WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.019 sends you greetings, and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers. The grace 00:00:08.019 --> 00:00:16.800 of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. So last week we said that love is the only 00:00:16.800 --> 00:00:22.420 force capable of turning an enemy into a friend, and we thought about the power of God's love 00:00:22.420 --> 00:00:27.539 in the gospel. That through Jesus' death on the cross there is the forgiveness 00:00:27.539 --> 00:00:34.539 for sinners. There is a demonstration of costly grace that reconciles sinners to God. 00:00:35.879 --> 00:00:42.679 We thought about this as a personal letter dealing with some wonderfully significant themes, 00:00:43.179 --> 00:00:49.079 and here we have a very personal issue going on of this runaway slave Onesimus, who's now a follower 00:00:49.079 --> 00:00:55.460 of Jesus, and the question of how will Philemon receive him? Will restoration take place? 00:00:55.460 --> 00:01:02.039 And I think the value of this letter, this personal letter, because most of Paul's letters are to 00:01:02.039 --> 00:01:09.540 churches, is that it can become a test case for us. It allows us to stop and to think, how can the 00:01:09.540 --> 00:01:20.260 Christian faith promote and practice reconciliation, not as an abstract idea, but between two actual 00:01:20.260 --> 00:01:30.240 people? And how can the Christian faith then promote and lead us to practice reconciliation in our stories? 00:01:32.040 --> 00:01:36.960 I want us to return to spend some time thinking about reconciliation because we understand, don't 00:01:36.960 --> 00:01:43.020 we, that we all find ourselves here, and perhaps we find ourselves here often. Sometimes it's because 00:01:43.019 --> 00:01:49.199 we are the party that is in the wrong, we cause the offense and the breach. Sometimes we are the party 00:01:49.199 --> 00:01:57.560 who has been wronged, and sometimes we may find ourselves as the mediator between two parties. 00:01:59.079 --> 00:02:08.060 We need forgiveness, and we need reconciliation in families, societies, in nations. It's a terrible thing, 00:02:08.060 --> 00:02:13.180 isn't it? When you look at a nation or nations, we look at a community where forgiveness and 00:02:13.180 --> 00:02:21.879 reconciliation is absent, because all you are left with a cycle of hate and hurt and revenge and tit-for-tat 00:02:21.879 --> 00:02:32.099 violence. Our world needs people of grace, communities of grace, who are ready to follow the way of Jesus, 00:02:32.099 --> 00:02:43.060 to abandon revenge and to choose forgiveness. This isn't a cheap grace. You know, the Bible never calls 00:02:43.060 --> 00:02:50.599 us to insist on forgiveness and throw justice out the window. This isn't grace that doesn't seek 00:02:50.599 --> 00:02:58.579 confession on the part of the wrongdoer. This isn't limited grace either, where we kind of welcome 00:02:58.580 --> 00:03:04.240 someone back, but we always keep them at arm's length and they're always on probation. Well, let me just 00:03:04.240 --> 00:03:13.040 see if you merit my acceptance back. This isn't no grace, where there is absolutely zero prospect of 00:03:13.040 --> 00:03:21.700 forgiveness, where all that we offer to someone is strict justice. The Bible calls us to costly grace, 00:03:21.699 --> 00:03:30.259 forgiveness. And that can only be practiced by those who know personally the cost to God of our 00:03:30.259 --> 00:03:41.500 forgiveness. And as we appreciate that, that we are then willing to pay the cost in order to forgive 00:03:41.500 --> 00:03:45.159 and to reconcile with others. So that's what we're going to think about today. We're going to think 00:03:45.159 --> 00:03:51.539 about the appeal for reconciliation, the challenge of reconciliation, and then think about the resources 00:03:51.539 --> 00:03:56.500 for reconciliation within our text. First of all, and again, this is kind of by way of summary, 00:03:56.620 --> 00:04:04.659 the appeal for reconciliation. So this letter comes to a man called Philemon, though it's read by