Sermon Central
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Forgiving The Debt
Contributed by Phillip Day on Aug 17, 2006 (message contributor)
Summary: This passage details handling forgiveness via Philemon’s situation with his runaway slave.
Forgiving the Debt
I. The Character of Philemon (v. 1-7)
a. Love and faith toward Christ and His church (v. 1-2, 5)
b. An encourager (v. 7)
c. A witness (v. 6)
II. The Character of Onesimus (useful) (v. 10-18)
a. Before salvation
i. Apathetic worker (v. 11)
ii. Thief (v. 18)
iii. Doomed for Death—Spiritual and Physical (Roman Law)
b. After salvation
i. Useful as a servant(v. 11)
ii. Useful as a partner in ministry (v. 13-16)
III. Forgiveness Still Requested (v. 8-22)
a. Duty calls for it (v. 8-9, 19; Matthew 6:14-15, 18:21-22; Luke 17:3)
b. Love produces it (v. 14-17; Luke 7:47)
c. Unity results from it (v. 20-22; Ephesians 4:1-3)
