many times people think why Paul had somebody else write his letters for him. 00:09:20.099 --> 00:09:24.479 Most of the time he had somebody else, a scribe, who would write his letters for him. 00:09:24.879 --> 00:09:29.279 And a lot of times at the end of the letter he would write something with his own hand 00:09:29.279 --> 00:09:32.979 to show that he is the author of this, that he's writing this. 00:09:33.399 --> 00:09:38.899 Now we don't exactly know, but many people have guessed that possibly the reason being 00:09:38.899 --> 00:09:40.740 is because Paul had poor eyesight. 00:09:40.740 --> 00:09:47.360 And they get this from his Damascus Road experience when he was going to, on the Damascus Road experience, 00:09:47.440 --> 00:09:51.019 and he was blinded when Christ appeared to him. 00:09:51.180 --> 00:09:54.240 And he was blinded for three days or a few days. 00:09:54.379 --> 00:09:56.860 And then after that time he met Ananias. 00:09:56.919 --> 00:10:00.299 And then it says something like scales fell off of his eyes. 00:10:00.299 --> 00:10:09.059 And many people believe that, yes, he did regain his sight there, but it was never fully back from that point forward. 00:10:09.599 --> 00:10:13.299 And a lot of people, now there are many guesses as to what Paul's thorn in the flesh is, 00:10:13.559 --> 00:10:16.579 but many suspect that it could be poor eyesight. 00:10:17.159 --> 00:10:21.339 And so oftentimes he would have somebody else write these letters for him, 00:10:21.340 --> 00:10:26.680 and then you would see a very different handwriting towards the end of it. 00:10:26.680 --> 00:10:31.879 And in fact, at the end of Galatians, it talks about how large that he has to write these letters, 00:10:31.980 --> 00:10:33.259 how large these letters are. 00:10:33.399 --> 00:10:36.759 And all of a sudden you're able to see a very different style of handwriting. 00:10:37.300 --> 00:10:41.399 It would be kind of like, I don't know if you've seen Marilyn, our financial secretary, 00:10:41.480 --> 00:10:42.160 if you've ever seen her. 00:10:42.240 --> 00:10:44.759 She has the most beautiful handwriting I've ever seen. 00:10:44.759 --> 00:10:48.899 She can write calligraphy as fast as I can just write anything. 00:10:49.299 --> 00:10:51.259 And so she has this beautiful handwriting. 00:10:51.439 --> 00:10:53.659 You know, it would be like her writing something and then say, 00:10:53.740 --> 00:10:59.019 all right, well, let me put my chicken scratch on here at the end and show you that I'm the one who's writing this. 00:10:59.299 --> 00:11:05.179 And so what Paul is saying, he's emphasizing the fact that this is me who's saying this. 00:11:05.720 --> 00:11:06.960 I want you to understand this. 00:11:07.039 --> 00:11:11.200 Whatever he owes you, put it on to my account. 00:11:11.720 --> 00:11:13.179 Charge it to me. 00:11:13.179 --> 00:11:20.539 Paul is emphasizing that this is his personal guarantee that he will cover whatever debt Onesimus has. 00:11:21.359 --> 00:11:23.779 Then in a stroke of brilliance, Paul says, 00:11:24.239 --> 00:11:27.799 to say nothing of you owing me even your own life. 00:11:28.559 --> 00:11:32.639 Paul is saying, I'm not going to bring up the fact that I brought you to the Lord. 00:11:32.699 --> 00:11:35.459 I'm not going to bring up the fact that I shared Christ with you 00:11:35.459 --> 00:11:38.959 and that you're now a believer because of the testimony that I shared with you. 00:11:39.199 --> 00:11:42.319 But in not bringing it up, what has he just done? 00:11:42.320 --> 00:11:44.120 He's brought it up. 00:11:44.460 --> 00:11:47.879 And so he's saying, look, I'm not going to bring up the fact that you owe me your own life, 00:11:47.940 --> 00:11:50.000 that you owe me so much more. 00:11:50.220 --> 00:11:56.700 He's reminding him that what he's asking him to do for Onesimus is small 00:11:56.700 --> 00:12:02.080 compared to what Paul, by the grace of God, has been able to do for him. 00:12:02.080 --> 00:12:06.759 In saying that he will be responsible for whatever debt Onesimus has, 00:12:07.100 --> 00:12:12.440 Paul is giving us a beautiful picture of the gospel doctrine of satisfaction. 00:12:13.480 --> 00:12:19.480 You see, oftentimes we have a tendency to downplay certain aspects of the cross. 00:12:19.960 --> 00:12:24.820 Now there's parts that we like to highlight, that we like to make a really big deal about. 00:12:24.820 --> 00:12:29.160 We like to highlight God's love, his mercy, his grace. 00:12:29.980 --> 00:12:36.540 But oftentimes we skip over the justice and the wrath that is also displayed on the cross. 00:12:37.300 --> 00:12:42.940 The cross, I believe, is one of the clearest pictures of all of God's attributes and characteristics 00:12:42.940 --> 00:12:45.900 coming together at the same time. 00:12:45.899 --> 00:12:55.600 We do clearly see his love, his mercy, his grace on display, but we also see his justice and his wrath. 