the 00:04:04.659 --> 00:04:12.079 whole church. We're told in verse 2, he is a Christian leader. There's a house church that meets in his home. 00:04:12.939 --> 00:04:19.899 He has been a real gift to Paul the apostle, helping him in his ministry in various ways. And so Paul 00:04:19.899 --> 00:04:27.779 writes this letter, an appeal for a man by the name of Onesimus. That's there in verse 2, 00:04:28.079 --> 00:04:34.259 I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. Onesimus had been 00:04:34.259 --> 00:04:42.859 Philemon's slave, had treated him badly, and has then run away, has come to Paul. Now he's a son in the 00:04:42.859 --> 00:04:48.919 faith. Verse 16, he's now a brother in the Lord. And we ask ourselves, what has changed? And what has 00:04:48.920 --> 00:04:54.780 changed is that God in his kindness had led Onesimus to Paul to hear the gospel, to hear 00:04:54.780 --> 00:05:03.240 there is good news of forgiveness. And Onesimus has repented, he's turned away from sin, he's turned 00:05:03.240 --> 00:05:10.020 to God, he's believed the good news of the gospel. So there's been this really important change of heart. 00:05:10.019 --> 00:05:17.479 Again, to think about the story that Jesus told of the prodigal son. Remember that son as he comes 00:05:17.479 --> 00:05:24.519 back to his father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. Onesimus' turn comes as he realizes 00:05:24.519 --> 00:05:31.699 his wrongdoing, as he confesses and as he believes. And so Onesimus is the one who is being appealed for. 00:05:31.699 --> 00:05:39.899 What is the basis of the appeal? What is Paul wanting Philemon to do? Verse 17, if you consider me a 00:05:39.899 --> 00:05:47.199 partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. So notice what Philemon is being asked. 00:05:49.219 --> 00:05:58.240 Paul says, you can't say no to forgiveness. Philemon, you are not to put Onesimus on a lengthy 00:05:58.240 --> 00:06:06.540 probation, keep him at arm's length. You are to practice costly grace that forgives, that reconciles, 00:06:06.660 --> 00:06:16.220 that welcomes. Verse 16, love him as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord. Practice a love that 00:06:16.220 --> 00:06:24.160 covers a multitude of sins. Think from Philemon's perspective for a moment. This needs a really high 00:06:24.160 --> 00:06:30.460 level of trust, high level of trust in Paul, because this is Paul delivering his testimony of 00:06:30.460 --> 00:06:36.880 what he has seen in Onesimus. Onesimus really has changed. He is coming back to you definitely. He's 00:06:36.880 --> 00:06:41.800 coming back to you as a child of God. He has confessed his sin. He has found forgiveness, 00:06:42.460 --> 00:06:48.640 so you can welcome him as a brother. He knows his past, so he needs to learn to trust. 00:06:48.639 --> 00:06:57.839 It also needs a very high level of spiritual strength for Philemon to follow his strong Savior, 00:06:59.120 --> 00:07:08.039 to follow Jesus who gave his life refusing to seek revenge in order to reconcile sinners to God. 00:07:10.519 --> 00:07:15.839 There is beauty, there is power in forgiveness and reconciliation. 00:07:15.839 --> 00:07:23.439 And the church that Philemon belongs to, this church in the city of Colossae, has the opportunity 00:07:23.439 --> 00:07:31.699 to shine God's light, to say that by God's grace and in God's family, there's a different set of values 00:07:31.699 --> 00:07:43.219 established. It was really typical in Roman society that if you faced dishonor, you would seek revenge. 00:07:43.220 --> 00:07:48.780 If you know anything of Rome, you know they were fierce in battle, they were fierce in their pursuit 00:07:48.780 --> 00:07:57.220 of justice, they were not known for mercy. But then Jesus came and his teaching and his love brought a 00:07:57.220 --> 00:08:06.140 revolution. Because Jesus sought the greatest good for others, praying, Father, forgive them. 00:08:06.139 --> 00:08:13.579 praying for his enemies, praying for his enemies, even while he was being killed. Jesus practiced what 00:08:13.579 --> 00:08:19.339 he preached when he preached, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. 00:08:21.419 --> 00:08:28.860 As he bore our sins on the cross, that by faith in him we might be forgiven. And so Paul issues this 00:08:28.860 --> 00:08:36.120 appeal to Philemon. Philemon, you know the gospel, you know the gospel of reconciliation. Let that gospel 00:08:36.120 --> 00:08:44.560 burn into your heart. So that you and your church, that we and our church be places of forgiveness 00:08:44.560 --> 00:08:53.060 and the healing of relationships. So that's the appeal for reconciliation that we see. Now we need to 00:08:53.059 --> 00:08:59.739 just think for a moment about the challenge for reconciliation. So I already mentioned it in Roman 00:08:59.739 --> 00:09:07.099 society, and especially if you had power. If somebody wronged you, that brought shame. 00:09:08.619 --> 00:09:14.239 And the acceptable way in Roman society to deal with that kind of shame, to restore your honor, 00:09:14.240 --> 00:09:21.639 was to seek swift revenge. That's actually why so many runaway slaves were crucified. 00:09:23.840 --> 00:09:32.000 Justice, no mercy, let's get revenge. There was one other alternative to this in Roman society. 00:09:32.120 --> 00:09:40.720 There was a group of people, the Roman Stoics, the Stoicism. How do you respond to circumstances when 00:09:40.720 --> 00:09:47.460 they go against you? How do you react when people offend you? Well, you dismiss them from your thoughts 00:09:47.460 --> 00:09:54.259 and from your hearts, as if they are a no thing. So there's two very different paths that would be 00:09:54.259 --> 00:10:01.940 open in Roman society. Typically one, the way of anger and revenge. Now think about the society that we 00:10:01.940 --> 00:10:09.360 live. Do we see examples of people responding with anger and revenge? Think about what happens often on 00:10:09.360 --> 00:10:18.600 social media. Think about even musicians and artists using their art to seek revenge, break up albums, 00:10:18.700 --> 00:10:24.460 becoming a new thing. Think about cancel culture, how quick people are to judge and condemn. We absolutely 00:10:24.460 --> 00:10:32.659 do still see that path so often when people wrong it. So anger is one path. The second path open in Roman 00:10:32.659 --> 00:10:40.019 society was that of avoidance was that of avoidance. Switch off your heart. Act like the person is a nobody 00:10:40.019 --> 00:10:46.500 and a no thing. What does that look like today? Do we still see that? You know about the phenomenon of 00:10:46.500 --> 00:10:55.399 ghosting. Just stop communicating with a person if they let you down. Avoid their company. Avoid their church. 00:10:55.399 --> 00:11:05.819 What is Paul seeking as he writes to Philemon? It's not anger, is it? And it's not avoidance. It's a third 00:11:05.819 --> 00:11:11.939 way. It's something far more demanding, something far more radical, more beautiful, but more difficult. 00:11:13.279 --> 00:11:20.159 But I hope we'll see that it's something that we all need and it's good for a church and it's good for a 00:11:20.159 --> 00:11:31.600 society. Listen again to God's ancient wisdom. Leviticus 19, we heard it earlier, verses 17 and 18. 00:11:32.559 --> 00:11:41.719 Do not hate a fellow Israelite in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in 00:11:41.719 --> 00:11:48.839 their guilt. Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your 00:11:48.840 --> 00:11:58.240 neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord. The challenge of reconciliation for us there are three things that 00:11:58.240 --> 00:12:08.639 are forbidden here. We are forbidden from seeking revenge. We are forbidden from hating in our heart. 00:12:09.920 --> 00:12:14.100 And we are forbidden from bearing a grudge. 00:12:14.100 --> 00:12:21.560 Carrie Fisher, who most famously played Princess Leia in Star Wars, put it like this, 00:12:21.639 --> 00:12:27.960 resentment, bearing a grudge, is like drinking poison and then waiting for the other person to die. 00:12:29.100 --> 00:12:35.580 That's something that we are forbidden from. No revenge, not hating in our heart, not bearing a grudge. 