00:12:56.259 --> 00:13:04.159 You see, God is love and his grace and mercy are perfect, but he is also perfect in his justice, 00:13:04.879 --> 00:13:08.259 meaning that a price has to be paid for sin. 00:13:08.259 --> 00:13:15.659 He can't just forgive sin without a price being paid for because that would be a contradiction to his justice. 00:13:15.899 --> 00:13:20.519 He's perfect in his justice, and so a price has to be paid. 00:13:20.980 --> 00:13:27.779 What Jesus is doing on the cross in an infinitely greater way than Paul is doing for Onesimus is saying, 00:13:28.000 --> 00:13:31.100 Father, put Brett's sin on me. 00:13:31.679 --> 00:13:34.919 Put what he has done wrong onto my account. 00:13:34.919 --> 00:13:39.399 Whatever wrong he has done, he says, charge that to my account. 00:13:39.980 --> 00:13:44.659 This is the beautiful picture of satisfaction that God fully satisfies. 00:13:44.659 --> 00:13:53.620 Our sin debt that we can never afford on our own, that we can never repay, that he fully satisfies it on the cross. 00:13:54.019 --> 00:13:58.500 He pays for those sins past, present, and future on the cross. 00:13:59.740 --> 00:14:02.600 Jerry Bridges beautifully explains this when he says, 00:14:02.600 --> 00:14:11.560 I believe a word that forcefully captures the essence of Jesus' work of propitiation is the word exhausted. 00:14:12.600 --> 00:14:15.820 Jesus exhausted the wrath of God. 00:14:16.899 --> 00:14:20.840 It was not merely deflected or prevented from reaching us. 00:14:21.240 --> 00:14:23.159 It was exhausted. 00:14:24.159 --> 00:14:28.019 Jesus bore the full, unmitigated brunt of it. 00:14:28.019 --> 00:14:34.319 God's wrath against sin was unleashed in all of its fury on his beloved son. 00:14:34.699 --> 00:14:37.100 He held nothing back. 00:14:37.879 --> 00:14:39.960 Let that sink in for a moment. 00:14:40.620 --> 00:14:44.679 Yes, what Paul is asking Philemon to do is significant. 00:14:45.240 --> 00:14:50.360 But it's nothing in light of what Christ has already done for him. 00:14:50.360 --> 00:14:54.800 It's nothing in light of what Christ has already done for him. 00:14:55.200 --> 00:15:00.480 Finally, we see the gospel doctrine of reconciliation displayed here. 00:15:01.659 --> 00:15:02.620 Philemon 20, it says, 00:15:02.899 --> 00:15:05.879 Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. 00:15:06.539 --> 00:15:09.259 Refresh my heart in Christ. 00:15:09.860 --> 00:15:12.700 Paul says, I do want some benefit from you. 00:15:13.000 --> 00:15:16.560 I want you to refresh my heart in Christ. 00:15:16.559 --> 00:15:22.519 Does anybody's version right here have a word other than heart right here in their translation? 00:15:23.139 --> 00:15:23.679 Just curious. 00:15:23.759 --> 00:15:24.179 Does anybody's? 00:15:24.459 --> 00:15:26.059 Okay, we have one right here that's different. 00:15:26.139 --> 00:15:28.099 It's probably bowels. 00:15:28.619 --> 00:15:33.799 And it's interesting because the Greek word for heart is actually not what's used here. 00:15:33.819 --> 00:15:36.699 That would be cardia, which is where we get cardiology from. 00:15:37.079 --> 00:15:41.459 But the word that's used here is actually referring more to the bowels. 00:15:41.519 --> 00:15:44.839 And so he's saying, refresh my inner parts. 00:15:44.840 --> 00:15:47.899 He says, refresh who I am on the inside. 00:15:48.100 --> 00:15:49.080 Think about it this way. 00:15:49.139 --> 00:15:54.420 If you've ever, for some of us, it may have been a long time ago when we played a competitive sport. 00:15:54.759 --> 00:16:00.700 But right before you go out and walk on the field of a game, right before kickoff, 00:16:01.259 --> 00:16:04.040 what do you sometimes feel right here in your stomach? 00:16:04.800 --> 00:16:06.160 You feel butterflies, right? 00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:08.540 And so you don't feel it up here in your heart. 00:16:08.600 --> 00:16:09.800 You feel it down here in your stomach. 00:16:09.799 --> 00:16:13.620 So when people would talk about this feeling that they had inside them, 00:16:13.799 --> 00:16:17.219 they would refer more to it in their bowels, in their gut. 00:16:17.339 --> 00:16:24.659 And so what we're seeing here is Paul is looking for Philemon to refresh his heart in a tangible way, 00:16:24.859 --> 00:16:28.099 in a way that he can feel it on the inside. 00:16:28.799 --> 00:16:32.339 The refreshment that Paul is after is reconciliation. 00:16:32.340 --> 00:16:36.519 Is Paul asking for Onesimus' freedom here? 00:16:37.800 --> 00:16:38.240 Possibly. 00:16:39.240 --> 00:16:43.100 Is he asking for Philemon to return Onesimus to him in Rome? 00:16:43.620 --> 00:16:44.060 Maybe. 00:16:44.580 --> 00:16:46.720 Many believe that's what Paul was hoping for, 00:16:46.820 --> 00:16:49.560 especially from what he said in verses 13 and 14, 00:16:50.060 --> 00:16:50.540 where he said, 00:16:50.539 --> 00:17:09.759 It seems like Paul would like a partner in the ministry here. 00:17:10.180 --> 00:17:14.500 It seems like that he hopes that Philemon would send Onesimus back to him. 00:17:14.500 --> 00:17:18.440 So personally, I think Paul is asking for Onesimus' release 00:17:18.440 --> 00:17:22.519 and for him to be able to return to him in Rome. 