00:12:35.639 --> 00:12:39.500 That's challenging enough, but there's two things positively we must do. 00:12:39.500 --> 00:12:49.720 Notice in our text, we must rebuke. That says that when we have been wronged, we have a responsibility 00:12:49.720 --> 00:12:59.960 in love, seeking the good of the other to seek change, to seek a change of heart, to pursue 00:12:59.960 --> 00:13:08.460 another. So we must rebuke, but we must also love. Love your neighbor as yourself. 00:13:08.460 --> 00:13:24.180 Do we see the challenge? Do we see the challenge? We are to care about justice, and at the same time, 00:13:25.240 --> 00:13:27.560 we are to care about and to show love. 00:13:30.420 --> 00:13:36.480 That's the challenge. But do we see this is where Christianity has something unique and wonderful 00:13:36.480 --> 00:13:42.680 to offer the world, because what's at the center of our faith? It's the cross of Christ. 00:13:44.279 --> 00:13:49.440 When we think about the cross of Christ, we recognize here is the reality that God takes 00:13:49.440 --> 00:13:58.460 justice seriously. So seriously, He sent His Son to die for sin. The only way that we could be forgiven 00:13:58.460 --> 00:14:02.720 and reconciled is for the sinless Son of God is for sinless Son of God to die in our place, He takes 00:14:02.720 --> 00:14:10.680 justice seriously. But there at the cross, we see He takes a demonstration of love so seriously 00:14:10.680 --> 00:14:17.340 that He gladly, willingly sent His Son, and His Son gladly, willingly paid the debt of justice 00:14:17.340 --> 00:14:23.620 and extended forgiveness and extended forgiveness by His grace. So it's the cross, it's redemption 00:14:23.620 --> 00:14:34.379 that makes true forgiveness and reconciliation possible. But it's a challenge. So we need to think, 00:14:34.540 --> 00:14:43.200 thirdly, about the resources for reconciliation. How is it that we will, how is it that we can pursue love 00:14:43.200 --> 00:14:54.460 over avoidance or anger or even arrogance that would say, oh, look at the mess they made, look at what 00:14:54.460 --> 00:15:05.420 they've done? How can we become bridge builders? How can we bridge the gap between us and others when 00:15:05.419 --> 00:15:16.899 things go wrong? What resources does Christianity uniquely provide to help us? This past week, 00:15:17.339 --> 00:15:22.939 there was an old bridge down in the Port of Leith that was reopened, the Victoria Swing Bridge. 00:15:24.019 --> 00:15:33.639 It had its steelwork repaired, its wooden decking replaced, so that it's now able to bear weight safely 00:15:33.639 --> 00:15:44.500 again. There's 300 tons of iron girders in that bridge that gives it the strength to hold freight and 00:15:44.500 --> 00:15:55.720 cargo. As we think about becoming bridge builders, what are the girders, what are the supports that can 00:15:55.720 --> 00:16:02.399 bear the weight of reconciliation? How can we put things right with others without being crushed? 00:16:02.399 --> 00:16:10.620 We talked about one last week, and it's fundamental. We need the support of the love of God in the 00:16:10.620 --> 00:16:19.120 gospel to always know, remember, and live out of the reality that if you're a Christian, that you are 00:16:19.120 --> 00:16:25.799 someone who has dishonored and rebelled against God, and that by rights what we deserve is justice and 00:16:25.799 --> 00:16:32.079 condemnation. But in the gospel, Jesus, the Son of God, takes our place and takes our sin and pays the 00:16:32.080 --> 00:16:38.700 price and full, and we are fully and freely forgiven. So we always need the love of God as we seek to 00:16:38.700 --> 00:16:45.480 pursue reconciliation. Two more pillars to think about here. One is costly grace, two is dependent 00:16:45.480 --> 00:16:55.360 prayer. And I want us to think in this letter of Paul as the mediator. You know, Paul has Philemon as an 00:16:55.360 --> 00:17:02.500 old dear friend. They've worked together for the sake of Jesus and the gospel. And now here is Onesimus. He's 00:17:02.500 --> 00:17:10.160 become his new friend, another partner in the gospel. He cares for the bull. Let's think first of all about 00:17:10.160 --> 00:17:16.539 costly grace. It's there at the top and bottom of the letter. Verse 3, grace and peace to you from God our 00:17:16.539 --> 00:17:22.859 Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. And then his last words to Philemon, the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ 00:17:22.859 --> 00:17:28.960 be with your spirit. In some ways that's a standard greeting, grace and peace, then you go into the body 00:17:28.960 --> 00:17:36.079 of the letter. But it's more than that. What is Paul's desire for Philemon? What is Paul's desire for 00:17:36.079 --> 00:17:44.319 the church that meets in Philemon's house? It's that they understand and appreciate and experience again 00:17:44.319 --> 00:17:51.480 the grace of God the grace of God in which they stand. That they would live in this reality of 00:17:51.480 --> 00:18:03.359 enjoying peace with God because of the work of his Son, their Lord Jesus. What is grace? Grace is the 00:18:03.359 --> 00:18:09.819 undeserved love and favor and kindness of God given to people who do nothing to merit that. 00:18:09.819 --> 00:18:17.659 Now why does a felt experience, not just here's the truth of grace and it's over there and I know 00:18:17.659 --> 00:18:23.339 it in my head, but a felt experience of it in our hearts, how does that help us when we think about 00:18:23.339 --> 00:18:30.659 reconciliation? Well one way I think it helps us is it should always create a sense of humility within us. 00:18:30.660 --> 00:18:39.820 As we recognize that ever since Adam and Eve, everyone, everyone has been a spiritual runaway. 00:18:41.259 --> 00:18:47.660 Everyone has run from God's word. Everyone has run from God's love. Everyone has refused to trust him. 00:18:49.279 --> 00:18:56.960 Everyone since Adam and Eve has been guilty of spiritual robbery, stealing God's glory for ourselves, 00:18:56.960 --> 00:19:05.240 being really happy to take all God's good gifts and kindnesses in our lives, but ignoring him as our 00:19:05.240 --> 00:19:15.240 creator, robbing him of worship as we give our hearts, our loyalty, our love to other things and other 00:19:15.240 --> 00:19:25.960 people rather than to the one true God. And each of us are spiritual rebels. Whenever we hear God's law, 00:19:26.960 --> 00:19:35.700 reminds us that we don't live up to how God wants us to live. That perfection, that holiness that God 00:19:35.700 --> 00:19:46.920 demands, including our failure to love others well. We are all Onesimus. And if we understand I am so bad 00:19:46.920 --> 00:19:55.079 and I am so sinful that nothing less than the son of God dying in my place would save me and forgive me, 00:19:55.079 --> 00:20:05.259 then we understand that I need to receive this grace always. And that should humble us always. 00:20:06.500 --> 00:20:16.539 So grace creates humility. But secondly, and this is also important, grace within us creates humble strength 00:20:16.539 --> 00:20:24.680 in the believer. Because we understand the gospel as truth that has transformed us, that Jesus did die 00:20:24.680 --> 00:20:30.920 for me, though I am a runaway, though I am a robber, though I am a rebel, that Jesus did take all my 00:20:30.920 --> 00:20:37.180 unrighteousness, he gave me his perfect righteousness, and that he has bridged the gap between sinners and a 00:20:37.180 --> 00:20:44.200 holy God. Now as I believe that that is true for me, that should change what happens when someone wrongs me. 00:20:44.200 --> 00:20:53.299 I go to the gospel, I go to the cross, and I remember that God has forgiven me, and I have done far, 00:20:53.460 --> 00:21:00.240 far worse to God than anyone can ever do to me. And as we remember that, that will help us to refuse 00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:07.100 the way of bitterness and revenge. When someone lets us down and we're tempted to get angry, or we're 00:21:07.100 --> 00:21:12.440 tempted to give up on them and avoid them, we look at God's command to practice forgiveness. 