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:27.480 Now, this is what everyone has been asking here. 00:17:27.559 --> 00:17:29.180 The question that everyone's been asking, 00:17:29.660 --> 00:17:33.980 you know, does Philemon receive Onesimus back as a brother in Christ? 00:17:34.859 --> 00:17:36.079 Does he grant this petition? 00:17:36.200 --> 00:17:37.500 Everybody wants to know that question. 00:17:38.500 --> 00:17:41.059 Well, the text doesn't answer this question for us, 00:17:41.059 --> 00:17:44.879 but I think there is a high probability 00:17:44.879 --> 00:17:48.639 and we can assume with great confidence that he did. 00:17:49.000 --> 00:17:51.059 I say this because if he didn't, 00:17:52.119 --> 00:17:55.559 Philemon would probably try to do everything he can to destroy this letter, right? 00:17:55.599 --> 00:17:57.500 He wouldn't want it to be released. 00:17:57.599 --> 00:18:00.099 He wouldn't want us to be reading about this later on. 00:18:00.159 --> 00:18:02.859 If Philemon had hardened his heart and didn't, 00:18:02.899 --> 00:18:05.279 I feel like he would have destroyed evidence of this letter 00:18:05.279 --> 00:18:07.440 so that no one would think poorly of them. 00:18:07.440 --> 00:18:12.220 Further, historical evidence suggests this as well, 00:18:12.299 --> 00:18:13.720 that he did release him. 00:18:14.340 --> 00:18:15.620 Kent Hughes notes, he says, 00:18:15.759 --> 00:18:20.180 50 years later, when Ignatius, one of the great Christian martyrs, 00:18:20.220 --> 00:18:23.640 was being transported from Antioch to Rome to be executed, 00:18:24.180 --> 00:18:26.320 he wrote letters to certain churches. 00:18:27.420 --> 00:18:31.600 In writing to Ephesus, he praised their bishop Onesimus, 00:18:32.259 --> 00:18:35.480 even making the same Pauling pun on his name. 00:18:35.480 --> 00:18:39.319 And it appears likely that Onesimus, the runaway slave, 00:18:39.740 --> 00:18:44.980 had become with the passing years the great bishop of Ephesus. 00:18:45.519 --> 00:18:48.940 This is one of the great stories of the gospel and the church, 00:18:49.059 --> 00:18:50.960 a jewel in her crown. 00:18:51.259 --> 00:18:54.319 So it seems most likely that reconciliation did happen. 00:18:54.960 --> 00:18:59.900 It seems most likely that what Paul was asking came to fruition here. 00:19:00.259 --> 00:19:04.680 And so as we think about these three aspects of the gospel on display, 00:19:04.680 --> 00:19:08.680 this substitution, this satisfaction, this reconciliation, 00:19:09.320 --> 00:19:14.019 I want you to honestly answer a question for me today. 00:19:15.019 --> 00:19:17.960 Are these doctrines true of your life? 00:19:19.320 --> 00:19:22.980 In other words, have you placed your faith and your trust in Jesus? 00:19:24.320 --> 00:19:25.680 Because if you have, 00:19:26.620 --> 00:19:28.380 then when God looks at your life, 00:19:28.779 --> 00:19:30.519 he doesn't see you as an enemy, 00:19:30.640 --> 00:19:31.799 but he sees you as a child. 00:19:31.799 --> 00:19:36.259 If this is true of your life, 00:19:36.519 --> 00:19:39.119 then when he sees you, 00:19:39.799 --> 00:19:42.859 he sees your sins, past, present, and future, 00:19:43.519 --> 00:19:46.559 completely and fully paid for. 00:19:48.019 --> 00:19:49.359 When he sees you, 00:19:49.419 --> 00:19:52.980 he sees a once broken relationship restored. 00:19:53.480 --> 00:19:55.299 Our only hope in life 00:19:55.299 --> 00:19:56.960 is trusting in Jesus 00:19:56.960 --> 00:19:59.079 to do what we couldn't do on our own. 00:19:59.079 --> 00:20:01.899 And so if you haven't done that this morning, 00:20:02.079 --> 00:20:03.419 then please, 00:20:03.579 --> 00:20:06.299 don't leave here without talking to someone. 00:20:07.259 --> 00:20:09.339 If that means coming down after the service 00:20:09.339 --> 00:20:11.119 and stepping out and saying, 00:20:11.539 --> 00:20:13.960 and coming down as we have a song of invitation 00:20:13.960 --> 00:20:14.779 at the end of the service, 00:20:14.879 --> 00:20:16.299 if that means coming down at that time, 00:20:16.799 --> 00:20:18.259 then I encourage you to do it. 00:20:19.019 --> 00:20:22.819 If that means finding one of the pastors after the service 00:20:22.819 --> 00:20:23.519 and to say, 00:20:23.619 --> 00:20:25.539 hey, I need to have a conversation with you, 00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:26.899 then do it. 00:20:26.900 --> 00:20:30.320 If that means finding a close friend 00:20:30.320 --> 00:20:32.480 or maybe a family member 00:20:32.480 --> 00:20:34.280 that you came here with today 00:20:34.280 --> 00:20:34.519 and say, 00:20:34.620 --> 00:20:35.860 hey, today, 00:20:36.880 --> 00:20:38.640 I need to give my life to Jesus. 