00:21:12.440 --> 00:21:20.100 And we understand that God gives us grace so that we can practice forgiveness. 00:21:21.640 --> 00:21:32.019 Because now we know my identity is tied up with how God treats me, not how that other person treats me. 00:21:33.059 --> 00:21:38.600 So I don't need to be twisted by bitterness and the need for revenge. When we are hurt, 00:21:38.599 --> 00:21:49.419 we lean into God's grace and love. And we remember that we want to bring honor to God always, 00:21:50.199 --> 00:21:59.240 which includes being willing to forgive others. And so grace is a vital resource as we seek to pursue 00:21:59.240 --> 00:22:08.140 reconciliation. But so too is prayer. You have this wonderful picture of Paul the apostle as a man of 00:22:08.140 --> 00:22:14.920 prayer, this middle man. And picture him in your mind's eye. You know, he's got one hand in Philemon's 00:22:14.920 --> 00:22:21.480 hand as a dear brother, one hand in Onesimus's. And he wants to draw them both closer to the Lord Jesus 00:22:21.480 --> 00:22:29.299 and to bring them closer to one another as he does so. And we have this beautiful picture of what a 00:22:29.299 --> 00:22:37.599 mediator does, standing in the gap, lovingly speaking the truth of the gospel, in love pursuing 00:22:37.599 --> 00:22:43.720 reconciliation, which gives glory to Jesus and shows the power of the gospel to a watching world. 00:22:43.720 --> 00:22:54.079 Think about his prayer in verses 4 to 7. It's a wonderful prayer. What is Paul thankful for 00:22:54.079 --> 00:23:01.860 in Philemon's life and witness? Look at verse 5. I always thank my God because I hear about your love 00:23:01.860 --> 00:23:08.579 for all these holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. Because he has faith in Jesus, his love 00:23:08.579 --> 00:23:13.600 and his loyalty are towards Jesus. Philemon is known for showing love and loyalty to the people 00:23:13.599 --> 00:23:20.539 of Jesus. Verse 7. Your love has given me great joy and encouragement because you, brother, have 00:23:20.539 --> 00:23:28.259 refreshed the hearts of the Lord's people. He's a generous character, showing generosity and grace in 00:23:28.259 --> 00:23:33.119 his relationships with other Christians. His life is full of grace because God has shown him grace. 00:23:34.899 --> 00:23:41.719 What is Paul's prayer request? Verse 6. I pray that your partnership with us in the faith 00:23:41.720 --> 00:23:47.420 may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. 00:23:48.360 --> 00:23:55.640 Paul prays that as Philemon restores Onesimus, he'll be acting as a partner in the faith. He'll be 00:23:55.640 --> 00:24:02.140 putting his faith into action. And he prays that as he does so, Philemon will be led into a deeper 00:24:02.140 --> 00:24:07.500 experience of those shared spiritual blessings that they have in Christ, and maybe one blessing in 00:24:07.500 --> 00:24:16.900 particular, a fresh appreciation of God's love for him in Christ. That as he practices forgiveness and 00:24:16.900 --> 00:24:25.920 reconciliation, he'll do so remembering that God in Christ forgave him and reconciled himself to him. 00:24:27.079 --> 00:24:34.400 So Paul prays to God and speaks in verse 7 directly to Philemon, saying to him, listen, 00:24:34.400 --> 00:24:41.620 you've been showing love and loyalty to God's people. Keep doing that by forgiving this one, 00:24:42.040 --> 00:24:49.200 by forgiving Onesimus, choosing reconciliation, not revenge. Philemon, keep on refreshing others. 00:24:49.540 --> 00:24:58.000 Keep on bringing joy within the church by welcoming Onesimus into your home and into your church. 00:24:58.000 --> 00:25:06.180 And so we've got this wonderful pattern. And if we're called to be a mediator, a pattern for prayer, 00:25:06.779 --> 00:25:13.960 that love and grace would be extended, that refreshing and restoring would be taking place, 00:25:14.019 --> 00:25:21.160 that the pattern of Christ might be followed and lived out by his people for his glory. 00:25:21.160 --> 00:25:31.100 In conclusion, as we think about reconciliation, we recognize a beautiful work of costly grace. 