00:20:39.620 --> 00:20:41.060 I need to go all in and say, 00:20:41.160 --> 00:20:43.519 there's nothing that I can do on my own to save me, 00:20:43.660 --> 00:20:47.019 and I need to be fully dependent on Jesus to do that. 00:20:47.259 --> 00:20:48.220 And then all of a sudden, 00:20:48.340 --> 00:20:51.320 these beautiful doctrines that are on display here, 00:20:51.380 --> 00:20:52.200 this substitution, 00:20:52.380 --> 00:20:53.200 this satisfaction, 00:20:53.200 --> 00:20:54.640 this reconciliation, 00:20:55.160 --> 00:20:59.140 are now true of your life before God. 00:21:00.460 --> 00:21:03.420 And so as we look at the aspects of the gospel displayed, 00:21:03.620 --> 00:21:07.440 it naturally brings us to our next observation. 00:21:07.819 --> 00:21:10.100 So the next thing that we see in this passage 00:21:10.100 --> 00:21:13.460 is the confidence in the gospel displayed. 00:21:13.960 --> 00:21:16.059 We see that Paul, 00:21:16.480 --> 00:21:17.700 and we see that Onesimus, 00:21:17.759 --> 00:21:19.799 had a great confidence in the gospel, 00:21:19.799 --> 00:21:21.159 and it was displayed here. 00:21:21.819 --> 00:21:23.159 Verses 21 and 22, 00:21:23.259 --> 00:21:23.480 it says, 00:21:23.480 --> 00:21:25.259 confident of your obedience, 00:21:26.139 --> 00:21:27.299 I write to you, 00:21:27.419 --> 00:21:30.419 knowing that you will do even more than I say. 00:21:30.879 --> 00:21:31.960 At the same time, 00:21:32.019 --> 00:21:33.680 prepare a guest room for me, 00:21:33.759 --> 00:21:36.200 for I am hoping that through your prayers, 00:21:36.200 --> 00:21:39.400 I will be graciously given to you. 00:21:39.980 --> 00:21:41.140 These two verses 00:21:41.140 --> 00:21:44.039 give us some wonderful instruction 00:21:44.039 --> 00:21:46.640 when it comes to practical theology, 00:21:46.640 --> 00:21:50.600 when it comes to putting our theology into practice, 00:21:50.720 --> 00:21:53.160 to showing us how to encourage others 00:21:53.160 --> 00:21:54.319 to live out their faith, 00:21:54.539 --> 00:21:57.640 how to motivate them to be generous with their lives, 00:21:57.799 --> 00:22:00.539 how to show hospitality and neighbor love 00:22:00.539 --> 00:22:01.819 in a way that is evident 00:22:01.819 --> 00:22:05.500 of the gospel's transformation in our life. 00:22:06.200 --> 00:22:07.200 And we've already mentioned 00:22:07.200 --> 00:22:09.039 that Paul and Onesimus' great confidence 00:22:09.039 --> 00:22:11.339 in the gospel to change Philemon's heart. 00:22:12.279 --> 00:22:15.700 Paul is encouraging Philemon to do the right thing 00:22:15.700 --> 00:22:17.299 and that he's confident 00:22:17.299 --> 00:22:20.079 that he will not only do what Paul asked, 00:22:20.819 --> 00:22:21.980 but he says he's confident 00:22:21.980 --> 00:22:24.259 that he'll do even more than he asked. 00:22:24.720 --> 00:22:26.839 One pastor paraphrased this verse 00:22:26.839 --> 00:22:29.339 and said that Paul was essentially saying, 00:22:30.019 --> 00:22:31.339 I know you well enough 00:22:31.339 --> 00:22:34.119 that you'll probably do even more 00:22:34.119 --> 00:22:35.759 than what I'm asking you to do. 00:22:36.500 --> 00:22:37.759 I know you well enough. 00:22:37.819 --> 00:22:41.500 I know that the gospel has taken root in your life 00:22:41.500 --> 00:22:43.419 that you're probably not only going to do 00:22:43.419 --> 00:22:45.059 just what I'm asking you to do, 00:22:45.299 --> 00:22:47.579 you're probably going to take it up a notch. 00:22:47.819 --> 00:22:49.799 You're probably going to do even more 00:22:49.799 --> 00:22:51.919 than I'm asking because I'm confident 00:22:51.919 --> 00:22:55.059 of the gospel's transformation in your life. 00:22:55.299 --> 00:22:58.879 I'm confident that the gospel transforms you 00:22:58.880 --> 00:23:01.320 in radical ways so that you're going to do 00:23:01.320 --> 00:23:05.180 even more than what I'm asking you to do. 00:23:05.820 --> 00:23:09.040 The gospel really does change us in powerful ways. 00:23:09.660 --> 00:23:11.620 Many times it does so in ways 00:23:11.620 --> 00:23:14.800 that are foreign to those who don't know Jesus. 00:23:15.820 --> 00:23:17.140 I want to share a story with you 00:23:17.140 --> 00:23:19.180 to help you understand a love 00:23:19.180 --> 00:23:20.680 that can only come from God, 00:23:20.800 --> 00:23:23.200 a changed heart that can only come 00:23:23.200 --> 00:23:25.900 from a right relationship with God. 00:23:26.240 --> 00:23:28.520 And it's the story that actually happened 00:23:28.519 --> 00:23:30.019 during the Revolutionary War. 00:23:30.119 --> 00:23:32.099 There was a preacher of the gospel 00:23:32.099 --> 00:23:34.099 by the name of Peter Miller. 00:23:35.240 --> 00:23:38.740 He lived near a fellow who hated him intensely 00:23:38.740 --> 00:23:41.519 for his Christian life and his testimony. 00:23:42.460 --> 00:23:44.680 In fact, this man hated him so much 00:23:44.680 --> 00:23:46.819 that the man violently opposed him 00:23:46.819 --> 00:23:48.759 and ridiculed his followers. 