00:25:32.300 --> 00:25:38.680 I want to share a story that I came across this week. It's the story of a man called Joe Avila. 00:25:39.840 --> 00:25:46.000 He lives in the States. As he tells his story, he says, near the house where he lived, there are two signs. 00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:55.480 One sign on the wall says, don't drink and drive. Another sign just below it says, in honor of Amy Wall. 00:25:56.140 --> 00:26:09.099 And as Joe tells his story, he tells the story of one night driving while drunk, knocking down and killing Amy Wall back in 1992 00:26:09.099 --> 00:26:24.240 and being charged with second-degree murder. Now, while he was awaiting trial, he was checked into a Salvation Army six-month sobriety program. 00:26:25.099 --> 00:26:29.659 And after those six months, he came out sober, free of the need to drink. 00:26:30.179 --> 00:26:38.099 But he also came out having heard the gospel of coming to know for himself the wonder of God's forgiveness. 00:26:39.099 --> 00:26:42.579 Of God being reconciled to him in Christ. 00:26:45.659 --> 00:26:53.299 He spent seven and a half years in prison, taking every opportunity he could to tell fellow prisoners about the love of God in Jesus. 00:26:53.419 --> 00:27:00.759 But then when he was released, he tells this wonderful story of being welcomed by a local church, New Hope Community Church. 00:27:00.759 --> 00:27:11.319 Their pastor had heard that he was coming out and for four months preparing the people of God to welcome this brother in Christ well. 00:27:12.220 --> 00:27:17.200 And so he was restored to a community and grace was on display. 00:27:17.200 --> 00:27:33.680 But greater still, as Joe tells his story, he speaks of the miracle of grace of the day when Amy's dad, Rick Wall, came to meet him and spent hours with him. 00:27:33.680 --> 00:27:34.680 And by the end of the day when he was on display. 00:27:34.680 --> 00:27:39.920 And by the end of that time, offering him forgiveness and reconciliation. 00:27:40.920 --> 00:27:47.180 And could turn to the man who had killed his daughter and say to him as a brother in Christ, I love you. 00:27:48.880 --> 00:27:50.500 That's a miracle of grace. 00:27:50.580 --> 00:27:54.820 It's a beautiful, hard, costly work. 00:27:54.819 --> 00:27:59.200 And it's the heart of the gospel. 00:28:00.960 --> 00:28:03.059 It's the heart of God. 00:28:04.000 --> 00:28:09.019 In that story of the prodigal son, we encounter a loving father. 00:28:09.019 --> 00:28:18.159 Who was willing to extend undeserved grace to a shameful son. 00:28:18.779 --> 00:28:23.480 To a son who had wronged him and who had dishonored and rejected him. 00:28:24.819 --> 00:28:26.859 The father said, I love you. 00:28:27.460 --> 00:28:28.579 You're back home. 00:28:29.259 --> 00:28:31.960 Able to feast over him. 00:28:32.839 --> 00:28:38.339 And the deeper that you and I go into God's costly grace. 00:28:38.819 --> 00:28:46.980 As we see and appreciate Jesus' arms outstretched on the cross. 00:28:47.960 --> 00:28:50.779 And to understand that he is there for us. 00:28:50.779 --> 00:28:57.799 So that our father might welcome us into his arms and to say to us, I love you. 00:28:58.899 --> 00:29:02.119 Then we have grace to draw from. 00:29:02.700 --> 00:29:04.339 To pursue the good of others. 00:29:05.059 --> 00:29:07.720 To pray for help. 00:29:08.160 --> 00:29:11.160 To pursue justice and love and grace. 00:29:11.440 --> 00:29:13.940 To refuse to live in bitterness. 00:29:13.940 --> 00:29:17.720 To pay the price of forgiving someone. 00:29:19.059 --> 00:29:25.000 That together we might be a community of hope and of healing. 00:29:25.860 --> 00:29:27.100 Let's pray together. 00:29:27.100 --> 00:29:27.279 Amen. 00:29:27.279 --> 00:29:28.680 Amen. 00:29:28.680 --> 00:29:29.279 Amen. 00:29:29.279 --> 00:29:29.720 Amen. 00:29:29.720 --> 00:29:30.220 Amen. 00:29:30.220 --> 00:29:30.720 Amen. 00:29:30.720 --> 00:29:30.779 Amen. 00:29:30.779 --> 00:29:30.860 Amen. 00:29:30.860 --> 00:29:31.779 Amen. 00:29:31.779 --> 00:29:31.860 Amen. 00:29:31.860 --> 00:29:31.940 Amen. 00:29:31.940 --> 00:29:31.960 Amen.