00:23:49.240 --> 00:23:51.019 And then one day, the unbeliever 00:23:51.019 --> 00:23:52.519 was found guilty of treason 00:23:53.039 --> 00:23:54.920 and sentenced to death. 00:23:55.559 --> 00:23:57.720 This unbeliever who had ridiculed 00:23:57.720 --> 00:23:58.799 and made fun of 00:23:58.799 --> 00:24:01.220 and violently opposed Peter Miller 00:24:01.220 --> 00:24:02.039 and his followers, 00:24:02.700 --> 00:24:05.259 he was found guilty of treason 00:24:05.259 --> 00:24:07.360 and sentenced to death. 00:24:08.220 --> 00:24:09.200 Hearing about this, 00:24:09.279 --> 00:24:10.880 Peter Miller set out on foot 00:24:10.880 --> 00:24:13.299 to intercede on the man's behalf 00:24:13.299 --> 00:24:15.600 before General George Washington. 00:24:16.380 --> 00:24:19.380 The general listened to the minister's earnest plea, 00:24:19.779 --> 00:24:21.779 but he told him that he didn't feel 00:24:21.779 --> 00:24:23.480 that he should pardon his friend. 00:24:23.480 --> 00:24:25.160 He said, 00:24:25.700 --> 00:24:26.640 my friend? 00:24:27.180 --> 00:24:28.799 He's not my friend, 00:24:29.360 --> 00:24:29.940 answered Miller. 00:24:30.019 --> 00:24:31.000 He said, in fact, 00:24:31.140 --> 00:24:33.900 he's my worst living enemy. 00:24:34.380 --> 00:24:35.799 He's not my friend at all. 00:24:35.839 --> 00:24:36.059 In fact, 00:24:36.299 --> 00:24:38.460 he's my worst living enemy. 00:24:39.460 --> 00:24:40.440 George Washington was like, 00:24:40.519 --> 00:24:40.839 what? 00:24:41.279 --> 00:24:43.420 You walked 60 miles 00:24:43.420 --> 00:24:45.700 to save the life of your enemy? 00:24:45.700 --> 00:24:48.319 That, in my judgment, 00:24:48.759 --> 00:24:50.660 puts the matter in different light. 00:24:51.460 --> 00:24:53.660 I will grant your request. 00:24:54.500 --> 00:24:56.080 And so with the pardon in hand, 00:24:56.200 --> 00:24:57.900 Miller hastened to the place 00:24:57.900 --> 00:24:59.620 where his neighbor was to be executed. 00:25:00.080 --> 00:25:01.180 And when he arrived, 00:25:01.279 --> 00:25:03.400 just as the prisoner was walking to the scaffold, 00:25:03.720 --> 00:25:05.100 when the traitor saw Miller, 00:25:05.559 --> 00:25:06.319 he exclaimed, 00:25:06.460 --> 00:25:09.740 old Peter Miller has come to see 00:25:09.740 --> 00:25:12.620 his revenge and watched me hang. 00:25:13.819 --> 00:25:15.160 But he was astonished 00:25:15.160 --> 00:25:17.779 as he watched the minister 00:25:17.779 --> 00:25:19.140 step out of the crowd 00:25:19.140 --> 00:25:20.720 and produce a pardon 00:25:20.720 --> 00:25:22.200 that saved his life. 00:25:23.259 --> 00:25:24.900 This is the kind of confidence 00:25:24.900 --> 00:25:26.400 that we can have in the gospel 00:25:26.400 --> 00:25:28.539 to change lives. 00:25:29.220 --> 00:25:31.500 It allows us to forgive 00:25:31.500 --> 00:25:33.400 because we've been forgiven 00:25:33.400 --> 00:25:34.740 of so much more 00:25:34.740 --> 00:25:37.279 than we will ever be asked to forgive. 00:25:37.279 --> 00:25:40.700 It allows us to see the world 00:25:40.700 --> 00:25:41.779 in a different light. 00:25:41.879 --> 00:25:43.519 It allows us to forgive 00:25:43.519 --> 00:25:46.200 in ways that the world doesn't understand 00:25:46.200 --> 00:25:47.619 because we recognize 00:25:47.619 --> 00:25:49.519 that we will never be asked 00:25:49.519 --> 00:25:51.079 to forgive more 00:25:51.079 --> 00:25:53.940 than we have already been forgiven in Christ. 00:25:54.539 --> 00:25:55.799 This is the confidence 00:25:55.799 --> 00:25:58.039 that we see on display in the gospel. 00:25:58.220 --> 00:26:00.399 As we have fellowship with one another, 00:26:00.639 --> 00:26:02.220 we take great confidence 00:26:02.220 --> 00:26:04.759 in how the gospel changes our lives 00:26:04.759 --> 00:26:07.139 and the way that we interact 00:26:07.140 --> 00:26:08.300 with one another. 00:26:09.040 --> 00:26:10.480 The final observation 00:26:10.480 --> 00:26:12.460 that I want us to bring our attention to 00:26:12.460 --> 00:26:14.160 in this passage is this. 00:26:14.900 --> 00:26:16.200 And what we see here 00:26:16.200 --> 00:26:17.220 in the last few verses 00:26:17.220 --> 00:26:18.240 is partnerships 00:26:18.240 --> 00:26:20.259 in the gospel displayed. 00:26:20.840 --> 00:26:22.380 We see partnerships 00:26:22.380 --> 00:26:23.840 in the gospel displayed. 00:26:24.640 --> 00:26:26.560 Verses 23 through 25 00:26:26.560 --> 00:26:26.800 says, 00:26:26.880 --> 00:26:27.380 Epaphras, 00:26:27.460 --> 00:26:28.920 my fellow prisoner in Christ, 00:26:29.060 --> 00:26:29.380 Jesus, 00:26:30.100 --> 00:26:31.180 sends greetings to you 00:26:31.180 --> 00:26:32.100 and so do Mark, 00:26:32.240 --> 00:26:32.880 Aristarchus, 00:26:32.980 --> 00:26:33.360 Demas, 00:26:33.740 --> 00:26:34.460 and Luke, 00:26:34.640 --> 00:26:35.759 my fellow workers. 00:26:35.759 --> 00:26:38.799 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ 00:26:38.799 --> 00:26:41.539 be with your spirit. 00:26:42.140 --> 00:26:44.099 God saves us individually, 00:26:44.460 --> 00:26:45.420 one at a time. 00:26:45.859 --> 00:26:47.640 He saves us personally, 00:26:47.819 --> 00:26:48.480 one at a time, 00:26:48.559 --> 00:26:50.059 but he did not save us 00:26:50.059 --> 00:26:53.140 to live this life on our own. 00:26:53.400 --> 00:26:55.460 He saved us for community. 00:26:55.960 --> 00:26:58.059 He saved us for mutual accountability, 00:26:58.480 --> 00:26:58.980 encouragement, 00:26:59.220 --> 00:26:59.920 and life. 00:27:00.299 --> 00:27:02.160 He gave us a spiritual family 00:27:02.160 --> 00:27:03.800 to walk through life with us 00:27:03.800 --> 00:27:05.720 and we need faithful people 00:27:05.720 --> 00:27:06.519 in our lives 00:27:06.519 --> 00:27:07.680 who will push us, 00:27:07.960 --> 00:27:09.220 who will be there for us, 00:27:09.240 --> 00:27:10.040 to encourage us, 00:27:10.080 --> 00:27:10.960 to follow God 00:27:10.960 --> 00:27:13.180 even during the difficult times. 00:27:13.640 --> 00:27:15.060 We need those people 00:27:15.060 --> 00:27:15.980 in our lives 00:27:15.980 --> 00:27:17.360 to encourage us, 00:27:17.600 --> 00:27:18.700 to push us, 00:27:18.800 --> 00:27:20.259 to keep us accountable 00:27:20.259 --> 00:27:22.700 so that we can live this life 00:27:22.700 --> 00:27:24.120 on mission for God. 00:27:24.620 --> 00:27:26.140 Paul would often list out 00:27:26.140 --> 00:27:27.960 those who were with him 00:27:27.960 --> 00:27:29.019 as he closes the letter 00:27:29.019 --> 00:27:30.139 and in doing so, 00:27:30.559 --> 00:27:32.500 especially in this case, 00:27:32.639 --> 00:27:33.680 Paul, in a sense, 00:27:33.740 --> 00:27:34.639 is saying 00:27:34.639 --> 00:27:36.500 that this isn't just coming 00:27:36.500 --> 00:27:38.420 from him to Philemon, 00:27:38.859 --> 00:27:41.099 but it's also coming 00:27:41.099 --> 00:27:41.940 from Epaphras, 00:27:42.039 --> 00:27:42.440 from Mar, 00:27:42.519 --> 00:27:43.259 from Aristarchus, 00:27:43.339 --> 00:27:43.879 from Demas, 00:27:44.279 --> 00:27:45.200 and Luke. 00:27:46.220 --> 00:27:47.220 And so when we look 00:27:47.220 --> 00:27:47.960 at these people 00:27:47.960 --> 00:27:49.279 and we look at those 00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:50.299 who are walking with him, 00:27:50.339 --> 00:27:51.920 we need gospel community 00:27:51.920 --> 00:27:53.200 and gospel partners 00:27:53.200 --> 00:27:54.700 like you see here. 00:27:55.019 --> 00:27:56.440 He's saying Epaphras 00:27:56.440 --> 00:27:56.819 greets you. 00:27:56.819 --> 00:27:58.819 Oh, well, Epaphras was from Colossae, 00:27:58.859 --> 00:27:59.519 so he would have been 00:27:59.519 --> 00:28:01.519 very familiar with Philemon, 00:28:01.579 --> 00:28:02.539 but we also see 00:28:02.539 --> 00:28:04.819 that he was a prisoner 00:28:04.819 --> 00:28:06.000 alongside Paul. 00:28:06.579 --> 00:28:07.139 And he says, 00:28:07.339 --> 00:28:08.179 Mark greets you, 00:28:08.220 --> 00:28:09.179 which is significant 00:28:09.179 --> 00:28:11.019 because this is John Mark, 00:28:11.099 --> 00:28:12.079 author of the gospel 00:28:12.079 --> 00:28:13.019 that bears his name. 00:28:13.259 --> 00:28:15.019 And if you remember from Acts, 00:28:15.399 --> 00:28:16.740 this Mark is also the one 00:28:16.740 --> 00:28:17.839 who didn't continue 00:28:17.839 --> 00:28:19.539 on the missionary journey 00:28:19.539 --> 00:28:20.179 with Paul. 00:28:20.299 --> 00:28:20.720 In fact, 00:28:20.779 --> 00:28:22.059 it made Paul pretty upset 00:28:22.059 --> 00:28:23.639 when he turned back 00:28:23.639 --> 00:28:26.159 and caused a pretty strong division 00:28:26.160 --> 00:28:27.320 between Paul and Barnabas, 00:28:27.400 --> 00:28:28.620 but now we see 00:28:28.620 --> 00:28:30.060 how this relationship 00:28:30.060 --> 00:28:31.320 has been restored. 00:28:31.860 --> 00:28:32.420 Now he was, 00:28:32.460 --> 00:28:33.360 again, 00:28:33.480 --> 00:28:33.840 like on this, 00:28:33.880 --> 00:28:35.580 he was formerly useless to Paul, 00:28:35.700 --> 00:28:37.680 but now he's useful to him 00:28:37.680 --> 00:28:39.360 in the service of the kingdom. 00:28:40.160 --> 00:28:41.120 You see Aristarchus, 00:28:41.160 --> 00:28:42.259 who was a close friend to Paul 00:28:42.259 --> 00:28:43.620 and traveled with him to Rome. 00:28:44.120 --> 00:28:44.800 In Colossians, 00:28:44.880 --> 00:28:46.440 it calls him a fellow prisoner. 00:28:47.400 --> 00:28:49.160 He also mentions Demas here. 00:28:49.200 --> 00:28:49.340 Now, 00:28:49.620 --> 00:28:51.140 Demas is mentioned three times, 00:28:51.200 --> 00:28:52.340 here and in Colossians, 00:28:52.339 --> 00:28:54.459 both in positive light, 00:28:54.959 --> 00:28:57.199 but then in Paul's last letter 00:28:57.199 --> 00:28:59.339 to 2 Timothy, 00:28:59.500 --> 00:29:00.740 where he's writing to Timothy, 00:29:01.279 --> 00:29:02.359 he says that Demas 00:29:02.359 --> 00:29:04.220 has now left him. 00:29:04.579 --> 00:29:05.839 He said he's already gone 00:29:05.839 --> 00:29:07.879 because since he loved 00:29:07.879 --> 00:29:09.419 this present world. 00:29:10.259 --> 00:29:11.339 And so as we think about that, 00:29:11.379 --> 00:29:12.699 we're reminded of the importance 00:29:12.699 --> 00:29:14.899 of not only starting well 00:29:14.899 --> 00:29:16.099 in our ministry 00:29:16.099 --> 00:29:17.839 and what God has called us to do, 00:29:17.879 --> 00:29:19.379 not only continuing well, 00:29:19.380 --> 00:29:21.220 but also finishing well 00:29:21.220 --> 00:29:22.640 what God has called us to. 00:29:23.620 --> 00:29:24.340 But finally, 00:29:24.460 --> 00:29:25.500 he mentions Luke, 00:29:26.020 --> 00:29:28.100 Paul's beloved physician. 00:29:29.000 --> 00:29:30.200 Dr. Luke is the one 00:29:30.200 --> 00:29:32.280 who wrote both Luke and Acts. 00:29:32.640 --> 00:29:34.580 And if you just take those two 00:29:34.580 --> 00:29:35.920 as the only books of the Bible 00:29:35.920 --> 00:29:36.780 that he wrote, 00:29:36.860 --> 00:29:39.100 although there's a really strong case 00:29:39.100 --> 00:29:40.280 that he also wrote 00:29:40.280 --> 00:29:41.120 the book of Hebrews, 00:29:41.580 --> 00:29:44.080 but if you just look at the fact 00:29:44.080 --> 00:29:45.240 that he wrote Luke and Acts, 00:29:45.600 --> 00:29:46.500 this Luke right here 00:29:46.500 --> 00:29:48.160 that is traveling with Paul 00:29:48.160 --> 00:29:51.860 wrote the single biggest contributor 00:29:51.860 --> 00:29:53.180 to the New Testament 00:29:53.180 --> 00:29:54.360 when you look at the amount 00:29:54.360 --> 00:29:55.960 of volume that was produced. 00:29:56.680 --> 00:29:57.920 And so what you have here 00:29:57.920 --> 00:30:00.440 are faithful workers of the gospel 00:30:00.440 --> 00:30:03.580 who are walking alongside Paul. 00:30:04.259 --> 00:30:05.519 And in saying this, 00:30:05.560 --> 00:30:06.700 he's saying this is carrying 00:30:06.700 --> 00:30:07.660 a lot of weight 00:30:07.660 --> 00:30:08.880 to include them here. 00:30:09.460 --> 00:30:10.900 Dr. Akin notes the significance 00:30:10.900 --> 00:30:12.400 of concluding the letter with this. 00:30:12.440 --> 00:30:12.720 He says, 00:30:12.720 --> 00:30:15.200 These men then stood with Paul 00:30:15.200 --> 00:30:16.580 on behalf of Onesimus. 00:30:16.579 --> 00:30:19.220 Paul knew that they were faithful 00:30:19.220 --> 00:30:19.939 and trustworthy, 00:30:20.659 --> 00:30:22.619 and so did Philemon. 00:30:23.359 --> 00:30:25.960 And so their vote in favor of Onesimus 00:30:25.960 --> 00:30:28.399 would have carried significant weight. 00:30:29.500 --> 00:30:31.220 And then Paul ends the letter 00:30:31.220 --> 00:30:33.179 in the same way that he began this letter, 00:30:33.559 --> 00:30:35.039 with the ultimate partnership, 00:30:35.279 --> 00:30:37.079 and that is in Christ Jesus. 00:30:37.240 --> 00:30:37.599 He says, 00:30:37.779 --> 00:30:40.359 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ 00:30:40.359 --> 00:30:42.899 be with your spirit. 00:30:42.900 --> 00:30:44.180 In other words, 00:30:44.320 --> 00:30:46.240 let what Christ has done for you 00:30:46.240 --> 00:30:47.920 guide your heart. 00:30:48.580 --> 00:30:50.560 But the your here is plural, 00:30:50.720 --> 00:30:52.019 meaning that it probably 00:30:52.019 --> 00:30:52.960 would have been understood 00:30:52.960 --> 00:30:54.860 as the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ 00:30:54.860 --> 00:30:56.740 be with you, Philemon, yes, 00:30:57.060 --> 00:30:59.400 but also with your household, 00:30:59.780 --> 00:31:01.700 and also with the whole church 00:31:01.700 --> 00:31:02.600 for that matter. 00:31:03.480 --> 00:31:05.200 This is how God has called us 00:31:05.200 --> 00:31:06.180 to live our lives, 00:31:06.280 --> 00:31:08.600 in light of the grace of God. 00:31:08.599 --> 00:31:10.099 The grace of God, 00:31:10.179 --> 00:31:10.799 the gospel, 00:31:11.039 --> 00:31:13.379 it changes our lives 00:31:13.379 --> 00:31:15.480 in ways that can't otherwise 00:31:15.480 --> 00:31:16.779 be explained. 00:31:17.539 --> 00:31:19.000 It brings people together 00:31:19.000 --> 00:31:19.959 like a missionary, 00:31:20.579 --> 00:31:21.399 a wealthy man, 00:31:21.439 --> 00:31:22.480 and a runaway slave. 00:31:22.599 --> 00:31:24.639 The gospel restores 00:31:24.639 --> 00:31:26.799 what sin destroys. 00:31:27.899 --> 00:31:29.059 The gospel restores 00:31:29.059 --> 00:31:29.819 what sin destroys, 00:31:29.919 --> 00:31:30.740 first and foremost, 00:31:30.839 --> 00:31:32.159 our relationship with God, 00:31:32.319 --> 00:31:34.339 but it doesn't stop there. 00:31:35.000 --> 00:31:37.099 It restores broken relationships. 00:31:37.099 --> 00:31:39.899 It forgives in radical ways. 00:31:40.439 --> 00:31:42.079 It prompts generous giving 00:31:42.079 --> 00:31:44.240 of our time and our resources, 00:31:44.240 --> 00:31:45.319 and it causes us 00:31:45.319 --> 00:31:47.259 to build gospel partnerships 00:31:47.259 --> 00:31:48.819 so that we can work together 00:31:48.819 --> 00:31:51.139 to reach the lost and dying 00:31:51.139 --> 00:31:51.819 in the world. 00:31:52.240 --> 00:31:56.179 The gospel really does change everything. 00:31:58.259 --> 00:32:00.219 So has it changed your life? 00:32:01.359 --> 00:32:04.839 Has the gospel changed your life? 00:32:04.839 --> 00:32:08.419 Have you given your life to Jesus? 00:32:09.319 --> 00:32:10.179 If not, 00:32:10.240 --> 00:32:11.480 then I encourage you, 00:32:12.179 --> 00:32:13.659 don't leave here today 00:32:13.659 --> 00:32:15.819 without doing that. 00:32:16.099 --> 00:32:17.879 Because not only does the gospel 00:32:17.879 --> 00:32:20.899 change your relationship with God, 00:32:21.179 --> 00:32:23.439 not only does it satisfy 00:32:23.439 --> 00:32:24.699 what the law demands, 00:32:24.759 --> 00:32:26.779 not only do we get this substitution, 00:32:26.980 --> 00:32:28.059 not only do we get to see 00:32:28.059 --> 00:32:30.220 this reconciliation taking place 00:32:30.220 --> 00:32:30.819 in our life, 00:32:31.059 --> 00:32:32.299 not only does it change 00:32:32.299 --> 00:32:32.939 our relationship 00:32:32.939 --> 00:32:33.939 with our Heavenly Father, 00:32:33.940 --> 00:32:35.559 but it also changes 00:32:35.559 --> 00:32:37.440 everything else. 00:32:38.720 --> 00:32:40.380 So has the gospel changed 00:32:40.380 --> 00:32:41.380 your life today? 00:32:42.400 --> 00:32:44.039 Father, thank you so very much 00:32:44.039 --> 00:32:46.519 for all that you do for us 00:32:46.519 --> 00:32:47.480 each and every day. 00:32:48.279 --> 00:32:50.779 Thank you for this book of Philemon 00:32:50.779 --> 00:32:52.580 where we clearly get to see 00:32:52.580 --> 00:32:54.380 the gospel explained, 00:32:54.500 --> 00:32:55.620 but also we get to see 00:32:55.620 --> 00:32:57.080 how the gospel is applied 00:32:57.080 --> 00:32:58.039 to our life. 00:32:58.759 --> 00:32:59.360 And so Lord, 00:32:59.440 --> 00:33:00.759 I pray that as we read this, 00:33:00.759 --> 00:33:01.940 we wouldn't just see this 00:33:01.940 --> 00:33:03.960 as a fascinating story 00:33:03.960 --> 00:33:05.500 that we put back on a bookshelf 00:33:05.500 --> 00:33:06.680 when we're finished, 00:33:06.819 --> 00:33:08.900 but we'll see this as your word 00:33:08.900 --> 00:33:10.039 that is living and active, 00:33:10.200 --> 00:33:11.400 that it's in here 00:33:11.400 --> 00:33:12.759 to change our lives, 00:33:12.920 --> 00:33:14.099 to point us to the fact 00:33:14.099 --> 00:33:15.960 that the gospel still changes 00:33:15.960 --> 00:33:17.660 in incredible ways. 00:33:18.460 --> 00:33:19.000 And so Lord, 00:33:19.079 --> 00:33:20.299 I pray that if there's someone 00:33:20.299 --> 00:33:21.039 here today 00:33:21.039 --> 00:33:22.779 that has never given 00:33:22.779 --> 00:33:23.960 their life to you, 00:33:24.579 --> 00:33:25.740 that you would change 00:33:25.740 --> 00:33:26.740 their life in the most 00:33:26.740 --> 00:33:27.599 radical way possible 00:33:27.599 --> 00:33:28.819 of taking them 00:33:28.819 --> 00:33:30.779 from death to life, 00:33:31.159 --> 00:33:31.959 taking them from being 00:33:31.959 --> 00:33:33.519 an enemy to a child, 00:33:34.119 --> 00:33:35.599 from an eternity spent 00:33:36.240 --> 00:33:37.459 apart from you in hell 00:33:37.459 --> 00:33:38.759 to an eternity spent 00:33:38.759 --> 00:33:40.519 with you in heaven. 00:33:40.819 --> 00:33:41.379 So Lord, 00:33:41.539 --> 00:33:42.699 I pray that you change 00:33:42.699 --> 00:33:43.779 their life in that way. 00:33:44.199 --> 00:33:45.179 But I also pray 00:33:45.179 --> 00:33:46.459 that it wouldn't stop there, 00:33:46.740 --> 00:33:48.039 that we would let the gospel 00:33:48.039 --> 00:33:49.379 come into our lives 00:33:49.379 --> 00:33:51.919 and change everything about us. 00:33:52.240 --> 00:33:52.839 And so Lord, 00:33:52.919 --> 00:33:54.519 I pray that for each of us 00:33:54.519 --> 00:33:55.959 that have already given 00:33:55.959 --> 00:33:57.139 our life to you, 00:33:57.140 --> 00:33:58.420 that we would continue 00:33:58.420 --> 00:34:00.740 to let the gospel change 00:34:00.740 --> 00:34:02.420 and mold and guide us 00:34:02.420 --> 00:34:04.200 in powerful ways. 00:34:04.520 --> 00:34:05.640 And that we'll do this 00:34:05.640 --> 00:34:06.540 within the context 00:34:06.540 --> 00:34:07.680 of gospel community. 00:34:07.980 --> 00:34:09.360 That we'll have brothers 00:34:09.360 --> 00:34:10.740 and sisters in Christ 00:34:10.740 --> 00:34:12.640 who will come alongside us 00:34:12.640 --> 00:34:14.099 and encourage us 00:34:14.099 --> 00:34:15.420 to follow you 00:34:15.420 --> 00:34:17.240 even in those difficult times. 00:34:17.720 --> 00:34:18.220 And so God, 00:34:18.320 --> 00:34:19.420 thank you so very much 00:34:19.420 --> 00:34:19.960 for Jesus 00:34:19.960 --> 00:34:21.539 and the difference 00:34:21.539 --> 00:34:23.740 that he still makes today. 00:34:24.260 --> 00:34:25.400 And we ask all this 00:34:25.400 --> 00:34:26.559 in his precious name. 00:34:26.900 --> 00:34:27.260 Amen.